Puyallup Tribe Demands Accountability
A committee of twelve Puyallup tribal leaders issued an ultimatum to land commissioners they claim are avoiding open discussion of reservation rights.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
TACOMA, Dec. 9.—The Puyallups say the commissioners appointed to report on their lands avoid meeting them, and they have appointed a committee of twelve, who gave the commissioners notice this evening, requesting them to name a day within ten days when they would meet with the people. The Indians claim this delay will be a great damage to them, inasmuch as action on Col. Doolittle's bill in Congress will likely be delayed until this commission makes its report. Antione Jackson served notice on the commissioners reciting the facts about the reservation lands and reports in regard to the intention of the commission. The committee's request stated: 'We respectfully request that if your honorable commission desires to ascertain the wishes and intentions of our people, that you will appoint a time convenient to yourselves at which you can meet with them at our Presbyterian church at Reservation precinct, within ten days from the date hereof.' Antione Jackson, Jerry Meeker, and others are leading the effort to secure their rights as demanded four years ago.
“They don't seem to want to meet us, but rather try to go around the back way and catch our people one at a time.”
This struggle for land rights and transparency in the 1890s captures the persistent tension between federal administrative policy and the sovereignty of the Puyallup Tribe. Jerry Meeker, mentioned here, would go on to be a pivotal figure in the long-term defense of tribal land interests in the Tacoma area.
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