The aboriginal KiKiallus were among the first inhabitants of the KiKiallus River Valley and lived amongst the surrounding islands, river delta, and subsequent coastline. The KiKiallus River was renamed the Skagit River by Governor Stevens in 1855 in an effort to remove the KiKiallus’ presence from the area. Other permanent settlements of the KiKiallus were near Arlington, Snohomish, Jim Creek, and Lake Riley and along the banks of the KiKiallus River. The KiKiallus were predominately nomadic people migrating amongst the waterways of the Pacific Northwest. The KiKiallus often migrated in the winter and summer months from their stronghold in the KiKiallus River Valley across the Cascade Mountains into the Seattle Seattle area. From Seattle, many of the KiKiallus continued in North to British Columbia and even Alaska to trade with the many Nations inhabiting the current day Canada /Alaska. The KiKiallus’ nomadic tendencies helped strengthen relationships with other Nations, which advanced their economic status amongst the other Nations.
THE KIKIALLUS
The KiKiallus Indian Nation was first subsumed by the United States Government in 1855 when forced to cede their ancestral lands to the settlers led by a US Military encampment. The KiKiallus Nation has maintained its government, its language, its spiritual ways, and culture, as well as its legal systems, political structures, inherent relationships with nature, and its tribal sovereignty over the last 166 years. The KiKiallus pride themselves on education, leadership, and altruistic service to society.
KIKIALLUS DESCENDANTS
The KiKiallus Tribe of Indians descended from the aboriginal KiKiallus subdivision of the Skagit Indians. Many believe that much of the Swinomish, Skagit, and Squinahmish populations on the Swinomish and Tulalip reservations are the descendants of aboriginal KiKiallus. The KiKiallus usually married outside of the tribe; this practice not only diversified the KiKiallus bloodline, it also opened access to furs, blankets, and other coveted and valuable items produced by other indigenous nations, bringing further prestige, diplomacy and wealth to the nation.
CLAIMS AND HISTORY
The KiKiallus Tribe of Indians signed the Treaty of Point Elliott on January 2, 1855, along with dozens of other tribes from the region. The tribe has successfully fought to maintain its sovereignty throughout the years and has filed multiple claims attempting to collect the considerations due to the KiKiallus by the United States.
In 1933, the KiKiallus Tribe of Indians filed a consolidated claim and petition against the United States Government for failing to pay large portions of monies due under the terms of the Treaty to many of the tribes. On June 7, 1972 the Commission found that the KiKiallus were entitled to receive the remaining $6,026.69, of the $12,000 originally promised for their 8000 acres of land, which had been withheld since 1855. The commission refused to award interest or late fees which was adamantly objected to by the Nation. If Washington State Statutory interest, compounded annually, had accrued over the 117 years the KiKiallus continued their collection efforts, they were due $3,455,713,899.01 in 1972.
LOCALITY OF MODERN KIKIALLUS
Tribal members today are spread across the Pacific Northwest and other regions. Many of the remaining tribal members live in northwestern Washington State, some live together with other Washington Coast tribes on the Swinomish Reservation and Tulalip Reservations. The Swinomish are a federally recognized tribe domiciled on the Puget Sound; the indigenous Salish are from tribes and bands originating from the Skagit Valley, the Samish River Valley, the coastal areas surrounding Skagit, Padilla, Fidalgo Bay, Saratoga Passage, as well as numerous other islands including, Camano, Whidbey, and the San Juan Islands.
The remainder of the KiKiallus citizens are spread through British Columbia, the United States, the Pacific Islands, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, Alaska, and South America.