How do we bring justice and dignity to the immigration conversation?  I appreciate passion about fairness. Can we extend the conversation to our friends and family who have known injustice by our hands? I trust we will not forget the truth in front us. We are not only or present, but our collective history as well. William Faulkner once said,

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Treaty of Medicine Creek

The mid 19th century brought European expansion into the north west Native American homelands of the Nisqually, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Squawskin (Squaxin Island), S’Homamish, Stehchass, T’Peeksin, Squi-aitl, and Sa-heh-wamish”.  The Lushootseed speaking peoples had no preparation for the dehumanization and injustice fueling the European immigration into their historic hunting grounds, communties and culture.

On December 26, 1854 Governor Isaac Stevens manipulated Native Americans to sign the Treaty of Medicine Creek. 2.24 million acres were taken from the Lushootseed speaking people and in return the tribal families were promised cash payments of 32,500 dollars for 20 years, 3 reservations, and fishing rights.  The  treaty was immediately broken with fishing rights not restored for another 100 years with the passing of the 1974 Boldt Decision.

All the tribes signed the treaty except for Chief Leschi who opposed the Nisqually reservation locale due to its harsh unsuitable terrain for his people. In response to Leschi’s resistance and inevitable tribal conflict US  government officials falsely accused the chief of murder.  Upon the gallows on February 19, 1858 in the presence of his wife, Annie, at approximately 11:00AM he declared his innocence, offered forgiveness to his accusers, and was executed by the US Government.   Leschi’s memorial reads this inscription: “Judicially murdered on February 19, 1858, owing to misunderstanding of Treaty of 1854-1855, serving his people by his death. Sacrificed to a principle. A martyr to liberty, honor and the rights of his native land. Erected by those he died to serve.”  Chief Leschi was exonerated for his murder in 2004.  Wikipedia

Puyallup website

http://www.historylink.org/File/5253