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Readings, Films, and Resources on Puget Sound Native Americans

Materials about and by the Duwamish, Swinomish, and Samish, the original inhabitants of the Queen Anne, Casey, and Blakely campuses

Pacific Northwest Native Americans and SPU

Seattle Pacific University is made up of three campuses: the main campus on Queen Anne Hill in metropolitan Seattle, the Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island, and the Blakely Island Field Station on Blakely Island. These three campuses have been inhabited by others before becoming part of Seattle Pacific. The Queen Anne hill campus is part of lands originally inhabited by the Duwamish. The Casey Conference Center area is part of lands originally inhabited by the Swinomish. Blakely Island was part of territory originally inhabited by the Samish. This guide contains materials about these three groups and resources about the Coast Salish, the cultural and linguistic group to which these three groups belong. 

Duwamish

SPU's main campus on Queen Anne hill is located on lands originally inhabited by the Duwamish Tribe. The following are resources about the Duwamish.

Swinomish

SPU's Casey Conference Center is located on Whidbey Island, on lands originally inhabited by the Swinomish tribe. The following are resources about the Swinomish.

Samish

SPU's Blakely Island Field Station is located on Blakely Island, on lands originally inhabited by the Samish tribe. The following are resources about the Samish.

Coast Salish

All three tribal groups - the Duwamish, Suquamish, and Samish - are part of what is known as the Coast Salish. The Coast Salish are a group of culturally and linguistically linked indigenous peoples who have lived and continue to live in Washington state and British Columbia, around the Salish Sea (Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia). The following resources are about the Coast Salish more generally; some aspects of the material may apply to the Duwamish, Suquamish, and Samish, but some aspects may apply to other groups of Coast Salish.