Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5, North Seattle) and her Council colleagues honored late Snoqualmie Chief Andres “Andy” Juan de los Angeles with a proclamation, recognizing the former Chairman of the Snoqualmie Tribe for his civil and tribal rights contributions.
Chief Andy was an Indigenous civil rights leader, best known for leading a decades-long movement that led to the federal government re-recognizing the Snoqualmie Tribe as a sovereign tribal nation in 1999. Further, he created a grassroots movement to reclaim Snoqualmie Falls, a sacred ancestral site for the tribe. The Snoqualmie Tribe successfully purchased the land in 2019, stopping all proposed development at the site. Chief Andy passed away on January 21, 2021.
“Chief Andy spent his whole life advocating on behalf of tribal rights and Native people. His fight for federal recognition of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s sovereignty and the protection of the Snoqualmie Falls is immeasurable. Through his lifelong passion to safeguard the Snoqualmie Tribe’s culture and history, Chief Andy taught a generation of people what it means to be a leader for change. His strength, patience and persistence will not be forgotten and have inspired the next generation of tribal advocates,” Juarez said.
Juarez presented the proclamation to Chief Andy’s family, including his children Gabe, Doug Ginger and Sabeqwa de los Angeles.
Other attendees at the Full Council meeting included Snoqualmie Tribe Chairman Bob de los Angeles, Chief Andy’s brother; Vice Chair Steve de los Angeles, a family member; and other Tribal Council leaders.
Chief Andy impacted Seattle history, too. His most recent educational work with the Urban Native Education Alliance led to the first Native American landmark in the City of Seattle where Licton Springs Park received Landmark Preservation status in 2019.
Image: Snoqualmie Tribe Chairman Bob de los Angeles, Chief Andy’s brother, highlighted in upper left, alongside other family members and Snoqualmie Tribe Council, delivers remarks to the Seattle City Council while accepting the proclamation.