Suquamish Suquamish is an eclectic, historic shoreside village on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. It is the seat of Suquamish Tribal government, contains some of the most affordable and some of the least affordable housing in the county, and is a rich and socially complex community. HISTORY The reservation was established by the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott (enlarged by Executive Order in 1864) though archae-ologists have uncovered evidence of native use on these shores for at least 5,000 years. Clovis Points have been found in Kitsap County that date back 14,000 years, and the glaciers receded 16,500 years ago. The main village site was then at Old Man House Park, which was the largest longhouse in the region. It was also the largest man-made structure west of the Mississippi River until it was burned by the US Government in 1870. The destruction of the longhouse was intended to dis-courage communal living although the Suquamish built homes at the site and continued to live there. In 1886 the federal gov-ernment divided the reservation into allotments, which were assigned to Suquamish individuals. The Allotment Act allowed tribal lands to be sold - however all lands within the exterior boundary of the reservation are federally-recognized Reserva-tion Land ("Indian Country"), and any fee lands within that boundary are alienated (sold) trust lands. Much of the remain-ing trust landbase is forested, and home to eagles, hawks, herons and other birds, and prime habitat for bear, coyote, deer, raccoon, the occasional cougar and many other wild ani-mals native to the area. The forests also are culturally rich with native plants used for traditional medicine and tribal arts, and provide some income to Tribal members from managed log harvest. There are substantial wetlands near Suquamish that feed salmon streams and are habitat for many aquatic spe-cies. In 1904 the US War Department acquired land along Agate Passage, including the site of Old Man House, to build fortifi-cations to protect the new naval shipyard at Bremerton. The village site had to be moved, though the fortifications were never built. The missionary church anchored the new location, and was moved near the present location and reconstructed using the original doors and windows—it was moved to the present location in the 1930’s. The new site was called Bartow after an early Indian agent. The name didn't last, and it took back the original native Lushootseed name of D'Suq'Wub meaning "clear salt water," and is the source of the name of the Suquamish people. The land purchased by the military was eventually sold in 1937 to a private developer and subdi-vided for vacation homes. Real estate entrepreneur Ole Hansen (later a colorful Seattle mayor) purchased the Suquamish waterfront in 1909 from the Native owner and renamed it Silverstrand. He subdivided it and promoted the vacation lots to Seattleites. This name didn't last long, and Hansen didn't realize the fortune he'd hoped due to transportation issues. Later there was direct ferry ser-vice to Indianola and Coleman Dock in Seattle by car ferry (located near the present Suquamish Pier) by the Kitsap County Transportation Company. The Agate Pass Bridge was completed in 1951. The many small lots that were originally platted for vacation homes translated into affordable homesites and high, urban densities. Suquamish has a sewer plant, and the county juris-dictional boundary (LAMIRD, or Local Area of More Intense Rural Development) is the same as the sewer-access area. LAMIRD population: 2,294; greater Suquamish population: 3,139 from Census2010. Suquamish Tribal enrollment: 1,050. The Suquamish Citizen Advisory Committee (SCAC) provides a forum for community discussion on the many issues and in-terests found in the Suquamish community. Appointed by the County Commissioners, its members are dedicated to foster-ing communication among Suquamish citizens and local gov-ernments. The committee promotes a sense of community vi-sion and pride as it supports improvement. The Tribe is now the third largest employer in Kitsap County, and the dollars generated from Tribal enterprises are boosting community employment and infrastructure.

POINTS OF INTEREST 1. OLD MAN HOUSE PARK Site of the major Suquamish

winter village on the shoreline of Agate Passage, home of Chief Seattle.

2. SUQUAMISH MUSEUM Displaying native culture and

history. The Suquamish produced a variety of ingenious tools and other devices to efficiently harvest fish and gather other foods, and are best known for their basketry.

3. CHIEF SEATTLE’S GRAVE and TRIBAL

CEMETERY Chief Seattle was an ancestral leader of the Suquamish Tribe, born in 1786, died 1866.

4. VETERAN’S MEMORIAL Honoring those in the com-

munity that served in all branches of the military. 5. HOUSE OF AWAKENED CULTURE The long-

house and cultural center of the Suquamish people. 6. COMMUNITY DOCK Mooring limited to 30 minutes. 7. CHARLES E. LAWRENCE MEMORIAL

BOATRAMP Not usable on extreme low tides. Trailer park-ing in lot behind House of Awakened Culture.

8. ANGELINE PARK (in memory of Pat Brandt)

Pocket park with beautiful carved native panels, play and picnic area.

9. SUQUAMISH NATURE PRESERVE Natural

walking area with cranberry bogs. 10. CLEARWATER CASINO AND RESORT Gam-

ing, restaurants, luxury hotel, day spa. Stay and play! 11. PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS POINTS Hemphill

Street public roadend, Angeline Avenue South public roadend, Old Man House Park, downtown boat ramp.

12. POST OFFICE (98392) Friday 9am to 5pm (closed

12-1 for lunch), Saturday 10:30am to noon. 13. ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC MISSION The second-

oldest Roman Catholic mission on Puget Sound. 14. FIRE DEPARTMENT (Station 84) staffed 24/7-

365. 15. SUQUAMISH VILLAGE Tribal Administration, Police

and Court. 16. SUQUAMISH VILLAGE CAMPGROUND used

for Suquamish Farmers Market (May-Oct) and Tribal celebrations. 17. SUQUAMISH TRIBAL GAMING COMMIS-

SION By appointment only. 18. SUQUAMISH FOOD BANK 19. RESTAURANTS 20. TRIBAL EDUCATION DEPT. By appointment only. 21. MARION FORSMAN BOUSHIE EARLY

LEARNING CENTER By appointment only. 22. SUQUAMISH BALLFIELD 23. SUQUAMISH ELEMENTARY Grades 1-6, 450 stu-

dents.