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Quinault - Washington (U.S.)

Native American

image by Donald Healy, 29 January 2008

The band
The flag

See also:

The Band

map image by Peter Orenski based on input from Don Healy

Quinault - Washington

The Quinault people, members of the Coastal Salish, have lived along the Pacific coast of Washington for perhaps thousands of years, enjoying rich hunting, abundant fishing, and a mild climate (NAA, 285).

As with most Coastal Salish, fishing was the Quinalt's primary occupation, using enormous canoes. Explorers Lewis & Clark described the canoes as "upward of fifty feet long, and will carry 8,000 to 10,000 pounds weight, of from 20 to 30 persons . . .". The seal of the Quinault Nation celebrates and commemorates these great canoes.

The Flag

The seal, which appears on the plain white field of the flag, is a light blue ring with QUINAULT at the top, NATION at the bottom, and INDIAN across the center on a light blue bar, all in white.

The upper section of the seal shows a Pacific coastal island scene, with green trees and black-and-white landscape elements. In the lower section, a brown eagle with outstretched wings - symbol of fishing prowess to many Pacific Northwest tribes - flies above a large brown Quinault canoe. The eagle and canoe contrast with an orange setting sun which signifies the home of the Quinault in the westernmost reaches of the continent. Elements in both portions are set on a very light blue background.

© Donald Healy 2008
information provided by Peter Orenski, 29 January 2008