Upper Skagit Indian Tribe sqaǰətabš | |
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 Flag | |
 Location of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe | |
| Headquarters | Sedro-Wooley, Washington |
| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Upper Skagit |
| Enrolled members | 1,031 (2008)[1] |
| Domestic dependent nation within the United States | |
Website upperskagittribe-nsn | |
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe (Lushootseed: sqaǰətabš) is a federally-recognized Indian tribe located in the U.S. state of Washington. The tribe is the successor-in-interest to approximately eleven[a] historic tribes (or bands) which had many permanent villages along the Skagit River in what is now Skagit County.
For thousands of years, the predecessors of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe lived along the Skagit River, hunting, fishing, and gathering. Their territory extended from as far downstream as what is now Mount Vernon to as far upstream as Newhalem. They are related to other Coast Salish peoples, and historically spoke the Lushootseed language, a heritage language for several tribes in the Puget Sound region.
The predecessor bands to the Upper Skagit Tribe were signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855, and ceded their land in return for a reservation and hunting, fishing, and gathering rights. Throughout the 19th century, society rapidly shifted for the Upper Skagit as their systems of governance evolved and they faced encroachment from settlers. The late 19th century was marked by land disputes as settlers and the government continued to assert power over the Upper Skagit. Although they fought for their rights as a treaty tribe, the Upper Skagit remained an unrecognized tribe until 1974, when they were recognized by the federal government. In 1981, a reservation was finally established for the Upper Skagit.
- ^ Ruby, Brown & Collins 2010, p. 361.
- ^ Hollenbeck 1987, p. 126.
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