For at least 12,000 years, the Duwamish people have been living in what is now called King County. We are the host tribe of Seattle.
When our ancestor Chief Si'ahl, who this city is named for, signed the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855, he did so on behalf of both the Suquamish and Duwamish Tribes. But the treaty with the Duwamish wasn’t honored.
After 17 decades of broken promises, cultural erasure, and outright persecution, we’re experiencing a moment of hope like never before.
We need your help!
We are fighting to restore our status as a federally recognized tribe
How You Can Stand with the Duwamish Tribe
DONATE to Real Rent Duwamish:
Stand in solidarity with First Peoples of this land by paying Real Rent. All Real Rent Duwamish funds go directly to the non-profit Duwamish Tribal Services to operate the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center and support the vitality of the Duwamish Tribe.
ENDORSE The Call for Recognition:
Join over 100,000 supporters by signing and sharing the petition in support of federal recognition for the Duwamish Tribe.
Help your organization join an ever-growing coalition of elected officials, faith groups, labor unions, businesses, and community organizations by filling out this simple form to endorse the Tribe’s acknowledgement efforts.
LEARN more about the Duwamish:
Discover more at the Duwamish Tribe and Real Rent Duwamish websites, attend events and exhibits at the Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center – a free museum, event space, and community center – or purchase educational materials at the gift shop.
Advocate With your Elected Officials:
Asking your elected officials on the local, county, state, and national levels to restore recognition to the Duwamish Tribe helps reveal our broad, powerful, and diverse support for federal acknowledgement. Here are clear asks and specific targets that help build momentum in this moment:
Targets: U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and their staff
Ask: Schedule a time to meet with Tribal leaders and their allies at the Longhouse
Sample message:
Dear Senator,
I am a voter, taxpayer, and strong supporter of the Duwamish Tribe and their long overdue efforts to restore federal recognition. 167 yrs ago the Duwamish Tribe, via their chief Si'ahl, was signatory to the Point Elliott Treaty in 1855. In January of 2001, the Tribe received federal recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior, only to have it revoked by the incoming Bush administration. I ask you to schedule a date over the next month to visit the Duwamish Longhouse for a conversation with tribal leaders and their allies. I look forward to your response and thank you for your commitment to public service.
Sincerely,
Name & Address
Contact information:
Senator Patty Murray:
shawn_bills@murray.senate.gov (State Director)
ben_merkel@murray.senate.gov (Legislative Director)
Senator Maria Cantwell
megan_thompson@cantwell.senate.gov (Native American Policy Lead)
tommy_bauer@cantwell.senate.gov (State Director)
Targets: Local elected officials who currently serve as the presidents of their councils and board:
Ask: Introduce and support a resolution to endorse federal recognition of the Duwamish Tribe
Sample message:
Dear Council/Board President,
I am a voter, taxpayer, and strong supporter of the Duwamish Tribe and their long overdue efforts to restore federal recognition. 167 yrs ago the Duwamish Tribe, via their chief Si'ahl, was signatory to the Point Elliott Treaty in 1855. In January of 2001, the Tribe received federal recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior, only to have it revoked by the incoming Bush administration. I ask you to introduce to the [city council/county council/seattle school board] a resolution stating the [council's/board’s] support for federal recognition for the Duwamish Tribe. I look forward to your response and for you to come to the Longhouse for conversation with tribal leaders and their allies. Thank you for your commitment to public service.
Sincerely,
Name & Address
Contact information:
Seattle City Council council@seattle.gov
The Duwamish Tribal Council gather at the Longhouse on West Marginal Way, in front of a portrait of Kikisoblu, the daughter of Chief Sealth. From Left: Roger Boddy, James Rasmussen, Desiree Fagan, Council Chair Cecile Hansen, Paul Nelson, Ken Workman, and John Boddy. Councilmembers not pictured are Cindy Williams and Russell Beard.
Look who’s already endorsed Our Federal Recognition:
To add your organization’s name to this growing list of community allies, fill out this Google form or simply reach out to info@duwamishtribe.org.
Organizations
350 Seattle
37th District Democrats
43rd District Democrats
Backbone Campaign
Ballard Food Bank
Bloodworks Northwest
Blue Heart
Cascadia Deaf Nation
Center for Transforming Engagement
Collective Justice
Duwamish Clean-Up Coalition
Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition
Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance
Friends of Arboretum Creek
Indivisible Eastside
Institutional Climate Action
Juanita Neighborhood Association
Kirkland Heritage Society
Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA)
North Cascade Institute
Optimal Health
Peace 4 Profit
Potlatch Fund
Protectors of the Salish Sea
Real Rent Duwamish
Seattle Cascades Ultimate (AUDL)
Seattle DSA
Seattle-Nantes Sister City Association
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways
Seattle School Board
Shoreline Historical Society
Slighe Nan Gaidheal
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Western Washington Chapter
Solid Ground
Sound Engagements
Southwest Seattle Historical Society
Showing Up for Racial Justice
Statewide Poverty Action Network
The Vera Project
Unemployment Law Project
Westside School Seattle
Labor unions
AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789
AFT Washington
Cascadian Workers’ Association
MLK Labor
OPEIU, Local 8
Tenants Union of Washington
Transit Riders Union
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 21
Companies
206 South
Berkeley Mediation & Restorative Justice Practices
Black and Tan Hall
Classic Healing Arts
Equity Matters
Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery
Jude’s Old Town
K&L Gates
The Karshner Group, LLC
Martha Burwell Consulting
Mode Music and Performing Arts
Powerful Placenta
Ren Creative Works
Stoup Brewing
Tall Firs Cinema
Faith groups
Bethany Community Church
Columbia City Church of Hope
Dharma Friendship Foundation
East Shore Unitarian Church of Bellevue
Faith Action Network
First United Methodist Church
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
Interfaith Community Sanctuary
Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest
Jewish Voice for Peace - Seattle
Kadima Reconstructionist Community
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral
Seattle Mennonite Church
Seattle Zen Temple Chobo-Ji
Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church
Public officials
Washington State Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley
King County Councilmember Joe McDermott
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay
Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold
Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda
Former Seattle City Council Candidate Nikkita Oliver
Congressional Candidate Stephanie Gallardo
Tukwila City Councilmember Kate Kruller
Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khanh Van