Seattle City Wire

Snoqualmie Chief Andres “Andy” Juan de los Angeles, former Snoqualmie Tribe chair, was recently recognized posthumously by the Seattle City Council with the passing of a proclamation making Feb. 15 “Chief Andy Day,” according to a city council press release.

Known as Chief Andy, de los Angeles passed away Jan. 21, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved indigenous civil rights leader who dedicated his life to tribal sovereignty and native rights, according to the proclamation. 

“Chief Andy spent his whole life advocating on behalf of tribal rights and Native people,” council member Debora Juarez (Dist. 5), was quoted as saying in the release. “His fight for federal recognition of the Snoqualmie Tribe’s sovereignty and the protection of the Snoqualmie Falls is immeasurable.”

The effort he led to regain federal recognition for the tribe spanned decades, with the Snoqualmie Tribe being recognized as a sovereign tribal nation in 1999, according to the release. In 2019, the tribe was able to purchase the Snoqualmie Falls, which prevented proposed development at the site.

“Through his lifelong passion to safeguard the Snoqualmie Tribe’s culture and history, Chief Andy taught a generation of people what it means to be a leader for change,” Juarez said. “His strength, patience and persistence will not be forgotten and have inspired the next generation of tribal advocates.” 

Family and tribal leaders were in attendance for the virtual presentation of the proclamation, according to the release. Chief Andy's brother and current Snoqualmie Tribe Chair, Robert de los Angeles, shared his feelings on the proclamation in a City Council video interview aired on YouTube. He said that the proclamation of “Chief Andy Day” was a huge honor for not only his brother, but for his family and tribe as well.

“My brother gave his life to ensuring that the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe could receive recognition for sovereignty from the federal government,” he said. “He also spent many years protecting historical and cultural sites. He recognized that Seattle is part of our ancestral history, and he never gave up on telling that story.”