What Does it Mean to be Muckleshoot?
Since time immemorial, the Native peoples who lived and hunted and fished on the waters, shorelines, and forests of this region have defined themselves through their connection to place and the natural world.
Before they ceded their land to European settlers and relocated to reservations, the bands of Indians in and around Seattle were known as Duwamish, for the river flowing between their villages.
Still intact as a Tribe today, the descendants of those people now call themselves Muckleshoot, for the name of the prairie near Auburn where their reservation was established.
And for the more than 3,500 members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, that name carries not only their Tribal affiliation but a core part of their identity. It evokes pride, connection, sorrow and joy. It bestows sovereignty, Treaty rights and a profound sense of responsibility to their children and their Ancestors.
Muckleshoot Tribal Members can find news, events, resources, opportunities and job listings, and more!
To understand the importance of the Tribe, its culture, its Ancestral connections, and the territories between Elliott Bay in Seattle and the Cascade Mountains that the Muckleshoot people have always called home, it is important to hear from the Tribal Members themselves: What does it mean to be Muckleshoot?
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Coast culture — I grew up in that culture. I’ve always identified with it.
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I am Muckleshoot, and to me, that means learning from our Elders and teaching our youth.
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Berry picking is my favorite. It’s so peaceful when you’re out there, it’s like you’re in your own world.
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Through documenting Muckleshoot voices and stories today, we are carrying on the tradition of our Duwamish ancestors, and educating others about our heritage, culture, and sovereignty.
© Muckleshoot Indian Tribe 2025
