Puyallup Tribal Cemetery and the Church of the Indian Fellowship - Tacoma, WA
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 47° 14.357 W 122° 23.989
10T E 545425 N 5231930
This Church is a Presbyterian mission that was founded in 1881. Next to the church is the tribal cemetery, still used as such to this day. Although the church building has been rebuilt over the years, the Presbytery still sponsors this mission.
Waymark Code: WM2XFT
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 01/05/2008
Views: 90
The following information is from the Presbyterian Church's Website:
In 1854, the Medicine Creek Treaty established the Puyallup Indian reservation. In 1865, a blacksmith named John Flett settled among the Puyallup people and shared Jesus Christ with them as he taught them from the Bible. Many were converted. The Rev. G. W. Sloan began to work among the Puyallup people in 1871, and the Rev. Matthew Mann arrived in 1876. A church was built near the Puyallup River and dedicated in 1881 as Puyallup Presbyterian Mission Church, with 24 members. Hymns were translated and sung in the Puyallup language. On May 6, 1946, the congregation was organized as the Church of the Indian Fellowship (CIF). In August 2001, the congregation called Irvin Porter as its first Native American pastor.
The church is still active and the cemetery is still in use. Together they are surrounded by a tall stone wall. You will find the entrance at the far corner of the Emerald Queen Casino parking lot.