Samish facts for kids
| /sʔémǝš/ | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 1,440 (2010) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Washington) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Samish | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Indigenous | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Coast Salish peoples |
The Samish are a group of Native American people. They live in the state of Washington in the United States. The Samish are part of the larger Coast Salish group. This group includes many different Native American peoples who live along the coast.
For many years, the Samish did not have their own land. They were often asked to live on reservations with other tribes. These included the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of Washington and the Tulalip Tribes. In 1996, the Samish Indian Nation was officially recognized by the U.S. government. This meant they were recognized as a sovereign nation.
Contents
What Does "Samish" Mean?
The name "Samish" comes from their own language. In their language, it sounds like /sʔémǝš/. This word means "people of the place where there is something." It describes their connection to their land.
Samish History: A Look Back
The Samish people have a long and rich history. They lived in the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years.
Life Before European Contact
Before Europeans arrived, the Samish people lived by fishing. They fished in the islands and waters off Skagit County, Washington. They had villages on Samish, Guemes, and Fidalgo Islands. They also gathered food and resources in the San Juan Islands.
In 1847, there were more than 2,000 Samish people. Sadly, diseases like measles and smallpox spread. Attacks from other groups also reduced their numbers. By 1855, their population had dropped to about 150 people. This was around the time the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed. After this treaty, some Samish moved to other reservations.
Life After European Contact
The Treaty of Point Elliott was a very important agreement. Even though 113 Samish people were there, no Samish leader signed it. A leader from the Lummi tribe signed for them. Because they did not have their own reservation, many Samish were sent to live with the Lummi or Swinomish tribes.
However, many Samish people chose to stay in their traditional lands. They did not want to move to reservations. Sometimes, people confused them with another tribe called the Skagit. When they did go to the Swinomish Reservation, they received very little land. Only six families got land, which was not enough for everyone.
Many Samish moved to Guemes Island. They built a large traditional house called a longhouse there. Over 100 people lived in this longhouse. By 1912, most Samish had moved to the Swinomish Reservation or other communities. White settlers had pushed them off Guemes Island. The Samish had lived on the part of the island with the only fresh water.
In 1926, the Samish wrote their own constitution. This document helped them set up their own government. In 1971, they received money from the U.S. government. This money was for lands taken from them by the Point Elliott Treaty. The government decided that the Samish had owned about 9,233 acres of land.
In 1996, the Samish were officially recognized again by the U.S. government. This was a very important step for their nation. In 1998, they officially changed their name to the Samish Indian Nation.
Samish Language
The Samish language is a special dialect. It is part of the Northern Straits Salish language family. Another similar language is Southern Straits Salish. Both of these are part of the larger Coast Salish language group.
In 1990, a book was published about the Samish language. It was called A Phonology, Morphology, and Classified Word List for the Samish Dialect of Straits Salish. This book was written by Brent Galloway. He studied the language with the last people who spoke it fluently. His recordings are kept safe by the Museum of Civilization and the Samish Nation. As of 2013, only a few people could still speak the Samish language well.
