Patkanim facts for kids
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Chief Patkanim was an important leader of the Snoqualmie and Snohomish tribes. He lived in what is now Washington state. His name is sometimes spelled Pat-ka-nam or Pat Kanim.
In the 1850s, Patkanim lived in a large village called tultxʷ. This village was a great fishing spot where the Tolt and Snoqualmie rivers meet. Today, this area is known as Carnation, Washington. His village had sixteen longhouses, which were big homes for many families.
Chief Patkanim was a very powerful leader. His influence stretched from Whidbey Island all the way to Snoqualmie Pass. This area is between what is now British Columbia and King County, Washington. He was a major Native American leader in the Puget Sound region. This was partly because he controlled Snoqualmie Pass. Controlling this pass meant he could manage the profitable trade between tribes on both sides of the mountains.
Contents
Early Encounters with Settlers
Meeting on Whidbey Island (1848)
Patkanim first became known to American settlers in 1848. He organized a big meeting on Whidbey Island. About 8,000 Native Americans from the Puget Sound area gathered. They met to talk about the growing number of white settlers.
During the meeting, Patkanim gave a speech. He warned that if Americans settled among them, they would become too many. He said the settlers might take their people away on "fire-ships" to a far-off land. He believed the few settlers present could be stopped easily. This would discourage others from coming.
However, a leader from the Steilacoom tribe, Chew-see-a-kit, disagreed. He thought the white settlers on his land helped protect them from raids by northern tribes, like the Snoqualmies.
Raid on Fort Nisqually (1849)
On May 1, 1849, Patkanim led 100 Snoqualmie warriors to Fort Nisqually. This fort was a farm and trading post run by the Hudson's Bay Company. Patkanim's group said they did not plan to attack the white people living there.
Patkanim was allowed into Fort Nisqually, but things quickly became tense. A fight broke out. Some Americans who were not part of the fort's company were outside. They were asked to come inside for safety, but they refused. During the fight, one American was killed and two were hurt. The officer in charge of the fort, William Tolmie, thought the Snoqualmies might have wanted to cause trouble with the Native Americans living at the fort or to capture slaves. After this event, Patkanim found it better to work with the settlers.
Working with Americans
In 1854, Patkanim helped U.S. Army Captain George B. McClellan explore Snoqualmie Pass. McClellan later became a major general in the American Civil War. This exploration was part of the Pacific Railroad Surveys.
On January 22, 1855, Patkanim signed the Treaty of Point Elliott. In this treaty, he agreed to give up land in several modern counties. In return, his people received a reservation near Tulalip, Washington.
Patkanim had good relationships with the people who founded Seattle, like Doc Maynard and Arthur Denny. When the Puget Sound War was about to begin, they convinced him to become an ally of the United States. He agreed to help for a payment. He helped build forts and camped at Fort Tilton with 100 of his warriors. Their job was to block Snoqualmie Pass.
After the Battle of Seattle in 1856, Governor Isaac Stevens offered money for the heads of raiders. He offered $20 for regular Native Americans and $80 for a "chief." Patkanim brought many heads. However, the Territorial Auditor eventually stopped this practice. It was suspected that many of the "chiefs" were actually Patkanim's slaves from raids on other tribes.
Legacy and Family
Chief Kanim Middle School in Fall City, Washington, is named after one of Patkanim's nephews, Chief Jerry Kanim. Kanim Falls and Lake Kanim in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness are also named after this nephew.
It is believed that Patkanim had three daughters named Julia, Susie, and Elizabeth (Lizzie).
A marker was placed near Tulalip to remember Chief Patkanim. However, it does not include his birth or death dates.
Today, the descendants of Patkanim and his tribe are part of the Snoqualmie tribe and the smaller Snoqaulmoo bands.
