Behind the Sign

Unfortunately, like most treaties signed between the United States of America and Native American tribes, the written promises typically did not hold up in practice — and this was the case as well with the Treaty of Point Elliott. In this second part of our Tales of the Magic Skagit series, “Treaty Day,” we look at the reasons the signatory tribes signed a document written in a language they did not understand, and the consequences of their doing so. Finally, we consider the counter-intuitive reasons why Coast Salish tribes would celebrate the event that took place in Mukilteo 169 years ago that forever changed their way of life.

On January 22, 1855 more than 2,000 natives of the Puget Sound area, represented by a dozen acknowledged tribal leaders, met with representative of the federal government of the United States at a place in Mukilteo, Washington known as Point Elliott to reach a “lands settlement agreement.” The resulting “Treaty of Point Elliott” effectively ceded more than 5 million acres of native land in exchange for retaining inherent rights to self-governance and self determination, as well as the right to fish in all “usual and accustomed places and to hunt and gather on all open and unclaimed land.” Additionally, the native peoples represented at Point Elliott were promised education, healthcare, and housing as well as "payment" for their ceded lands and abandoned homes. This is the first of three Tales of the Magic Skagit episodes that I’ll be devoting to the history of the Treaty of Point Elliott and its legacy. As one of the “New People” to the Skagit Valley, this is not a story I feel especially qualified to tell, so I’m relying on the excellent work that has been done by the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, which is located on the Tulalip Reservation near Marysville.

Fifty miles from Mount Vernon along Hwy. 20, and about as many minutes driving time, you’ll find yourself at a pullout at Mile Marker 100 and deep in the heart of the Skagit Wild and Scenic River System. Near the confluence of three major rivers, prime eagle watching, abundant fisheries, and outstanding scenic beauty are the hallmarks of this remarkable landscape.