The Pacific Northwest has been inhabited for at least 13,000 years and possibly much longer.

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Bellingham is located in the heart of the Salish Sea basin. This region is home to indigenous peoples, now known as the Coast Salish, who speak a set of related languages. The mild climate and abundant natural resources created conditions in which rich social, economic, and artistic forms developed.

The area in and around Bellingham Bay, and adjacent territories, is home to a number of groups including the Lummi, Nooksack, Saanich, Samish, Semiahmoo, and Songhees. Historically, these groups lived in a range of permanent and seasonal villages scattered throughout the Salish Sea basin.