WA SR8690

Washington State Senate formally recognizes the Chinook Tribal Nation's importance to the region's development and its ongoing civic, cultural, and economic contributions to the state

The Chinook Tribal Nation's ancestral homeland encompasses the lower Columbia River and Pacific coast of southwest Washington, with traditional territories including lands and waterways central to Pacific Northwest history

The Chinook tribes controlled trading networks at the mouth of the Columbia during European exploration and provided crucial assistance to the Lewis and Clark expedition during their 1805-1806 winter near Astoria

The resolution acknowledges the Chinook people's history of peaceful diplomacy, alliance building, and cooperation rather than conflict, with core values of peace, respect, and collaboration

Resolution adopted by the Senate on March 9, 2026