Native American mothers, each holding a baby wrapped in blanket, sit on a bench under a tree. They have travelled to the Puyallup Valley with other members of their tribes to pick hops. This is an ancient gathering for the Native Americans of Washington and British Columbia. The tribes represented are the Kowegians, Sheeshats and West Coast Tribes from Vancouver Island, Yakimas from Eastern Washington, Clallams, Neah Bays and Quillayutes from Port Angeles, Taholahs and Quinaults from Grays Harbor, Chahalises from farther inland, Skagits, Laconners, Snohomishes, and Lummis from the northern part of the state and the Puyallups and Nisquallys living in the valley. (T. Times 8-30-1934, pg. 1+)

Indians of North America; Mothers & children--Puyallup--1930-1940; Infants--Puyallup--1930-1940;

Two year old Marjorie Abraham Charlie kneels in the grass and straw next to a tent at the annual Native American gathering in Puyallup Valley at Audoma Park, two miles from Puyallup, for the hop picking season. The Native Americans tribes of Washington and British Columbia gathered annually at hop and berry picking time to socialize with each other and to help keep alive their ancient customs and games. (T. Times 8/30/1934, pg.1)

Charlie, Marjorie Abraham; Indians of North America; Migrant agricultural laborers--Puyallup--1930-1940; Migrant laborers--1930-1940; Hops; Girls--Puyallup--1930-1940;

On July 31, 1936, promoter Rookie Lewis outdid himself by staging an authentic "Indian Wedding" as the evening's special attraction during his Walkathon (dance marathon) at the Century Ballroom in Fife. Chief White Eagle conducted the Native American wedding of So-To-Le-O and groom Qua-Le-Ales, with rites performed in sign language. Five different tribes participated in the wedding. The Walkathon was heavily attended by citizens of Tacoma and Seattle, since both cities had local ordinances forbidding such marathons. Approximately 30 people were pictured, first two rows were Native-Americans in costume, others may be some of the remaining participants in the Walkathon. Tribal blankets serve as backdrop. (T.Times 7-31-36, p. 4-article; 8-1-36, p. 5-article; www.historylink.org) (filed with Argentum)

Indians of North America--Clothing & dress; Weddings--Fife; Marathons--Fife;

The regimental color guard for the 163rd Infantry with Company B at present arms. The group in the front is composed of, left to right, Corporal Red Thunder, Sergeant Skarie, Sergeant Hamilton and Corporal Red Elk. Company B hails from the Fort Peck Indian Agency in Northeast Montana and is composed almost solely of Sioux Indians. The original Company B was also formed of Native Americans and fought bravely in World War I before it was disbanded. This group from Montana is at Camp Murray for military exercises. (T. Times 12/11/1940, pg. 1)

Indians of North America--Sioux tribe; Montana National Guard, 163rd Infantry, Company B--Camp Murray; Ethnic groups--Indians of North America;

In September of 1941, David Miller (far left) and Chief Jobe Charley (far right), the 81-year-old patriarch of the Yakima Nation's Great Council, came with their wives to the Federal court in Tacoma to plead the case for their treaty fishing rights. They came to argue that the Bonneville dam had backed up the waters of the Columbia River and its tributary, the White Salmon River, spoiling their "usual and accustomed" fishing grounds. Mr. Miller's wife Bessie Charley-Miller is seated next to him. (Additional identification provided by a family member)

Indians of North America--Tacoma--1940-1950; Judicial proceedings; Miller, David; Charley; Chief Jobe; Charley-Miller, Bessie;

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Indians, Puyallup
Bruce A. Kellman Photographer

Two people handle oars in a rowboat.

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News/ Puyallup Women Protest Spouse Fishing Ruling
Angry Puyallup Tribe women gathered at the Tribal administration building to protest a new rule disallowing spouses fishing rights. From left, Laura Rivera, Ramona Bennet, Deanna Val Peterson, and Betsy Terrones (holding kids Joaquin 1, and Richard, 2 months). After meeting with the group of women the rule was dropped and the spouse fishing right was restored.
Photo by Dean J. Koepfler

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Traffic jams into Satiacum's fireworks stands
Photograph by Bob Rudsit

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Indians, Puyallup
Photograph by Bob Rudsit

Four people sit around a table talking.

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Indians, Puyallup

Adults and children examine what is inside a small fishing net.

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Indians, Puyallup Fishing

One person holds oars in a small boat with an outboard motor as a fishing net floats in the river.

Tepees and tents of 300 Native Americans were set up in a field in Washington D.C. The camp had been setup following a transcontinental motor trip called the Trial of Self-Determination. Sid Mills, a Nisqually tribal member said in an interview in D.C. that they were there to secure a future for Native Americans because currently there is none.

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Indians, Nisqually

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Indians, Nisqually

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Indians, Nisqually

Nine people stand around a campfire.

Sid Mills and an unidentified tribal member fishing on the Nisqually River despite laws preventing fishing. Both tribal members were arrested after they dropped a net and sped upstream.

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Indians, Nisqually
Photograph by Jerry Buck

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Indians, Nisqually

Sid Mills and an unidentified tribal member fishing on the Nisqually River. Both were arrested after they dropped a net and sped upstream.

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Indians, Nisqually
Photograph by Jerry Buck

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Indians, Puyallup

A Native American girl was arrested along with forty other indigenous people during a second confrontation with police following a fire on a railroad bridge near a Puyallup Tribal fishing camp. The fire started after police and state officers raided the fishing camp earlier that morning, arresting twenty people. Police later returned to the camp with fire units and arrested everyone at the fishing camp. The camp was established by Puyallup tribal members to advocate for fishing rights and indigenous people from across the United States joined their protest. Picture taken by Tribune staff member Wayne Zimmerman.

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Indians, Puyallup

Dan Thayer, a fisheries biologist for the Puyallup tribe helped to release 16,500 chum salmon from the tribe’s hatchery into a tributary of the Hylebos Creek in South King County.

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Nets Salmon

Puyallup Tribal member Mike Turnipseed fished near the Burlington Northern Railroad bridge in defiance of a court order and warnings of arrest by Game and Fisheries department officers. Superior Court Judge Charles T. Wright modified a temporary restraining order preventing Game and Fisheries department officers from making arrests or seizing gill nets. Wright’s actions limited fishing to Frank’s Landing on the Nisqually and only allowed two Native Americans to fish there: Suzette Bridges Mills and William Frank Jr.

A group of Puyallup Indians with their longboats (canoes) on the Puget Sound around 1886. Behind them can be seen the Northern Pacific Railroad bridge. The Puyallups were primarily fishermen, hunters and gatherers. The local salmon provided their primary food source, but was also a symbol of reverence to the tribe. In the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854, they ceded many of their territories but retained their fishing rights. Their village at this time was believed to be at the foot of North 15th. KING-014, TPL 2895.

This early 1880s photograph by C. E. & Hattie King is of the Tacoma waterfront. Several European Americans are standing near Indian canoes moored along the shoreline. The location is believed to be south of the James Williams salmon cannery in Old Tacoma. The Kings brief period of photographing Tacoma views documents the blending of cultures and history--the presence and traditions of local Native Americans and the presence of newer Americans establishing homes, industries and towns in the West. KING 016, TPL-3746.

Robert Thomas wears a raven headdress during the dedication ceremonies for the new Nisqually Tribal Center west of Yelm. Several hundred tribal members and guests attended the ceremonies which included speeches, songs, dances, and an outdoor feast prepared by Army and Nisqually cooks.

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Indians, Nisqually

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Indians, Nisqually

Two people are standing by a campfire, while two other people lead two horses along the bank of a river. Two unmanned boats rest on the shore nearby.

Nugent Kautz Jr., age 2, stands by two salmon placed along the Nisqually River by fisherman George McCloud Jr.

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Nugent Kantz Jr. age 2

Two Nisqually tribal members prepare nets in lower Nisqually River in defiance of state regulations. Nisqually tribal members planned to exercise their right to fish under the Medicine Creek Treaty following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which allowed states to regulate off-reservation Native fishing.

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Fisheries Men Watch

Steve Wilson, left, and Nisqually leader George Kalama inspect gravel channel created for rearing fish on the Nisqually River to supplement fish that are produced naturally.

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Indians, Nisqually

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Indians, Puyallup

Confrontation between Puyallup tribal members and police about fishing rights guaranteed in the Medicine Creek Treaty (1854) resulted in a riot police unit being brought in to disperse the fishing camp. Shots were fired and tear gas was used. Photo taken by Tribune staff member Warren Anderson.

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Indians, Puyallup

U.S. District Court Judge Walter T. McGovern signed a temporary injunction citing a federal statute that prohibits liquor sales on tribal lands unless under a tribal liquor code. Judge McGovern stated that because the Puyallup Tribe does not have a liquor code it was illegal to sell liquor there. Some establishments continued to sell alcohol throughout the day. The image is of the Indian Trading Post located on Puyallup Tribal land and owned by Robert Satiacum and Victoria Satiacum.

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Cascadia - George Ortez