| 1775 |
Population estimated 1400 to 2500.
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1807
|
David Thompson, a Northwest Company trapper, was the first white man to
enter the Spokane Country.
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1838
|
Tshimakin Mission established by Cushing Eells and Elkanah Walker.
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1847
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Whitman Massacre near Walla Walla.
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1850
|
Donation Act passed by Congress opens non-settled lands for white settlement.
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1853
|
Washington becomes a territory.
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1855
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Territorial governor Issac Stevens meets with the Spokanes at Spokane Falls.
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1857
|
Clouds of war gathered as Spokane area was invaded by white settlers and
miners.
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1858
|
Colonel Steptoe enters Spokane Country with 150 troops and was attacked.
Horses, grain and stores of food were destroyed.
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1859
|
Rise of Spokane Garry as notable chief.
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1862
|
Homestead Act passed by Congress. White settlers encroach on Indian lands.
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1880
|
Fort Spokane is built.
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1881
|
Executive order by President Rutherford B. Hayes establishes the
Spokane Reservation.
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1877
|
Upper and Middle Spokanes cede title to lands and move to the Coeur
d'Alene reservation.
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1897
|
BIA census recorded 340 Lower Spokanes (Lot's Band) and 188 Upper
and Middles (Enoch's Band) living on the Spokane Reservation.
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1902
|
Reservation opened for entry. Secretary of Interior makes land
allotments to Indians of the Spokane Reservation.
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1903
|
The reservation is surveyed.
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1906
|
Allotting of lands begins. There were 651 issued.
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1909
|
Reservation opened to homesteading.
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1911 |
Little Falls Dam completed on the Spokane River destroying an ancient salmon fishery and trade center.
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1913
|
BIA abandons headquarters at Lincoln, Washington and establishes an
agency office at Wellpinit.
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1924
|
American Indians become U.S. citizens.
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1925
|
Wellpinit agency reduced to a sub-agency.
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1938 |
Congressional act authorizes the acquisition of tribal and allotted lands along the Spokane river for the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam.
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1940 |
Coulee Dam goes into operation ending salmon runs for all time and flooding land belonging to the Spokane people
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1951
|
Spokanes land claims case filed. A tribal constitution and by-laws was
ratified by referendum.
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1954
|
Uranium is discovered on the reservation.
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1958
|
Public law provided for restoration of all vacant and undisposed
ceded lands on the reservation.
Relocation office established on the reservation.
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1962
|
Spokanes retain a law and order program.
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1965
|
Spokanes oppose termination.
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1966
|
Western Nuclear, Incorporated, begins mining exploration.
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1967
|
The tribe was awarded $6,700,000 as settlement of their land claims
against the federal government.
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1968
|
Congress passes legislation allowing the Spokane tribe to purchase
fee patended lands and return them to trust status.
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|
1969 |
A health clinic is built on the reservation.
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1970 |
An independent agency is established.
St. Philip Catholic Church is built.
Minor's trust and education fund is established.
Tribal history, "Children of the Sun", is published by tribal member,
David Wynecoop.
|
|
1971 |
A water specialist was hired to survey Chamokane Creek to determine
the tribe's water rights.
The tribe purchased the Wynecoop Post Plant.
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1972 |
The constitution amended increasing the tribal council to five members.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the site of the new community
center planned for Wellpinit.
Alcoholics Anonymous is formed.
The super-ferry M.V. Spokane, named for the tribe, took its maiden voyage
from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
Indian action team program begins.
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1973 |
The Chamokane Creek water case is heard in court.
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1974 |
Kalispel tribe transferred from the Northern Idaho agency to the Spokane agency.
Expo '74 opens in Spokane.
The Pacific Northwest Indian Center is dedicated.
Alex Sherwood dies. He served 33 years on the tribal council, 26 as chairman.
The tribe begins enforcing fishing regulations on Lake Roosevelt.
The tribal offices were moved into the new community center.
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1975 |
A new post office is built.
West End Community Center is dedicated.
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1976 |
Federal government returns jurisdiction of one-half of Lake Roosevelt
to the Spokane and Colville tribes.
The tribe and Western Nuclear settle on a uranium mining agreement.
Twenty HUD homes will be built.
Tribal tobacco tax is levied on reservation cigarette retailers.
|
|
1977 |
Western Nuclear began mining and milling operations, employing 320
people with 186 indian preference employees.
The $6 million irrigation system for the tribal farm was completed by
the Bureau of Reclamation.
Tribal police academy opens.
Tribe halts City of Spokane from dumping raw sewage into the Spokane River.
A well and water main system to server Wellpinit is installed.
Fire destroys West End Community Center.
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1978 |
The Oliphant decision ruled that tribal courts can't put non-indians on trial.
New West End Community Center is built.
Tribal Trading Post is opened.
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1979 |
The tribe owns 104,003 acres of land and allottees or heirs owns 26,053.
Wellpinit elementary and high school enrollment reached 280 with 95%
being Indian.
IHS Clinic seen 12,000 patients and employs only 21 people.
Boise Cascade closes veneer plant.
Thirty-nine HUD homes to be built.
Spokane tribal longhouse is dedicated.
Chamokane Creek water rights case is decided in the Spokane tribe's favor.
New forestry complex is completed.
|
|
1980 |
The Spokane tribe won its case and Washington Water Power Company was
ordered to license Little Falls Dam on the Spokane River.
Mt. St. Helens eruption on May 18, coats the reservation with volcanic ash.
The Supreme Court ruled against tax-free cigarette sales on Indian reservations.
Gibson Eli passed away, the last medicine man of the Spokane tribe.
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1988 |
Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
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1990 |
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) provides for protection of gravesites and repatriation of Indian remains and cultural artifacts to tribes.
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1994 |
Little Falls Agreement between Washington Water Power (now Avista Utilities) and the Spokane Tribe, recognized the sovereignty of the Tribe and its responsibility to the welfare of the river within the Boundaries of the reservation.
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2000 |
Midnight Mine becomes Superfund Site for cleanup
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2005 |
109th Congress of the United States passed a bill (H.R. 1797) entitled Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act for 'significant harm from the construction and operation of Grand Coulee Dam'.
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2005 |
SPOKO fuel, a tribal enterprise of the Spokane Tribe Opens in Airway Heights, Washington
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2007 |
Gaming Compact between the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the State of Washington is approved by the United States Department of the Interior.
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2009 |
Tribal membership is 2,570
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