They are a tribe of Southwestern Coast Salish and Sahaptan indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest located in Washington.

The tribe is governed by a democratically elected board of tribal council members.

[2] The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has built the Ilani Casino Resort with ten restaurants and a hotel, located near Ridgefield, Washington.

In 1906 the tribe, under the leadership of Chief Atwin Stockum, began formal political relations with the United States.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has had its constitutional elective tribal council system of government since 1950.