, that means the place you get your spirit power. On top of the hill we are looking at the puget sound. The native people were known as the people of the river and of the grass. Our homeland has always been this beautiful area. They were here for united states. The tribe is definitely active here, i do not see them ever going away. That stems from the Medicine Creek treaty. To uss very important because it helps identify the native tribe with our relationship to the federal government. That is a very important thing. The government does play a role with the federally recognized tribes to recognize their sovereignty and look out for our best interest. That treaty established that relationship. It also established our trade areas. First area of five areas that the governor had carved out of the washington territory to execute treaties. They were bringing the railroad to this area. They came here as the first territorial governor and our first superintended. People on their own and then bring that railroad couldh so that they flourish with what they wanted to build here. When he did come here he negotiated right off the bat this medicine treaty. Because theresely was a huge barrier of language. Of course the governor spoke english but the tribal people did not speak english. It was happening in the middle of winter. Say of the old journals that there was never ending rain. We were used to that, that is how we live for a long time. We knew how to live with that, i think it was more typical for the nonnative people. There were some who were here permanently to make new homes, take advantage of that land donation act. I think that that shes brother knew that, the Medicine Creek treaty was really our first interaction with nonnative people. It really is the scenario that constitutes our relationship with nonnative people. Given the way that negotiation happened. It did not go well. We were off to a very bad start. Negotiation was the puget sound indian war. Native tribe did not have a chief, they would choose a leader when they needed one. There was a very contentious situation between the tribal and nontribal people. Nontribal people coming in and settling on grounds that people have hunted for generations and was a huge to there clash, it was getting to the point where people had to take action in terms of fighting at out. Who was going to day. The chief was chosen by the thate to lead them through very contentious situation. He was a person within Good Standing of the tribe. He was known as a orator, a judge who can help when there was conflict. He was known as a engineer when it came to fishing and life on the prairie so that they were not overtaken right trees or plants that were not going to provide a food source. He knew a awful lot. He knew about how to live off the land. As well as help all of the people here. He had a lot of great skills. When it came time to deal with the indian war there was a militia made up of farmers and people in the area. Timean imagine at that when hundred 50 years ago now they were probably pretty scared people. Not having lived here and not knowing the land as well. They were coming in on somebodys homeland and trying to make their own home rigged it was probably a very tense situation for them. This group of militia people who were not trained in military tactics who were farmers mainly grouped themselves together and were going after the chief and were going to fight for their home. The warriors who banded together from the tribe did what they needed to do. There was not really any out and out battles but there were skirmishes. That was based on bumping into each other. Militia people did not know the area very well. You can kind of see how it is hard for them to strategize with the battle. There was one particular someent where there were military personnel along with the militia people and they ran into a band of tribal warriors. There was say the battle was big enough that people were killed. The governorttle had just gotten back from his fiveto negotiated with all tribes. He heard about this battle, he was so upset that they were causing this trouble. People did not feel safe or were concerned about this to land. The jews became the scapegoat, he really went after him and called out for the murder of a lieutenant who was shot or killed on the battlefield during a time of battle. There was a price it out for the chief. He was right in and he with two a jail. In there for quite some time. If you can imagine a person who grew up in this area eating fish and all of this natural food and then be put into a jail. We do not know what he was fed but heths after months became very sick and he was heartbroken because he was not with his family and he was not protecting his people. Knowing that he was in jail his decided that he was and ato turn himself in least sit by his side while he was in jail. This the chief made some good friends with the nontribal farmers. Some names that are still here. They really have been a big part of our history. He became good friends, a couple road downndividuals to where the governor was staying. He turned himself in, it was , some of thenight governors personnel put him into a room that was located downstairs and left the door. He was locked in there. He sat down against the wall and buried his head and went to sleep. Somebody was able to get into that room and stab him. He got up and ran out the front door after the person who stabbed him. He made it about 15 feet and he fell to his death. This was on the governors doorstep. Nothing ever happened to the person who stabbed him. There was a man who was detained but only for a few hours did nothing was ever set of that. That was one of our very beloved leaders who was treated in that matter in such a way and his brother sat in jail trying to see what was going to happen. Trial was going to be happening in philadelphia. There was a second trial that was scheduled did this was in downtown olympia which was a hotbed of all of this hostility. Adian people were having really tough time. They lost a lot of their beloved leaders. There was a massacre that was part of the puget sound war are they werere lost and be down by all of this. A second trial included evidence and someone from the regular army that showed the socalled murder of a lieutenant theng a time of war that governor was using a particular incident to show that the chief was a murderer and he had to be accountable for that action. Focused onwas finding the chief guilty. Even though there was a mountain the matt it indicatedins so he was with 13 people at one point and the socalled murder of the lieutenant was over here but it was too far away for him to even be there. It was really a farce. Found guilty because it was so hostile here. He was taken back to jail and there was a hanging schedule. Wanted support of the regular army. The general at the time was not going to do that. There was really not it could have been controlled he had such tunnel vision on creating this railroad and bringing commerce he was forgetting about the people. He was not showing any care whatsoever for the people and herethers that have lived for generations and thousands of years. For some tribes that work. It did not work because there were a lot of hunters and gatherers. People of the grass and fishermen. We were not farmers. That really was a death sentence. That is why the puget sound war happened. Upt is why the chief stood and said we are going to stand to have oure need people stay on this river and have access to these grasslands. After all of this try to get that treaty corrected having people on the river. The two trials that happened, after being found guilty after everything that happened it came time for the chief to be hung. That was a sentence that he was given by the judge at that time. The judge ordered the regular army to do the hanging. The man who was in the army who actually had to do the hanging said he was hanging a innocent man. He regretted having to do that. It turns out that he was reprimanded by the president for this whole thing. For that specifically. The chief was hank and his last words that people will forever remember him for. The other tribes said all of his spirit would be free and he wanted there children and grandchildren to know what had happened at that time. That is what constitutes our relationship with the nontribal people. Was soll of that there much lost. Woman150 years later a believed the stars were all in uncle whoplace and my down onesat me afternoon and said i have a project for you. It is time for you to clear the name. He was seeking thinking the same thing. After all of this time. So that is where we decided to talk. I heard talking amongst other people who have the same kind of the spirit and clear the air. This shape so much, they all came out. When they joined our group and they felt that passionate. The pieces that we needed to create a historical force that happened in the Washington State museum of 20 04. This was the third trial for this. It was not a good situation. There were eight appointed judges. There were witnesses that were experts in their fields including military experts who came and ands vote on that battle that had happened with how the lieutenant was killed. All of that evidence was reintroduced. The map and the testimony were brought forward. It was a tough day. Through all of that there is a unanimous finding at the end of exoneratednd they the chief after all of that. Think a lot of us here know it is so amazing knowing that. We did not discount what happened in the past. That was important history. We added that final chapter. Importantly is showing tribal culture. People to of indian keep our culture alive. Make sure it is not taken away. Throughre many attempts indian policy and all kinds of situations like this one. This is one of the actions. There are a lot of great leaders in our history. Maintaining our sovereignty and letting people know that this will never be broken. Our cities to work staff recently traveled to tacoma, washington. About our area at cspan. Org. You are watching American History tv. All weekend every weekend on cspan3. American history tv meeting in new orleans, wepo