- May 20: Lt. Peter Puget explores South Puget Sound.
- May 24: He explores Case Inlet, camping at north end of Squaxin Island.
- May 25: He explores Totten Inlet.
- May 27: Lt. Peter Puget returns to his group to report his findings, and the ship heads back to England
1792
- U.S. and Great Britain agree to the Joint Occupancy Treaty of the Oregon Country
1818
- First Europeans came through on way to Canada – 1st contact
1824
- Hudson Bay established farm in county.
1825
- Fort Nisqually is built
- First non-Native settlement in lower Puget Sound
1833
- First non-Native settlement in what is now Mason County
1834
- Charles Wilkes Expedition through South Puget Sound
- Dick Jackson born at Kamilche
- European settlers begin to move into the Puget Sound area
- John Slocum is born
1841
- First white settlers in Tumwater
1845
- Joint Occupancy pact comes to an end when the two countries agree to establish the dividing boundary at the 49th parallel
1846
- Oregon Territory was established on August 14, 1848.
- Priest Point Mission established.
1848
- Brig “Orbit” put into Budd Inlet for a load of piles, thus opening the lumber trade in the Sound
1849
- First framed house in Olympia
- Oregon Donation Land Act allowing settlers to take land (under this act, Church Pt. was taken)
1850
- Fort Steilacoom established
- Olympia is named
1851
- Washington Territory was created on February 3, 1853
1853
- Medicine Creek Treaty was signed on December 26, 1854, 662 Indians present at the signing.
- Approximately 530 Native Americans moved to Squaxin Island
1854
- Indian War erupts when Chief Leschi and his followers revolt over treaty issues.
1855
- Indian War ends
- Cleared 20 acres for planting and a well dug on Squaxin Island
- Houses & church built on 3 cleared acres 2 miles from school “to keep children away from family influences and pagan rituals”
1857
- Chief Leschi is secretly hanged in Olympia
- Tribal members begin to move from Squaxin Island and settle on the mainland
1858
- Old Chouse (grandfather of John Slocum) dies
1860
- Territorial legislature provides for the acquisition of exclusive rights to plant oysters
1861
- Territorial legislature passed law granting exclusive rights to plant, collect and harvest oysters in most of Totten Inlet to two non-Indians, Horton & Busey
1864
- Territorial legislature passed law granting exclusive rights to plant, collect and harvest oysters in Budd Inlet to two non-Indians, Winsor and Durgin
1865
- Washington becomes a state
1870
- BIA census begins
1875
- February 5, 1878: First land claim by non-Indians in Budd Inlet, where Olympia now stands.
- August 5, 1878: Olympia Oyster Company incorporated under laws of the Territory, taking the claims of all individuals for 50 years, forcing Olympia Jim and others to relocate to other inlets
1878
- From 1880 - 1889: Indian Oyster claims filed prior to statehood under Territorial law to protect traditional community holdings/ virtually all Squaxin Indians engaged in oystering.
Oyster Bay
• Tyee Bob / 27-11-1880
• Dick Jackson/ 14-12-1880
• Sally (likely Sally Jackson) / 14-12-1880
• Charley (likely Charles Martin) / 14-12-1880
• Olympia Jim / 21-12-1880
• Jack Slocum / 5-0-1881
• Sandy Wohault / 25-3-1881
• Charlie Quelch / 25-3-1881
• Henry Isaac / 9-4-1889
• Olympia Jim / 3-6-1889
Mud Bay
• Sam Lewis / 13-3-1882
• Lewis Youlbo /13-3-1882
• Mud Bay Tom /6-12-1886
1880
- John Slocum founds the Shaker religion, called Slocum Tum Tum or Schad-daub the Schad-daw
- First Shaker Church built
1881
- Washington becomes the 42nd state in the union
- Enabling Act and State Constitution adopted both containing disclaimer clause that state will not lay claim to lands held and used by any Indian or Indian Tribe
1889
- State legislature passes law providing for sale of oyster title to citizens. Title could be cancelled if tidelands used for any purpose other than the cultivation of edible shellfish
1890
- 1894-95Squaxin Island Indians file claims under laws of new state of WashingtonOyster Bay• Jack Slocum / 16-7-1894• Jack Slocum / 27-4-1895• Jim Simmons / 20-8-1895• Olympia Jim / 28-3-1899Mud Bay• Mud Bay Charlie / 16-5-1895• George Leschi / 8-7-1895Others included Little Charlie, Kate Charley and Mollie Peters
1894
- State legislature passes law providing for sale of oyster title to citizens. Permitted acreage reduced. State maintained reversionary interest and could claim land if it was not used for cultivation of edible shellfish
1895
- State attempts to sell tidelands on Squaxin Island to non-Indian purchasers.
1899
- 1903-04U.S. District Court Judge Hanford rules that the state has no legal authority to sell Squaxin Island tidelands and that purchasers have acquired no rights thereto
1903
- Census records 50 people on Squaxin Island
1910
- Cecil Cheeka kidnapped and taken to boarding school
1911
- Isolated Tidelands Act
1919
- All natives became citizens
1924
- All natives became citizens
- Second Shaker Church built
1924
- State law provides for state to sell its reserved right in oyster lands to owner of oyster title. Several SquaxinIndian owners applied to purchase under this law.
- Dick Jackson testifies in the case of Duwamish et al v United States
- Bureau of Indian Affairs is formed, previously under the Dept. of War
- United States government begins to assimilate Indian youth through boarding schools
1927
- By the 1930's, most people are gone from Squaxin Island
1930
- Indian Reorganization Act
1934
- Through the 1960's, the treaty fishing rights struggle began to be challenged
1960
- Secretary of the Interior approves the Squaxin Island Tribe’s constitution.
1965
- David Lopeman protests for fishing rights
1969
- Petroglyph at Eld Inlet moved to State Capital Museum
- 1970's: Longhouse built on Squaxin Island
1970
- Harstine Oyster Company is purchased August 1, 1971
- Third Shaker Church built, donated by Simpson
1971
- Judge Bo1dt decision upholds treaty fishing rights
1974
- Harstine Oyster Company processing building constructed
1977
- Longhouse and fishing boat of Kenny Selvidge burned on December 26, 1981.
1981
- Additional land purchased for houses
1984
- Arcadia Point Boat launch purchased
1986
- State park on Squaxin Island closes - April 1993
- Stream monitoring project - Summer 1993
- S.I. selected for self-governance - June 9, 1993
- Gambling Commission approves compact - June 9, 1993
- Lease signed on Elma Treatment Center facility - July 1993
- 1st self-governance hearing - July 18, 1993
- Gov. Lowry signs gaming compact - July 27, 1993
- Judge Rafeedie visits Squaxin Island and other tribes involved in shellfish case - August 4, 1993
- “Shellfish are Fish” ruling - August 1993
- Dept. of Interior approves gaming compact - September 21, 1993
- 1st Salmon Homecoming Celebration – Seattle waterfront - September 1993
- Squaxin Island officially self-governance tribe - October 1, 1993
- 1st recall election - December 11, 1993
1993
- Court rules against limitation on shellfish species and deep water harvests - January 1994
- Doug Tobin totem pole arrives at KTP - March 1994
- Tribal Health Care Summit w/ Gov. Lowry August 2 - 4, 1994
- Rememberer plays at Seattle Children's Theater - March 20, 1994
- Krise home on Old Olympic highway is burned, replaced with a mobile - March 5, 2024
- Canoes return to South Sound “Healing of the Waters” - March 26, 1994
- Shellfish trial begins - April 18, 1994
- Tribal leaders summit with President Clinton - April 29, 1994
- NWITC begins operation - June 1994
- Pacific Northwest Treaty signed between U.S. and Canadian tribes recognizing sovereignty - September 30, 1994
- Ron Whitener becomes 1st tribal member to take Oath of Attorney - November 3, 1994
1994
1960s
Treaty fishing rights struggle begins to be challenged
1969
David Lopeman protests for fishing rights
1970
Petroglyph at Eld Inlet moved to State Capital Museum
1970s
Longhouse built on Squaxin Island
8/1/1971
Harstine Oyster Company is purchased
1971
Third Shaker Church built, donated by Simpson
1974
Judge Bo1dt decision upholds treaty fishing rights
1977
Harstine Oyster Company processing building constructed
12/26/81
Longhouse and fishing boat of Kenny Selvidge burned
1984
Additional land purchased for houses
1986
Arcadia Point Boat launch purchased
1989
Centennial Accord signed with state of Washington
Shellfish litigation begins
1990
1st Annual Sa’He’Wa’Mish powwow
Repatriation becomes law
South Puget Intertribal Housing Authority constructed (Now Public Safety & Justice)
4/93
State park on Squaxin Island closes
Summer 93
Stream monitoring project
6/9/93
S.I. selected for self-governance
6/9/93
Gambling Commission approves compact
7/93
Lease signed on Elma Treatment Center facility
7/18/93
1st self-governance hearing
7/27/93
Gov. Lowry signs gaming compact
8/4/93
Judge Rafeedie visits Squaxin Island and other tribes involved in shellfish case
8/93
“Shellfish are Fish” ruling
9/21/93
Dept. of Interior approves gaming compact
9/93
1st Salmon Homecoming Celebration – Seattle waterfront
10/1/93
Squaxin Island officially self-governance tribe
12/11/93
1st recall election
1/94
Court rules against limitation on shellfish species and deep water harvests
2/2/94
Doug Tobin totem pole arrives at KTP
3/94
House Bill tightens disclosure on financial information
8/2-4/94
Tribal Health Care Summit w/ Gov. Lowry
3/20/94
Rememberer plays at Seattle Childrens Theater
3/26/94
Canoes return to South Sound “Healing of the Waters”
3/5/94
Krise home on Old Olympic highway is burned, replaced with a mobile
4/18/94
Shellfish trial begins
4/29/94
Tribal leaders summit with President Clinton
6/94
NWITC begins operation
9/30/94
Pacific Northwest Treaty signed between U.S. and Canadian tribes recognizing sovereignty
11/3/94
Ron Whitener becomes 1st tribal member to take Oath of Attorney
1995
Mary Johns room named
5/95
Grange torn down/casino walls go up
6/1/95
Church Point purchased
7/95
Old KTP destroyed
8/5/95
Shellfish implementation hearing
8/22/95
New KTP opens
9/22/95
Little Creek Casino Opens
9/22/95
Longhouse at Evergreen State College opens
10/95
Geoduck fishery begins
3/96
1st per capita payments to tribal members
12/95
Canoe log found in Wynoochee forest for first tribal canoe
2/96
KTP begins selling gas
3/96
1st repatriation visit / Burke Museum
8/3/96
President Clinton approves gaming study
3/30/96
First canoe log arrives
4/4/96
Blessing of first canoe log
7/13-21/96
Full Circle Canoe Journey
10/96
New Sally Selvidge Health Clinic opens
11/96
Landscaping project at intersection of highways 101 & 108
1/23/97
Cultural Center blessed/Grand Opening (Now Elders building)
5/17/97
Tribe meets with town of Packwood over hunting
5/97
Cultural Center dedication (now Elders building)
1998
Shellfish Decision U.S. v WA
1998-09-25 Shellfish decision.pdf5/98
KTP Totem pole is raised
10/1999
Museum Library and Research Center groundbreaking
12/13/1999
U.S. v WA Access rights determination for shellfish harvesting
1999-12-13 Order Clarifying Upland Access.tif7/2000
Water and sewer built for Slocum Ridge Housing Phase One
June 2001
Slocum Ridge Phase One homes started
6/2002
Museum Library and Research Center (MLRC) construction completed
11/2002
MLRC doors open to the public
7/2003
The Third Tribal Center construction started
3/2004
Hood Canal Communications wires Squaxin Island Reservation for broadband
5/2004
Third Tribal Center occupied
8/2004
Child Development Center – first tribal daycare to receive state certification – opens
10/25/2004
First Veterans Memorial meeting
4/2005
New roof and gas fireplace installed in Elders Center
9/2005
Mason County Fire District 3 occupies new fire station (2/3 ICDBG, 1/3 Squaxin funds)
2/20/2006
Dedicated Veterans Memorial tribal flag
4/2006
Groundbreaking for Salish Cliffs Golf Club
6/2006
Construction begins on the par-72, 7,300-yard championship golf course
Summer/2006
Mason County replaces Skookum Creek bridge with tribal assistance
10/2006
Construction on Salish Cliffs halted for land clearing
12/2006
Wooden medallions carved for Veterans Memorial at Andrea Sigos with Susan Point, funded through TESC; bronze medallions made by Urban Assessories
2/8/2007
First reclaimed water pumped to 225 million gallon irrigation pond
11/2007
Squaxin Island tribal flag flies for first time/Flag raising ceremony
4/2009
Construction on Salish Cliffs starts up again
12/29/2009
Veterans and tribal (Squaxin Island Honor Guard) Eagle staff ceremony
4/2008
Petroglyph moved from Tumwater Falls to Veterans Memorial
7/1/2008
Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony
10/2009
Construction on Salish Cliffs paused for winter months
3/2010
Construction of Salish Cliffs begins again
8/2011
Salish Cliffs open for business