November is Native American & Alaskan Native Heritage Month

I am grateful that as we head into November, we are formally celebrating the heritage of the Coastal Salish peoples in Pierce County. 

At our Oct. 26, 2021 Council meeting we unanimously approved a proclamation declaring November as Native American and Alaskan Native Heritage Month. (Click the video to the right to hear the full reading and vote on the proclamation). 

This important recognition is the first time our county government has formally recognized the tribes in this way. The proclamation was the result of months of dialogue and coordination between our governments to make sure the language properly reflected and respected the unique needs, contributions, challenges, and celebrations of our region’s first inhabitants.

I extend my thanks to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and its Tribal Council for being our partner in the development of this proclamation, and to Puyallup Tribal Councilmember Anna Bean for being there in person to accept the proclamation.

As outlined in the proclamation, Pierce County is “committed to supporting and strengthening government-to-government relationships with our tribal neighbors in the Puget Sound region: The spuyaləpabš (Puyallup), bəqəlšuɬabš (Muckleshoot), dxʷsq’ʷaliʔabš (Nisqually) and sqʷax̌sədəbš (Squaxin Island) tribes who reside, have lands within or have treaty-protected rights to water in Pierce County.”