Chehalis

/tʃəˈhæləs/ noun

Definition

A Native American people historically inhabiting the Chehalis River region in present-day Washington state, or a member of this tribe.

Etymology

From the Chehalis word meaning 'shifting sands,' referring to the sandy areas along the Chehalis River. The name was applied to both the geographical region and the indigenous people inhabiting it.

Kelly Says

The Chehalis people maintained complex trade networks up and down the Pacific coast long before European contact, exchanging shells, obsidian, and cedar products across thousands of miles.

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