In a major victory, the Snoqualmie Tribe has reclaimed 45 acres of land around Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge & Spa, which overlooks the falls, for $125 million. If you’ve been to Washington state, you’ve probably heard of the nearly 300-foot waterfall outside of Seattle. Even if you haven’t been to Washington state, if you’ve watched David Lynch’s moody ‘90s drama, Twin Peaks, it’ll be familiar to you. More than 1.5 million people visit the waterfall each year. The Snoqualmie Tribe has not purchased the waterfall itself, though members hope to discuss that ownership soon.
For the Snoqualmie Tribe, this purchase isn’t about bragging rights or cashing in on a popular landmark. It’s about reclaiming traditional lands, stopping proposed developments, and giving the land the care it needs to thrive.
With this purchase, the Snoqualmie Tribe plans to cancel a development approved by the city of Snoqualmie. The city approved construction for a hotel, conference center, parking lot, and 15 residences on the aforementioned 45 acres of land. Back in 2016, the tribe first filed a lawsuit to halt construction. Their main argument was that the city hadn’t considered relevant cultural or environmental concerns when they approved plans to build. The Snoqualmie Tribe now plans to introduce educational materials into the area, so people who visit can have the appropriate cultural context.
"For generations, our tribe has been vocal and public in our intent to protect this sacred site and return the falls to its natural flow. As landowners we have more leverage that we'll be using as a sovereign nation," tribal chairman Robert de los Angeles told Newsweek in an interview. "We bought this land to prevent the expansion of the Salish Lodge onto our burial grounds, our religious areas and our gathering places that we've held dear to our hearts for the last thousand years, maybe longer."
Snoqualmie Tribe has about 500 members, and many of those people actually live outside of the region. When Snoqualmie Tribe signed (under pressure, as was generally the case) a treaty with the U.S. government in 1855, however, it was one of the most populous in the Puget Sound region. How big? About 4,000 members. After the treaty, however, its members gradually dispersed. In 1953, the tribe lost federal recognition, and eventually regained it in 1999.
Here are some interviews with Snoqualmie tribal members about the recent acquisition of the Salish Lodge:
And here’s a living history that elaborates on the background discussed in this article:
And local coverage of the signing, plus some aerial visuals of the waterfall, lodge, and surrounding area:
And if all of this has you feeling inspired, check out our Making Progress interview with Prairie Rose Seminole and get tips on how to be an ally to Native American communities:
Update: While it’s widely reported, including by some tribal sources, that tribes “lost” federal recognition in 1953, it’s more accurate to say federal recognition was terminated. The Snoqualmie Tribe, along with at least one hundred others, was terminated under the 1953 Termination Act. As the name suggests, this act served to terminate tribes, which meant disbanding them, selling their land, and effectively worked in tandem with efforts to force people out of their homes.