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There are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington State. Each tribe is a sovereign nation with its own government, laws and community programs.
No. There were 370 treaties signed by the U.S. government and American Indian Tribes between 1778 and 1871.
Treaties represented a contractual acknowledgment of certain rights already held, and to be retained, by tribal governments and their people. Tribes relinquished some rights (land) in exchange for retaining others (hunting and fishing, including outside reservations). Indian treaties have the same status as treaties with foreign nations, and because they are made under the U.S. Constitution they take precedence over any conflicting state law.
Indian Country is land under the jurisdiction of tribal governments and the federal government. Federal law describes Indian Country as “all land within the limits of any Indian reservation,” “all dependent Indian communities within the borders of the United States” and “all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished.” Indian Country includes all lands within reservation boundaries as well as off-reservation land owned by the U.S. in trust for tribes and individual Indians. (18 U.S. Code § 1151)
The term “Indian Tribe” appears in the U.S Constitution. “Indian” is not a derogatory term. Many American Indians refer to themselves as Indians, or American Indians or in Alaska as Alaska Natives. Different words and word combinations have been used over the years. Native American is very common. Some Indians prefer to be identified with their tribe, e.g., Tulalip.
Yes, American Indians pay most of the same taxes as every other citizen. American Indians pay federal income taxes and state sales tax on goods purchased off the reservation. The big tax difference is on income an American Indian may receive directly from a treaty or trust resource such as fish or timber. That income is not taxable.
Most tribes are governed by an elected body—usually a tribal council, typically led by a Chairperson or President.
Tribal governments reinvest revenues from tribally owned enterprises into public services such as healthcare, education, housing, environmental protection and community infrastructure that benefit tribal citizens and surrounding communities.
Sovereignty is the authority of a nation to make its laws and be governed by them. As self-governing nations, tribes establish and operate under their own governmental systems, create their own laws, set citizenship criteria and operate law enforcement and judicial systems.
Tribal enterprises, such as casinos, hotels, retail businesses, tourism operations and others serve as the primary tax base for tribal governments. Revenues generated by these enterprises are reinvested into public services and capital projects including healthcare, education, housing, environmental restoration and community infrastructure that benefit tribal citizens and surrounding communities.
Tribal governments support a wide range of services including health clinics, addiction treatment programs, early learning and education facilities, housing development, emergency services, environmental restoration and cultural preservation initiatives.
In 2023, tribes donated $9.6 million to charitable organizations, granted $6.5 million to government, fire and police services, provided $1.3 million for smoking cessation programs and contributed $2.3 million to problem gambling education, prevention and treatment.
To learn more about individual tribes, visit the Tribes of Washington State Map, which includes all 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington along with links to each tribe’s official website. For specific questions, visitors are encouraged to contact individual tribal governments directly.
Washington Tribes is an educational project of the Washington Indian Gaming Association, created to share clear, factual information about tribal governments in Washington and their contributions to communities, economies, and the environment statewide.
Yes. Many tribal programs and facilities are open to the broader public, and tribes frequently partner with cities, counties and nonprofit organizations to support services that benefit surrounding communities.
Visitors can follow the Washington Tribes Blog and subscribe to the Washington Tribes Newsletter for updates, new reports and educational content about tribal governments and their work across the state.
The Executive Summary and Full Report provide data and analysis on the economic contributions of Washington’s tribal governments including employment, wages, tax contributions and community investments across the state.
Yes. Tribal governments and enterprises contribute approximately $1.5 billion in state and local taxes. Tribes partner with cities, counties and local service providers to support public safety, health programs and nonprofit services across Washington.
Washington’s tribal governments generate $7.4 billion in gross state product and employ more than 29,000 people. Revenues from tribally owned enterprises are reinvested into public services such as healthcare, education, housing, environmental restoration and community infrastructure that benefit both tribal and non-tribal communities across the state.
“Language is like water for their roots.”
Ted Moomaw, Colville’s Waterfalls Immersion School