'The Right to Feed Our People' Fish Wars - Part 1

Indigenous Voices from Fort Nisqually

Article 3 of the Medicine Creek Treaty reads, “The right of

taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further

secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory, and of

erecting temporary houses for the purpose of curing, together with the

privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their horses

on open and unclaimed lands: Provided, however, that they shall not take

shellfish from any beds staked or cultivated by citizens, and that they shall alter

all stallions not intended for breeding-horses, and shall keep up and confine

the latter.”

In this episode, participants discuses article 3 of the

Medicine Creek Treaty, securing Tribes’ right to gather food on their

traditional lands, and the legal cases that followed when the article was not

honored by the U.S. government. What came to be known as the Fish Wars, or

Second Treaty War, ensued as Tribes fought for their rights.

Panelists include:

· Amber Taylor, Assistant Director/Collections Manager, Puyallup Tribe

· Brandon Reynon, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Puyallup Tribe

· Nettsie Bullchild, Director of Nisqually Tribal Archives/Nisqually Tribal Historic Preservation Office

· Warren KingGeorge, Historian, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Learn more at our tribal partners websites and fortnisqually.org