Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
A Walk in the Park, Thanks to Those who went Before
We visit Nolte State Park many times a year to hike through the woods around the lake; it never gets old.
This beautiful property was in private hands until bequeathed to the state of Washington by Minnie Nolte, after her death in 1971. It had been in the Nolte family since 1889, and used as a resort for many years.
Go back further and you’ll find a more complicated history.
“Nolte State Park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
For thousands of years the lands around today’s Nolte State Park have provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures, especially around the harvest, preservation and stewardship of salmon in the Green River.
Local tribes ceded ownership of the area to the US federal government under duress in the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855, keeping rights to harvest natural resources in their usual and accustomed places including the area of today’s Nolte State Park.” https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/nolte-state-park-history
In fact, most of the treaties native tribes entered into were later broken by the United States government and its representatives, a sad part of our history. At any rate, I’m thankful this gorgeous property is still available for all to enjoy.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Such a beautiful park, wow! Honestly, I am so tired of our rotten government mistreating the Native Americans! 😡
Thanks, John
We love it! And unfortunately, our history with Native Americans has not been good.
You are welcome Susanne. We Europeans gave them a very raw deal.
That looks lovely! So lush and green!!
Yes, unspoiled beauty!
Very nice and an interesting history. I’m a fan of the Boldt decision in the 1970s where the tribes got an equal share of fish harvest. Finally, one treaty upheld after hundreds of others were trampled on!
I knew about the Nolte history but not the early Native American piece. I was glad they included it on the Parks website. It’s good to remember that all the land was once theirs.
It’s the same the world over with indigenous tribes. Why is it that ‘we’ think we know better? xx
Sadly, true.
Well done to Minnie for leaving the park to the people. That’s a place to cherish indeed. (I wonder if she was any relation to the actor, Nick Nolte?)
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes, a good decision by Minnie Nolte, sharing this gorgeous property with the public.
I googled Nick Nolte and learned he was from Nebraska, so it’s doubtful they were related, but who knows?
I just checked. 😊 ‘No, Nick Nolte and Minnie Nolte are not related. Minnie Nolte is not a recognized name in the context of Nick Nolte’s family.’
Well, there you have it! 😄
Yes, it’s so sad what happened to Native Americans back then, and even still today. This entire nation belongs to them.
We certainly treated them poorly, and almost never stuck to the treaties we made with them.
Lovely shades of green in those woods! You’re right though to reflect on the way the original people of these lands were so poorly treated.
I love walking the trail through the forest all times of year! It’s always peaceful and serene and green!
And I knew about the bequest to the state, from Minnie Nolte, but I hadn’t known about the earlier history of the Native Americans giving up the land. I was glad to see it included in the history of the state park on their website.
You captured the landscape and the tragic reality of our complicated history so completely. Hugs, C
Thank you. We love that park and have always appreciated the fact it was bequeathed to the state. But the Native American history was new to me, so I was glad to see it included on the Parks website.