Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Cowlitz Indian Tribe

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Cowlitz people. They are a tribe of Southwestern Coast Salish and Sahaptan indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest located in Washington.

Last revised
Jul 25, 2026
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Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Traditional Cowlitz territory
Total population
3500 + enrolled members1
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Washington)
Languages
English, Cowlitz2
Religion
traditional tribal religion
Related ethnic groups
other Cowlitz people3
Location of the Cowlitz Reservation source ↗

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Cowlitz people. They are a tribe of Southwestern Coast Salish and Sahaptan indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest located in Washington.4

Other Cowlitz people are enrolled in the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation, and Quinault Indian Nation.5

Reservation

The Cowlitz Reservation was established in 2010. The 152-acre (62 ha) reservation is located near Ridgefield, in Clark County, Washington.6

Government

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is headquartered in Longview, Washington. The tribe is governed by a democratically elected board of tribal council members.

Salish is commonly spoken by the tribe. The Cowlitz language belongs to the Tsamosan branch of Salishan languages. A dictionary has been published for Cowlitz.2

Economic development

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has built the Ilani Casino Resort with ten restaurants and a hotel, located near Ridgefield, Washington.7

History

Cowlitz people actively traded with other tribes and later European Americans. 19th century treaties were not ratified by the United States or were unacceptable to the Cowlitz. 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 1950.1 Federal recognition was confirmed in 2000, and was reaffirmed in 2002.89

Notes

Notes

  1. "Cowlitz Tribe." Center for World Indigenous Studies. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  2. "Cowlitz." Ethnologue. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  3. Pritzker 261
  4. Pritzker 203
  5. Pritzker 204-5
  6. " Cowlitz Tribe Wins Reservation and Casino." Indian Country Today. December 27, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  7. "Cowlitz Casino Resort." 500 Nations. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  8. Federal Register Vol. 67, No. 3. p. 607. January 4, 2002.
  9. "Cowlitz Tribes." Archived October 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
References

References

  • Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.
External links

45°51′50″N 122°40′07″W / 45.86389°N 122.66861°W / 45.86389; -122.66861