The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe composed of descendants of the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup Peoples who inhabited Central Puget Sound for thousands of years before non-Indian settlement.

We are Muckleshoot,
the First People of Seattle

Our Duwamish and Upper Puyallup ancestors were the first caretakers of the Puget Sound region. Like Muckleshoot Tribal members today, they lived in the area that is now Seattle as well as in communities throughout the Duwamish River drainage.

An aged, black and white photo of a Muckleshoot man standing on a wooden canoe on the water. He holds a long paddle in the water.


As a sovereign Tribal nation led by an elected council, we actively invest in our community, sustain our environment, and contribute to the regional economy. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is one of South King County’s largest employers, supporting 3,300 direct jobs and providing hundreds of millions of dollars to the regional economy.

Our people have always depended on rivers, forests, and seas. We hunted and gathered on the land and fished the waterways. We have always seen ourselves as part of the land, not owners of it, and we treat our environment with care and respect. Our commitment to protecting our people and communities brought us through the Tribe’s darkest times and continues to guide us today as we move into a new era of prosperity and empowerment. Our dedication to grit, self-reliance, securing our rights, and upholding our sovereignty has never been stronger.

in the news

From the Muckleshoot Messenger

The Muckleshoot Messenger is a Tribal publication created by the Muckleshoot Office of Media Services. Tribal community members and Tribal employees are welcome to submit items to the newspaper such as news, calendar items, photos, poems, and artwork.

May 2024
Edition

Battle of the Nations Basketball Tournament

64 tribes from across the country competed in this year’s 5th annual Battle of the Nations basketball tournament located in Spokane, Washington.

read article
May 2024
Edition

2024 Washington Legislative Session Review

The 2024 Washington State Legislature wrapped up its work on March 7, following a hectic 60-day session. In addition to regular bill action and budgets, the Legislature passed three of the six initiatives certified earlier this year.

read article
May 2024
Edition

Salmon on the Silver Screen

Muckleshoot has been making movies about the tribe’s efforts to protect our culture, salmon, and the habitat we all depend on – and the film world is taking notice.

read article

From the Muckleshoot Messenger

May 2024
Edition

Battle of the Nations Basketball Tournament

64 tribes from across the country competed in this year’s 5th annual Battle of the Nations basketball tournament located in Spokane, Washington.

read article
May 2024
Edition

2024 Washington Legislative Session Review

The 2024 Washington State Legislature wrapped up its work on March 7, following a hectic 60-day session. In addition to regular bill action and budgets, the Legislature passed three of the six initiatives certified earlier this year.

read article
May 2024
Edition

Salmon on the Silver Screen

Muckleshoot has been making movies about the tribe’s efforts to protect our culture, salmon, and the habitat we all depend on – and the film world is taking notice.

read article
May 2024
Edition

Tribal Council lobbies in Washington, DC

The Tribal Council went to Washington, D.C. in April to press for the Tribe’s federal agenda and strengthen the Tribe’s government- to-government relationship with the United States.

read article
More from the muckleshoot messenger