Honoring Our Treaties

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Centennial Accord

Centennial Accord is an agreement between the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in Washington state and the State of Washington in order to better achieve mutual goals through an improved relationship between their sovereign governments. This Accord provides a framework for that government-to-government relationship and implementation procedures to assure execution of that relationship.

Millenium Agreement

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State

Governor’s Proclamation – Native American Heritage Month – Governor Inslee acknowledging November as Native American Heritage Month and Friday following Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

RCW - Chapter 43, Section 376 Government to Government Relationship with Tribes

DSHS American Indian Policy 7.01 - The Department of Social and Health Services follows a government-to-government approach to seek consultation and participation by representatives of tribal governments in policy development and service program activities. This is in compliance with chapter 43.376 RCW, 1989 Centennial Accord, Executive Order #13175, Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation, the Washington state and current federal Indian policy as outlined by Executive Order #13175, and the signed by President Obama in November 2009, which promotes government-to-government relationships with American Indian tribes.

Federal

All Treaties made under the Authority of the United States is the Supreme Law of the Land and the Judges in every State are bound to uphold the United States Constitution regardless of any contradictions found within State laws or Constitutions. Furthermore, all Senators, Representatives, members of State Legislatures, all executive and judicial Officers (both Federal and State) are bound by Oath to support the constitution.

This means that all Federal Treaties with Tribes must be honored by the States and all branches of and levels of Government.

In 2000 President Clinton issued Executive Order 13175 to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Tribal officials. Primarily focused on strengthening government-to-government relationships with Indian Tribes, the executive order was issued to develop federal policies that impact tribes in partnership with Tribal governments. 

In 2021 Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, published a detailed plan for implementing Executive Order 13175 in response to President Biden’s memorandum on and reaffirmation of the need to strengthen government-to-government Tribal relationships.

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Treaty of Medicine Creek

Medicine Creek Treaty allowed for the “purchase” of tribal lands for pennies on the dollar. Unlike the majority, Medicine Creek guaranteed nine nations, including the Nisqually, Puyallup and Squaxin Island nations of the Puget Sound area in western Washington the rights to continue to hunt and fish in their “usual and accustomed grounds and stations.”

Read the Treaty  about Medicine Creek 
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Treaty of Neah Bay

On Jan. 31, 1855, the select Makah tribe representatives signed the Treaty of Neah Bay with the U.S. federal government, ceding much of their traditional lands. The treaty required the Makah lands to be restricted to the Makah Reservation and preserved the Makah people's rights to hunt whales and seals in the region.

Read the Treaty  about Neah Bay 
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Treaty of Point No Point

Under the terms of the treaty, the original inhabitants of northern Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula were to cede ownership of their land in exchange for small reservations along Hood Canal and a payment of $60,000 from the federal government. The treaty required the natives to trade only with the United States, to free all their slaves, and it abjured them not to acquire any new slaves.

Read the Treaty  about Point No Point 
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Treaty of Walla Walla

The Walla Walla Council (1855) was a meeting in the Pacific Northwest between the United States and sovereign tribal nations of the Cayuse, Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Yakama. The council occurred May 29 – June 11, 1855. The treaties signed at this council on June 9 were ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1859. These treaties codified the constitutional relationship between the people living on the Nez Perce, Umatilla and Yakama reservations. This treaty was one of the earliest treaties obtained in the Pacific Northwest. Washington's first governor, Isaac I. Stevens, secured this treaty, allowing larger portions of the land to be given to the two largest and most powerful tribes the Yakimas and Nez Perces. These reservations encompassed most of their traditional hunting grounds. The smaller tribes moved to the smaller of the three reservations. Stevens was able to acquire 45,000 square miles of land.

Read the Treaty  about Walla Walla 
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Treaty of Yakama

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty ground, Camp Stevens, Walla-Walla Valley, on June 9, 1855, by and between Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory of Washington, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned head chiefs, chiefs, head-men and delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kow-was-say-ee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham, Shyiks, Ochechotes, Kah-milt-pay and Se-ap-cat, confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the purposes of this treaty are to be considered as one nation, under the name "Yakama," with Kamaiakun as its head chief, on behalf of and acting for said tribes and bands, and being duly authorized thereto by them.

Read the Treaty  about Yakama 
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Treaty of Point Elliott

The Point Elliot Treaty was signed on January 22, 1855 but was not ratified until 1859, during which time fighting continued in the region. The lands settlement treaty established the Suquamish, Swinomish, and Lummi reservations as guaranteed fishing rights. In addition to Chief Seattle (si'áb Si'ahl), signatories included representatives from the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Lummi, Skagit, Swinomish. It should be noted that reservations were not designated for the Duwamish, Skagit, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie peoples.

Read the Treaty  about Point Elliott 
Dove

Treaty of Quinault

The Quinault Treaty was one of the last of several signed during Washington Territory's first decade. The Quinault Treaty continued Isaac Stevens’ policy of consolidating tribes, often requiring tribes to move far from their homeland to a reservation to be occupied by several unrelated tribes.

Read the Treaty  about Quinault 

Medicine Creek

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Treaty of Medicine Creek

Medicine Creek Treaty allowed for the “purchase” of tribal lands for pennies on the dollar. Unlike the majority, Medicine Creek guaranteed nine nations, including the Nisqually, Puyallup and Squaxin Island nations of the Puget Sound area in western Washington the rights to continue to hunt and fish in their “usual and accustomed grounds and stations.”

Neah Bay

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Treaty of Neah Bay

On Jan. 31, 1855, the select Makah tribe representatives signed the Treaty of Neah Bay with the U.S. federal government, ceding much of their traditional lands. The treaty required the Makah lands to be restricted to the Makah Reservation and preserved the Makah people's rights to hunt whales and seals in the region.

Point No Point

Dove
Dove

Treaty of Point No Point

Under the terms of the treaty, the original inhabitants of northern Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula were to cede ownership of their land in exchange for small reservations along Hood Canal and a payment of $60,000 from the federal government. The treaty required the natives to trade only with the United States, to free all their slaves, and it abjured them not to acquire any new slaves.

Walla Walla

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dove

Treaty of Walla Walla

The Walla Walla Council (1855) was a meeting in the Pacific Northwest between the United States and sovereign tribal nations of the Cayuse, Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Yakama. The council occurred May 29 – June 11, 1855. The treaties signed at this council on June 9 were ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1859. These treaties codified the constitutional relationship between the people living on the Nez Perce, Umatilla and Yakama reservations. This treaty was one of the earliest treaties obtained in the Pacific Northwest. Washington's first governor, Isaac I. Stevens, secured this treaty, allowing larger portions of the land to be given to the two largest and most powerful tribes the Yakimas and Nez Perces. These reservations encompassed most of their traditional hunting grounds. The smaller tribes moved to the smaller of the three reservations. Stevens was able to acquire 45,000 square miles of land.

Yakama

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Treaty of Yakama

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded at the treaty ground, Camp Stevens, Walla-Walla Valley, on June 9, 1855, by and between Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory of Washington, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned head chiefs, chiefs, head-men and delegates of the Yakama, Palouse, Pisquouse, Wenatshapam, Klikatat, Klinquit, Kow-was-say-ee, Li-ay-was, Skin-pah, Wish-ham, Shyiks, Ochechotes, Kah-milt-pay and Se-ap-cat, confederated tribes and bands of Indians, occupying lands hereinafter bounded and described and lying in Washington Territory, who for the purposes of this treaty are to be considered as one nation, under the name "Yakama," with Kamaiakun as its head chief, on behalf of and acting for said tribes and bands, and being duly authorized thereto by them.

Point Elliott

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dove

Treaty of Point Elliott

The Point Elliot Treaty was signed on January 22, 1855 but was not ratified until 1859, during which time fighting continued in the region. The lands settlement treaty established the Suquamish, Swinomish, and Lummi reservations as guaranteed fishing rights. In addition to Chief Seattle (si'áb Si'ahl), signatories included representatives from the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Lummi, Skagit, Swinomish. It should be noted that reservations were not designated for the Duwamish, Skagit, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie peoples.

Quinault

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Dove

Treaty of Quinault

The Quinault Treaty was one of the last of several signed during Washington Territory's first decade. The Quinault Treaty continued Isaac Stevens’ policy of consolidating tribes, often requiring tribes to move far from their homeland to a reservation to be occupied by several unrelated tribes.

Other Treaties

Add information on other treaties.