Tulalip Tribes facts for kids
| dxʷlilap | |
|---|---|
Logo of the Tulalip Tribes
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| Total population | |
| 2,500–2,800 enrolled members | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Washington) |
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| Languages | |
| English, Lushootseed | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Sauk-Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish people |
The Tulalip Tribes of Washington is a federally recognized tribe of Native American people in the United States. Long ago, several distinct groups joined together to form this community. These groups include the Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish people. Together, they belong to the larger family of Coast Salish peoples. They are part of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Today, their homeland sits in the mid-Puget Sound region of Washington.
The tribe lives on a special area of land called the Tulalip Indian Reservation. It is located near Marysville, Washington in the lively Seattle metropolitan area. The reservation covers about 34.7 square miles (90 km2) of beautiful forests, shorelines, and thriving modern towns. It includes an active commercial center known as Quil Ceda Village.
Contents
Discovering the Meaning of the Name Tulalip
The word Tulalip comes from the historic Snohomish dialect of the Salish language. In their traditional speech, the word is written as dxʷlilap.
In 1855, leaders began using this special name for the different groups who united on the reservation lands. The Point Elliott Treaty brought these groups together under one peaceful community name. Today, the name honors the shared heritage of the Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish people.
The Tulalip Indian Reservation and Its Lands
The reservation was first created by the historical Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855. Later, US President Ulysses S. Grant officially confirmed its boundaries by Executive Order on January 22, 1873.
The reservation is nestled along the peaceful waters of Port Susan in western Snohomish County. It shares its eastern edge with the busy city of Marysville. The reservation spans across 34.7 square miles (90 km2; 22,200 acres) of land. According to the official 2020 census, nearly 11,000 people live inside its borders. The biggest community on the reservation is located around Tulalip Bay.
History of the Land
Native families originally moved onto these lands after agreeing to the Point Elliott Treaty with the leaders of the old Washington Territory. Officials originally planned for the site to shelter most tribal groups across the entire Puget Sound region. Later on, the government created other local reservations, so the planned boundaries were adjusted.
Modern transportation changed how the landscape looked in the twentieth century. When engineers built Interstate 5 during the 1950s and 1960s, the highway divided the area into two sections. Today, Marysville sits to the east of the highway, while tribal lands extend toward the coast to the west. Decades ago during World War II, the military operated an ammunition depot on part of the reservation. Later, the aerospace company Boeing used some of that land for testing equipment before returning spaces to community use.
Reservation Communities
Several friendly neighborhoods, villages, and towns make up the reservation today:
- Cathan
- John Sam Lake
- Priest Point
- Quil Ceda Village
- Shaker Church
- Stimson Crossing
- Tulalip Bay
- Weallup Lake
Schools and Learning
Children living on the reservation often attend schools run by the Marysville School District. The school district built a large educational center right on the reservation called the Marysville Secondary Campus. This modern campus includes Tulalip Heritage High School, Legacy High School, and a middle school. High school students share an athletic gymnasium and common spaces. The tribal community also works hard to offer indigenous-centered classes so kids can learn tribal history, language, and leadership skills.
How the Tribe Builds Its Economy
The Tulalip Tribes run many successful businesses that bring jobs and resources to the community. They operate exciting restaurants like Quil Ceda Deli, Canoes Carvery, Cedars Cafe, and Tulalip Bay Restaurant. Visitors also enjoy dining at Journeys East, The Draft Sports Bar & Grill, Torch Grill, and Q Burgers.
Entertainment centers like Tulalip Bingo, the large Tulalip Resort Casino, and the Quil Ceda Creek Casino help fund tribal programs. The original casino was replaced in 2021 by a brand new, 126,700-square-foot (11,770 m2) building. With profits from these destinations, tribal leaders invest in exciting new projects to keep their local economy strong and diverse.
The Story of Quil Ceda Village
One of the most impressive tribal projects is Quil Ceda Village, an 800-acre (320 ha) planned business city within the reservation. It sits right along Interstate 5, making it easy for travelers and neighbors to visit.
Quil Ceda Village hosts major shopping stores like Walmart and Home Depot. In 2004, the tribe partnered with a shopping center company to construct a massive outlet mall called Seattle Premium Outlets. This outdoor mall features over one hundred popular brand-name stores and delicious food spots. The tribe also runs modern fueling stations, sourcing their supplies through a partnership with the nearby Yakama Nation.
Tribal planners care deeply about healthy outdoor recreation. They preserved a historic railroad bridge over the highway that was once used by Boeing trains. Leaders developed long-term designs to convert this tall structure into a scenic multi-use path. This walking and cycling route connects tribal neighborhoods to a planned Amtrak Cascades passenger train station in Marysville.
Tribal Government and Leadership
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The Tulalip Tribes manage their own government from headquarters in Tulalip, Washington. The tribe is led by a seven-person Board of Directors chosen through regular democratic elections. Each director serves a three-year term to guide community laws and plan public services.
The tribal leadership includes:
- Chairwoman: Teri Gobin
- Vice Chairwoman: Misty Napeahi
- Secretary: Theresa Sheldon
- Treasurer: Hazen Shopbell
- Council member: Glen Gobin
- Council member: Marlin Fryberg Jr.
- Council member: Debra Posey
The tribe decides who qualifies for official tribal membership. Rules require citizens to show family descent from ancestors recorded on the historic 1935 Tulalip census rolls. The tribe welcomes members based on their documented family roots without using strict mathematical rules like blood quantum.
Working for Justice and Safety
In 1978, the US Supreme Court decided a famous case called Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe. This ruling limited how a local tribal court could handle safety rules involving visitors.
The Tulalip Tribes joined an important nationwide pilot project alongside the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona. This special effort helped make reservation neighborhoods safer for families.
Tribal Voices in State Politics
Tulalip leaders play an active role in state and regional elections. In 2002, a respected tribal leader named John McCoy won election to the Washington State Legislature. For several years, he served as the sole Native American lawmaker in Olympia before retiring in 2020.
Over time, other indigenous leaders won office in Washington, including Jeff Morris, Dino Rossi, Jim Dunn, and Julie Johnson from the Lummi. Most of these native officials joined the Democratic Party. Together, indigenous leaders advocate for environmental protections, clean water, tribal rights, and fair schools.
Rich Culture and Living Traditions
The people of Tulalip celebrate an ancient, rich culture that remains vibrant today. They share their traditions through art, language, ceremonies, and storytelling.
Exploring the Hibulb Cultural Center
In August 2011, the tribe opened a wonderful museum named the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve. The main building covers 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2) of space filled with rare historical artifacts, carving exhibits, and classrooms.
Visitors can explore a life-sized cedar longhouse, browse a research library, and walk through a beautiful 50 acres (20 ha) nature preserve. The center teaches children how ancestors gathered natural plants, navigated local waterways, and crafted beautiful tools from cedar wood.
Lushootseed Language Revitalization
The traditional language of the tribe is Lushootseed, which belongs to the larger family of Salish languages. Many tribal members also speak the English language.
To help people read and write Lushootseed, scholars created an alphabet using the Latin script. During the 1990s, the tribe founded its own language department to create books, flashcards, and digital recordings. Local teenagers can even take Lushootseed language courses for class credit at Marysville Pilchuck High School.
Celebrations and Gatherings
Throughout each season, the Tulalip community gathers for special cultural ceremonies:
- Treaty Days: Held every January to remember the signing of the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855.
- First King Salmon Ceremony: A spring blessing that honors nature and celebrates catching the first king salmon of the season.
- Winter Dancing: Traditional ceremonies where songs and dances are shared inside community longhouses.
- Veterans Pow Wow: A summer festival held every June with drumming, singing, dancing, and colorful regalia to honor brave military service members.
See also
In Spanish: Tulalip para niños
