Duwamish (tribe)
From Free net encyclopedia
Duwamish ("the People of the Inside") is a Native American tribe in western Washington, and the original inhabitants of Seattle. Chief Seattle was a member of both the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.
Some members of the tribe moved onto their reservation in 1855 after the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty. Unlike many other Northwest Coast indigenous groups, many Duwamish did not move to reservation lands, yet still retain much of their cultural heritage. Like many Northwest Coast natives, the Duwamish relied heavily on fishing for their survival and their livelihood. A few remnants of Duwamish fishing gear was found in Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park in West Seattle.
The Duwamish language belongs to the Salishan family.
The Lushootseed word for the Duwamish people is xwduʔabš.