November is Native American Heritage Month! This month is reserved for celebrating the achievements and cultural impacts of Indigenous tribes across the country. This year, PSRC wants to highlight the incredible work of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
The Puyallup Tribe, known as the puyaləpabš in Lushootseed, means “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.” Before European settlement, the Puyallup Tribe lived along the banks of the Puyallup River and Puget Sound. European settlers displaced them from much of their land. The Puyallup reservation was created by the Treaty of Medicine Creek and covers Fife and parts of Pierce County, Tacoma, Puyallup, Edgewood, Milton and Federal Way.
Over the past 160 years, the Puyallup Tribe has been a force in the fight for Tribal treaty rights and has continued to fight for fishing rights and land claims. They have also worked to maintain their culture through the Puyallup Tribal Museum and care for their community and environment.
The Puyallup Tribe has been a leader in coordination on planning issues. The Tribe has been a member of the Puget Sound Regional Council for more than a decade. The Tribe has also developed a strong relationship with the City of Tacoma and other jurisdictions to coordinate on local planning. The Tribe established joint planning goals in its Comprehensive Plan, including a cultural resource protection framework with jurisdictional partnerships supporting habitat restoration and climate resilience projects.
In June 2024, PSRC awarded the Puyallup Tribe a VISION 2050 award for its Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The plan documents the Tribe’s history, existing conditions, and a vision that will further the coordination between Tribes and their surrounding communities.
Thank you to the Puyallup Tribe for the incredible work and advocacy to protect Puget Sound and its watersheds.