List of Lushootseed-speaking peoples facts for kids
The Lushootseed language is spoken by many Indigenous peoples in what is now Washington State. These groups traditionally lived in villages and made their own decisions, meaning they were "politically autonomous." This is why there isn't one single name for all Lushootseed-speaking peoples. Sometimes, people use terms like "Lushootseed peoples" or "Peoples who speak Lushootseed" to talk about them. This article lists the different groups who speak or historically spoke Lushootseed, organized by their modern-day tribal units.
Northern Lushootseed Speakers
Northern Lushootseed (called dxʷləšucid in the language) is spoken by groups living in areas that are now Island, Skagit, Snohomish, and parts of Whatcom counties in Washington. These communities include:
Upper Skagit Tribe
The Upper Skagit people are known as sqaǰətabš. They have many historical villages, such as:
- Nuwaha (dxʷʔaha)
- Nookachamps (duqʷəčabš)
- Mesekwegwils (bəsikʷigʷilc)
- Chobaabish (čubəʔabš)
- Baslo'alo (baslux̌ʔalux̌)
- Smaliwhu (sbaliʔxʷ)
- Silayucid (sʔilayucid)
- Beskayucid (bəsq̓ixʷucid)
- Miskaiwhu (bəsq̓ixʷixʷ)
- Kwabatsabsh (k̓ʷabacabš)
Sauk-Suiattle Tribe
The Sauk people are called saʔqʷəbixʷ. A key group within them is the Suiattle, known as suyaƛ̕bixʷ.
Stillaguamish People
The Stillaguamish people are known as stuləgʷabš. One of their historical groups was the Quadsack (qʷacaʔkʷbixʷ).
Swinomish Tribe
The Swinomish people are called swədəbš. Their community includes:
- Squinamish (sqʷədəbš)
- Kikiallus (kikiyalus)
- (Lower) Skagit (sqaǰətabš)
Snohomish People
The Snohomish people are known as sduhubš. Their historical groups include:
- Quil Ceda (qʷəl̕sidəʔəbš)
- Whidbey Island Snohomish (dəgʷasx̌abš)
- Sdodohobsh (sduduhubš)
- N'Quentlmamish (dxʷkʷiƛ̕əbabš)
Southern Lushootseed Speakers
Southern Lushootseed, also called Twulshootseed (txʷəlšucid), is spoken by various groups in areas that are now King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, and Kitsap counties. These communities include:
Skykomish People
The Skykomish people are known as sq̓ixʷəbš. Their historical groups include:
- Staktalijamish (st̕aq̓taliǰabš)
- Upper Skykomish/Index people (bəsx̌əx̌əx̌əlč)
Duwamish People
The Duwamish people are called dxʷdəwʔabš. Their historical groups include:
- Shilshole (šilšulabš)
- Hachuamish (x̌ačuʔabš), which included groups like the Thornton Creek band and Union Bay band.
- Samammish (sc̓ababš)
- Stkamish (stəqabš)
Suquamish Tribe
The Suquamish people are known as dxʷsəq̓ʷəbš. One of their historical groups was the Saktamish (sx̌aq̓tabš).
Puyallup Tribe
The Puyallup people are called spuyaləpabš. Their historical groups include:
- Hylebos Creek band (sx̌ax̌ƛ̕abš)
- Clarks Creek band (txʷskʷaqʷabš)
- Simons Creek band (sqʷədabš)
- Homamish (sxʷəbabš)
- Shotlemamish (dəxʷsx̌əƛ̕əbabš)
- Steilacoom (č̓tilqʷəbabš), which included the Clover Creek band.
Nisqually Tribe
The Nisqually people are known as dxʷsqʷaliʔabš. Their historical groups include:
- Sequalitchew (sčəgʷaličabš)
- Lower Nisqually
- Clear Creek band
- Nisqually Lake band
- Muck Creek band
- Meshal/Mashel (bəšalabš)
Squaxin Island Tribe
The Squaxin Island people are called sqʷax̌sədəbš. Their historical groups include:
- Sahewamish (shiʔwəbš)
- T'Peeksin (təpikʷšədabš)
- Squiatl (sk̓ʷəyaiɬəbš)
- Stechass (st̕č̓asəbš)
- Nusechatl (dəxʷč̓ič̓aʔaɬabš)
Whulshootseed Dialect
Whulshootseed (xʷəlšucid) is a specific way of speaking Southern Lushootseed. It is used by the Snoqualmie and Muckleshoot peoples.
Snoqualmie People
The Snoqualmie people are known as sdukʷalbixʷ. Their historical groups include:
- Tolt band (x̌alalʔtxʷabš)
- Upper Snoqualmie/North Bend band (baqʷababš)
- Fall City band
Muckleshoot Tribe
The Muckleshoot people are called bəqəlšuɬ. Their historical groups include:
- Skopamish (sxʷq̓ʷupabš), which included the Yilalkoamish (ʔilalqʷuʔabš) and Soos/Susabsh (sʔusabš).
- Smulkamish (sbalqʷuʔabš)
- Stuck River band (stəx̌ʷabš)
- Upper Puyallup
- Tkwakwamish (dxʷxʷaq̓ʷabš)
- South Prairie Creek band
See also
