Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe facts for kids
Location of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in Washington state
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| Headquarters | 2373 Old Tokeland Road, Tokeland, Washington (46°43′22″N 124°01′33″W / 46.72278°N 124.02583°W) |
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| Ethnic groups |
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| Demonym(s) |
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| Enrolled citizens | 373 (2016) |
| Government | Tribal Council |
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• Chairman
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Quinton Swanson |
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• Vice chairman
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Shane Thomas |
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• Secretary
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Lynn Clark |
Quick facts for kids Domestic dependent nation
within the United States
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• Reservation created
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September 22, 1866 |
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• Recognized
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March 10, 1971 |
The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is a Native American tribe. It is officially recognized by the United States government. The tribe lives in Pacific County, Washington. Its members are descendants of the Lower Chehalis and the Willapa (Shoalwater) Chinook peoples. In 2016, the tribe had 373 enrolled members.
The Shoalwater Bay Tribe manages the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation. The tribe's main office is in Tokeland, Washington.
Contents
History of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe
The Shoalwater Bay Tribe comes from the Shoalwater Bay Indians. This name was used for many groups of people who lived around Willapa Bay. These groups included the Lower Chehalis and the Willapa Chinook.
Early Years and the Chehalis River Treaty
In 1855, leaders from the Shoalwater Bay Indians met to discuss the Chehalis River Treaty. However, they chose not to sign it. They wanted to keep living their traditional way of life on their lands.
Eleven years later, on September 22, 1866, President Andrew Johnson signed an order. This order created a reservation at a place called nám̓sč̓ac̓. This was where a Lower Chehalis village used to be. About 30 to 40 Native American families still lived in Willapa Bay at that time. The order set aside about 335 acres of land for them. This allowed the Shoalwater Bay peoples to keep their land even without signing a treaty.
Tribal Leaders and Recognition
From 1899 to 1936, George A. Charley was the chief of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. He was one of the last people in the area to have a flattened head. This was a custom for noble families in the Pacific Northwest. His father, Charley Toke, was chief before him.
For many years, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe was not officially recognized by the US government. In the 1960s, the tribe began talking with the United States. Finally, on March 10, 1971, the US government officially recognized the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. This meant they kept their right to govern themselves. The tribe then adopted its own constitution on May 22.
In 1984, the tribe gave up its claim to 8 acres of land. This land had been given to an American citizen in 1872. The tribe received $1,000,000 for this claim.
Health and Ancestral Remains
Between 1988 and 1998, the tribe faced health challenges. This led to more awareness and federal funding for healthcare for tribal members.
In February 2006, the tribe worked with the American Museum of Natural History in New York. They aimed to bring back the remains of eight ancestors. These ancestors were likely from the Shoalwater people.
Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation
The Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation is the land set aside for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. It is located west of Tokeland. This area is on the southwest coast of Washington state. It sits along the northern shores of Willapa Bay.
The reservation covers about 2.693 square kilometers (1.0397 square miles). It was created in 1866. In 2000, 70 people lived on the reservation. By 2020, the population had grown to 82 people.
Life on the Reservation
In 2010, about "half a dozen" Indigenous families lived on the reservation. As of 2020, there are 32 households living in 41 housing units. Most of the people on the reservation are employed. Also, most have health care coverage. A small percentage of residents have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Economy and Services
The Shoalwater Bay Tribe runs several businesses and services. They operate the Shoalwater Bay Casino, which opened in 1998. The tribe also has its own police force and a library. They run a wellness center, an oyster company, and a recreation center.
Many tribal members work in nearby cranberry bogs. They also work in the fishing and crabbing industries. Children from the reservation attend school in the nearby community of Ocosta. In the 1990s, the tribe was one of the poorest in the state. At that time, many tribal members lived below the poverty line.
The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is part of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. This board helps provide medical care for American Indian and Alaska Native people. Their tribal clinic also serves local non-Native people. The clinic provides care for 890 individuals.
Demographics of the Tribe
The Shoalwater Bay Tribe is one of the smaller tribes in Washington state. In 2016, there were 373 enrolled members of the tribe. This number has grown over the years. In 2005, there were 207 members. In 1992, there were 134 members. In 1985, there were 64 enrolled members. Around 2010, only a few of the enrolled members lived on the reservation itself.
Culture and Traditions
The tribes who lived in Willapa Bay long ago were expert canoers. They used canoes a lot for travel. By the late 1800s, tribal members stopped making canoes.
On August 23, 2008, the Shoalwater Bay tribe built canoes again. This was the first time since the 1800s. They took part in the Tribal Canoe Journeys. They traveled with the Chinook Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde. They paddled from Toke Point to Bay Center.
Languages Spoken
Historically, the people of Willapa Bay spoke several languages. These included Lower Chinook, Lower Chehalis, and likely Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie. Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie is an Athabaskan language. By 1879, the people of Shoalwater Bay mainly spoke Lower Chehalis. This is a Salishan language.
