The Mitchell Bay Group

By Kristina DayVincent

with help from Dr. Wayne Suttles

The local group of native peoples most closely associated with the northwest side of the San Juan Islands was called the Mitchell Bay Group. They are affiliated with the Songhees and the Saanich of southeastern Vancouver Island. The sockeye salmon runs bypass the southern tip of Vancouver Island so the Songhees and Saanich used the western waters of the San Juan Islands to fish.

Many other groups of Salish people also used the Islands to gather, fish, and hunt: the Lummi, Samish, Swinomish and Clallam. There is confusion about what “tribe” can claim the Islands as their territory, which probably originates with the use of the word “tribe”, a designation of the U.S. government. Conversely, the native people tended to differentiate themselves based on who had the right to gather, fish, and hunt in which area. These areas were determined by tradition and family ties. This could also explain the intermarriage between groups. Just as with the royalty of Europe, intermarriage helped enhance trade and increased food procurement.

One of the earliest forms of salmon fishing practiced by the Strait Salish people was reef netting. Below is an illustration of the complication system of nets and lines. Mitchell Bay member Marge Workman, who passed away on January 15, was said to be one of the best at spotting salmon as they entered the fishing net.