Name 2nd ferry for Swinomish leader

'Squi qui' suggested as ferry name

By Martha Kang and Jeff ChewAfter seeing the first ferry now under construction for the Port Townsend-Keystone route named for a historical Klallam chief Chetzemoka, some Whidbey Islanders hope to see the second ferry named after a figure important to Swinomish tribal history: Squi qui.

Doing so would be a true honor to the La Conner-based tribe, its culture and history, said Theresa Trebon, records manager and tribal archivist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.Keystone-Port Townsend's newest ferry:  The 'Squi Qui'?

By Nathan WhalenThe Swinomish Tribal Community, which represents the Lower Skagit tribe that used to live on Whidbey Island, along with the Island County Historical Society, the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce and the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, want to name the ferry the Squi Qui.

Squi Qui (1816 to about 1874) lived in a village on the north shore of Penn Cove across from present-day Coupeville. He was a tribal leader who was one of the signers of the Point Elliott Treaty in 1855 (his name was recorded as S’kwai-kwi), according to information provided by the Swinomish Tribal Community, which is based near Anacortes. The Lower Skagit tribe lost large amounts of its territory as a result of the treaty and Squi Qui led his people through the difficult years following the signing of the treaty. His descendants still live in the Swinomish Tribal Community.Below:  "Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard talks with Swinomish Tribal Community vice chair Barbara James during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. The Swinomish community is working with several Coupeville-based groups to name a ferry slated to serve the Port Townsend to Keystone route the Squi Qui." (Nathan Whalen/Whidbey News-Times)