Freddie Lane, an enrolled member of Lummi Nation, has watched his people's lands flood since his childhood on the Whatcom County reservation.
Around the world, Indigenous people have their flood stories," he said. "These great floods and whatnot — they're not new to our people."
But Lane depicted the current floods as "pretty biblical."
The Lhaq'temish, or Lummi people, counted as one of many communities grappling with historic flooding throughout Western Washington this week. Evacuation orders were issued Wednesday in Pierce and Skagit counties as the region's rivers flooded, though the situation's worsening conditions were felt in other locales.
Of the state's 29 tribal governments, several based in the affected areas were focused on supporting and protecting their members Thursday. At least two, Lummi Nation and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, declared a state of emergency.
Coast Salish tribes actively addressed the developing weather event this week.
In King County, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe set aside hotel rooms at Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel for members impacted by flooding.
The rooms are held for "Tribal Members that have been forced to leave their homes due to flooding," the tribe wrote in a Thursday update to its tribal state of emergency declaration related to flooding.
"Immediate actions are underway to protect the health, safety, and welfare of members, employees, and the broader community," Chair Robert de los Angeles said in the statement
The tribe canceled its holiday party scheduled for Saturday at the casino due to the state of emergency.
It wrote Thursday that the Snoqualmie River was experiencing severe flooding, "with some residential areas experiencing dangerously high velocities and flooding of homes." The tribe was also monitoring Issaquah Creek and the Tolt River in particular because they "can rise and change rapidly."
"Our ancestral lands and waterways are experiencing increasing impacts from extreme weather events like flooding in the winter and record low flows in the summer months," de los Angeles said.
Vice Chair Jim Sweet cautioned the public against visiting the roaring Snoqualmie Falls in the meantime.
"Snoqualmie Falls is the birthplace of our People," he said in a statement. "While the increased flows are magnificent, there is an increased risk if you are going to try to see the Falls or capture a photo or video. We encourage you to give the Falls space and visit another time."
Meanwhile, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians has shuttered its administrative offices in Pierce County since Wednesday afternoon due to inclement weather.
Chief Leschi Schools, a Bureau of Indian Affairs school that serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, was also closed. "We do not want to take the chance of transporting students through dangerous conditions," the school posted on its website.
The tribal offices, headquartered in Tacoma, planned to reopen Friday, according to a news release. There was no update on school reopening as of Thursday afternoon.
The tribal Christmas parade, which was set for Friday, will be rescheduled.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Near the Pacific coast, in Grays Harbor County, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation were handling local flooding Thursday, which had worsened in some parts.
"Right now, flooding across our Chehalis lands remains a serious concern," said Chair Dustin Klatush, whose tribe is headquartered in Oakville. "In some of our area we are experiencing significant standing water."
He described waters as stagnant "but still slowly rising in some areas." The tribes are hopeful that water levels will start to drop Thursday night, Klatush said, though they continued to monitor the situation.
"Our tribal community, our housing areas, and key access roads are all being impacted," the chair wrote in a Thursday statement.
As some families are restricted in their mobility, the tribes' emergency response teams are actively addressing the needs of members, "especially elders and those with limited transportation," Klatush said.
He asked the public to stay off flooded roadways and to check on neighbors if they're located in nearby communities.
Lane, of Lummi Nation, knows a number of tribal members who reside in the flood zones in Whatcom County.
The waters also devastate local tribal casinos, Lane said in a phone interview Thursday, as employees are restricted from reaching their workplaces.
Anthony Hillaire (Tse Sum Ten), chair of Bellingham-headquartered Lummi Nation, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lane explained that, in the late 19th century, the Nooksack River was diverted by Euro Americans to flow into Bellingham Bay instead of into its natural mouth at Lummi Bay.
"The river's trying to go back to its ancient route there," he said. "That's why there's so much massive flooding at Lummi.
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