For Duwamish Tribe, 2 words in proposed State Senate bill could ‘erase us from the history books’

(Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, WSB file photo)

By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

A proposed State Legislature bill encouraging students in our state to learn more about Native history contains 2 words that could spell trouble for the Duwamish Tribe.

The bill SB-5161 (“Teaching Washington’s tribal history, culture, and government”) is scheduled to be reviewed tomorrow (Wednesday, January 27th) in executive session of the Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education.

At issue, according to Duwamish Longhouse director Jolene Haas (also the daughter of tribal chair Cecile Hansen) is the phrase “federally recognized,” which describes the tribes that are included in the scope of the bill.

However, the Duwamish (along with other tribes such as the Chinook and Snohomish) are not officially recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Haas said, despite decades of fighting for that designation. So, Duwamish leaders are raising awareness in an attempt to get the words “federally recognized” removed from the bill in order to, as Haas puts it, “teach the history of all local tribes.”

The Duwamish tribe recently sent the following message to their mailing list:

Your Help is Needed: Please Contact Your Legislator

There is a bill being considered by the Early Learning and K – 12 Education Committee in the Senate. It is SB 5161.

It states the history of a local tribe is to be taught in the public school. View the Bill Here

It specifies FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED tribes. This would mean children in Seattle schools and surrounding areas that were once occupied by Duwamish Indians would not learn accurate history since the Duwamish Tribe is not federally recognized. This needs to be amended to leave out the words “federally recognized”.

Please contact your senator and representatives and urge them to NOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL UNLESS IT IS AMENDED to LEAVE OUT the words “federally recognized.”

To find how to contact your senator and representative go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder (red button), click on your district and a block will come up with your senator and representatives’ names.

To find where to send your legislator a message, go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/

Let the Duwamish be heard. Demand EQUITY and INCLUSION. Don’t allow more disenfranchisement and inequity to be norm here in this State. Let our people be heard. Allow our students to learn the history of ALL Tribes. Be the force of power to affect positive change.

Thank You. We lift up our hands and our hearts to you all. Let TRUTH sing, Let Equity Rule, Let Love be the way. Thank you for your help. The Duwamish Tribe is still here!

Most recently, the Duwamish Tribe’s bid for federal recognition was rejected in 2015, and local activists and tribal leaders have worked reverse that decision, including a face-to-face gathering with West Seattleite and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. Haas noted that in recent weeks, the Chinook tribe (also not federally recognized) received a favorable federal court ruling against a ban preventing their reapplication for federal recognition.

Haas said that the Duwamish generally agree with the intent of the SB-5161 education bill, aside from the 2 words, and said that broadening the language of the bill would be a “win-win” for all Native tribes.

“There’s no downside to teaching the history of all tribes, regardless of what their status is,” Haas said, rather than “pitting tribes against each other” in a way that is “all about politics.”

“Otherwise, you’re actually erasing us from the history books, and we can’t allow that to happen,” Haas said, adding that the city’s namesake, Chief Seattle, was leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes (the latter of which does have federal recognition).

This week’s review of the bill is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th at 10:30 am (link here). If you want to comment on it, you can use this form.

11 Replies to "For Duwamish Tribe, 2 words in proposed State Senate bill could 'erase us from the history books'"

  • Duwamish are our neighbors January 26, 2021 (11:01 am)

    Here’s what I wrote: “Do not vote for this bill unless the term “federally recognized” is removed. All tribal history matters not just the history of those that have been deemed ‘federally recognized’ which has been a politically expedient way to limit the recognition of the complex inter-relations of civilizations founded by indigenous people. Don’t leave the history of the Duwamish, Steilacoom, Chinook and others out simply because the European settlers of the day and future elected officials could not understand the politically and cultural differences of tribes that they encountered and pushed out for economic gain. The financially expedient treaties, many of which were broken, were often ill-conceived and should not be allowed to continue to drive the study of history of the multiplicity of tribal nations due to inadequately researched ‘federal recognition.’ If students are to learn about the unique heritage and experience of their closest neighbors, the law should not limit the number of tribes.”

  • WSCurmudgeon January 26, 2021 (2:35 pm)

    It will be much more effective if we can have the language taken out while the bill is before the Senate Committee, before it’s sent to the floor [that’s if it passes].   You should also cc: 34th Dist. Senator Joe Nguyen.  I would bet real money that he will support taking out the language in the bill. Below is the link to the WA Senate’s web page.  It lists both members and staff.  You need to follow some links to get to  the email addresses.  It would be more effective if you are a voter in the senator’s district.  Since presumably most of us reading WSB are W Seattle/White Center residents, check to see if you know someone in one of the districts of the committee members, and have them write or fwd your msg.Note:  Keep your messages brief and polite. 

    https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/EDU/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

  • CMT January 26, 2021 (4:17 pm)

    Emailed my representatives and shared on FB.  Thank you for sharing this information.

  • Reality Chick January 26, 2021 (4:45 pm)

    The Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs has a directory
    for federally and non-federally recognized tribes

    https://goia.wa.gov/tribal-directory

     Unclear who is pushing this wording in the bill. And
    this determination can change, e.g., Project 562 (a remarkable photographic
    project by Matika Wilbur) was named when there were 562 federally recognized
    tribes–now there are 574. I hope as the bill works through the process, this
    wording comes out and will make my comments as such. 

  • Reality Chick January 26, 2021 (5:12 pm)

    Wonder who is pushing this wording in the bill?

    The Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs has a directory
    for federally and non-federally recognized tribes (https://goia.wa.gov/tribal-directory)And this determination can change, e.g., Project 562 (a
    remarkable photographic project by Matika Wilbur) was named when there were 562
    federally recognized tribes–now there are 574. I hope as the bill works
    through the process, this wording comes out and will make my comments as
    such. 

  • On Duwamish land January 26, 2021 (5:43 pm)

    Thank you for reporting this. I have contacted my representatives.

    • CMT January 26, 2021 (10:11 pm)

      Same!!

  • WS98 January 26, 2021 (8:53 pm)

    WSB, Thank you for writing about this important issue. I just wrote to all of our 34th legislators. It’s just unbelievable that any indigenous people are not federally recognized. 

  • KayK January 27, 2021 (11:27 am)

    Any update on how this hearing panned out would be great.

    • WSB January 27, 2021 (2:11 pm)

      I just watched the video and it was voted out of that committee, 3 no votes, no discussion, no amendment, sent to Rules. I am not an expert in the subtleties of legislative action so whether that means there’s no chance it’ll be amended, I don’t know, but will be checking.

  • Linda L. BLACKINTON January 27, 2021 (11:33 am)

    The very fact that some 130+ tribes were unrecognized many years ago by the lining out of current tribes (at that time) who were not getting federal dollars, and then that list used as only tribes not lined out were recognized is still an outrage in this country.  It took the Samish Tribe over 20+ years to become recognized again.   We are still working on the re-recognition of four main tribes in the State of Washington.  The removal of “recognized tribes” must be removed from the bill  SB-5161 .  

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