One-hundred fifty years ago, Native Americans were expelled from their home; land named after the leader of the Suquamish and Duwamish peoples. On Feb. 7, 1865 the Seattle Board of Trustees approved an ordinance that called for the expulsion of all Native Americans from the region.

In remembrance of this action that forced the removal of an entire group of people, and the continuing impact it has on the indigenous people of this region, the Metropolitan King County Council at its February 2 meeting proclaimed February 7, 2015 as “Native American Expulsion Remembrance Day.”

“The expulsion of the Coast Salish Indigenous People from this region is just one of countless acts of bigotry, genocide, broken treaties and forced removal our Indigenous brothers and sisters suffered here, and across this nation throughout its history,” stated Councilmember Larry Gossett. “It is extremely important that we’re honest with ourselves and each other by documenting all aspects of our American story from a multicultural perspective, including the forced marginalization of the proud Indigenous People, who’ve contributed as much as anyone to this nation, and on whose land we currently live. Yet these acts of inhumanity are still difficult to locate in many of our history books. Our nation cannot continue to heal until we acknowledge the inhumane acts that have been perpetrated against so many of our brothers and sisters.”

“I’m honored to join in friendship with leaders from our Native American communities throughout our region to remember this important time in history and pledge to make sure we honor and respect the First Peoples of King County in our work today, ” said Councilmember Rod Dembowski.

The land that has become Seattle has been home to indigenous populations for generations, but starting with the Treaty of Medicine Creek, the rights of these communities were taken along with most of their lands. Ten years after local tribes signed the Treaty of Point Elliott, forcing cession of most of their land to non-Indian settlers, the Seattle Board of Trustees adopted Ordinance No. 5, calling for the removal of Indians from the city.  After its adoption, indigenous tribes, who a generation before had lived on this land, could only enter Seattle if they had the permission of a non-native and only for the purpose of work.

The proclamation, urges the county and all county residents to join together in bringing attention to, and connecting these historical events to their continuing impact on the lives of Coast Salish Indigenous Peoples and other Native Americans in our region.