The Past, Present, and Future of Stewardship at Kukutali Preserve

This program explores the history and current management of Kukutali Preserve State Park Heritage Site, the first Tribal State Park in the United States to be co-owned and jointly managed by a federally-recognized Indian tribe and a state government.

We’ll meet in La Conner and carpool to Kukutali Preserve where we’ll be joined by staff from the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection.  Together we’ll set out onto the trails as we learn about this unique place.  Along the way we will engage in hands-on examples of salmon habitat restoration and participate in native plant identification and mapping along the Preserve's trails.

Spanning 83 acres across three islands, Kukutali Preserve includes over two miles of natural shoreline and a mix of upland and marine habitats. Its forested uplands support bald eagles, deer, coyotes, 50 species of birds, bats, and small amphibians. Rocky beaches and marine waters provide habitat for rich intertidal life, while the Fidalgo Island parcel features a 3.4-acre tidal lagoon and wetlands—critical for the recovery of Puget Sound’s threatened Chinook salmon. Flagstaff Island is home to fragile lowland meadow habitats, one of the region’s most endangered ecosystems.

For generations, the Swinomish people used this area for shellfish gathering and beach seining for salmon. The name Kukutali means “place of the cattail mat”, referring to the temporary summer shelters made from cattail mats during these harvest seasons. Kiket and Flagstaff Islands were originally part of the Swinomish Reservation, established by the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot. However, in 1928, the land was sold to non-Indigenous owners, who later denied Tribal members access to Kiket Island’s beaches and nearshore waters.

On May 17, 2010, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission signed a landmark co-management agreement, acquiring Kiket Island and an adjacent nine-acre parcel on Fidalgo Island. Their partnership established Kukutali Preserve as part of Deception Pass State Park, ensuring shared stewardship and long-term protection.

The Preserve officially opened to the public on June 16, 2014, marking both a conservation success and a historic return of these lands to the Swinomish people. Today, the Tribe once again guides the stewardship and protection of Kukutali, ensuring its ecological and cultural legacy for future generations.

Your Guides

Jen Willup (she/her) is an Environmental Education Specialist and co-teacher for the Between Two Worlds Indigenous Science Program. Since 2019, she has been developing Swinomish-centric curricula for high school students, combining classroom learning with hands-on field experiences. She also contributes to camas revitalization, traditional book publications, and climate change workshops, connecting her love of science, culture, and community.

Todd A. Mitchell (swəlítub) is a Swinomish Tribal citizen and the Environmental Director of the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection. Since 2000, he has worked to protect the Tribe’s water resources, wetlands, tidelands, and salmon habitats while integrating traditional ecological knowledge into research and restoration projects. He also founded the Between Two Worlds Indigenous Science Program to engage Swinomish youth in environmental stewardship.

Karen Rittenhouse Mitchell is a geologist specializing in sustainable land and water stewardship. For over 23 years, she has served in the Swinomish Land Management Department, using geomorphologic and hydrogeologic research to support Tribal land conservation. She is a descendant of Norwegian settlers and a proud wife and parent of Swinomish Indian Tribal Community citizens.

Scholarships and Student, Military and Disability discounts are available for most in-person programs. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Call (360) 854-2599 for more info!