The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is not a big tribe, nor is our community a large community, but our people have the same needs, hopes, and dreams as all communities throughout the world. We want our families and our homes to be healthy. We want high-quality education for our children and loving care for our elders. We want safe neighborhoods and a clean environment. We want to preserve our traditions, culture, and our way of life. As a community we work together to sustain our values and further our hopes and dreams for generations to come.
We often say to our friends, Swinomish always has been and always will be a fishing tribe. Salmon is at the heart of the Swinomish cultural and ceremonial life. The ceremonial and subsistence harvests by tribal fishers support a thriving cultural life, sustains our elders, and nurtures each new generation of our children.
As the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, we approach our self-governance with one fundamental question in mind: How will our decisions affect the next seven generations? We make decisions based on our belief that "we are as permanent as the soil" and "our grandparents' blood rights and our children's sovereignty are found in our lands, waters, and resources". The decisions we make and actions we take uphold our way of life.
If you have questions about the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community that are not answered on this website, please contact our staff for more information.