Steve K. Bertrand - Mukilteo

Long before the arrival of Captain Vancouver, Native Americans of the Northwest coast were living well. Puget Sound provided an abundant supply of food. Game roamed the forests, fish swam in the streams, and roots and berries grew amongst the open ground. The Snohomish people stretched from the foothills of the Cascades to Puget Sound. A hunting and gathering society, they traded goods with other tribes. They were not nomadic. Instead, they established permanent villages such as the one located in Everett called Hibulb. (Courtesy of Chicagos Northwestern University.)

Isaac Ingalls Stevens was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on March 25, 1818. A physical defect rendered him small in stature; however, this did not impact his ambition or intellect. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point first in his class. After fighting in the Mexican War, he was assigned to the Oregon Territory. Carrying the rank of major, he went to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1853, Stevens became the first territorial governor of Washington at 35 years old. During this time, he identified 30 different Native American tribes in Puget Sound. Their population was estimated at 7,000 tribal members. Stevens is best known for his Point Elliott Treaty, which, amongst other things, ceded lands from the Native Americans. During the Civil War, Stevens led a volunteer army. He was killed at the Battle of Chantilly in 1862 at the age of 64. (Courtesy of the University of Washington.)

The peace treaty of January 22, 1855, was signed between Gov. Isaac I. Stevens and 82 Native American leaders. They chose Mukilteo for the meeting due to the fact their ancestors had met there for councils, potlatches, and social gatherings. The treaty articles of agreement at Mukilteo concluded that the Native American inhabitants would cede their lands to the U.S. government in exchange for relocation to reservations, retention of hunting and fishing rights, and an amount of cash. Instead of resolving problems, the treaty renewed conflicts. As a result, ratification was delayed until the spring of 1859. (Authors collection.)

The Point Elliott Treaty included Native Americans of the Central Coast Salish tribes of Western Washington, from Puget Sound to the summit of the Cascade Mountains, and from the British boundary (49th parallel) to Seattle (Point Pully). Prominent signees included Chief Seattle of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes, Chief Pat Kanim of the Snohomish and Snoqualmie tribes, Chief Goliath of the Skagit and Samish tribes, and Chief Cowitshoot of the Lummi and Nooksack tribes. There were no less than 22 distinct tribes whose headmen or delegates signed the treaty. About 2,500 Native Americans attended the signing. They came ashore at Mukilteo in canoes from different villages around Puget Sound. (Courtesy of the University of Washington.)

At the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty, the Record of Proceedings, which are housed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the National Archives, attributes these words to Chief Seattle in his address to Gov. Isaac Stevens: I look upon you as my father, I and the rest regard you as such. All of the Indians have the same good feeling toward you and will send it on paper to the Great Father. All of the men, old men, women and children rejoice that he has sent you to take care of them. My mind is like yours, I dont want to say more. (Courtesy of the University of Washington.)

In 1930, the Daughters of the American Revolution paid tribute to the Point Elliott Treaty by erecting a granite monument at Mukilteos Rosehill School. This picture was taken May 2, 1931. It shows University of Washington professor of history Edmond S. Meany, the bearded man holding his hat and cane. To the right of him is Chief William Shelton of the Tulalip tribes in a feathered headdress, and Ms. Gilman of the Everett-based Marcus Whitman Chapter of the DAR is standing to the right of Chief Shelton. Governor Hartley is standing to the left in a dark suit. (Courtesy of the University of Washington.)