Puyallup people
spuyaləpabš | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 6,700 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Washington, United States | |
| Languages | |
| Lushootseed (Twulshootseed); English | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional religion; Christianity, incl. syncretic forms (Indian Shaker Church) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Lushootseed-speaking peoples |
The Puyallup (pew-AL-əp; Lushootseed: spuyaləpabš, lit. 'people of the bend') are a Lushootseed-speaking Southern Coast Salish people indigenous to the Puget Sound region of Washington state. They are primarily enrolled in and represented by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, a federally-recognized Indian tribe located near Tacoma.
For centuries, the Puyallup and their sub-groups had several villages along the Puyallup River and the nearby coastline. Each village was autonomous, but united in a shared culture, language, and history. In 1854, the Puyallup were signatories to the Treaty of Medicine Creek, which ceded their land to the United States in return for the Puyallup Reservation and several other treaty rights. Following the controversial treaty, they participated in the Puget Sound War, eventually resulting in the 1856 Fox Island Council which increased the size of their reservation. Since then, the Puyallup people have continued to fight for their language, culture, and treaty rights.