Book Description

Foreword to 6th PrintingIndians of Skagit County by Chief Martin J. Sampson was first published in 1972 and isthought to be the first such book written by a Pacific Northwest Indian. Chief Sampson capturesthe complex cultures of the various tribes, bands, and clans who lived in Skagit County for millenniaprior to the arrival of the first white people. It is not intended to be an academic history. Itis an historical reminiscence that captures the stories and culture as reflected in Chief Sampson'slife experiences and in the stories passed to him by tribal elders. Its significance is found in theway it captures this era, complete with the language, biases, and conflicts of its time.Indians of Skagit County will always be an important primary source written by a tribalelder and is not the end point of understanding, but a good starting point which will always be partof our history.