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Duwamish Tribal Services held its Fifth Annual Gala Dinner & Art Auction Saturday, June 4, at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center at 4705 W. Marginal Way S.W.

This annual event is a celebration of contemporary and traditional culture of Seattle's First People, the Duwamish Tribe.

Folks mingled during the reception & silent auction in the museum, then gathered in the longhouse room for a brief traditional program and traditional buffet-style dinner including salmon cooked over an open fire pit outside. The live auction of art by Northwest artists followed.

Proceeds will support the operations of the Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center.

"We're so delighted that there are a lot of guests showing up," said Cecile Hansen, Chairwoman of the Duwamish Tribe. "I was asked to give the invocation at the dinner of the grand opening of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation HeadquartersThursday night (June 2). They gave us $10,000 for sponsoring our gala. I was really delighted."

High school graduate Joshua Johnson attended. He is the son of Amy Johnson, and she is the daughter of Andrew Harris. Amy and Andrew also attended.

Joshua explained the following:

His grandfather, Andrew Harris, was the son of John J. Harris and Elizabeth Denny. Elizabeth Denny was the daughter of Victor Winfied Scott Denny, Jr. His father was Victor winfield Scott Denny, Sr., and his parents were David Denny and Louisa Boren, who helped found Seattle.

David and Louisa were married by David Swinson "Doc" Maynard, also one of Seattle's founders. He was said to be a friend of Chief Sealth.

During dinner Swil Kanim, considered a world class virtuoso violinist, performed to the delight of the audience. When a traditional, hand-carved flute went up for bid, he was asked by the auctioneer and others to "test it out to make sure it worked." It seemed to work perfectly, at least when he played it.

The auctioneer was Don Chalmers of Sparrow Hawk Consulting Company and works with many Northwest tribes. Prior to the auction, he was asked if he would being using that loud, rapid-fire patter many auctioneers use to get the bids to quickly go up.

"That's more of a 'cattle auction' approach," the soft-spoken auctioneer replied. "We're going to do more of a Sotheby's, Christie's approach."