This file made possible by: The State of Washington
Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

The incident known as the Mashel Massacre occurred in late March 1856 on the Mashel prairie just north of the confluence of the Mashel and Nisqually rivers (present-day Pierce County). It was the last episode of the Puget Sound Indian war [...]

Articles of agreement and convention made and concluded on the She-nah-nam, or Medicine Creek, in the Territory of Washington, this twenty-sixth day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, by Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs of the said Territory, on the part of the United States, and [...]

A Position Paper by Cecelia Svinth Carpenter
July 28, 1987
There were at least five different locations where one could cross the Nisqually River in the “early days” before bridges were built. Ways to cross the river included wading, horseback, canoe or on a raft or ferry. Places or locations for crossing were as important as how [...]

Introduction: Here are some locations/descriptions of Nisqually villages from Marian Smith’s book Puyallup-Nisqually.
16. Located at Glencove on Carr Inlet. This village was originally peopled from the village and Minter and retained its close alliance with it.
17. Located at the head of Burley Lagoon, Carr Inlet. In giving village sites sites the informant that he had [...]

Introduction: When Europeans arrived in the western hemisphere they brought diseases with them links to a world of disease that Native Americans to had never been exposed to before. Needless to say, it is now quite well documented that the diseases, which the Native Americans were now being exposed to, had an impact of killing [...]

Changes in the Law, Changes in Practice

Introduction: The following are examples of laws and practices that helped limit Native Americans access to their “usual and accustomed grounds and stations.”

The controversy began when a settler named Frank Taylor fenced in his land along the Columbia River in order to protect his crops.
Several years ago white men [...]

Indian Agent Report for Nisqually, Puyallup
Olympia, Washington Territory,
June 30, 1857
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of affairs as special Indian agent in charge of the Nisqually, Puyallup, and other tribes and bands of Indian Parties to the treaty of Medicine Creek, concluded December 26, 1854, for the quarter ending June 30, [...]

WASHINGTON
In conclusion, I would most respectfully solicit your attention to the fact, that the several persons whose land claims are situated within the boundary of the Puyallup reservation, and purchased from them by government at a valuation, have not yet received their pay for the same, although they understand that an appropriation has been made [...]

WASHINGTON SUPERINTENDENCY
 
Office Puyallup Agency,
Olympia, Washington Territory, September 6, 1865
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following annual report of the condition of the Indian tribes under my charge as an Indian agent: I take pleasure in referring to decide the improvement of their condition within the last year. Many of these people are [...]

From: The Journal of Joseph Thomas Heath (1848)  Eyewitness at Ft. Nisqually
 Monday, January 31st- Sent to the Fort for goods for my people. (Received a) note from the Doctor saying that there is great mortality among the Sandwich Islanders and Indians at Vancouver and elsewhere from dysentery following the measles. Many (are) ill here now [...]