Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-04
The Tulalip Indians.
Seattle Intelligencer.

The Tulalip Agency consists of
five reservations, covering an area of
S3 square miles, and containing a
population of 1898 Indians. The
Agent, John O'Kane, reports that
the manners and customs Of the In
dians are undergoing considerable
change. They are gradually dis
carding the peculiar habits that for
merly characterized them. An ex-
ception to this is found in a small
hand of Indians living on the upper
Skagit, who, under the leadership Of
one John Campbell, refuse to live on
the reservations and adopt the Gus
toms of civilization. He says these
Indians make it point whenever
practically to taunt the Indians on
the Sound with their docility, and
they encourage outbreaks as means
by which to gain favors from the
Government. They are in commune
cation with the Indians east OF the
Canadas, and their situation no
doubt has much to do with their
peculiarities. The schools OF Tula-
lip are good. The young men and
women from them are fitted to not
only attend to their own business
affairs but are prepared to take an
active part in the practical duties OF
life. Their instruction includes the
| principles of farming and other
branches of mechanical labor, among
the boys, as we'll as cooking, wash
ing, sewing and other useful domes-
tic arts among the girls. The aver
age school attendance during the
year was 1O2 pupils. About 2,40O
of the Tulalip Indians are attached
to the Roman Catholic religion.
During the past year the breaches
of conduct numbered only twelve.
Whisky, away from the reservation,
was the cause of troubles that re-
suited in three murders during the
year. Those following agricultural
pursuits have got along so far IS to
engage in butter making, 200 pounds
of which they had for sale last year.
Others made 100, 900 shingles, 13O.-
600 feet of lumber and 725 cords OF
wood. Berry and salmon drying
are among the commonest pursuits.
The girls boarding house was en-.
larged last year by an addition of
81 by 40 feet two stories high. A
schoolhouse was built at Lummi, 20
by 32 feet, and is good substantial
building, painted throughout, con-
tanning two large tire-places. Among
other improvements made during the
last year, was the building of a store
house, all finished and painted; re-
pairing of the wharf, by driving
sixty new piles, which we've secured
with iron pins, the sawmill was re-.
constructed throughout, and good
substantial milldam build; a road
was made from one end Of the reser-
vation to the other. The work on
the dam and road was done by In
diuns, who were paid in annaities at
the rate of 81 per day; and the prin-
cipal portion of the mat erial was
manufactured at the agency. The
work under way now at the reserva.
ton is the reclamation of about
600 acres of land, by deepening
the bed of creek that runs through
a marsh, two or three feet. The
buildings occupied by the employees
are reported to be in rather shaky
condition owing to the rottins away
of tho foundations, ETC., but these
matters will all be righted ere long
The Indians on the Swinomish have
done very little in the line of farm,
ing, owing to the reason that they
have no land in proper condition
for agricultural purposes. An appro
priation has been asked to put striE
Of tide land, sufficient in size TO ac
commodate most of the Indians, Ii
proper shape to be cultivated b,
them.
Tur cool, IL the ONLY man one vii