The 1855 Point Elliott Treaty that affirms self-rule and autonomy for Northwest Washington’s Native American tribes ranks among the most important documents studied at La Conner Schools.

The treaty was signed Jan. 22, 1855 by Washington Territorial Gov. Isaac Stevens and many tribes in the Salish Sea region, including the Swinomish, whose reservation is within the La Conner School District service area.

The 171-year-old pact recognizes tribal sovereignty, culture and traditions, among them essential rights to fish, hunt game and gather food. It remains the law of the land in this region.

As part of its annual Treaty Day observance, La Conner Schools –more than one-third of whose students identify as Native American – last Thursday scheduled lessons and activities across all grade levels that focused on the historic Point Elliott gathering, which drew 82 tribal signatories.

At La Conner Middle and High schools, social studies classes employed Swinomish-approved curricula addressing the genesis and enduring nature of the treaty.

La Conner High School history teacher Peter Voorhees had students compare the Point Elliott Treaty with other major accords, including the Treaty of Versailles that formally ended World War I and the 1885 General Act of Berlin that regulated European colonization of Africa.

At Berlin, students learned, there was no African representation as the continent was carved into European spheres of influence. By contrast, there was tribal participation at Point Elliott, but not all delegates spoke English and translations to Chinook jargon – a trade language – weren’t smooth.

While Africans were not recognized as sovereign by Berlin conferees, Puget Sound tribes were able to sign a nation-to-nation treaty, though Stevens held the balance of power during those negotiations.

Motivated by presidential ambitions, Stevens sought a peaceful solution to potential strife between tribes and settlers. His hope was to garner positive press in Eastern newspapers, which served the country’s population centers.  

But Stevens’ White House dream was dashed when he was killed at the Battle of Chantilly in 1862 during the American Civil War.

Though the two European treaties had relatively short shelf lives, Voorhees stressed that the Point Elliott Treaty remains legally binding today.

“It’s a super, super promise,” is how Jen Willup, a La Conner Indigenous science teacher and educator with the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection, defined the term “treaty” for elementary students during an afternoon assembly in the campus gymnasium.

Willup explained the Point Elliott Treaty conference in its most basic terms.

“The tribes were told that if you give us your land, we’ll grant you some of your rights and you’ll be able to maintain your culture,” Willup said.

Under terms of the treaty, the region’s tribes ceded the bulk of their lands from Point Pully, midway between Tacoma and Seattle, north to the British Columbia border. In exchange, tribal reservations were established and the rights of Native Americans to fish, hunt and gather in their usual and accustomed places were affirmed.

The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in 1859.

Willup noted that delegations traveled to Point Elliott (modern-day Mukilteo) by canoe in dreary, harsh January weather. They did so during a time when tribal members were often engaged in winter season rituals.

“It was very important (to attend),” Willup said.

Today, Swinomish leaders and their counterparts in neighboring tribes view Treaty Day as a time for reflection, an opportunity to celebrate the historic work of ancestors while being mindful to carry forward that legacy for future generations.

In response to one of the many questions she fielded from students, Willup illustrated the lasting value of the Point Elliott Treaty document itself.

“When it was sent to the Tulalip Reservation to be displayed, it was transported in an armored car,” she said.

Yet it’s the words on the document, which govern this part of the state, that Northwest tribes treasure.

Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.