Global InformationSammamish people information
sc̓ababš | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| King County, Washington, United States | |
| Languages | |
| Lushootseed (Southern), English | |
| Religion | |
| Indigenous religion, Christianity, including syncretic forms | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Lushootseed-speaking peoples, especially Duwamish[1] and Snoqualmie |
The Sammamish people (Lushootseed: sc̓ababš)[a] are a Lushootseed-speaking Southern Coast Salish people. They are indigenous to the Sammamish River Valley in central King County, Washington. The Sammamish speak Lushootseed, a Coast Salish language which was historically spoken across most of Puget Sound, although its usage today is mostly reserved for cultural and ceremonial practices.
Historically, the Sammamish were a distinct tribe. The 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott assigned the Sammamish people to Tulalip Reservation, and today many of their descendants are citizens of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington. Other Sammamish people moved to other reservations in the region, and today their descendants are citizens of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation.[1]
The historical extent of Sammamish territory ranges from the northern head of Lake Washington to Issaquah Creek at the south of Lake Sammamish, where they have hunted, fished, and gathered for over 10,000 years. The Sammamish had several villages along the length of the river, with the largest being at ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis, what is now Kenmore. The Sammamish were historically a warlike, but impoverished people, and were closely allied with their neighbors, the Duwamish and the Snoqualmie. Traditional Sammamish society revolved around their two lakes, Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, more than the Sammamish River which connects the two.
In the early 19th century, the Sammamish were one of the first peoples of Puget Sound to come into contact with the traders from the Hudson's Bay Company. During this period, the Sammamish participated in several wars, such as the 1855 Puget Sound War and the 1865 Battle of Seattle, as well as raiding other tribes. In 1855, the Sammamish attended, but did not sign, the Treaty of Point Elliott. Despite this, they were removed from their land and sent to the Tulalip Reservation, where many Sammamish descendants live today. Other Sammamish continued to live in their traditional homeland along the Sammamish River but later moved to neighboring reservations.[1]
- ^ a b c "Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA". Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
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