The Samish Indian Nation is a signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855 and has a government-to-government relationship with the United States of America.

[4] The Samish Nation is headquartered in Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, in Washington, north of Puget Sound.

The Nation is governed by a democratically elected council: Government departments: Archives, Chelángen, Conservation Law Enforcement, Early Learning, Education, Elders, Emergency Management, Enrollment, Finance, Health, Housing, Human Resources, IT, Library, Natural Resources, Planning, Prevention and Intervention, Purchased and Referred Care, Social Services, Tribal Historic Preservation, Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation, Tribal Wellness, and Xws7ameshqen.

Other lands: Fidalgo Bay Resort, site of landings during the annual Canoe Journey; Huckleberry Island, which was granted to Samish by the State of Washington with the provision that it remain open for public use; additional acreage on Campbell Lake; agricultural land on Thomas Creek; a proposed commercial development site on Highway 20 and Thompson Road in Anacortes; Samish Nation administration complexes on Commercial Avenue in downtown Anacortes and on Highway 20 in Summit Park; Samish Longhouse preschool and child care center; the waterfront Cannery Building adjacent to Seafarers Memorial Park; and uplands and tidelands on Mud Bay on Lopez Island.

1855 (San Juan Island Historical Museum); and 11 baskets, four hats, two cattail mats, two weaving shuttles, two mesh sticks used in making nets, a wooden serving dish, a wooden water bucket, a piece of twine, and a stone hammer (Karshner Museum and Center for Culture and Arts).