In the Lushootseed language, we are known as the puyal?pabš, meaning ‘people at the bend at the bottom (of the river)’. This refers to the many windy bends in the original Puyallup River, where our many dispersed village sites were located. The name spuyal?pabš also became associated with our people’s welcoming and generous behavior, as we always had an abundance of natural resources to share. Over time, the meaning of spuyal?pabš, or Puyallup, has taken on this association. We are one of the many Lushootseed speaking peoples of the northwest. Prior to European settlement, our people lived in villages from the foothills of Mount t?q?u?ma?/t?q?u?b?d, along the rivers, creeks, and prairies to the shores and islands of the Puget Sound. Living off the waters of the Puyallup River, fed by Mount t?q???b?d, our people continue to fish, hunt and travel these waterways, taking much care of our sacred resources. We continue to practice our Treaty Rights and traditional ways, just as our ancestors did. foo