Puyallup tribe
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| United States (Washington) |
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other Salishan peoples |
The Puyallup are a Coast Salish Native American tribe from western Washington state, U.S.A. They were forcibly relocated onto reservation lands in what is today Tacoma, Washington, in late 1854, after signing the Treaty of Medicine Creek. The Puyallup Indian Reservation (47°14′38″N 122°22′15″W / 47.24389°N 122.37083°W) today is one of the most urban Indian reservations in the United States. It is located primarily in northern Pierce County, with a very small part extending north into the city of Federal Way, in King County. Parts of seven communities in the Tacoma metropolitan area extend onto reservation land, in addition to reservation land that is not part of any of these communities. In decreasing order of included population, the communities are Tacoma, Waller, Fife, Milton, Edgewood, Puyallup, and Federal Way. The reservation has a land area of 73.935 km² (28.547 sq mi), and a 2000 census resident population of 41,341 persons. Over 72 percent of its residents are Caucasian only, and only 3.2 percent claim to be of solely Native American heritage.
The Puyallup tribe originally spoke the Puyallup Nisqually language of the Salishan family of languages spoken among Northwest Coast indigenous peoples. The tribe also runs the Chief Leschi School for young school-age tribal members.
Bob Satiacum, well known in the 1960s and 1970s as an advocate of Native American rights, particularly treaty fishing rights, was a Puyallup tribal leader.
The current chairman of the Puyallup Tribe is Herman Dillon.[1]
Today, a majority of the tribe's income comes from gaming, especially from the Emerald Queen Casino. Followed by Cigarette Tax Revenue. The Puyallup Tribe has used its economic branch Marine View Ventures to expanded into operating several gas stations on the reservation.
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Emerald Queen Casino [edit]
The Emerald Queen Casino is a Native-American casino owned and operated by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. The casino is one of the largest in the state of Washington. It is located in two cities Tacoma and Fife.
The Tacoma location, also known as the I-5 location, includes the casino, a restaurant and buffet, a nightclub, and an entertainment venue. A majority of the casino is actually located in a large tent structure. The tent structure was originally meant as a temporary housing, but due to financial troubles within the tribe it has been in use far longer than anticipated.[citation needed] The permanent structure of the casino is located in the old Puyallup Bingo Hall. The I-5 location opened originally in 2001, and the tent addition was opened in 2004.
The Fife location includes a casino and a 140 room hotel. The Fife casino was a previous Best Western hotel, purchased by the tribe in 2004 and converted into a mini-casino by opening up the main floor and removing the pool and meeting rooms. It was opened in early 2005 and in Summer 2007 a major expansion of that location begun. Two parking garages, a pool, a spa, new administrative towers,a ballroom, and a larger gaming area were built. The casino's restaurant, formerly named the Pacific Rim, was moved to the south tower and renamed the Tatoosh Grill. The Pacific Rim Buffet is located on the bottom floor of the tower.
Government [edit]
In 1936 the Tribal Government was formed by way of the Wheeler Howard Act. The main elements of the tribal government have been divided into two divisions: Tribal Council and the Tribal Court.
Tribal Council [edit]
The tribal council is an elected body of seven people who oversee the operation of all programs that the tribe manages. The Tribal Council is vested with power to gover by the Constitution which was made under the Wheeler Howard Act. The Council acts as both the legislative and administrative bodies of the government. The Tribal Council serves three year terms, and are elected by the general membership. They operate programs which are open not only to enrolled members, but also to people living in the area, a population which exceeds 32,257. The current makeup, including profiles of the current tribal council can be found at : http://www.puyallup-tribe.com/government/tribal-council/
Tribal Court [edit]
The Tribal Court and Children's Court (hereinafter “Court”) is enabled under the Puyallup Tribes Constitution. The court's mission statement is to apply the written laws of its legislature, while recognizing the inherent customs and traditions of its people. The Court is devoted to protecting peoples due process rights, especially when those own these rights are without legal representation, or they are children or elders “who are considered sacred”. The Court's Chief Justice is Darwin Long Fox. The schedule and makeup of the Tribal Court can be found at this website: http://www.puyallup-tribe.com/government/tribal-court/.
Casino History [edit]
The Emerald Queen Casino opened in 1997 on an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, the Emerald Queen, berthed in the Port of Tacoma. The boat and its shore side property were closed in 2004 as part of an agreement with the Port of Tacoma to accommodate further development of the waterway. The Emerald Queen is still located at the site; however it is closed to the public indefinitely.
References [edit]
- ^ Tribal Government. Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
- Puyallup Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Washington United States Census Bureau
- Communities on the Puyallup Reservation United States Census Bureau
External links [edit]
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians website
- Emerald Queen Casino Website
"Puyallup Indians". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
