The Skokomish is a Native American tribe that are presently located in western Washington state along
the Hood Canal, the inland sea west of the Puget Sound. The original name of the Skokomish was tuwa'duxq, later anglicized
as Twana.
The name Skokomish can be translated as "Big River People." They were the largest of nine different Twana Tribes.
The Skokomish or Twana language belongs to the Salishan family of Native American language.
Historically, the Twana were hunters, fishers and gatherers. It was traditional in the past for the people to live
a nomadic lifestyle in the warmer months and settle in a longer term home during the Winter months. The people continue
to rely on fishing for their survival.
The tribe's first recorded contact with European culture was in 1792; it resulted in a smallpox epidemic that took the
lives of many.
The tribe was moved onto the 3,840 acre Skokomish reservation near the Skokomish River around 1855. Today, many
tribal members work within the region's fishing and logging industries. The tribe operates its own businesses
that include a tribal hatchery.
