Coast Salish refers to several Indigenous nations and tribes whose traditional territories are located in present-day Washington and Oregon (US) and British Columbia (Canada). These groups have distinct cultures and histories, but they are linked by their languages. All Coast Salish peoples’ traditional languages belong to the Coast Salish language family. Some Coast Salish groups are federally recognized tribes (in the US) or nations (in Canada). Others do not have formal recognition but still have a long history and a vibrant culture.

Indigenous Peoples have lived in what is now North America for thousands of years. Archaeologists currently estimate that Coast Salish peoples have lived on their traditional lands for up to 10,000 years. Prior to European colonialism, they took part in extensive trade networks that stretched across the continent. Their food culture historically relied heavily on salmon and other seafood. That relationship to marine ecosystems is ongoing today. Coast Salish peoples are known for creating totem poles, a distinct form of carving often used to represent kinship ties, status, or history.

In I Can Make This Promise, Edie and her mother have Suquamish and Duwamish ancestry. Both the Suquamish and Duwamish peoples are Coast Salish. In Washington, the Suquamish tribe is federally recognized, but the Duwamish tribe is not.