The Duwamish Tribe seeks our support in its petition for federal recognition. Their ancestors have lived in the Seattle area for 10,000 years. They welcomed early settlers to our area, including the founders of First Church. Our church sits on their ancestral land. The Duwamish people’s land was taken from them in 1855. Their longhouses were burned down and fishing areas destroyed. Despite this, the Duwamish people persevered, and continue to maintain community ties today.
The Duwamish tribe has been working for almost five decades to clarify its federal status with the United States government, based on the fact that it remains a Treaty Tribe and has never been invalidated. First Church supports the Duwamish People in this struggle. Today, the tribe is again asking for our support to finally regain federal recognition in 2021.
Please help support justice for Seattle’s first people by signing the petition and sharing it with your family and friends.