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.

October 2024
Edition

Muckleshoot Tribe Partners with Seattle Aquarium in Ocean Pavilion Expansion

Muckleshoot’s ties to the Seattle Waterfront received eminent recognition last month when local dignitaries joined Tribal leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Seattle Aquarium’s Pavilion.

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Edition

Councilwoman Virginia Cross Honored at Centennial Accord Meeting

Muckleshoot Tribal Councilwoman Virginia Cross received recognition from Gov. Jay Inslee and Tribal leaders from around the state at the Centennial Accord meeting this year.

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October 2024
Edition

Tribal Councilwoman Jessica Garcia-Jones On Voting

A message from Tribal Councilwoman Jessica Garcia-Jones and important info about the 2024 General Election.

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From the Muckleshoot Messenger

October 2024
Edition

Muckleshoot Tribe Partners with Seattle Aquarium in Ocean Pavilion Expansion

Muckleshoot’s ties to the Seattle Waterfront received eminent recognition last month when local dignitaries joined Tribal leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the Seattle Aquarium’s Pavilion.

read article
Edition

Councilwoman Virginia Cross Honored at Centennial Accord Meeting

Muckleshoot Tribal Councilwoman Virginia Cross received recognition from Gov. Jay Inslee and Tribal leaders from around the state at the Centennial Accord meeting this year.

read article
October 2024
Edition

Tribal Councilwoman Jessica Garcia-Jones On Voting

A message from Tribal Councilwoman Jessica Garcia-Jones and important info about the 2024 General Election.

read article
October 2024
Edition

USDA Conference Opening Ceremony at the Muckleshoot Casino

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe recently hosted a United States Department of Agriculture conference on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

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