The Puyallup (Spuyalpabš) people are a federally recognized Coast Salish tribe from western Washington State.
The Puyallup were relocated onto reservation lands in what is now Tacoma in late 1854, under the terms of the Treaty of Medicine Creek. Today, they have an enrollment of about 6,700, with about 3,000 residing on the reservation. The Puyallup Indian Reservation is one of the most urban reservations in the United States. Situated mostly in northern Pierce County, a portion of the reservation extends north into the City of Federal Way in King County, while parts of seven communities in the Tacoma Metropolitan Area (Tacoma, Waller, Fife, Milton, Edgewood, and Federal Way) extend onto reservation land. The tribe also controls off-reservation trust land. More than seventy percent of the population within the boundaries of the reservation identify as Caucasian, while just over three percent identify solely of American Indian ancestry.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians operated a casino on a paddleboat riverboat, the Emerald Queen, from 1996 to 2004, and currently operates gaming and entertainment facilities in two locations, retaining the name Emerald Queen for its gaming operations. Most of the tribe's revenue is generated from gambling casinos and related hotel, restaurant, and retail facilities. Its gambling locations are in Tacoma and Fife.
Through the tribe's economic branch, Marine View Ventures, the Puyallup Tribe operates gas stations on the reservation, a large container facility at the Port of Tacoma, and both tobacco and cannabis sales.
The history of the Puyallup people dates back to the 1800s when they inhabited an area near Mount Rainier. Prior to the arrival of European Americans, the Puyallup people engaged in fishing, hunting, and gathering activities. The arrival of Europeans brought disease and the removal of its land and resources, leading to conflict and war.
This portion of our guide to American Indian people is focused on the Puyallup people. Online resources related to the tribe or any of its institutions, businesses, industries, or events, are appropriate for this category, as are any entities operated by individual Puyallup people.
Recommended Resources
The Native American tribal school is in the Puyallup Valley near Mount Rainier, Washington. Opened in 1976, it serves American Indian students from ninety-two different bands that make up the Puyallup tribe of Indians. The current building, a 100,000-square-foot facility, is the largest school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education. As of 2016, the school no longer enrolls students who are not members of a Native American tribe. Schedules and contacts are posted.
https://www.leschischools.org/
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians operates two casino and hotel facilities in Washington State. The Emerald Queen Casino in Fife has 2,300 slot machines, a hotel with 103 rooms, three restaurants, and a large event space, while the Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma has more than 2,100 slot machines, 60 table games, a large sportsbook, a hotel with 104 rooms and suites, a fitness center, pool, spa, six restaurants, and an event center, all of which are featured here, with online bookings.
https://www.emeraldqueen.com/
PTE is the economic development arm of one of the largest tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Its objectives are to increase the tribe's land asset base and create jobs and job training opportunities for tribal members. Its mission, an overview of the Puyallup Tribe, and its board of directors and management team are acknowledged, along with a portfolio of its businesses and enterprises, investment criteria, career opportunities, applications, and contact information.
https://www.puyalluptribalenterprises.com/
Puyallup Tribal Health Authority
PTHA provides health care and promotes wellness. Chartered by the Puyallup Tribe, PTHA is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA). Patient eligibility information is provided on its website, and its departments, services, residency programs, events, and employment opportunities are posted. Contacts and a patient portal are included.
https://eptha.com/
Thirteen different tribes in the Puget Sound region in Washington speak Lushootseed, albeit with varying dialects. The Puyallup Tribe speaks Southern Lushootseed, and its dialect is Lushootseedtxʷəlšucid. A Lushootseed quiz may be downloaded from the site. The objective of the Tribal Language Program is to implement language use in conversation, language in the home, public speaking, and with children. Several resources are available, many of which can be downloaded.
https://www.puyalluptriballanguage.org/
The Puyallup Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Puyallup people from western Washington State, primarily on the Puyallup Indian Reservation. The tribe has two branches of government: the legislative and executive Tribal Council and the judiciary and Tribal Courts. The tribe profile is presented, along with the tribal government, membership services, a calendar of events, announcements, a FAQ, and a directory of Puyallup departments, programs, and services.
https://www.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/
Named for a Lushootseed word that means to fix oneself mentally, physically, and spiritually, Qwibil is a natural healing consultation and research center operated by the Puyallup Tribe. Its services include CBD for a variety of health conditions, medical marijuana, naturopathic medicine, neurofeedback, nutrition counseling, and IV therapy, which are detailed here, along with its location, hours of operation, doctors, staff, and policies for referrals and insurance claims. Contacts are included.
https://qwibil.com/
Opened in 2015, the SCC provides care for cancer patients. The center, located in Fife, Washington, is in collaboration with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and offers a range of services, including medical and naturopathic oncology and acupuncture. It integrates Native healing knowledge and practices with traditional medical care. The center's treatments and services are discussed, along with new patient information, intake forms, billing and insurance data, and a patient portal.
https://salishcancercenter.com/
