Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe is a federally recognized Native American tribe located in the state of Washington. Before European colonization, the tribe occupied lands along the Skagit River, from as far downstream as present-day Mount Vernon, Washington, and villages going north as far as Newhalem along the Skagit River, as well as lands on the Baker, and the Sauk rivers.[2]

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Total population
Enrolled members: 1,336[1]
Regions with significant populations
 United States ( Washington)
Languages
English, Lushootseed dialect (endangered)
Religion
Christianity (incl. syncretistic forms)
Related ethnic groups
Salishan tribes of coastal Northwest, especially Lower Skagit,

Culturally, the Upper Skagit share characteristics with the Lower Skagit and the Coast Salish, as well as the Plateau Indians on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains.[3] They traditionally spoke Lushootseed, part of the Salishan language family. It was spoken by many coastal tribes of the Northwest.

Sign at reservation entrance

Upper Skagit Indian Reservation

The Upper Skagit Indian Reservation consists of three separate small parcels of land in western Skagit County. The largest section, located northeast of Sedro Woolley, is at 48°32′31″N 122°11′15″W, while the smaller western sections are at 48°33′33″N 122°20′42″W (the section where the casino is), and at 48°34′07″N 122°20′43″W, about midway between Seattle and Vancouver on Interstate 5. The total land area is approximately 100 acres (0.40 km2). Its resident population was 238 persons as of the 2000 census.[4]

The reservation includes a tribe-operated casino, the Skagit Casino Resort. It opened in December 1995 as Harrah's Skagit Valley Casino and was initially managed by Harrah's until their agreement was terminated in November 1998.[5] The tribe also operates several other businesses: Encore, The Market Buffet, Express Eats, the Skagit Ridge Hotel, Bow Hill Gas and Food Mart, and the Highway 20 Hometown Pharmacy.

See also

Notes
  1. "Who We Are." Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Official Website.
  2. Collins, June McCormick (1974). Valley of the spirits: the Upper Skagit Indians of Western Washington. University of Washington Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-295-95327-4. OCLC 1120655342.
  3. Markowitz, Harvey. American Indians, Salem Press, 1995, p.726.
  4. "U.S. Census website". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  5. Santana, Arthur (July 24, 1998). "Tribe drops Harrah's as casino's manager". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

References
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