Snoqualmie Tribe Nominates “Snoqualmie” as Name for New Washington State Ferry

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, a federally-recognized sovereign Tribal Nation headquartered in King County, is nominating “Snoqualmie” as the name for a new Washington State ferry.

The name can be translated from the Lushootseed language as “the Transformer’s People” and is a testament to the historical might and modern-day resiliency and dynamism of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. 

“The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is proud to nominate the Tribe’s own name, Snoqualmie, as the name for the newest vessel in the Washington State ferry system,” said Chairman Robert de los Angeles. “The Tribal Council believes that choosing our Tribe’s name would recognize our people’s millennia of history in Washington State and our timeless connection to Puget Sound as traders and travelers while raising modern awareness of our proud history and culture.” 

Historically recognized as one of the most powerful Tribes in the precolonial Northwest, the Snoqualmie guarded and controlled the pivotal inland trade route from Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascades Mountains to Puget Sound and have always been an integral link in cultural, spiritual, and commercial exchange.   

“The Snoqualmie People have a proud and culturally rich tradition that deserves to be known and honored by all Washingtonians,” said State Representative Bill Ramos, whose district includes much of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s ancestral lands. “The Washington State Transportation Commission should be honored by the Tribe’s nomination of its name, and I look forward to one day traveling Puget Sound in a vessel named ‘Snoqualmie.’” 

The Washington State Transportation Commission is accepting nominations for the name of the newest ferry until October 8. The Tribe invites supportive members of the public to share their support via signing an informal petition of support that can be located at: https://www.change.org/SnoqualmieFerry