The Stillaguamish people (still-uh-GWAH-mish; Lushootseed: stuləgʷabš)[2][3] are a Southern Coast Salish[4] people Indigenous to the Stillaguamish River valley in northwestern Washington State in the United States, near the city of Arlington, Washington.

"[2][3] The name stuləgʷabš is a drainage term, referring not to a central village but to all the people living along the Stillaguamish River.

[7] Archaeological sites dating back to the Olcott Phase (~9000 YBP) attributed to Stillaguamish Paleo-Indian ancestors have been discovered in Arlington and Granite Falls.

Warfare was uncommon, and generally defensive, as a retaliation for murder, broken promises, territory violations, or raiding.

The Stillaguamish were not included as signatories on the treaty because they were purposely placed as subjects of the Snoqualmie and their leader Patkanim.

Anthropologist Barbara Lane concluded that, during the hastily conducted treaty negotiations, the Stillaguamish were likely completely overlooked by Issaac Stevens, the Territorial Governor at the time.

In May 1856, the Stillaguamish were forced to move to the temporary reservation at Holmes Harbor on Whidbey Island, which was established for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Skykomish peoples.

[7][9] The Stillaguamish continued their traditional lifestyle for at least 15 years after they refused to leave to a reservation, until the 1870s, when settlers began encroaching.

[9] The Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington ratified its constitution on January 31, 1953, establishing a democratically elected, six-member tribal council.

The Stillaguamish also utilized the coastline of Skagit Bay and Camano Island, along with members from other non-Stillaguamish villages.

[2][7][9] Traditionally, there was limited private property ownership, and territorial rights were dominated by the idea of land use, extending to individuals based on the location of their village and usual and accustomed hunting and gathering areas.

During the winter months, the exclusive rights to fishing stations along a river would be held by the local village.

Land rights were also granted to those who were not tied in kinship but had express permission to use hunting and gathering sites.

Like other Coast Salish cultures, the Stillaguamish were not migratory; they had permanent villages and structures which sometimes hundreds of people would live in.

A village was made up of several winter longhouses, seasonal cattail mat houses, and various structures such as drying racks or fire pits.

Traditionally, Stillaguamish villages were autonomous, loosely bound together in culture, language, kinship, and geography.

During times of crisis, war, or simply for large social activities, closely allied villages might band together, sometimes under the leadership of one or several powerful figures.

The campgrounds at Oso were used as a launching spot for expeditions into the mountains and forests for hunting and berry picking.

People from all over the Stillaguamish River valley would come to this camp in great numbers to hunt bear, deer, elk, and mountain goat, as well as gather many types of berries.

In modern times, usage of the language has decreased to the point where there are no longer native speakers, and it is generally used in ceremonies.

[3] The vast majority of people were upper class, with a small minority of commoners, made up of freed slaves, refugees, orphans, and others who were otherwise ostracized from society.

Early settlers and visitors to the territory of the Stillaguamish thought their talent for fishing in even the most turbulent waters was remarkable.

Even today, many Stillaguamish people largely rely on fishing salmon as a means of gathering food and for economic gain.

[2] The Stillaguamish maintain a tradition of gathering plants in the forests, prairies, and alpine meadows in their territory.

It was a plentiful source of many crops, such as camas, as well as various berries, grasses, and weeds and the only prairie within the core territory of the Stillaguamish.

On the inside, longhouses had large fire pits for heating and cooking in the center, and there were sleeping and storage platforms were built into the walls.

Winter longhouses were built by professional carpenters, who masterfully crafted the planks with specialized tools.

[9] The Stillaguamish also built large fortified longhouses called stronghouses, where trade goods and other valuables were kept.