A long time ago an Indian chief of a large tribe that made
its home in northern California sent the tribe's animal spirit,
the guardian fox, to find a new land where his tribe could live
in peace and safety from his warring neighbors. The fox discovered
the land between the Columbia River and Puget Sound. The fox
advised the chief to move to the new land. The tribe migrated
north and became known as the Nisqually people, of which the Puyallup's
were a branch. Is Henery Sicade's version of the Puyallup Tribe's
story of origin.
The Puyallup Tribe has occupied the region for thousands of years.
They refer to Mount Tacoma as their Mother who provides the water
that supplies the salmon. The Puyallup's lived in cedar houses
along the rivers and creeks of Pierce County. The land that is
now known as "Fife" was originally a prime hunting and
fishing area for the Tribe.
In 1854 the tribes of Puget Sound signed the Medicine Creek Treaty.
The result of this treaty was the allocation of three reservations.
The Puyallup Reservation was too small and poorly situated.
As a result the natives went to war. In 1856, the government
renegotiated the treaty and the Puyallup Reservation was expanded.
However, the increased acreage was never recognized by the government
and in 1886 allotments assigned to specific areas to specific
families. Only one small piece of property was designated as
common land.
One of the provisions of the Medicine Creek Treaty was to provide
a free school. The location of the school and the lack of real
education prompted Henry Sicade to consider alternatives. Mr.
Sicade spent his early life in the Fife area, attended the Cushman
School, and traveled extensively in the U.S. He returned to the
family allotment in Fife. He was known for his interest in public
education and was instrumental in the founding of the Fife School
District. He served on the Puyallup Indian Council, served on
the State Board of Education and served on the Fife School Board
for 25 years. Mr. Sicade was a respected member of the community.
He was involved in the purchase of the "Fountain of Fife"
a landmark still in existence today.
Henry married the daughter of the last chief of the Puyallup
Tribe. He was also elected chief, but did not serve. His children
all graduated from Fife High School. He died at home on December
14, 1938.
In 1929 a stone marker was unveiled to commemorate the Puyallup's.
The marker also honors two men known best to the white residents
of Fife for their readiness to lead their people into the white
man's way of living and urging education for their children.
Henry Sicade and Thomas Lane are the two men specifically honored.
Thomas Lane was the last chief of the Puyallup's. The Natives
knew Mr. Lane as Chief Inoyoupkin.
The inscription on the stone reads: "The Puyallup tribe
of Indians took residence on this reservation in 1857, became
citizens of the United States in 1908. Tom Lane, Chief Iudyoupkin,
last chief of the Puyallup tribe, was born 1852, died 1909. Henry
Sicade, born Feb. 12, 1866, elected to the Indian council in 1883,
which he has served continuously since. These men advanced education
as a means of civilized achievement for their tribe. This stone
erected by the Woman's Club of Tacoma May 9, 1929."
Sally Sicade, daughter of Henry, unveiled the marker. After
Henry's death Sally carried on his interest in education. Today,
the Fife High School Library houses several books donated by the
Sicade's. These books have been invaluable in the teaching of
Washington State history. Several of the books are no longer
in print and serve as a special insight into the times.
Prior to 1874 the Puyallup tribe held the reservation land in
common. However, the government under pressure from white settlers
passed the Allotment Act, which opened the land. The native population
could lease or even sell their land allotments. Since many Puyallup's
did not take to farming (which was what the government subsidized),
they were willing to sell to the whites.
Many of the tribal elders worked with the white community. Jim
Cross, Willy Wilton and George Sloan owned cultivated land and
proved that agriculture was the only economic resource left to
the tribe. Many whites leased land from the natives and worked
out arrangements to share the harvest. The economic depression
of the 1890's did slow some of the sale of reservation land.
During this period the annual Pow-Wow was promoted as a time
to gather to receive the yearly stipend from the U.S. government.
Traditionally Pow-Wows were celebrations where tribes and sub-tribes
came together to trade goods and form alliances. Today the tradition
still exists. One of Fife's schools is used for the Pow-Wow.
Native dances are performed, local art is sold, music is played,
and stories are told. The event is open to the public.
Among the early activists was Satiacum, a Puyallup who challenged
the state's right to regulate steelhead gillnetting on the Puyallup
River. The 1954 arrest of Satiacum and James Young for illegal
fishing became a test case, leading to a Washington Supreme Court
decision prohibiting state restrictions on Indian off-reservation
fishing unless necessary for conservation. Satiacum, always controversial,
continued his protests, becoming, as one Times reporter called
him, "the greatest thorn in the side of state game officials."
Satiacum was a resident of Fife and his children attended Fife
schools.