Mitchell Bay Band of the San Juan Islands facts for kids

The Mitchell Bay Band of the San Juan Islands is a Native American group from the San Juan Islands in Washington, United States. They are part of the larger Coast Salish people. A government agent first called them the Mitchell Bay Tribe in 1919, named after one of the important bays where Native people lived.

Reef netting is a special way of fishing that Coast Salish people, including the Mitchell Bay Band, still use today. They believe it was a gift from the Creator.

The ancestors of the Mitchell Bay Band were connected to other groups like the Lummi, Saanich, and Samish. They shared common stories about their origins and spoke the same language. From 1859 to 1872, both Great Britain and the United States claimed San Juan Island. After this dispute was settled, many Native people moved to reservations. However, many others chose to stay on the island. These people were later counted in the 1919 census as the Mitchell Bay Tribe or the San Juan Tribe.

On June 5, 1976, members of the Mitchell Bay Band came together to create their own rules and elect a government. They did this to try and gain official recognition from the U.S. government. This recognition would mean the U.S. government would work with them as a separate nation. So far, they are still working towards this goal.

History of the Mitchell Bay Band

E.W. Chevalier, an elder from the Mitchell Bay Band, in May 2004.

Ancient Roots and Early Life

• Before European Contact: The ancestors of the Mitchell Bay Band and other Northern Straits Coast Salish people started living in this area about 11,000 years ago, after the last ice age. Their creation story says their first ancestor, sweh-tuhn, appeared at Open Bay on Henry Island. The Native people of the San Juan Islands and nearby areas mostly belong to six Coast Salish groups who speak the Northern Straits language: Sooke, Saanich, Songhees, Lummi, Samish, and Semiahmoo. Besides sharing a language, these groups also shared a culture. They used many resources from the sea and land. They moved with the seasons, living in large villages in winter and smaller camps for gathering food at other times.

Treaties and Land Claims

• 1855: Leaders from 23 Native American Nations signed the Treaty of Point Elliott. This treaty opened up a large part of Western Washington for non-Native settlers. To make sure all Native land claims were settled, some leaders signed for groups not directly named. Chow-its-hoot, a Lummi leader, signed as "chief of the Lummi and other allied tribes," which included those living in the San Juan Islands. Later, in 1927, a court decided that the island's Native peoples were part of the Lummi and Samish tribes and were bound by this treaty.
• 1884: She-Kla-Malt (1825-1900) gained ownership of a Lummi village site called whelaalk. This was done through the Indian Trust Homestead Act. This land stayed with Native owners and was a gathering place until 1983.
• 1900: Important Native leaders on the island at this time included Captain George and Chief Seattlak. They were mentioned in official statements in 1927.
• 1919: Charles Roblin, a U.S. government agent, identified 180 people as belonging to the Mitchell Bay or San Juan Tribe.
• 1926: The "San Juan Islands Tribes of Indians" were listed as a group asking for fair payment for lands given up in the Treaty of Point Elliott.
• 1927: Catherine Mason, who was the secretary of the San Juan Tribe of Indians, stated that 318 people were part of the Tribe.
• 1957: The San Juan Tribe of Indians filed a claim for land payment. However, this claim was denied. The commission said that the San Juan Tribe of Indians were descendants of the Lummi and Samish Indians, who had already filed claims.
• 1971: The Mitchell Bay Indian Tribe was mentioned in a report by the Washington state Indian Affairs Task Force.
• 1976: The people of the Mitchell Bay Indian Tribe officially adopted a constitution and elected a seven-member council. William P. Chevalier was chosen as chairman.

The Mitchell Bay Band Today

• Members and descendants of the Mitchell Bay Band continue to work on important issues. They focus on keeping their culture alive, protecting natural habitats and resources, understanding Native American law, and continuing their traditional fishing practices.
• The National Park Service also ordered a study called "Historical Study of the Mitchell Bay Band and San Juan Tribe" to learn more about their history.