Mahalia, 1912
This photograph of a 114-year-old woman demonstrates not only the strength of the Americans but how the indigenous lifestyle of connection with the land encouraged long life and good health. The tribe of Mahalia is not clear, but most possibly in the Suquamish, Duwamish, Nisqually, Snoqualmie or Muckleshoot.
Situwuka and Katkwachsnea, 1912
Not much is known about Situwuka and Katkwachsnea, although the date of this picture provides some insight into their existence. In the 1890s the “allotments” system of the U.S. government began to decompose native land from 138 million acres throughout 1887 to its ultimate scale of 48 million acres by 1934. This pair probably lived in a shelter of the force, mixing with tribes and others they didn’t know. In their own land, they became vagabonds.