November is Native American Heritage Month — a time to recognize the history, celebrate the culture, and learn about the ongoing contributions of Tribes in Washington state. It’s also a chance to reflect on the important relationships between Tribes and state government. These relationships are built on history, strengthened through resilience, and continue today through partnership.
By learning from our shared past, we can move forward together in a way that respects Tribal Sovereignty and improves public service for everyone in Washington.
In the mid-1800s, as settlers began to move across what is now Washington state, the United States negotiated a series of treaties with Tribal Nations throughout the region. Between 1854 and 1856, Governor Isaac Stevens signed treaties with many of the Tribes whose homelands stretch from the Pacific Coast to the Cascades and beyond.
These treaties, signed under duress, did not grant rights to Tribes — they recognized rights that Tribes had already held since time immemorial, such as the right to fish, hunt, and gather in their usual and accustomed places.
In exchange for vast tracts of land, Tribes reserved these rights as part of legally binding agreements between Sovereign Governments. Those treaties remain the supreme law of the land under the U.S. Constitution and continue to shape the landscape of public policy, natural resource management, and health systems in Washington today.
The reality
While the treaties represented promises of mutual respect and co-existence, many of those commitments went unfulfilled. For decades, Tribes have faced broken promises, displacement, and restrictions that undermined their Sovereignty. Yet despite these challenges, Tribes never ceded their status as Sovereign Nations. They continued to assert their rights through advocacy, legal action, and cultural endurance.
Landmark moments — like the 1974 Boldt Decision, which reaffirmed Tribal fishing rights and declared Tribes as co-managers of fisheries — became turning points in law and public consciousness. These efforts upheld treaty rights and redefined how the state of Washington works with Tribes as equal partners in stewardship and governance.
The Centennial Accord
Recognizing the need for a new relationship built on respect and accountability, Tribes and state leaders came together to sign the Centennial Accord in 1989. This agreement established a formal government-to-government framework to guide consultation, collaboration, and policy development between Tribes and state agencies. It affirmed that Tribes are not stakeholders, they are Sovereign Governments.
A decade later, the Millennium Agreement reaffirmed and strengthened those commitments, encouraging joint problem-solving and shared responsibility for the health, safety, and prosperity of all Washington people. These frameworks continue to guide state agencies today in areas such as public health, education, environmental management, and economic development.
A living principle
Understanding Tribal Sovereignty is essential to understanding Washington’s governance and values. Sovereignty is not a ceremonial concept or a historical artifact — it is a living legal and moral principle. It means that each Tribe holds inherent authority to govern its people, lands, and resources, and that the state of Washington has a responsibility to engage Tribes on that basis.
When state agencies honor these government-to-government relationships, they uphold the spirit of the treaties and strengthen trust, accountability, and mutual respect. These relationships are not just policy — they are partnerships built on recognition, resilience, and the shared goal of a healthier, stronger Washington for generations to come.