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The Duwamish Tribe deserves federal recognition because they have continuously maintained their cultural identity, were original signatories of the Treaty of Point Elliott, and have been systematically denied their rights despite historical injustices

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The Duwamish lived in the Seattle area for thousands of years, with 17 villages along rivers, lakes, and the Puget Sound.they sustained themselves through fishing, hunting, and harvesting in a balanced ecosystem.

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In 1792, Captain George Vancouver and his crew arrived in Puget Sound, marking one of the earliest recorded European expeditions. They observed Native communities that had already been devastated by smallpox and other European diseases

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Chief Seattle and other tribal leaders signed this treaty, giving up their land in exchange for federal recognition and a reservation.

The treaty specifically mentioned the Duwamish, yet they never got a reservation like other tribes did.

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As settlers flooded into Seattle, Indigenous people were increasingly viewed as an obstacle to expansion. In 1865, Seattle passed Ordinance 5, which banned Native people from living inside city limits. Duwamish people were forced to relocate to reservations of other tribes, or hide their identity in Seattle.

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The Ballard Locks and straightening of the Duwamish River (1916) destroyed traditional fishing and village sites. The Black River, a vital waterway for the Duwamish, disappeared due to the lowering of Lake Washington.

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The Boldt Decision (1974) reaffirmed fishing rights for tribes but excluded the Duwamish. In 1979, a federal court ruled the Duwamish were not a signatory entity of the Treaty of Point Elliott, denying them treaty fishing rights.

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The Boldt decision and its impacts part 1

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Clinton and Bush Administration Reversals

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Clinton and Bush Administration Reversals

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After decades of legal battles, the Duwamish Tribe finally won federal recognition in the final hours of the Clinton administration (2001). However, within months, the Bush administration reversed the decision, citing previous federal rulings that claimed the Duwamish had not maintained continuous tribal governance.

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The Duwamish have received social and local government recognition, including “Real Rent Duwamish” contributions and acknowledgements at public events. In February 2024, the Duwamish filed another lawsuit against the federal government for recognition.

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Federal government to reconsider Duwamish Tribe’s status

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The Duwamish people never disappeared, they were pushed out, ignored, and erased from history. They signed a treaty that promised them recognition, yet they’re still fighting for it today. If Seattle and its institutions recognize them, the federal government should too. The Duwamish have waited long enough.