Chehalis Indian Reservation
The Confederated Tribes' traditional territories were along the Black, Chehalis, Cowlitz, Elk, Johns, Newaukum, Satsop, Shookumchuck, and Wynoochee Rivers, and included lands from the Southwest coast to the lower Puget Sound of Washington.
Reservation
The Chehalis Reservation ranges 4,438 acres (17.96 km), and is home to more than 600 American Indians. The reservation was first established in 1860 for the Lower and Upper Chehalis people. Originally 4,224.63 acres (17.10 km) larger, 3,753.63 acres (15.19 km) of land was distributed to non-native settlers in 1866 via Executive Order. An additional 471 acres (1.91 km) was given to schools. By 1906, fewer than 150 Chehalis people remained on the reservation and a 1984 survey found the population to be 382.
Government
The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation's headquarters is in Oakville, Washington. The Tribe is governed by a democratically elected five-member General Council. The existing constitution and bylaws were ratified on July 15, 1939.
Chairmen
As of November 2022, Dustin Klatush serves as the current Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis.
Past chairmen include:
- Harry Pickernell Sr. (2017-2023)
- Don Secena (2015 -2017)
- David Burnett (
Language
English has become the common spoken language of the Tribe. Traditional languages include the Upper Chehalis and Lower Chehalis languages, which are derived from the Quinault languages of the Tsamosan branch of the Salish language family. The last native speaker of the Upper Chehalis language died in 2001.
Economic development
The Chehalis Tribe owns and operates Lucky Eagle Casino, Eagle’s Landing Hotel, Grand Buffet, Scatter Creek Grill, Prime Rib and Steakhouse, Sidewalk Deli in Rochester, Washington, the Great Wolf Lodge Resort and Talking Cedar Brewing in Grand Mound, Washington. It also owns three convenience stores, a fast food restaurant, two construction companies, and a cigarette stamping business. The tribe employs 1,498 people.
Notes
- ^ "Chehalis Tribe." Archived June 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Tsamosan." Ethnologue. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Our Story." Archived September 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine The Chehalis Tribes. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
- ^ "Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation." Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Governors Office of Indian Affairs. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Chehalis Tribe names Harry Pickernell Sr. its chairman," The Daily World. July 1, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Tribal Directory." National Congress of American Indians. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
- ^ "Chehalis, Upper." Ethnologue. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
- ^ "Lucky Eagle Casino." 500 Nations. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
References
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.
External links
- Chehalis Tribe, official website
- Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, official website