Catherine Troeh
{{Short description|American historian, artist, activist and advocate}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
Catherine Herrold Troeh (January 5, 1911 – June 28, 2007) was an American historian, artist, activist and advocate for Native American rights and culture, especially in the Pacific Northwest. She was a member and elder of the Chinook tribe{{cite news |first=Tricia |last=Duryee|title= Catherine Troeh, activist, historian and counselor, dies at 96| url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003769826_troehobit01m.html|work=The Seattle Times| date=July 1, 2007 |accessdate=21 July 2007 }} and a direct descendant of the great chief, or tyee, of the Chinook people, Comcomly.{{cite news |first=Lewis|last=Kamb|title= Roommates discover a bond going back to Lewis and Clark| url= http://www.seattlepi.com/local/152198_roommates12.html|work=The Seattle Times| date=December 12, 2003 |accessdate=25 July 2007}}
Early life
Troeh was born in Ilwaco, Pacific County, Washington, 24 minutes after her identical twin sister, Charlotte. Both sisters went on to attend school at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, sometime around the year 1933. Catherine Troeh later enrolled at the University of Washington and received a bachelor's degree in public health.
Troeh worked as a nurse for several Seattle area hospitals and for the Seattle Health Department. She also opened and owned an antique store in Burien, Washington.{{Cite web|last=Duryee|first=Tricia|date=2007-07-01|title=Catherine Troeh, activist, historian and counselor, dies at 96|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/catherine-troeh-activist-historian-and-counselor-dies-at-96/|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Obituaries: Catherine Herrold Troeh|url=https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/obituaries-catherine-herrold-troeh/article_1b3669b0-b8db-5f56-84e9-80c67410fed6.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Chinook Observer|date=August 7, 2007 |language=en}}
Activism
Troeh was an active member of the Chinook Indian Tribe. She was the only woman to join the newly formed Chinook Tribal Council in 1952. She wrote a Native American-focused newsletter, which was distributed at least once a month during her lifetime.
Troeh was a major advocate for federal recognition of her Chinook tribe. In addition, she worked closely with Washington's Duwamish tribe. She attended the opening and celebration of the Duwamish's new tribal cultural center and longhouse on June 23, 2007, just days before her death.{{cite news |first=Kathy|last=Mulady|title= Historic longhouse groundbreaking for Duwamish tribe| url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/321076_duwamish23.html |work=The Seattle Times| date=June 23, 2007 |accessdate=21 July 2007 }}
Troeh collaborated with a number of important Native American activists in Washington, including her older sister, Betsy Trick, Pearl Warren, and University of Washington anthropology professor Erna Gunther. Together the women founded an organization called the American Indian Women's Service League (AIWSL) in 1958. The American Indian Women's Service League was created in response to a growing trend of Native Americans moving from reservations and to large cities beginning in the 1950s. The main purpose of the league was to help counsel newly arrived Native Americans on the cultural differences and new challenges of modern American urban life that were not faced in their reservations.
The AIWSL gradually evolved into several other Native American organizations, including the Seattle Indian Health Board, the United Indians of All Tribes, and the Seattle Indian Center. Troeh served on the board of the Seattle Indian Center until her death.
In addition to her work as an activist, Troeh was a strong promoter of Native American culture. She collected Native American artifacts. Troeh often signed her letters "member of the Chinook Tribe Allottee 1865 Quinault reservation." Her unusual way of signing letters referred to the {{convert|80|acre|ha}} which were granted to her by the U.S. federal government.
Death
In 2007, Troeh died in Burien, Washington at the age of 96.{{cite web | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/catherine-troeh-activist-historian-and-counselor-dies-at-96/ | title=Catherine Troeh, activist, historian and counselor, dies at 96 | date=July 2007 }}{{cite news |first=Tricia|last=Duryee|title= Catherine Troeh, activist, historian and counselor, dies at 96| url=http://www.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003769826_troehobit01m.html |work=The Seattle Times| date=July 1, 2007 |accessdate=13 May 2019 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- [http://www.seattlepi.com/local/321076_duwamish23.html Historic longhouse groundbreaking for Duwamish tribe]
- [http://www.seattleindiancenter.org/ Seattle Indian Center]
- [http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/AIWSL.htm University of Washington's History of the American Indian Women's Service League]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Troeh, Catherine}}
Category:20th-century Native American artists
Category:21st-century Native American artists
Category:Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest
Category:Native American activists
Category:People from Burien, Washington
Category:People from Ilwaco, Washington
Category:University of Washington School of Public Health alumni
Category:20th-century American women
Category:20th-century American people