Editor’s note: Last week, Cowlitz Tribe General Council Chairman Bill Iyall issued the following statement in celebration of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s 25th anniversary of federal recognition. This is a significant moment for the Cowlitz Indian People.
The accomplishments our Tribe has achieved in our first 25 years of recognition are simply unprecedented and a testament to the continued resilience of our people and our fight for self-determination.
We owe an astounding debt of gratitude to those who paved our road to recognition, including John Barnett, Roy Wilson and other leaders and ancestors who never wavered in their commitment to delivering a brighter future for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
To those who kept historical records of the Cowlitz heritage in this region, which proved to be so critical in achieving federal recognition. Because of these efforts, and the opening of ilani in 2017, we’re able to serve our people and give back to our community ways we never have before.
At the same time, 25 years is a blink of an eye considering the full legacy and contributions of the Cowlitz Indian people.
From time immemorial, our people have defined this region. We’ve cared for our lands, survived from its resources, which are central to our culture and way of life, and have passed on a legacy of responsible stewardship across generations.
These are the teachings our Tribe will carry forward into new opportunities that will continue to shape our region.
Expect our Tribe to continue investing in the community and creating new opportunities for our members and our neighbors. Expect us to continue working with our state and federal partners on critical regional issues, such as forest management and the I-5 Bridge crossing.
We will continue pursuing new opportunities for clean energy development and to decarbonize our economy.
And we will continue transforming our reservation into a premier gateway of Southwest Washington, through new enterprise development and buildings to serve our people, such as a cultural center and long house, where we can gather for ceremony.
Through these efforts, we honor our ancestors and pave the way for the next seven generations to thrive.
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has thrived over the years, overcoming significant challenges and uncertainty on our path to success. As we continue to build a more prosperous future over the next 25 years, we will do so with the same commitment to serving our people, our lands and its resources, and the same resolve shown by our ancestors that came before us.
