Samish: State Parks celebrate 100 years - Saturday marked the celebration of Washington State Parks 100th anniversary. Members of the Samish Indian Nation closed the ceremony with a blessing for the park lands, part of which was once home to the tribe.

Samish: Samish Indian Nation Names New Orca Calf T’ílem Ínges - On Saturday, June 29, 2013, the Samish Indian Nation held a traditional potlatch naming ceremony for J-49, the newest J Pod calf in the Southern Resident Community of orcas.

Samish: Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Provide Permanent Protection to Samish Land in Skagit & San Juan Counties - More than 95 acres of Samish Tribal lands in Skagit and San Juan counties will receive permanent protection if Congress passes a bill introduced by Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today, March 15, 2013. The Samish Indian Nation Homelands Act of 2013 would put the land, currently owned by the Samish Tribe, into federal trust for the tribe.

Samish: Major change to Anacortes growth area application - Anacortes has taken steps toward changing its growth plans to allow construction of a huge bottling plant. But the plan now omits a provision to sign over some land to the Samish Indian Nation.

Samish: Sammamish falls short in bid for state ferry name - Washington Transportation Commission members selected Samish and Tokitae for the 144-car Olympic class ferries. The commission also considered Cowlitz, Hoquiam, Muckleshoot and Ivar Haglund as possible names.

Samish: Tokitoe, AKA Lolita, selected as name for one new ferry - The Washington Transportation Commission decided Tuesday to name the two new state ferries now under construction the Tokitae (Toe-key-tay) and the Samish.

Samish: Samish Indians Lose Claim for Past Benefits - The Supreme Court on Tuesday unraveled a decision that would have let a tribe seek compensation for the benefits to which it would have been entitled during the decades it went unrecognized by the U.S. government. The Samish Indian Nation descend from a signatory tribe to the 1855 Treat of Point Elliott. In 1958, the U.S. government recognized the tribe's right to sue for damages for land lost under the treaty, but in 1969 the Department of the Interior omitted the Samish Nation from its list of Indian tribes. After nearly 30 years of legal finagling, the tribe was federally recognized on Oct. 15, 1996. It sued the United States in 2002, claiming the government owed it for the federal benefits it would have received from 1969 to 1996.

Samish: Nation’s Drive to Name New Washington State Ferry Samish Gaining Steam - In Washington state, Samish has been named as a finalist as a name for one of the two new state ferries under construction. The Samish Indian Nation has been seeking widespread public support to have a ferry named after the tribe. “We feel that it is really fitting that our name is placed on one of the ferries since these waterways were traveled by canoes among the Samish people just like the greater community will be traveling the same waters by ferry. We value Washington State and its commitment to honor Indian Tribes in this manner,” said Samish Tribal Chairman Thomas Wooten in a press release.

Samish: Help Support Samish Indian Nation’s Drive to Name Washington Ferry ‘Samish’ - A new 144-car ferry is to be built to service three routes in Washington State, and the Samish Indian Nation is proposing that the name SAMISH be considered for review by the Washington State Transportation Commission for the vessel. The new ferry will shuttle passengers between the Mukilteo/Clinton area, the Seattle/Bremerton area, and the Anacortes/San Juan Island area.

Samish: Larsen Legislation Would Provide Permanent Protection to Samish Land in Skagit & San Juan Counties - Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, has introduced legislation that will provide permanent protection to more than 95 acres of Samish Tribal lands in Skagit and San Juan counties. The Samish Indian Nation Homelands Act of 2012 (H.R. 5992) would put the land, currently owned by the Samish Tribe, into federal trust for the tribe. “This bill will help the Samish continue to build a solid foundation for economic growth, preserve vital community services, and give tribal members certainty about the Tribe’s future,” Larsen said. “By putting these lands into federal trust, we would protect vital services and economic centers for the Samish Tribe.”

Samish: Legislation Would Provide Permanent Protection to Samish Land - The blessing came as the Samish Indian Nation prepared for its annual cultural day and general meeting. At 6 a.m. on June 23, the people would go to the point on Deception Pass and honor Ko-Kwal-alwoot, she who married a sea being to guarantee abundant salmon runs for her people, and ask for a blessing, for a bountiful year of harvest from the land and sea.

Samish: Larsen Legislation Would Provide Permanent Protection to Samish Land in Skagit & San Juan Counties - Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, has introduced legislation that will provide permanent protection to more than 95 acres of Samish Tribal lands in Skagit and San Juan counties. The Samish Indian Nation Homelands Act of 2012 (H.R. 5992) would put the land, currently owned by the Samish Tribe, into federal trust for the tribe. “This bill will help the Samish continue to build a solid foundation for economic growth, preserve vital community services, and give tribal members certainty about the Tribe’s future,” Larsen said.

Samish: Songs and stories brought to Orcas Elementary School - Rosie Cayou James, the Cultural Development Coordinator of the Samish Indian Nation based in Anacortes, visited with the first through third graders at Orcas Island Elementary school on Thursday, April 26. Through song, drumming and story telling Rosie brought knowledge of her ancestors and their sea faring ways into view for the children and their teachers.

Samish: Songs and stories brought to Orcas Elementary School - Rosie Cayou James, the Cultural Development Coordinator of the Samish Indian Nation based in Anacortes, visited with the first through third graders at Orcas Island Elementary school on Thursday, April 26. Through song, drumming and story telling Rosie brought knowledge of her ancestors and their sea faring ways into view for the children and their teachers.

Samish: The Anacortes City Council meets tonight - The Anacortes City Council will discuss the Samish Indian Nation’s request for legislation support when they meet in a study session tonight.

Samish: Cleaning up the Samish