Indigenous Voices from Fort Nisqually

In 1989, seventeen tribes participated in the first modern Canoe Journey, the “Paddle to Seattle”, as part of the Washington State Centennial celebrations. This historic event soon led to annual Canoe Journeys and a cultural revival for Coast Salish tribes. In this episode, participants share their Canoe Journey experiences, the history of Canoe Journey, and its importance to tribal communities an...

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, introduced in 1988, confirmed the rights of Tribes to conduct gaming on Indian lands and resulted in substantial growth for Tribal economic development. In episode 3, participants discuss developing Tribal economies, commercial land use, and what Tribes are doing to support their membership, youth, and the future. Panelists include: Julie Hamilton, Director of Fin...

Throughout history, traditional Native lands have been reduced through governmental actions, such as the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty and the 1887 General Allotment Act which forced local Tribes to relocate to new lands that were ill-suited for survival. In this episode, participants discuss the cultural importance of natural resources, the history of these lands, and what Tribes are doing to preser...

Welcome to Season 3 of the Indigenous Voices Podcast. As we wrapped up Season 2, participants discussed the importance of Native teachings, the benefits of Tribal sovereignty for all of us, and the hopes of the Treaty War warriors. The first episode of Season 3 explores Tribal sovereignty. Our participants discuss Tribal governance, Tribal vs. American citizenship, laws and taxes, and discourse ar...

In the last episode of season 2 of Indigenous Voices , participants discuss the importance of Native teachings, the benefits of Tribal sovereignty for all of us, and the hopes of the Treaty War warriors. To learn more, and to see how you can incorporate Tribal history into your classroom, please visit our Tribal partners websites. Panelists include: Amber Taylor, Assistant Director/Collections Man...

The Boldt Decision of 1970 upended the fishing industry in Washington State, resulting in a slew of court cases over the next 5 decades. In episode 11, participants discuss a selection of court cases covering shellfish, large game, and habitat restoration. Panelists include: Amber Taylor, Assistant Director/Collections Manager, Puyallup Tribe Brandon Reynon, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, P...

The Centennial Accord, signed in 1989, is an agreement between the State of Washington and Washington State’s federally recognized Tribes to improve government-to-government relationships. In this episode of Indigenous Voices, participants discuss the outcomes of the Centennial Accord and its effects on the fishing industry in Washington State, as well as the significance of consultation between s...

The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 protects the rights of Native Americans to practice their traditional religions guaranteeing access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites. In episode 9, participants discuss the path to gaining religious freedom and some of the difficulties they must still overcome to pr...

Article 3 of the Medicine Creek Treaty reads, “The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary houses for the purpose of curing, together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses on open and unclaimed lands: Provided, h...

Article 3 of the Medicine Creek Treaty reads, “The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary houses for the purpose of curing, together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses on open and unclaimed lands: Provided, h...

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 decreased federal control of Native affairs, returned surplus lands to the tribes, and encouraged tribal self-governance. In episode 6, participants discuss the state or tribal governances after the Dawes Act and the Indian Reorganization Act. Panelists include: Amber Taylor, Assistant Director/Collections Manager, Puyallup Tribe Charlene Krise, Executive Dire...

The Dawes Act of 1887 allowed the federal government to divide tribal lands into 160-acre allotments. These allotments were then assigned to individual tribal members with the goal of assimilating Native families. Unassigned allotments were designated as surplus and given to American settlers, resulting in the loss of two-thirds of tribal lands. In this episode, participants discuss the lasting im...

The Dawes Act of 1887 allowed the federal government to divide tribal lands into 160-acre allotments. These allotments were then assigned to individual tribal members with the goal of assimilating Native families. Unassigned allotments were designated as surplus and given to American settlers, resulting in the loss of two-thirds of tribal lands. In this episode, participants discuss the lasting im...

The United States’ boarding school program was designed to strip Native children of their culture by isolating them from their families and placing them into militant style, religious boarding schools. Our second and third episodes discuss two schools in particular, the Puyallup Indian School, located on Squaxin Island, and the Cushman Indian School, located in Tacoma. This is part 2 of a 2-part e...

The United States’ boarding school program was designed to strip Native children of their culture by isolating them from their families and placing them into militant style, religious boarding schools. Our second and third episodes discuss two schools in particular, the Puyallup Indian School, located on Squaxin Island, and the Cushman Indian School, located in Tacoma. This is part 1 of a 2-part e...

Season 2, Episode 1 of the Indigenous Voices Podcast focuses on the Fox Island Council, the reasons communities moved into this camp, and the conditions they lived in. Season 1 of the Indigenous Voice Podcast explored the experiences of being Native in the Puget Sound Region. Panelists discussed everything from food sovereignty to language revitalization, ending the season in a 2-part episode abou...

Monuments and memorials to the Treaty War can be found throughout Western Washington. Many of these monuments were placed over a century ago and reflect a one-sided and racist view of the conflict. In episodes 11 and 12 we discuss these monuments, how tribal participants experience them, and we ask what a monument that provides an opportunity for reconciliation and learning would look like. Paneli...

Monuments and memorials to the Treaty War can be found throughout Western Washington. Many of these monuments were placed over a century ago and reflect a one-sided and racist view of the conflict. In episodes 11 and 12 we discuss these monuments, how tribal participants experience them, and we ask what a monument that provides an opportunity for reconciliation and learning would look like. Paneli...

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, formally Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1974 as part of the National Park Service's Registry of Natural Landmarks. The refuge is also the site of the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty signing. In this episode we visit the refuge and discuss how tribal sovereignty relates to the Refuge, how changes in the landscape affects sense of place,...

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, formally Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, was established in 1974 as part of the National Park Service's Registry of Natural Landmarks. The refuge is also the site of the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty signing. In this episode we visit the refuge and ask panelists to describe the landscape, share stories related to the treaty signing, and discuss the impor...

In September 2022, the Puget Sound Treaty War Panel series was recognized, along with 52 other recipients nationwide, by the American Association for State and Local History for a Leadership in History Award. The award recognizes achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. Earlier this summer, panel participants gathered at the Association for Living History, Far...

In September 2022, the Puget Sound Treaty War Panel series was recognized, along with 52 other recipients nationwide, by the American Association for State and Local History for a Leadership in History Award. The award recognizes achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. Earlier this summer, panel participants gathered at the Association for Living History, Far...

In the 6th episode, we discuss tribal sovereignty and how sovereignty relates to intergovernmental relationships and tribal identity. While the term itself is often understood as a legal recognition of treaty tribes as sovereign nations that possess self-government, sovereignty also encompasses the cultural and historical traditions. It is important to note that Tribal Sovereignty pre-dates the Un...

In this episode we discuss how modern language revitalization programs are connected to tribal identity and tribal resilience. We speak with two language keepers, Janice Hicks-Bullchild, a language student from the Nisqually Tribe and Rose Davis, a language teacher from the Muckleshoot Tribe of Indians. Panelists include: Janice Hicks-Bullchild, Nisqually Tribe of Indians Rose Davis, Muckleshoot I...

In our fourth episode we discuss food sovereignty and how the movement of food sovereignty relates to the protection of treaty rights won in the Puget Sound Treaty War. This episode references the fishing wars of the 1970s and the resulting Boldt decision as well as two recent legal battles over treaty rights – the 2018 Culverts Case in which the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that culverts constru...