PEOPLE

Photographer of Henry Allen is unknown. He was a family friend and known to locals as a Medicine Man. Some old-timers believed he had the "evil eye" but according to family stories he was a kind man and a good man.

Skokomish couple Frank (Ni-ach-can-um) and Lucy (Ash-ka-blu) Allen in ceremonial dress, Washington, ca. 1930. Older couple poses wearing woven and fringed clothing, and beaded moccasins; man holds a rattle.

Skokomish man named John Hawk, Skokomish Indian Reservation, Washington, 1905. Man stands in clearing with trees in the background with his left hand on his hip. He wears suspenders and has a mustache. John Hawk of Skokomish. His father was Isaac Hawk, a white farmer who lived near Sherlock. His mother was a Skokomish Indian woman.

Skokomish missionary named Myron Eells poses at Skokomish Indian Reservation, Washington, 1905. Eells stands in front of brush and some pieces of wood. He wears a three piece suit and tie, glasses and beard. Rev. Myron Eells, who went to the Skokomish Reservation as a missionary in June, 1874. He has remained there ever since.

Skokomish woman known as Big Ann or Satsop Ann, basket maker near South Bend, Washington, ca. 1903. Older woman sits among a variety of baskets, wearing a head scarf and a wool cloak, ca. 1900-1905. Note on postcard: Sept. 4, 1906. South Bend Washington. This lady lives not far from here and today I saw some five specimens of her work in a store downtown -- but the prices were too high -- for me. My train is due in Seattle a little after 4-- I'll probably not reach U. Heights til six though. Hope to find you there and alive.

Skokomish/Squaxin man known as Squaxin George, Skokomish Indian Reservation, Washington, 1905. Grey haired man stands in front of a large body of water on a windy day. He wears Western style clothing, his collared jacket is blowing open in the wind. Squaxin George. His father was a North Bay Squaxin and his mother Skokomish. He is an old resident of the Skokomish Reservation.

Twana man named Jim Pulsifer, Quilcene, Washington, 1905. Pulsifer poses next to a large body of water wearing Western style clothing. One button of his jacket is buttoned and the thumb of his left hand is hooked in his pants pocket. Jim Pulsifer, Che-ay-be-cult. His father was from Quilcene and his mother from Clifton. He is thus straight Twana.

Date: ca. 1912. Description: Portrait of Bahlkabuh, Skokomish "Puget Sound Type" Photograph by Edward Curtis. Scanned from Asahel Curtis lantern slide. Original photo appears in The North American Indian, v.9 Plate between pp. 26-27 (slide has crack through coverglass). The Skokomish were one band of a tribe that called itself the Twana. They controlled the entire Hood Canal area and that of its tributaries. The Skokomish were located at Annas Bay and the watershed of the Skokomish River. The other principal bands were the Tulalip, Soatlkobsh, Quilcene, and Slchoksbish. At the early part of the 19th century, they numbered 900. By the Treaty of Point No Point, 1855, that confined them to the Skokomish Reservation at the head of Hoods Canal, they totalled 300.

Date: ca. 1912. Description: A mat shelter - Skokomish. Photograph by Edward S. Curtis. Scanned from Asahel Curtis lantern slide. Original photograph published in "The North American Indian, v.9" Plate appears between pp. 110 -111. The aboriginal name for the people occupying the region of Hood Canal on the Olympic Peninsula was the Twana. The largest community in this tribe was the Skokomish, the "Big River People." The Skokomish Reservation was created by the Point-No-Point treaty in 1855 and it encompasses almost 5,000 acres on the delta of the Skokomish River. During the winter months, the people resided in cedar plank houses. But during the other seasons, they resided in temporary, movable structures such as the one pictured, which they covered with woven mats. These structures could be moved from place to place during hunting and fishing seasons. The mats, hung on the framework of the structure, would keep out the wind and the rain. The mats were most commonly woven of cattail leaves or the inner bark of the cedar. Two women are picture outside of a structure, along with their canoe and woven baskets.

Date: ca. 1910. Description: Chinook Female Profile - "Skokomish Female - type" Photo by Edward S. Curtis. Scanned from Asahel Curtis lantern slide. Original photograph appears in The North American Indian, v.8 between pp. 86-87.

PLACES

Skokomish school on the Skokomish Indian Reservation, Washington, 1905. Small one room school building with bell tower that was once used as a church, 1905. Little day school of the Skokomish Reservation. It was formerly the mission church in which Rev. Myron Eells held services so long.

Skokomish Indian School, 1892.

Date: ca. 1912. Description: Puget Sound Camp - Skokomish. Photograph by Edward S. Curtis. Scanned from Asahel Curtis lantern slide. Original photograph published in "The North American Indian, v.9" Plate between pp. 48-49.

Description: probably Nov. 1907 - Skokomish River - Olympics. Photographer: Curtis, Asahel

THINGS

The following map was scanned from the 1879 volume of the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs. Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior: Skokomish Reserve/Squaxin Island Reserve 1879.

COILED CEDAR ROOT GATHERING BASKET Skokomish early 1900s. According to Subiyay Bruce Miller, this basket may have been made by a Skokomish weaver named Satsop Annie. The combination of the Skokomish-style dog, human figures, and geometric mountain pattern suggest a design influence from the Cowlitz area.

TWINED CATTAIL FLAT BAG Skokomish late 1800s. This all-purpose storage bag is made of cattail leaf warps twined with red cedar bark and yellow beargrass. The beargrass is applied in a half twist overlay technique, so it only shows on the outside.

BABY'S RATTLE Skokomish Made by Dadi, late 1800s. This rattle is filled with pebbles that make a pleasing sound when shaken. The rattle is made of cattail, cedar bark, and beargrass.

CHILD'S BERRY BASKET Skokomish late 1800s. Fitted with leather loops at the rim, this basket would be attached to a child's belt. As this little basket got full, it would be emptied into a larger container.

Burke Museum collection of Skokomish baskets.