can be defined as "a chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events." To preserve those events, monuments have often been built to remind people of what has happened throughout history. They remind us of battles that have been fought, of people who pursued their dreams, of cities that no longer exist, and of ideals that have molded human kind since the beginning of time. They exist on a grand scale, like the Taj Mahal in India and the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor; and they exist on a smaller scale, like the local markers and pillars that still stand in and around Spokane County. They exist so we won't forget.
The brief accounts of history and the historic monuments we will be featuring here are pieces of history that tell the story of Spokane and the surrounding areas. They are meant to remind us of the events, people and places that helped mold the region in which we live. We hope you'll enjoy remembering - and even learn a few new things - about the cities, peoples and places that make up the great Inland Northwest.
A Brief History of the Spokane Tribe
The Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Spokane Tribal Headquarters is now located in Wellpinit, Washington. Wellpinit is approximately 50 miles northwest of Spokane, Washington on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
The Spokane Indians lived in the region until the establishment of fur trading in 1810. In 1849, the first white settler located in the Spokane Valley in the Millwood area.
In earlier times, the Spokane Tribe lived on, protected, and respected over 3 million acres of land. Tribal members fished the Spokane River, the Columbia River, and used the Spokane Falls as a gathering place for family and friends. The Spokanes lived along the river in three bands known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Spokane Indians.
In January 1881, President Rutherford B. Hayes formally declared the Spokane Indian Reservation the new home of the Spokane Indians. The three bands of Indians were split up and some found new homes, known today as the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, the Flathead Indian Reservation, and the Colville Indian Reservation. The Spokane Indian Reservation today is 157,376 acres in size. As of January 2006, tribal membership included 2,441 people.
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We plan to compile photos and information on historic monuments that are still standing today throughout the Inland Northwest, so visit often to check on our progress. In addition to providing valuable historic information about the region in general, we hope these glimpses back into history will spark new interest in helping to preserve and maintain the historic resources currently located here.
Have some history you'd like to share with us? Simply email it to Editor@spokane.net, along with your full name and the city you live in. If we post the information, you'll get credit for it.