The most prominent autochthonous people in the Seattle region in Washington State are the Duwamish. The Duwamish are comprised of approximately four historically distinct groups of people that banded together in response to the increasingly commonplace European settlers and trappers. Today, while the word “Duwamish” is commonplace in the households of Seattle and even the moniker of the most prominent river in the city, the Duwamish tribe is still not recognized by the federal government. On January 22, 1855, the Duwamish and other tribes of the greater Seattle area signed the Point Elliot Treaty, guaranteeing fishing and hunting rights and a reservation to all tribes who signed the document. The violation of this treaty by white settlers …show more content…
Their petition was finally approved in 2001 under the Clinton administration; however, the official did not sign the document until three days after leaving office and the ruling was consequently overturned by the George W. Bush administration, which cited a brief lapse in tribal government and continuous cohesive community. The tribe filed a suit in the U.S. District Court in 2013, resulting in an order for the Department of Interior to revisit the Duwamish’s case under the 1994 standards, as it had only been previously viewed under the more stringent 1978 standards. Unfortunately, the claim was again denied for similar reasons and the tribe was advised to take alternative action in being recognized or to register with other federally recognized tribes in order to receive government benefits, which many tribal members have already been doing. Since then Washington State Representative Jim McDermott has been attempting to pass a bill through congress but to no avail. While the rules for federal recognition have actually become less stringent, the Duwamish people are still not seeing the same advantage that other tribes seem to be getting from them. In a Seattle Times Article, Freedman, attorney for the tribe, expressed that, “the Duwamish find themselves the only pending party who’s not being