Puyallup people facts for kids
 |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 6,700 (3,000 on the reservation) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Lushootseed | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Salishan peoples |
The Puyallup people, also known as Spuyalpabš or S’Puyalupubsh (pronounced: Spoy-all-up-obsh), are a Native American tribe. Their name means 'generous and welcoming behavior to all people who enter our lands'. They are a Coast Salish tribe from western Washington state in the United States.
The Puyallup are a federally recognized tribe. This means the United States government officially recognizes them as a sovereign nation. In late 1854, the Puyallup people were moved to reservation lands in what is now Tacoma, Washington. This happened after they signed the Treaty of Medicine Creek with the United States. Today, about 6,700 people are enrolled members of the Puyallup Tribe. Around 3,000 of them live on the reservation.
The Puyallup Indian Reservation is one of the most urban Native American reservations in the United States. It is mainly located in northern Pierce County. A very small part of it reaches north into the city of Federal Way, in King County. Several communities in the Tacoma area are partly on reservation land. The tribe also controls some land outside the main reservation.
These communities include Tacoma, Waller, Fife, Milton, Edgewood, Puyallup, and Federal Way. The reservation covers about 73.9 square kilometers (28.5 square miles). In 2000, about 41,341 people lived there. Most of these residents are not Native Americans. The tribe has 6,700 members, with 3,000 living on the reservation. The Puyallup people have a long history of welcoming people from different backgrounds into their tribe.
Contents
Puyallup History and Culture
The Puyallup tribe originally spoke the Txʷǝlšucid or Twulshootseed language. This is a local dialect of the Southern Lushootseed language. It belongs to the Salishan family of languages. These languages were common among the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast.
The Puyallup share a similar culture with other Northwest tribes. Their traditional diet relied heavily on fishing for salmon and other local fish. Fishing was a very important part of their culture, surrounded by special rituals and spiritual beliefs.
The Puyallup Reservation
The Puyallup Reservation covers about 73.9 square kilometers (28.5 square miles). It is one of the largest reservations in the Northwest. Even with its size, it is often not shown on maps of Washington. This is because much of its land was sold to non-Native people over time.
Because of land sales and other developments, nearby cities and towns now have parts of their territory within the reservation. The city of Fife, Washington and the community of Fife Heights, Washington are completely inside the reservation. A large part of the Port of Tacoma is also on reservation land. Most people living within the reservation boundaries are not Native Americans or tribal members.
In the mid-1800s, more European Americans started moving into the area. The United States government wanted to develop these lands and allow more people to settle there. They made an agreement with the Puyallup and several other tribes. This was the Treaty of Medicine Creek in 1854. Through this treaty, the tribes gave up much of their land to the U.S. government. They agreed to move to smaller, more restricted areas called reservations.
The Puyallup and the U.S. representatives had very different ideas about land ownership. Because of this, they did not fully understand each other. While the tribe lost most of its traditional territory, they kept important rights. These rights allowed them to continue fishing, hunting, and gathering on their former lands.
In 1989–1990, the Port of Tacoma and the Puyallup Tribe reached a large agreement. This settlement was worth $163 million. It was made possible by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Settlement Act of 1989. This was one of the biggest land claims settlements of the 20th century.
Economic Growth and Ventures
At first, the U.S. government wanted Native Americans to start family farms, like European Americans did. However, this was not a common practice for the Puyallup people. They continued to focus on fishing, which was a central part of their culture.
As times changed in the 1900s and 2000s, the tribe needed new ways to create jobs and income for its members. In the 20th century, the tribe earned money by selling cigarettes. They could sell them tax-free and at a lower price to non-Natives. This is because their reservation is sovereign territory, meaning they do not have to pay state taxes on businesses there. More recently, the tribe made an agreement with Washington State. Now, they sell cigarettes with taxes paid, and the tribe and state share the tax money.
Casino and Entertainment
Since the late 1900s, many states have used gambling, like lotteries, to earn money for public programs. Changes in federal law allowed federally recognized tribes to open bingo halls and other gambling places on their reservations. This helps tribes create income.
To find new ways to earn money and create jobs, the Puyallup Tribe opened the Emerald Queen Casino in 1996. It started on a paddlewheel riverboat called the Emerald Queen in the Port of Tacoma. In 2004, the tribe closed the riverboat casino. This was part of an agreement with the Port to allow more commercial development in the area. The Emerald Queen riverboat is still there but is no longer open for gambling.
The tribe has since opened other gaming and entertainment places. They kept the name Emerald Queen Casino for their overall operations. Today, most of the tribe's income comes from their casinos, along with their restaurants, shops, and hotels.
The Emerald Queen Casino is one of the largest casinos in Washington state. It has locations in both Tacoma and Fife. The Tacoma location includes the casino, a restaurant, a buffet, and a place for shows with singers and comedians. This entertainment venue hosts the Battle at the Boat boxing series. This is the longest-running casino boxing series in the Pacific Northwest. A large new building for the Tacoma casino opened in June 2020. It is 310,000 square feet and includes a hotel and parking garage.
The Fife location has a casino and a 140-room hotel. The tribe bought a Best Western hotel in 2004 and changed it for these purposes. After renovations, the casino opened in early 2005. In 2007, the tribe expanded the Fife location. They built two parking garages, a pool, a spa, new offices, a ballroom, and a larger gaming area.
A new building for the Tacoma location opened on June 8, 2020. This was part of a $400 million expansion project. The 310,000 square foot facility near I-5 has five restaurants and a 12-story hotel with 170 rooms. The project also includes an events center that can hold 2,000 people.
Other Business Ventures
The Puyallup Tribe also uses its economic development branch, Marine View Ventures, for other businesses. They operate several gas stations on the reservation. In the early 2000s, they used money from their casinos to invest in a large container facility at the Port of Tacoma. When finished, this will be the biggest facility of its kind in the Northwest. It will connect the tribe to the shipping trade.
See also
In Spanish: Puyallup (tribu) para niños
