Native American Tribal Information
Native American Information
Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation Washington
Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation Washington
| Nisqually |
|---|
 |
| Total population |
| Regions with significant populations |
| United States (Washington) |
| Languages |
| English, Nisqually |
| Related ethnic groups |
| other Salishan peoples |
Nisqually is a Native American tribe in western Washington state in the United States. The tribe lives on a reservation in the Nisqually River valley near the river delta. The Nisqually Indian Reservation comprises 20.602 km² (7.955 sq mi) of land area on both sides of the river, in western Pierce County and eastern Thurston County. In the 2000 census it had a resident population of 588 persons, all in the Thurston County portion, on the southwest side of the Nisqually River.
The Nisqually is a subdialect of the Southern dialect of Lushootseed, which belongs to the Salishan family. The Nisqually called themselves the Squalli-Absh (sq̓ʷaliˀ abš), which means "people of the grass country" in Lushootseed.
The tribe moved onto their reservation east of Olympia, Washington in late 1854 with the signing of the Medicine Creek Treaty. As reaction to the unfairness of the treaty, many members of the tribe led by Chief Leschi engaged and were eventually defeated by the US Army in the conflict known as the Puget Sound War in 1855-56.
The Nisqually Indians originally inhabited the interior woodlands and coastal waters from Mount Rainier west to Puget Sound. The lifestyle of the Nisqually, like many other Northwest Coastal tribes, revolved around fishing for salmon. In 1917, Pierce County, through the process of condemnation proceedings (eminent domain), took 3,370 acres (14 km²) for the Fort Lewis Military Reserve.
Even more about Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation Washington
Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation Washington
Official tribal website includes government information, history, news and events.
Nisqually Indian Tribe - Official Site
History. The original Nisqually reservation was established by the Medicine Creek Treaty of December 26, 1854. The reservation consisted of 1,280 acres on Puget Sound.