Christine Dupres: Cowlitz Tribe on long journey to reclaim land

In late December of last year, I braved slogging rain, soggy ground, and dropping temperatures to join a sizable crowd of my fellow Cowlitz people and their supporters as we gathered to celebrate a future reservation on beautiful, tree-graced acreage near La Center, Washington. The air was thick with burning sage and anticipation; drums sounded, and elders strode around in red woolen honor robes, bedecked in antique abalone shells—there were more than a few police around, as well. It was a day to celebrate, but it was a day not without controversy.

Just a couple of weeks earlier, the United States District Court decided the federal government could take 151.87 acres of land near La Center into trust for the Cowlitz Tribe. Practically speaking, this Summary Judgment means we will finally have our own land, as of January 11. The judgment was 12 years in the making, withstanding appeals by the City of Vancouver, Clark County, La Center Cardrooms, and others along the way that slowed down the process considerably.

Twelve years might seem like a long time, but we Cowlitz people have had our share of waiting. Because we never signed a treaty with the United States and, in fact, refused terms presented to us by territorial governor Isaac Stevens in 1855, we were landless for over 160 years—we were not even formally recognized by the federal government until February 14, 2000. That fight took about 150 years.