Foster Island was a Duwamishburial ground. The Duwamish call it Stitici, which means "Little Island". The dead were placed in the bodies of trees, or placed in canoes in the branches of trees. Because of this practice, bones were scattered widely, so no clear archeological evidence of the burial sites remain. [3]
Growth of the island
Before 1916, the area was two small islands with a submerged low spot between them. In 1916, the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered Lake Washington by about 9 feet. The lower water exposed the flooded spot, and the two islands became one.[4] Soil from the canal excavation also added land. The island grew from about two acres to about ten acres.[5]
In 2005, the state was studying new four-lane and six-lane bridge designs for the replacement bridge, which involved digging into the ground for new bridge pilings. Duwamish tribal chairwoman Cecile Hansen wrote to the project director that any excavation of any size would violate a sacred burial ground, and the tribe said it would oppose new pilings or digging on the island.[6]
The Federal Highway Administration found that the replacement 520 bridge would have an adverse effect on the Foster Island tradtional cultural property. Because of this, WSDOT and FHWA had to write and carry out at treatment plan for the island. The plan involved restoring part of the island with native plants, which crews tested the soil for archaeological resources before planting. [8][7] It also involved irrigation for the plants under the new bridge, and three interpretive signs that name plants in English and Lushootseed.
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