Port Madison Indian Reservation facts for kids
Location of the Port Madison Indian Reservation
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 950 (2012) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Puget Sound, Washington, U.S. | |
| Languages | |
| English, Lushootseed | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Suquamish, Duwamish, and Sammamish peoples |
The Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the U.S. government. This means they have their own special land called an Indian reservation in Washington state.
The tribe includes people from the Suquamish, Duwamish, and Sammamish people groups. All these groups speak a language called Lushootseed. The tribe signed an important agreement called the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855. In 2012, about 950 people were officially part of the tribe.
Contents
Where the Suquamish Tribe Lives
The Port Madison Indian Reservation is located in northern Kitsap County, Washington. It covers about 7,657 acres of land. The Suquamish Tribe owns some of this land. Individual tribal members own more, and some land is owned by people who are not part of the tribe.
A body of water called Miller Bay divides the reservation into two parts. The towns of Suquamish and Indianola are both found within the reservation's borders. In the year 2000, about 6,536 people lived on the reservation.
A Look at Suquamish History
The Port Madison Reservation was created by the Point Elliott Treaty. This treaty was signed on January 22, 1855, for the Suquamish people. It was officially set up by a special order on October 21, 1864. Other Native American groups, like the Duwamish and Sammamish, also moved to the reservation.
When the land was first set aside by the treaty, it was all meant for tribal members. However, over time, some rules allowed non-Native people to buy land. This meant that the reservation land became mixed, with some parts owned by the tribe and some by others.
How the Tribe is Growing
Since the early 1990s, the Suquamish Tribe has done a great job with its businesses. This success has helped the tribal government buy back land that was lost a long time ago. Today, the tribe and its members own more than half of the land on the reservation. This is the first time this has happened in many years.
For example, in 2010, the tribe bought the White Horse Golf Club. In 2014, they also bought 200 acres of land known as the Place of the Bear. In 2012, the tribe started a special farm for shellfish on a floating dock. Here, they raise clams.
Important Places to Visit
The Suquamish Museum was finished in 2012. It helped make Suquamish Village a great place to walk around and learn about the culture. Here are some important spots:
- The grave of Chief Si'ahl, or Seattle, at the Suquamish Cemetery. He was a famous leader.
- Old Man House Park, which was once the site of Old Man House. This was the biggest winter longhouse in the Salish Sea area.
- The Suquamish Veterans Memorial, with special honor poles. These poles show Chief Kitsap and Chief Seattle.
- The House of Awakened Culture, which looks out over Port Madison.
- Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, located near the Agate Pass bridge. This is a place for events and fun. It has a hotel with 183 rooms and shows off beautiful Coast Salish art.
Famous Tribal Members
- Chief Seattle (Suquamish/Duwamish, around 1786–1866). He was a strong leader and a skilled diplomat.
See also
In Spanish: Reserva india de Port Madison para niños
