The Spokane Tribe is one of the Native American tribes that inhabit the Pacific Northwest, primarily in what is now Washington State. The history of the Spokane Warriors is closely tied to their efforts to defend their territory from European settlers and the United States Army in the mid-19th century.
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In 1858, during the conflict known as the Coeur d'Alene War, the Spokane Tribe joined with other tribes such as the Coeur d'Alene, Palouse, Yakima, and Paiute to resist American military forces. A notable event was the Battle of Steptoe Butte, where the forces of Colonel Edward Steptoe encountered a coalition of Native warriors. Initially, the Native forces won this battle, forcing Steptoe's troops to retreat due to their numerical inferiority and lack of ammunition. Spokane residents faced many challenges with the arrival of European settlers, from disease to loss of land and resources. Despite signing treaties and moving to designated reservations, many Spokane residents continued to resist and preserve their culture and traditional lands. The efforts of the Spokane Warriors to defend their territory are an important part of the tribe's history and the broader history of the Pacific Northwest.