Chester Cayou, a longtime leader of the Swinomish Tribe of Washington, died on August 27. He was 88.

Cayou was serving his sixth term on the Swinomish Senate. He worked on natural resource, veterans, budget and law enforcement issues.

“Chet Cayou was one in a million,” Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby told Indian Country Today. “He served his country and his people his entire life. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not just about the Coast Salish lifeways and language, but also carried a boots-on-the-ground perspective of Europe in the last years of World War II."

Cayou was drafted to serve in World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Jubilee of Liberty Medal on behalf of the French government.

Get the Story:
Chester Cayou, respected Swinomish leader (Indian Country Today 9/14)