Coast Salish Peoples
Veterans
Warriors: We Remember
The Coast Salish military tradition was born of a warrior spirit that protected their
families and territories. Warriors were expected to live an honest, healthy and balanced
life. In time of war, they risked everything and many gave their lives to fulfill their role to
protect their people.
For the past 100 years, that same warrior spirit compelled tribal men and women to
enlist in the United States Armed Forces — regardless of the racism many encountered
and the hardships they experienced upon returning home. In the Coast Salish
communities, it is held that veterans, si ab tubš d sd ix qs (high ranking warriors),
embody all that is honorable and all that is great about the American spirit. An exhibit at
the Hibulb Cultural Center honors Tulalip veterans and their contributions as part of the
finest that America has to offer. A couple of the exhibits explain that Native Americans
have the highest rate of military service of any U.S. group, and that Tulalip members
have made the ultimate sacrifice in service, even at a time when Native Americans were
not citizens of the United States. They served in times of conflict and in times of peace,
so that America may live with an enduring sense of freedom.
Coast Salish communities recognize
that their veterans stand shoulder
to shoulder among the most
courageous men and women in our
nation’s history, and that they have
a uniquely bonded military family
communitywide and nationwide,
each a hero and national treasure
to our country’s collective heart.
Veterans continue to serve as
public servants, mentors, parents
and community leaders. The elders tell us to take the time to thank all veterans for being
willing to place themselves in danger for liberty everywhere, for serving with honor under
difficult conditions and for assuming the ultimate responsibility of citizenship to the
nation we call home.
“Be thankful for veterans’ sacrifices they’ve made
and remember that there are still people serving in
the Armed Forces today.”
— Christopher Gobin
“Well, I think that just our love of our country is good enough to
want to defend our country. Because it is our country. We were
here first ... and we feel an obligation to protect our country.”
— Bernard W. Topash
“Every young pup has got to leave home sometime
sooner or later. If you go into the service, no matter
which branch you go, you get an opportunity to travel,
see different parts of the country and different parts of
the world. When you go to different states and different
countries for your training, you learn quite a bit of stuff.”
— Orland K. Paul
“Our people who went into the service. We have gone to battle
to protect our land for the United States and for our tribe.”
— Stan Jones Sr., World War II Veteran
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Content courtesy of and adapted from The Hibulb Cultural Center.
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Image courtesy of The Hibulb Cultural Center Collections
Squaxin Tribe
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