William Shelton (chief) facts for kids

William Shelton (1869-1938) was the last leader of the Snohomish people in Tulalip, Washington. He was also a writer, a talented sculptor, and a representative for his people with the United States government.

Shelton was special because he could speak both English and Lushootseed. Lushootseed is the language of the Coast Salish people. He learned English by going to a mission school.

Who Was William Shelton?

William Shelton was born in 1869 and lived until 1938. He became the last hereditary chief of the Snohomish people. This means he inherited his leadership role from his family. He lived in Tulalip, Washington, which is an important place for the Snohomish.

Besides being a leader, Shelton was also known for his artistic and writing skills. He worked to keep his people's culture alive. He also helped the Snohomish communicate with the U.S. government.

Shelton's Amazing Story Poles

William Shelton was famous for carving many story poles. These are tall wooden poles that tell important stories. People sometimes mistakenly call them totem poles. Very few of Shelton's original story poles still exist today.

One of his remaining story poles had to be cut in half because it started to rot. The top part of this pole is now at the Tulalip Elementary School. You can find old photos of the complete pole at the Everett Public Library. These photos show what the pole looked like before it was cut.

The Story Pole for Washington State

William Shelton started carving a very large story pole, 71 feet tall, for the state of Washington. He began this project in exchange for being allowed to write down his people's legends. The U.S. government at that time was trying to stop Native American cultures. Shelton made a deal with Washington State Governor Roland Hartley. He could carve the pole if he wrote down the stories behind the figures on it.

Shelton passed away in 1938 before he could finish this huge pole. Other members of his tribe completed the carving for him. This pole stood on the grounds of the state capitol building in Olympia, Washington. However, it was taken down on November 3, 2010, because it was becoming unsafe.

Writing Down Legends

In 1925, William Shelton wrote a book called The Story of the Totem Pole or Indian Legends. The full title explains that it shares "Early Indian Legends As Handed Down From Generation To Generation." This book is very important. It is the only written record of many legends from the Coast Salish people.

At a time when the U.S. government was trying to erase Native American traditions, Shelton's book was a way to preserve them. He made sure these important stories would not be forgotten. His work helped keep the history and culture of his people alive for future generations.

Shelton's Family Life

William Shelton was married to Ruth Sehome Shelton. Her Native American name was Siastenu. Ruth lived for 20 years after William passed away, until October 4, 1958. Ruth was also a very good speaker of Chinook. Chinook was a special trade language. It mixed words from French, English, and different Native American languages.