The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe composed of descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup Peoples who inhabited Central Puget Sound for thousands of years before non-Indian settlement.

We are Muckleshoot,
the First People of Seattle

Our Duwamish and Upper Puyallup ancestors were the first caretakers of the Puget Sound region. Like Muckleshoot Tribal members today, they lived in the area that is now Seattle as well as in communities throughout the Duwamish River drainage.

An aged, black and white photo of a Muckleshoot man standing on a wooden canoe on the water. He holds a long paddle in the water.


As a sovereign Tribal nation led by an elected council, we actively invest in our community, sustain our environment, and contribute to the regional economy. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is one of South King County’s largest employers, supporting 3,300 direct jobs and providing hundreds of millions of dollars to the regional economy.

Our people have always depended on rivers, forests, and seas. We hunted and gathered on the land and fished the waterways. We have always seen ourselves as part of the land, not owners of it, and we treat our environment with care and respect. Our commitment to protecting our people and communities brought us through the Tribe’s darkest times and continues to guide us today as we move into a new era of prosperity and empowerment. Our dedication to grit, self-reliance, securing our rights, and upholding our sovereignty has never been stronger.

in the news

From the Muckleshoot Messenger

The Muckleshoot Messenger is a Tribal publication created by the Muckleshoot Office of Media Services. Tribal community members and Tribal employees are welcome to submit items to the newspaper such as news, calendar items, photos, poems, and artwork.

March 2024
Edition

Vashon Clam Digging Open & Oyster Permits Available

It’s springtime and the Muckleshoot Fisheries Division is pleased to announce that the Tribe’s Vashon Island tidelands are OPEN for Clam Digging and Oyster Harvest Permits are now available at the Fisheries Office. 

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March 2024
Edition

For Phil Hamilton, Salmon Fishing Is a Birthright

As the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are taking a look back at the people and the activities that brought about the formation and development of this unique organization and partnership.

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March 2024
Edition

Capturing Mule Deer with the Wildlife Program

Each year when winter arrives, the Wildlife Program begins gearing up for one of our biggest events of the year – mule deer captures on the eastern slope of the Cascades.

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From the Muckleshoot Messenger

March 2024
Edition

Vashon Clam Digging Open & Oyster Permits Available

It’s springtime and the Muckleshoot Fisheries Division is pleased to announce that the Tribe’s Vashon Island tidelands are OPEN for Clam Digging and Oyster Harvest Permits are now available at the Fisheries Office. 

read article
March 2024
Edition

For Phil Hamilton, Salmon Fishing Is a Birthright

As the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are taking a look back at the people and the activities that brought about the formation and development of this unique organization and partnership.

read article
March 2024
Edition

Capturing Mule Deer with the Wildlife Program

Each year when winter arrives, the Wildlife Program begins gearing up for one of our biggest events of the year – mule deer captures on the eastern slope of the Cascades.

read article
March 2024
Edition

Mountain View Fire & Rescue Push-In Ceremony

On March 8th, Tribal representatives joined the Mountain View Fire and Rescue in the push-in ceremony for a new rescue wagon.

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