Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation facts for kids
Chehalis coiled cedar root basket, collection of the Washington State History Museum
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 833 enrolled members | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Washington) |
|
| Languages | |
| English and formerly Upper and Lower Chehalis languages | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion |
The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation is a group of Native American people. They are officially recognized by the United States government. This tribe lives in Southwest Washington. They are part of the larger Coast Salish peoples group. These people have lived along the Northwest Coast for a very long time.
The Chehalis Tribes traditionally lived in a wide area. Their lands included the Black, Chehalis, Cowlitz, Elk, Johns, Newaukum, Satsop, Shookumchuck, and Wynoochee Rivers. This area stretched from the Southwest coast to the lower Puget Sound in Washington.
The Chehalis Reservation
The Chehalis Reservation is a special area of land. It covers about 4,438 acres (17.96 km2). More than 600 American Indians call this reservation home. The reservation was first set up in 1860. It was created for the Lower and Upper Chehalis people.
The reservation was once larger. About 3,753.63 acres (15.19 km2) of land was given to non-native settlers in 1866. This happened through an official order from the government. Another 471 acres (1.91 km2) was later used for schools. By 1906, fewer than 150 Chehalis people lived on the reservation. A survey in 1984 found that 382 people lived there.
Language and Culture
Today, most members of the Chehalis Tribe speak English. However, the tribe has two traditional languages. These are the Upper Chehalis and Lower Chehalis languages. These languages are part of the larger Salish language family. Sadly, the last person who spoke Upper Chehalis as their first language passed away in 2001. The tribe works to keep its culture and traditions alive.
How the Tribe Supports Itself
The Chehalis Tribe runs several businesses. These businesses help the tribe and its members. They also provide many jobs.
Some of the businesses include:
- Lucky Eagle Casino
- Eagle’s Landing Hotel
- Grand Buffet
- Scatter Creek Grill
- Prime Rib and Steakhouse
- Sidewalk Deli in Rochester, Washington
- Great Wolf Lodge Resort
- Talking Cedar Brewing in Grand Mound, Washington
The tribe also owns three convenience stores. They have a fast food restaurant and two construction companies. They even have a business that stamps cigarettes. Overall, the tribe provides jobs for 1,498 people.
