Samish
The Samish Nation is a federally recognized tribe located in the Puget Sound region of Washington, with a population that fluctuates between approximately 1,300 and 2,400 individuals. They are part of the Salishan language group, specifically speaking the Straits dialect, and are culturally affiliated with the Straits Salish peoples. Historically, the Samish occupied territories around Haro and Rosario Straits, and they are known for their traditional practices, which include canoe carving, longhouse construction, and conducting potlatch ceremonies that emphasize gifting and community values.
Despite a rich cultural heritage, the Samish faced challenges in achieving federal recognition, which they regained in 1996 after a long struggle following their omission from the Point Elliott treaty. The nation has since worked to restore treaty rights, particularly regarding fishing claims, and has pursued various economic development opportunities, including the operation of the Fidalgo Bay Resort. In recent years, the Samish have focused on community advancement through housing projects, cultural preservation initiatives, and environmental stewardship. They continue to celebrate their heritage through events like drumming groups and canoe journeys, reinforcing their cultural identity and community cohesion.
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Subject Terms
Samish
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Salishan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Puget Sound, Washington
- POPULATION SIZE: 2,400 (2024: The Salish Current); 1,394 (2020: DEC Detailed Demographic and Housing Characteristics File A: Samish Alone)
The Samish nation is linguistically and culturally grouped with the Straits Salish, speaking the Straits dialect of the Coastal Salishan language. They are respected for their skillful carving of canoes, construction of longhouses, gift-giving potlatches, and strong spirituality based on the teachings of the Winter Spirit Dance Ceremony, having preserved their customs and implements during the years of repression by the federal government. The nation's name traditionally means "the giving people."
This nation from the Northwest Coast cultural area historically occupied land and maritime sites adjacent to Haro and Rosario Straits, with a sphere of influence extending from the crest of the Cascades down Puget Sound and out to the Pacific Ocean. There were about 1,300 individuals identifying as having Samish heritage alone in the 2020 decennial United States census. Other estimates put the number of Samish members around 2,400. In the 2017-2021 American Community Survey, nearly 41,000 individuals lived in the Samish Tribal designated statistical areas. The Samish nation headquarters are located in Anacortes, Washington.
Although documentation shows that more than a hundred Samish men, women, and children were at the Point Elliott treaty grounds in 1854 and that they were included in the initial draft of the treaty, the Samish (and Lummi) were omitted from the final draft. They were, therefore, denied the land promised in pre-treaty talks. Since 1859, the Samish have struggled to correct this injustice and to obtain federal recognition. In 1969, the Bureau of Indian Affairs accidentally left the nation off of the federally recognized list, causing decades of legal difficulties. However, in 1992, federal judge Thomas Zilly reversed the Bureau’s findings and remanded the issue to an administrative law judge on the grounds of denial of Fifth Amendmentdue process rights. In 1996, the Samish Nation was restored to the list of federally recognized tribes in the United States, and subsequently, nation members worked to regain their treaty rights, especially fishing claims, and buy land.
In 2011, the Samish Nation explored the possibility of building a casino and hotel to help bring revenue to its people. However, by the mid-2020s, these plans had yet to come to fruition. The nation does operate the Fidalgo Bay Resort in Anacortes, a complex that includes rental cottages, a recreational vehicle park, a conference hall, and various recreation opportunities such as canoeing. In 2012, Washington State Representative Rick Larsen introduced the Samish Indian Nation Homelands Act. This bill, passed in 2014, placed a significant portion of land in a federal trust for the nation's benefit. In 2015, a Washington state ferry was named the M/V Samish in recognition of the nation, and many other geographic features and buildings in the region likewise commemorate the nation's heritage.
The twenty-first century has proved to be a time of advancement and successful investment for the Samish people. The nation continued to acquire property and pursue economic development when possible. They created a Chelangen Department to connect language and preserve history and culture, began a housing development project for its older members, and improved health and economic resources for members. The Samish continued these efforts as the century progressed, holding cultural events such as drumming groups and canoe journeys. The Samish Department of Natural Resources was actively involved in environmental monitoring and mitigating climate change. The Samish nation continued to provide social services to its members, including housing, education, and vocational rehabilitation.
Bibliography
Marks-Marino, D. "The Samish Indian Nation." Climate Change Program, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Northern Arizona University, 2019, www7.nau.edu/itep/main/tcc/Tribes/pn‗samish. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Samish Culture." Samish Indian Nation, www.samishtribe.nsn.us/who-we-are/culture. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Samish Indian Nation." Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, www.npaihb.org/member-tribes/samish-indian-nation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"Samish Indian Nation Timeline." Samish Indian Nation, www.samishtribe.nsn.us/who-we-are/timeline. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"2010 Census CPH-T-6. American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2010." US Census Bureau, 16 May 2023. www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/cph-series/cph-t/cph-t-6.html. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
"2020: DEC Detailed Demographic and Housing Characteristics File A." US Census Bureau, data.census.gov/table?q=salish. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Van Berkel, Jessie. "Long-Suffering Samish Say Casino Might Change Luck." Seattle Times, 23 Aug. 2011, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/long-suffering-samish-say-casino-might-change-luck. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Walker, Richard Arlin. "'Historic' Samish Nation Housing Is Part of a Return to Ancestral Land." Salish Current, 17 June 2024, salish-current.org/2024/06/17/historic-samish-nation-housing-is-part-of-a-return-to-ancestral-land. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Walker, Richard Arlin. "10 Things You Should Know about the Samish Nation." Indian Country Today Media Network, 13 Sept. 2018. ictnews.org/archive/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-samish-nation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.