In a unanimous decision, the Washington parks and recreation commission agreed on Thursday to return a state park that was once home to Chief Sealth to the Suquamish Tribe.

The 1-acre Old Man House State Park was part of a larger parcel taken from the tribe in 1904. The government never used the land but failed to return it to the tribe.

In exchange for assuming control and ownership, the tribe has waived its sovereign immunity. The tribe plans to keep the park open to the public.

The site was also considered the tribe's mother village.

Get the Story:
State decides to turn park over to tribe (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 8/13)
State gives historic park to Suquamish Tribe (The Seattle Times 8/13)
Old Man returns to his tribe (The Bremerton Sun 8/13)

Relevant Links:
Suquamish Tribe - http://www.suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish Olalla Neighbors - http://www.soneighbors.org

Related Stories:
Editorial: Return state park to Suquamish Tribe (8/11)
Decision on returning state park to tribe awaited (08/02)
Decision near on returning park to Suquamish Tribe (06/14)
Opinion: Support return of land to Suquamish Tribe (01/08)
Suquamish Tribe wants to manage state park (11/17)
Non-Indians oppose tribal control of Wash. park (07/16)