The Duwamish Longhouse Museum and Cultural Center celebrated its first anniversary Saturday, Jan. 30. Festivities included flute playing by Dario Meguire, 17, tribal singing and drumming, by Tom Speer, Mike Evans, and others, homemade food cooked on site, speeches, and the showing of a film about Princess Angeline, the daughter of Chief Seattle. Folks stationed at booths dispensed information on tribal issues, and two residents of the ever-migrating “Nickelsville” homeless encampment also had a table.

“I’ve always enjoyed coming here. It just feels good,” said noted Duwamish tribal member and master basket weaver Mary Lou Slaughter at the party. Her baskets are on permanent display at the museum. She will give a basket making class beginning Saturday, April 24, at the museum.

“I’m so happy everybody showed up today. There’s been a steady stream of people,” said Tribal Council Chair, Cecile Hansen. “The land and building are paid for so we’re cool. But this year we now need a lot of people to think about sustaining.”

Tom Speer, a tribal historian, and Mike Evans, chair of the Snohomish Tribe of Indians and a board member of Duwamish Tribal Services, were hanging out together in the longhouse. Evans pointed out that both the Duwamish and Snohomish Tribe still await tribal recognition from the federal government.

Speer said he was thrilled to participate at the anniversary.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Speer said. “This is such a change from what the tribe had to put up with for decades and this building was 30 years in the coming, planning, and making. To have it here, a safe, dry, warm place for the kids to meet and learn the culture is cause for a real celebration and I am thankful for all who made it happen.”

“The Longhouse has brought together language and culture, and song and dance, with ‘T’ilibshudub’ or ‘Singing Feet,’ the performing Duwamish group,’” added Evans.

“When I enter the room here I get a totally different feeling,” Evans continued. “It’s not as sterile as the concrete and steel buildings. You walk in here and see all this wood. You have a different respect. You know that the elders are in the corner watching you, and it feels like a big family, a big community. I really enjoy that.”

For general information, and information on Mary Lou Slaughter’s class, go to: www.duwamishtribe.org/
Or call (206) 431-1582.

Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center, 4705 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106