Swallah
Swallah is a maritime Indigenous group from the Northwest Coast of the United States, specifically within Washington State. They are part of the larger Salishan language family and historically inhabited permanent winter villages near water, often protected by palisades due to frequent inter-village conflicts. The Swallah utilized dugout canoes for various purposes such as travel, fishing, and warfare. Their cultural practices include significant rites like the Spirit Dance, First Salmon Ceremony, and potlatch ceremonies, which served to mark status changes and facilitate wealth redistribution.
The Swallah have rich mythology featuring trickster figures such as Raven and Mink, highlighting their complex cultural narratives. Their social and economic interactions extended to other Central Coast Salish nations, fostering a network of relationships. Following European contact in the late 18th century and subsequent upheavals, including smallpox epidemics, the Swallah population faced significant decline. Today, the Swallah are recognized as part of the Lummi Nation, a federally recognized Indigenous nation that encompasses descendants from various Indigenous groups, illustrating their ongoing cultural legacy and adaptation.
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Swallah
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northwest Coast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Salishan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Washington
The maritime Swallah had bilateral kinship and lived in permanent winter villages located near water. Some villages were palisaded for protection, as conflict was common between villages. Different types of dugout canoes were used for travel, fishing, and warfare. Major rites were the Spirit Dance, First Salmon Ceremony, Secret Society, and Cleansing Ceremonies. The Swallah potlatch served to recognize status change, redistribution of wealth, house-raising or canoe launching, and hereditary naming. The Swallah had a complex mythology in which Raven and Mink were tricksters. The Swallah maintained considerable social and economic ties with other Central Coast Salish Indigenous nations.
The Strait of Juan de Fuca was discovered by Europeans in 1787 by Charles Barkley. British and Spanish explorers visited the area, and by 1811, the fur trade had established itself at the mouth of the Columbia. The 1846 Treaty of Washington divided the Central Coast Salish into British and American regions. Because of European settlement and smallpox epidemics, Indigenous populations greatly declined throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many Swallah joined another Northern Straits Salish group, the Lummi, on the mainland. In the twenty-first century, the Swallah are considered part of the Lummi Nation, a federally recognized Indigenous nation in Washington State with descendants from multiple Indigenous groups, including the Swallah, Klalakamish, Nooksack, and Samish peoples.
Bibliography
Alexander, Kathy. “Summary of Native American Tribes - S.” Legends of America, Mar. 2024, www.legendsofamerica.com/tribe-summary-s/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
“San Juan Island Administrative History - Chapter 2: Historical Background.” National Parks Service, 19 Jan. 2003, www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online‗books/sajh/adhi2.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
"Swallah Indian Tribe." Native Languages of the Americas, www.native-languages.org/swallah.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
“Swallah Tribe.” Access Genealogy, accessgenealogy.com/washington/swallah-tribe.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.