A prayer was made. The sun came out. And with the snip of a bright red ribbon the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center opened its doors for business, pleasure, and a cold lesson in the realities of a tribe being placed back onto a map by those who tried to erase it and by those who continued their hereditary connection to it.

More than 200 hundred filed into the standing-room only reception hall to hear two hours of speeches and presentations by politicians, neighboring tribe members, fund raisers, descendants of the Denny family, and the real stars of the show, some of the 600 Duwamish tribe members, descendants of Chief Sealth. The nearly $4 million project has taken over three decades to reach this point. Many private donors, some who gave via the Friends of the Duwamish, pooled their funds with the Gates Foundation, Paul Allen, and others.

"I am so pleased," said Duwamish Tribal Chairwoman Cecile Hansen, after receiving a lengthy applause. "I have been around for many, many years to pursue the fishing rights, and the (official) recognition of our tribe. The biggest thing we wanted was our own place. You are here in our home. We want you to come back. We will have programs. I'm the tenacious cranky chair here to keep everybody on focus. Welcome. Now let's get close and hug each other. I'm amazed everyone came to the party."

"What does it feel like? Absolutely wonderful, absolutely warm. It's not even cold out," said museum director James Rasmussen, who wore a feather and a grin the entire morning.

Reverend Paul B. Benz with the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington led the prayers, some involving tribal spirituality. Chad Lewis, chairman of the Duwamish capital campaign committee officiated the presentations and was honored by Rasmussen, Hansen, and others with a blanket, a band of feathers, and much sentiment.

"The Duwamish do not have a reservation. When their forbearers signed that treaty, their most important right was their sovereignty," said Scott Wheat, an attorney representing tribal governments and member of the Choctaw Tribe in Oklahoma.

"This is tremendously important day," said King County Councilmember Dow Constantine. "The Duwamish have always been here. Now they have the physical manifestation for the rest of us to see..."

"This is a new part of our old history. That's what's great about this," said City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen after the presentations, and added with a wink that he most likely was not related to James. "It's great to have a focal point for the tribe and area residents," he said of the new museum. "Being this close to the Duwamish is so appropriate."

"We worked so hard to build this," said Gayle Rasmussen, James' wife, while frantically working the museum gift shop. She gave a nod to its architect Byron Barnes who dedicated 30 years to the 6000 square-foot project. "Our heart and soul is in this building, like all the tables and benches we hammered and nailed."

"The circle has been reconnected," said Amy Johnson as a long line formed for the buffet table, evidence of the enormous kitchen facilities. Johnson was honored with her father, Andy Harris, who is the great grandson of David Denny, one of Seattle's famed founders.

"This wouldn't have been the Seattle we know today without the help of Chief Seattle. Today's recognition is long overdue."

To visit, and support the Duwamish Tribe and the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, contact the Honorable Cecile Hansen at Duwamish Tribal Services, 4717 West Marginal Way SW, Seattle, 98106, call 431-1582 or email dts@eskimo.com.