Lummi and other tribes were forced onto reservations within three years of first Euro-American settlers.

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The Point Elliott Treaty was signed at Mukilteo on January 22, 1855, by Lummi Chief Chow-its-hoot, Chief Seattle, and representatives of other coastal tribes.

The tribal representatives had little choice but to sign the treaty, due to the military superiority of the Euro-Americans. In addition, it is unlikely the tribal representatives fully understood what they were compelled to sign, due to language barriers and deception. A compelling argument can thus be made that Bellingham and Whatcom country lie on unceded territories.

Regardless, the enforced treaty required that the tribes “cede, relinquish and convey to the United States all their right, title and interest in and to the lands and country occupied by them” and move to the reservations.

In exchange, the tribes were given a payment of $150,000 and funds for relocation expenses, along with the promise of fishing rights, education, and healthcare — promises which were never fully honored.

The Nooksack tribe, which is distinct from the Lummi tribe, was not granted any of their traditional land for a reservation. Instead, they were expected to move to the Lummi reservation. They refused and remained on traditional lands in the Nooksack valley, where they gradually gained legal title to small plots of land. But their original lands were taken without compensation.

There are records of almost 10,000 tribal people living in western Washington at the time the treaty was signed, along with several hundred Euro-Americans. However, large numbers of indigenous people had already been killed by small pox and other European-borne diseases.