Point No Point Treaty facts for kids
| Signed | January 26, 1855 |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula |
| Parties |
The Point No Point Treaty was an important agreement signed on January 26, 1855. It happened at a place called Point No Point, which is at the very top of the Kitsap Peninsula in what is now Washington State. This treaty was between the Washington Territory government and several Native American tribes. These tribes included the S'Klallam, the Chimakum, and the Skokomish.
Contents
What Was the Point No Point Treaty?
A treaty is like a big, official agreement between different groups of people or governments. In this case, the Point No Point Treaty was about land. The Native American tribes who had lived for a long time on the northern Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula agreed to give up their land.
What the Treaty Said
In return for their land, the tribes were promised a few things. They would get small areas of land called reservations. These reservations were located along the Hood Canal. The United States government also agreed to pay them $60,000.
The treaty also had other rules. The Native Americans could only trade with the United States government. They also had to free any people they held as slaves. And they promised not to get any new slaves.
The Treaty Council Begins
The meeting to discuss this treaty started on January 25, 1855. Isaac Stevens, who was the Governor of the Washington Territory, led the meeting. About 1,200 Native Americans gathered at a sandy piece of land they called Hahdskus. Today, this spot is where a lighthouse stands.
The treaty ideas were first written in English. Then, they were translated into Chinook Jargon. This was a special trade language that many different tribes and traders used to communicate.
Concerns from Tribal Leaders
On the first day, some tribal leaders shared their worries. Hool-hol-tan, a leader from the Skokomish tribe, was concerned. He worried that there wouldn't be enough food on the new reservation lands. He also didn't like the lands being offered.
Another leader, L'Hau-at-scha-uk, was afraid to leave his family's traditional lands. He felt he might die if he moved away. Other leaders thought the land was being bought too cheaply. They now understood how valuable their land was. The white representatives tried to make the land seem less important. But the first day ended without anyone agreeing to the treaty.
Signing the Treaty
However, by the next morning, the tribal chiefs and headmen returned. They came carrying white flags, which showed they were ready to make peace. They then added their marks, like signatures, to the treaty.
It's important to know that the United States representatives had already written the treaty exactly how they wanted it. They had no plans to change it based on what the tribes said during the meeting.
