RES 2004-10 OLD MAN HOUSE STATE PARKRESOLUTION NO 2004-10
A RESOLUTION of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington,
concerning the Return of Old Man House State Park to the Suquamish
Tribe.
WHEREAS, Old Man House was the "mother village" of the Suquamish Tribe, and home
of Chief Seattle and other Suquamish people; and
WHEREAS, The Old Man House was an approximately 600 -foot long Suquamish Indian
longhouse built around 1815 and dismantled and burned in about 1870; and
WHEREAS, The 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott promulgated articles of agreement
between the United States and the Suquamish Tribe; and
WHEREAS, Congress enacted legislation in 1905 authorizing the transfer of the land to
the War Department for fortifications to protect the Navy Yard at Bremerton; and
WHEREAS, after dispossessing the Suquamish of their ancient village site on the
grounds that it was vital for national defense, the War Department never built any
fortifications and eventually the land was sold to a private buyer (the General
Construction Company) in 1937; and
WHEREAS, Washington State Parks recognized the historic significance of this land and
purchased a small parcel containing a portion of the former Old Man House building site
for a state park in 1950; and
WHEREAS, the Suquamish Tribe has requested the Washington State Parks and
Recreation Commission return Old Man House Park to them as it is a vital cultural and
historic resource; and
WHEREAS, the Suquamish Tribe has spent months seeking community input and
incorporating hundreds of public comments into a management plan for the park. The
Tribe has made it clear that the land will continue to function as a park, accessible to all,
and that under Tribal administration the park will continue to provide a valuable resource
to the larger community; and
WHEREAS the Washington State Park system has had to close some State Parks, restrict
the hours of operation for some parks, and charge for parking at almost all others because
of the State's fiscal crisis. Return of the Old Man House State Park to the Tribe would
ease the fiscal strain on the park system while preserving the Park as a community
resource.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, as follows:
The City Council of Bainbridge Island finds that the return of Old Man House State Park
to the Suquamish Tribe is in the public interest. We urge the Washington State Parks and
Recreation Commission to return this important cultural and historic site to its rightful
owners.
PASSED by the City Council this24thday of March , 2004.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 25t1day of March , 2004.
DARLENE KORDONOWY
Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
,L"(p
USAN P. KASPER
City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: February 4, 2004
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: March 24, 2004
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-10