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Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation

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Nisqually Indian Tribe
of the Nisqually Reservation
Squally-Absch

Total population
650 enrolled members[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Washington)
Languages
English, Nisqually[2]
Religion
traditional tribal religion, Indian Shaker Church[3]
Related ethnic groups
other Nisqually people

The Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation is a federally recognized tribeofNisqually people. They are a Coast Salish peopleofIndigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. Their tribe is located in the State of Washington.

Some of the people of Nisqually descent are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation but neither tribe allows a Nisqually to be enrolled in both tribes at the same time.

Reservation[edit]

The Nisqually Reservation is 1,000-acres large and located in Thurston County, Washington, 15 miles east of Olympia. All of the current reservation land was acquired by the tribe in the last 25 years.^[4]

The reservation was established by the Treaty of Medicine Creek of 1854. Originally 5,105 acres, the reservation was mostly east of the Nisqually RiverinPierce County, Washington. The tribal lands were broken into individual allotments in 1884.^{[citation needed]} In 1917, Pierce County, through the process of condemnation proceedings (eminent domain), took 3,370 acres (14 km²) for the Fort Lewis Military Reserve.^{[citation needed]}

Government[edit]

The Nisqually Indian Tribe is headquartered in Olympia, Washington. They ratified their constitution and bylaws on September 9, 1946. These were amended on October 28, 1994. The tribe is governed by a seven-member, democratically elected General Council. The current tribal administration is as follows:

• Chairman: Ken Choke

• Vice Chairman: Antonette Squally

• Secretary: Jackie Whittington

• Treasurer: Norine Wells

• Fifth Council Member: Chris Olin

• Sixth Council Member: Guido Levy, Jr.

• Seventh Council Member: Leighanna Scott

^[5]

Language[edit]

English is commonly spoken on by the tribe. Their traditional language is the Nisqually language, which is a Southern Puget Sound Salish language.^[2]

Economic development[edit]

The Nisqually Indian Tribe owns and operates Red Wind Casino, Blue Camas Buffet, Squalli-Absch Grille, The Medicine Creek Deli, and Pealo's Landing.^[6]

In 2017, the tribe began acquiring parcels of vacant land in northern Lacey for a future commercial development. The 260-acre (110 ha) property was transferred to the Nisqually Indian Tribe in 2020 and is planned to be used for a new casino, convention center, and entertainment district named Quiemuth Village.^[7][8] The site is north of Interstate 5 and was originally intended for a mixed-use development that only had one completed store: a branch of the Cabela's franchise.^[8]

Notable tribal members[edit]

• Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014), Native American indigenous rights and environmentalist activist

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.

External links[edit]

• Nisqually Indian Tribe, official website
• Constitution and Bylaws of the Nisqually Tribe of the Nisqually Indian Reservation

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