September 7-13
September 8, 1858
On this day, U.S. Army Colonel George Wright ordered his troops to slaughter 800 Native American horses (the herd of a Palouse chief) at Liberty Lake to deny their use by enemy tribes. Soldiers also destroyed Native American lodges and storehouses of grain.
Horses represent both the wealth and military power of the tribes. The slaughter, along with the destruction of the food supply, devastated the tribes.
September 9, 1958
On this day, western King County voters approved a scaled-back plan for the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle. The new agency was authorized to build and operate regional sewage treatment and water quality facilities to address the worsening pollution of Lake Washington and other local waters.
September 9, 1981
On this day, hearings for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians began in Seattle. Close to 160 people testified in front of the federally appointed, nine-member Commission about the impact of Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Testimonials came from Japanese American incarcerees and their descendants, public officials, community members, veterans, and native Japanese speakers. Participants arrived from Alaska, Hawai’i, Oregon, and Washington. For many former incarcerees, it was one of the first times they had spoken publicly about the trauma of their wartime incarceration.
This post is in partnership with HistoryLink, and Warren Seyler, former chairman Spokane Tribe of Indians, the Black Muse Resource Center, and the Living Arts Cultural Heritage.
We encourage you to engage in further research through your local historic societies, museums, archives, and community.
