Associated Tribes of Mount Rainier

The land administered as Mount Rainier National Park has been since time immemorial the Ancestral homeland of the Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, Yakama, and Coast Salish people. By following Elders’ instructions passed through generations, these Indigenous Peoples remain dedicated caretakers of this landscape. Their Traditional Knowledge and Management of this Sacred Land will endure in perpetuity, and we honor each nation’s traditions of landscape stewardship in our endeavors to care for, protect, and preserve the features and values of the mountain.

 

The Associated Tribes of Mount Rainier National Park

The land within Mount Rainier National Park has historical, cultural, and spiritual meanings to many Native Americans. Click on the names of the tribes to link to their official websites.

Cowlitz Indian Tribe Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Nisqually Indian Tribe

Puyallup Tribe of Indians Squaxin Island Tribe Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation

 

Duration:

3 minutes, 23 seconds

Members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe Canoe Family performed the Nisqually Anthem Song at the Paradise Inn Annex Grand Reopening Ceremony held on May 17, 2019.

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 50 seconds

In summer 2020, Greg LaDue-Grove and Patty Kinswa-Gaiser spoke about their people’s connection to Ohanapecosh. They are members of the Taidnapam people whose traditional lands include Ohanapecosh and the southeast areas of Mount Rainier National Park. Taidnapam people are represented by the modern Cowlitz and Yakama tribes, which continue to have a lasting connection to the mountain. Video Description: An older man and woman sit outside in lawn chairs in front of two large cedar trees.