- Tribes: There are 29 federally recognized tribes in WA, representing distinct languages, customs, and histories.
- Languages: Languages originally spoken included Chinookan, Salishan, Kalapuyan, Wakashan, and Algonquian. Many revitalization efforts are underway.
- Art/Crafts: Carving, weaving, basketry, beadwork, and ceramics reflect tribal/regional styles using indigenous materials.
- Foods: Important staples included salmon, berries, roots, and game. Traditional techniques like pit cooking and drying continue.
- Spirituality: A rich mythology revolves around transformations between human and animal/spirit worlds.
- Places: Important spiritual and territorial sites include mountain peaks, rivers, ocean beaches, and island landscapes.
- Sustainability: Tribes have sustainably managed ecosystems for millennia through practices like controlled burning.
- Self-Governance: Tribes maintain sovereignty and preserve laws, culture, and languages on reservations.
- Museums/Centers: Places like Tulalip, and Suquamish museums promote tribal histories, and contemporary tribal nations.
Indigenous cultures have profoundly shaped the lands and peoples of Washington for thousands of years.
