Mitchell Bay Band of the San Juan Islands

Mitchell Bay Band ancestors were related to other peoples — among them the Lummi, Saanich and Samish — with whom they share an origin story and language.

Great Britain and the United States claimed and jointly occupied San Juan Island from 1859-1872.

After the dispute was settled in favor of the U.S., many Indigenous people moved to reservations at Lummi or Swinomish; many others, however, chose to remain on the island.

Members of the Mitchell Bay Band met on June 5, 1976 to adopt a constitution and bylaws and elect a government in an effort to become a party to U.S. v. Washington.

Efforts to establish federal recognition — and a government-to-government relationship with the U.S. government — have to date been unsuccessful.

Reef netting, an efficient form of fishing that the Coast Salish peoples say was a gift from the Creator, is still conducted by Coast Salish peoples, including members of the Mitchell Bay Band
E.W. Chevalier, elder of the Mitchell Bay Band, pictured in May 2004