The school is named for Chief Seattle, a Duwamish chief and a recognized leader amongst the local peoples at the time of the arrival of white settlers in the area.
Si’ahl's mother Sholeetsa was Dkhw’Duw’Absh (Duwamish) and his father Shweabe was chief of the Dkhw’Suqw'Absh (the Suquamish tribe).
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Because Native descent among the Salish peoples was not solely patrilineal, Si'ahl inherited his position as chief of the Dkhw’Duw’Absh or Duwamish Tribe from his maternal uncle.
A distinguished Seattle, Washington, naval architect and engineer, he is most famous for designing the historic Seattle fireboat Duwamish.
It was called "The Highline" to distinguish it from "The Mainline" which in the south end went out the Duwamish/Green River Valley to Renton Junction, on to near Kent and Auburn to Puyallup onto Tacoma.