We’re thrilled to share that the new Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington is here! This new online resource invites residents and visitors alike to learn about the Indigenous maritime heritage that has shaped—and continues to shape—Washington’s saltwater shores.
An Invitation to Embark
This Tribal Guide has been years in the making, and really took off when Dr. Meagan Harden, our postdoctoral Mellon Fellow, joined the Maritime Washington team two years ago. With Meagan on board, Maritime Washington was honored to pilot the project with the Suquamish Tribe and Squaxin Island Tribe, whose relationships with the Salish Sea continue from time immemorial through present-day canoes, fishing, shellfish harvesting, stewardship, storytelling, and cultural practices.
“The sea is not just a body of water to us. It is a relative, a teacher, a provider. Protecting the Salish Sea means preserving our culture and honoring our ancestors. This partnership with Maritime Washington helps ensure that future generations, Native and non-Native, understand and value the Tribe’s role in shaping the past, present, and future of the region.”
Kali Chargualaf, Suquamish Tribal member and Higher Education Program Manager
Both the Suquamish and Squaxin Island pages of the Tribal Guide invite visitors to experience Washington’s saltwater shores through Tribal voices, living heritage, and places you can visit with respect. Highlights from the guide include:
- Native stories and histories from Native voices
- Tribally approved travel recommendations
- Tips on how to visit Indigenous lands in a good way
- Vetted resources to learn more about Tribal heritage
- Original videos, virtual tours, and more!
“The maritime waters remain our closest relative and one of our greatest teachers. The Salish Sea is our identity: it’s an extension of our ancestral ways of life fishing, trading, traveling, and practicing our spirituality. Most importantly, the Salish Sea is the source of our inherent sovereignty.”
Charlene Krise, Squaxin Island Tribal member, elder, and Director of the Squaxin Island Museum, Library, and Research Center
Celebrating the Launch
Maritime Washington marked this milestone with three special events honoring the partnerships behind the Tribal Guide and introducing this exciting new resource to Washington residents.
- Suquamish Preview Event at the House of Awakened Culture, Suquamish: We kicked things off with a preview event for the Suquamish Tribe, where Tribal members and staff got an early look at the new guide, including the premiere of a special video created about the Suquamish Tribe’s maritime heritage as part of the project. The evening included remarks from project collaborators, Tribal Councilmember Jay Mills, and others.
- Launch Party with the Suquamish Tribe at the Seattle Waterfront: Next, we introduced the Tribal Guide to Seattle-area residents with a celebratory event overlooking Suquamish waters. Alongside remarks, guests explored hands-on activity tables led by experts from the Suquamish Tribe, including cedar weaving, Lushootseed language lessons, shellfish identification, and opportunities to preview a new original video on Suquamish maritime heritage with the film’s creators.
- Launch Party with the Squaxin Island Tribe in Olympia: Our final introduction took place at Evergreen State College’s s’gÊ·i gÊ·i Ê” altxÊ· House of Welcome. The event began with a preview discussion for Tribal members and staff, then opened to the public for lunch and the premiere of the Tribal Guide, including drumming and singing from Tribal members, remarks from project creators and Squaxin Island Chairman Kris Peters, and storytelling from Charlene Krise, Director of the Squaxin Island Museum, Library, and Research Center.
A Guide That Will Keep Growing
The most exciting part? This is just the beginning. The Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington is designed to grow over time as new collaborations with Tribal nations continue. Each page is developed in partnership with the participating Tribe and offers an entry point into the living maritime heritage of Indigenous peoples across Washington.
Ready to dive in? Explore the Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington now and discover the stories, places, and traditions that connect Washington’s Tribal nations to the Salish Sea.
The Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington was made possible thanks to generous support from American Conservation Experience and the Mellon Foundation.