Quinault Treaty signed at Taholah

Background. The Quinault Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Olympia, was an agreement between the United States and the Quinault and Quileute tribes in the western Olympic Peninsula. It was signed on 1 July 1855 at the Quinault River. The treaty was part of Isaac Stevens' policy to consolidate tribes, establishing the Quinault Reservation. The Quileute, who had infrequent contact with Europeans until 1855, agreed to cede land but largely remained in place.

Signatories. Signatories included Isaac Stevens, superintendent of Indian affairs and governor of Washington Territory. Tribal representatives included Quinault Head Chief Taholah and sub-chiefs, as well as Quileute Head Chief How-yat'l and sub-chiefs Kal-lape, Tah-ah-ha-wht'l, and others. The Hoh tribe, considered a subset of the Quileutes, was also represented. The treaty was one of the last signed during Washington Territory's first decade.

Terms. The treaty defined the ceded land boundaries, including the Pacific Ocean and the Olympic Mountains. The United States promised to pay $25,000 for the land cession over several years. Article eight required tribes to acknowledge dependence on the United States. Article ten promised an agricultural and industrial school for 20 years. Article thirteen forbade trading outside the United States.