We are the Lhaqtemish, “The Lummi People.” We are the survivors of the Great Flood. With a sharpened sense of resilience and tenacity we carry on. We pursue the way of life that our past leaders hope to preserve with the rights reserved by our treaty. We all witness and continue to carry on our Schelangen (way of life). We are fishers, hunters, and gatherers, and harvesters of nature’s abundance and have been since time immemorial. We are the original inhabitants of Washington’s northernmost coast and southern British Columbia known as the Salish Sea. We are the third largest tribe in Washington State serving a population of 5,234 people. We are one of the signatories to the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855. We are a fishing nation and for thousands of years we have worked, flourished and celebrated life on the shores and waters of the Salish Sea.

In 1855, our ancestors signed the Point Elliott Treaty ceding lands to the United States government in exchange for our reservation lands and guarantees to retain the rights to hunt, fish, gather at our usual and accustomed grounds and station and traditional territories. We have exercised these rights since time immemorial and intend to maintain these rights for our children into perpetuity.

We understand the challenge of respecting our traditions while making progress in the modern world. We know we must listen to the wisdom of our ancestors, to care for our lands and waterways, to educate our children, to provide family services, and strengthen our ties with outside communities. We continue to invest in our tribal economic development and training our people to use the most modern technologies available while staying attentive to our tribal values.

We envision our homeland as a place where we enjoy an abundant, safe, and healthy life in mind, body, society, environment, space, time, and spirituality where all are encouraged to succeed and none are left behind.