Thank you for signing our petition in support of federal recognition for the Duwamish Tribe, Seattle’s first people. Whether you signed years ago or just recently, we are grateful for your support and want to provide you with a brief update on our federal recognition lawsuit.
In 2022, the Duwamish Tribe filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior seeking to compel the U.S. Government to provide long-awaited federal recognition to the Tribe. The lawsuit marks the most recent chapter in a long struggle by the Tribe to gain federal recognition and enforce the promises made to the Duwamish Tribe over 171 years ago in the Treaty of Point Elliott.
In January 2025, a U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ordered the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), within the Department of the Interior, to re-evaluate the Duwamish Tribe's application, emphasizing the need for an impartial review, free from preconceived notions. The Tribe is allowed to submit new substantive evidence that meets certain recognition requirements, which will be reviewed by an independent judge within the Department of the Interior.
Ever since this positive court decision, the Tribe’s legal team has been reviewing records in museums, libraries, and archives to gather support for the supplemental petition. As part of the review process, members of the Duwamish Solidarity Group have been assisting with the review of newspaper archives, which is greatly appreciated by the Duwamish Tribe and the legal team. At the same time, tribal elders have been recording oral histories both to support the recognition process and to preserve their knowledge and memories for future generations.
All of this is careful, ongoing work, along with other Tribal projects and events hosted at the Longhouse are supported, in part, by funds and volunteers with Real Rent Duwamish. Real Rent Duwamish is one of the first grassroots Indigenous solidarity funding projects in the country and provides a unique and powerful way for communities near and far to offer direct and consistent financial and volunteer support to the Tribe.
Take the next step in supporting the Duwamish Tribe by forwarding this petition to your network and/or becoming a Real Renter yourself!
Thank you for your support!
Kristina Pearson
Executive Director
Duwamish Tribal Services
Photo caption: Duwamish Tribal members paddle the Kikisoblu Canoe to shore during the ceremonial landing of the Paddle to Elwha 2025 annual canoe journey in July 2025.