Medicine Creek Treaty, 1854VIEW TREATY WITH TRANSCRIPT

Throughout the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes, fishing was critical to survival and cultural identity. In treaties that gave up land, farsighted Indian leaders had reserved the rights to fish, hunt, and gather on ceded land forever. “The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory,” says article 3 of this treaty—first in a series that ceded Puget Sound in 1854–55.

Image: National Archives Catalog, US National Archives and Records Administration