Stillaguamish people facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| over 237 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Washington) | |
| Languages | |
| Lushootseed, English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Salish peoples |
The Stillaguamish people (who call themselves stuləgʷábš) are a Native American tribe. They live in the northwest part of Washington State in the United States. Their home is near the city of Arlington, Washington and the Stillaguamish River, which is named after them.
The Stillaguamish are part of the Coast Salish group. This is a larger family of indigenous peoples who have lived along the Pacific Northwest coast for thousands of years. Today, many Stillaguamish people are members of the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington or the Tulalip Tribes of Washington. These are tribes officially recognized by the U.S. government.
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Stillaguamish History
The Stillaguamish people living today are descendants of the Stoluck-wa-mish River Tribe. This tribe lived along the Stillaguamish River in the 1850s. They had several villages along the river. Some important village sites include Skabalko, which is now Arlington, and Sŭl-gwähs', which is now downtown Stanwood.
Treaty and Reservation
On January 22, 1855, the Stillaguamish people signed an important agreement. It was called the Point Elliott Treaty. In this treaty, they were called the "Stoluck-wa-mish." After the treaty, many tribal members moved to the Tulalip Reservation. However, others chose to stay along the Stillaguamish River.
Many years later, in 2014, the Stillaguamish Reservation was created. It is located northwest of Arlington, near where the old village of Skabalko used to be.
Tribal Government and Recognition
The Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington created its own rules and government on January 31, 1953. They set up a tribal council with six members. These members are chosen by the tribe through a democratic election.
In 1974, the Stillaguamish Tribe asked the United States government to officially recognize them. This recognition was granted on October 27, 1976. Being recognized means the tribe has a special relationship with the U.S. government.
Protecting Salmon
In 2003, there were 237 people officially enrolled as members of the tribe. The tribe works hard to protect the salmon in the Stillaguamish River watershed. They work with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to manage the salmon populations.
As part of this effort, the tribe has a special hatchery. This hatchery helps raise and release chinook and coho salmon into the river. The tribe also runs educational activities to teach people about the importance of salmon.
