Indians of the Pacific Northwest: From the Coming of the White Man to the Present Day

by Vine Deloria Jr.

Prior to the onslaught of the Europeans, the Puget Sound area was one of the most heavily populated regions north of Mexico City. The Native Americans who lived there enjoyed a bounty of seafood, waterfowl, and berries, which they expertly collected and preserved. Detailing the associated culture, technologies, and techniques, Vine Deloria Jr. explains in depth this veritable paradise and its ultimate demise.

Raising the possibility that the utopian lifestyle enjoyed by the Indians of the Pacific Northwest might have continued in perpetuity had Europeans not sought a Northwest Passage. Deloria describes in devastating detail the ramifications of the Europeans' migration into the territory. With more than two thousand American settlers in the Pacific Northwest by 1852, and with many more to come, the outbreak of disease and the encroachment of land speculators, railroad capitalists, and logging and mining interests forced the Native Americans to give up their ancestral lands and move to reservations.

Deloria speaks with a measure of sadness, outrage, and hope, writing a moving account of the Pacific Northwest Indians' struggle that began with the arrival of the white settlers and continues today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Native American, School, Native Americans

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. was an American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist. He was widely known for his book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (1969), which helped generate national attention to Native American issues in the same year as the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement. From 1964–1967, he had served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, increasing tribal membership from 19 to 156. Beginning in 1977, he was a board member of the National Museum of the American Indian, which now has buildings in both New York City and Washington, DC.

Deloria began his academic career in 1970 at Western Washington State College at Bellingham, Washington. He became Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona (1978–1990), where he established the first master's degree program in American Indian Studies in the United States. After ten years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he returned to Arizona and taught at the School of Law.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to the onslaught of the Europeans, the Puget Sound area was one of the most heavily populated regions north of Mexico City. The Native Americans who lived there enjoyed a bounty of seafood, waterfowl, and berries, which they expertly collected and preserved. Detailing the associated culture, technologies, and techniques, Vine Deloria Jr. explains in depth this veritable paradise and its ultimate demise. Raising the possibility that the utopian lifestyle enjoyed by the Indians of the Pacific Northwest might have continued in perpetuity had Europeans not sought a Northwest Passage, Deloria describes in devastating detail the ramifications of the Europeans' migration into the territory. With more than two thousand American settlers in the Pacific Northwest by 1852, and with many more to come, the outbreak of disease and the encroachment of land speculators, railroad capitalists, and logging and mining interests forced the Native Americans to give up their ancestral lands and move to reservations. Deloria speaks with a measure of sadness, outrage, and hope, writing a moving account of the Pacific Northwest Indians' struggle that began with the arrival of white settlers and continues today.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up in Washington State, the history of the native tribes and lands we occupied was never taught in school. This book completely changed my understanding of Pacific Northwest history, opening my eyes to the cruelties, betrayal, and antagonism these tribes have endured throughout the territory's history. I'm blown away by their stunning resilience in not only adapting to terrible circumstances imposed by white settlers and governments but in fighting relentlessly for tribal rights to land, fishing, whaling, and ultimately to their culture and way of life. As a teacher and Pacific Northwest resident, I would highly recommend everyone who lives in this region, especially educators, to read this book and continue learning about native history.

[Beana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about local history that I haven't found anywhere else. Vine Deloria provides fine details to the way native and non native communities interacted through the period of settlement in the PNW that provides a much fuller picture. I can now explain many ways in which these communities worked together, ways non native communities relied on native communities, and precise events where the whites exercised their dominance in order to shape today's western Washington.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its publication date in the late 70s, it never feels dated and instead is quite prescient. A short, effective volume primarily focused on the more recent history of western Washington tribes.

[Rhonda Hankins]

Written by Vine Deloria Jr, a Sioux, this book documents the long battles Native Americans have had for fishing rights and other rights in the Pacific Northwest. The corruption of the Department of Interior and State actors is infuriating and egregious.

A couple of heroes stand out to remind us that individuals can make a difference:

Hank Adams, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...

Barbara Lane, https://turtletalk.blog/2014/01/21/ba...

[Justin Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best history of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The book was written in the 1970s and the basic information is there and is enlightening, engaging and very useful. Only criticism I have is the organization, which would preferably be broken down into several sections per chapter. But that is a minor quibble with an otherwise fine examination of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest.

[Karin Coppernoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a history of the Indians of the Pacific Northwest, particularly those of Washington, told from the Indian experience. Written in easy to read language, it is by no means an easy read. The emotional impact of the native journey of survival in the white man’s world is very real. This book needs to be part of every Pacific Northwest high school history class.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential history in simple, accessible language. This should be required reading for every high schooler in the PNW. It's pretty heavy on the history of the peoples of Puget Sound, so I still don't feel like I know much more about the peoples of (so-called) Oregon, but it was a great start.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful overview of the history of Native American in Western Washington and their cultural values, dispossession by white settlers, treaty development and complications, and contemporary developments related to Tribes and their treaty rights.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise review of Indigenous groups in the Pacific Northwest, especially Washington State. Left me wanting more and seems like it should be required reading in schools of the region. Read the edition with a foreword from Billy Frank Jr. and afterwork from Steve Pavlik.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest should read this book. It’s easy to read, well written, and maybe it’s not endlessly comprehensive in the way of historians, but it does a great job of telling the story of the Native peoples of the region and what they have experienced and overcome.

[Ath3ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing being able to read this book and then being able to talk to elders about these stories. However it is incredibly sad that the issues highlighted in this book are still relevant today. So many issues plaguing the Pacific Northwest would be resolved if we followed the red way

[Tina Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of tribes of the Pacific Northwest and the keys issues affecting them.

[Mel Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone living in the PNW. The writing style is relaxed and engaging. I learned a lot.

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generously diplomatic, descriptive and enlightening.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great history of the natives of the Pacific Northwest.

[Pamela Okano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vine DeLoria gives an interesting and succinct history of the Native American tribes, mostly of Western Washington. A must read for anyone interested in Native American history.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, clearly written overview of the plights of Tribes in western Washington State.

[Chawls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read such a full and concise history of the Pacific Northwest. This book is illuminating. Surprisingly short at only 160 pages. Highly recommend!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike so many history texts, this book moves. Deloria's writing is clear and engaging. I learned a lot from his explanation of the difference between the federal and state interpretations of the Stevens treaties signed in 1855-1856. In the majority of 19th century cases, the Supreme Court decisions favored the Native American right to fish and hunt in their usual and accustomed grounds, arguing that the language of the original treaty was "not a grant of rights to the Indians, but a grant of rights from them - a reservation of those not granted" (77). This all changed when WA received statehood in 1889. The states tended to rule against the federal government. In practice this meant the WA courts consistently ruled in favor of the white population, arguing that Natives had the same rights of any citizen, thus challenging the idea that the Natives had "reserved" the right to fish in their traditional areas. This wouldn't be reversed until the Boldt Decision of 1974. At the end of Chapter 11, Deloria writing in 1977, concludes that, "...the Lummis somehow were able to save precisely that part of their ancestral lands [tidelands] that was most valuable. There may be a force in history that sometimes compensates for the tragic experiences of people" (109). The same could be written today when describing the Lummi's successful 2016 fight to deny the permit for the construction of what would have been the largest coal port in North America. The Army Corps decision rested on the 1855 Treaty rights to fish in "traditional" waters. You can't fish if there is no estuarine habitat to support the fish.

[Luke Mcguff]

The first white people to arrive in the Pacific Northwest were British traders, looking to take advantage of the established trade routes of the Salish peoples for their own ends: The Makah whalers for whale oil, others for salmon or animal skins. They lived in relative peace with Salish peoples, even intermarrying, although they still brought smallpox. The Americans who came later wanted to establish permanent settlements, which resulted in the occasionally violent removal of first peoples from their lands and the establishment of reservations. I thought this book would be a pretty depressing read, but although it told the story of the thefts of Americans without flinching, it also told the many stories of successes that first peoples have had, in re-establishing their fishing rights and keeping parcels of their lands under their own control. I think this book leaves a lot out, as well, particularly the story of the Duwamish. It was first published in 1977, and an afterword provides an update as of 2011, which takes us through casinos and up to the first Elwha Dam removal.

[Lisa Kentgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written from Vine Deloria's time teaching and living in the Pacific Northwest. It is an excellent review of the tribes in Washington and Oregon - with a great afterword by Steve Pavlik, written 10 years ago, informing the reader of where things now (35 years after Deloria wrote the book). It would be 5 stars hands down if Vine included women in his narrative. I found their relative absence unfortunate. Still, look forward to reading more from him.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated now, this 1977 book focuses mainly on what is now the Washington coast. A good introduction to the peoples there and how life changed for them as they were affected/adapted by the arrival of whites.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although well-written and researched, I was somewhat disappointed in the extremely narrow scope of the book. Despite the title, it focuses solely on Washington state and Vancouver Island, and even then only west of the Cascades.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book about the Pacific Northwest Natives. It covers a little of their history and their interaction with the whites that came into their country. Also a good history on the treaties and how and why they were broken by the white man - greed.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

1977 edition ... I wonder what the interim years have brought?

[Kaya Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good history of the Pacific Northwest region that is focused on the perspective from the Native people.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person in the PNW should learn a little history from the Indian perspective. This book is it.

[Andrew Etringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, important read.