A dream 40 years in the making took one step closer to becoming reality when the 91探花 joined regional tribal members to celebrate the groundbreaking for a Native American , on the 91探花campus, Oct. 25.
W菨色菨b蕯altx史, pronounced 鈥渨ah-sheb-altuh (click here for the audio)鈥� and the Lushootseed language name for 鈥淚ntellectual House,鈥� will serve as a learning and gathering place for Native American students, faculty and staff, as well as the 91探花and surrounding community. It will also serve as a symbol that honors the region鈥檚 tribes, including the Duwamish whose land the campus now occupies.
鈥淚t will be an extraordinarily important building for this university, and I don鈥檛 use that lightly,鈥� 91探花President Michael K. Young said.
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Several hundred people, including leaders and elders representing over 50 tribes, gathered to witness the ceremony that took place at the facility鈥檚 site located in the N6 parking lot between Lewis and McMahon Halls. The program featured remarks from 91探花and tribal leaders, an invocation from 91探花Native American Advisory Board chair Patricia Whitefoot and songs performed by the group Southern Plains.
Participating in the 鈥渢urning of the ground鈥� were Young, Provost Ana Mari Cauce, 91探花Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity Sheila Edwards Lange, Whitefoot, 91探花Tribal Liaison Ross Braine, W菨色菨b蕯altx史 Advisory Committee Co-Chairs W. Ron Allen and Charlotte Cot茅, and students Noelani Aure and Jared Remington.
鈥淲hen I became vice president, they told me that on this campus we build buildings to 100-year standards,鈥� Lange said. 鈥淲e just can鈥檛 put up any building, it has to be able to last for at least 100 years. This building will stand for 100 years and more, just like the spirit of the first people whose land we stand on.鈥�
W菨色菨b蕯altx史 will feature a 鈥渧illage concept鈥� that includes two primary buildings and a central outdoor gathering space. October鈥檚 ceremony was the groundbreaking for the project鈥檚 first phase: the 8,400-square foot Community Gathering Building and the outdoor space expected to open in 2015. Donations and pledges totaling almost $6 million are supporting the design and construction of phase one.
Phase two of the project will include further fundraising for the second building, a Teaching and Learning space. The 91探花is currently accepting donations for this second phase. More information can be found on the 91探花Foundation web site.
The design for W菨色菨b蕯altx史 was created by the Seattle architectural firm of . It will showcase the Pacific Northwest coastal-longhouse style and include elements that speak to Native people from all regions of the country.
In addition to being a symbol that honors the region鈥檚 tribes, W菨色菨b蕯altx史 will be a home-away-from-home for Native American 91探花students.
鈥淭his project is about our students, this is about our future leaders,鈥� said Allen, chairman and chief executive officer of the Jamestown S鈥橩lallam Tribe. 鈥淭he university is a city within a city, it鈥檚 very competitive, and we want students to have a place where they can feel comfortable, where they feel their culture, who they are and what they are about, and share stories and share experiences wherever they come from in Indian country.鈥�
The planning process to build W菨色菨b蕯altx史 received input and guidance from 91探花community members, an elders committee and regional tribes. A site blessing was performed on April 10, 2009, and the W菨色菨b蕯altx史 name was gifted to the project by the late Vi Hilbert, a Lushootseed linguist and elder in the Upper Skagit Tribe.
鈥淚 have so much pride in my heart for this building and for this space, and for all of you to be here and share this with us, because we are going to be living this dream,鈥� said Cot茅, 91探花associate professor of American Indian Studies.
Photos by Emile Pitre and Mary Levin