Display at YMCA shares Tribe’s heritage and language

As part of November’s Native American Heritage Month, the Snoqualmie Tribe and the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA have worked together to share information about the Tribe’s heritage and language hosted at the YMCA.

Native American Heritage Month was established in 1990 to highlight Native culture, traditions, crafts, and concepts of life.

Through this partnership with the YMCA, the Snoqualmie Tribe has installed a temporary exhibit that provides an interactive learning opportunity to hear the Lushootseed language and view replicas of paintings that depict portions of the Tribe’s Creation Story. The exhibit also includes historic photos of the Snoqualmie Valley. The exhibit will be available for the public to view through the end of November 2017.

In addition, there are two presentations being offered at the YMCA:

  • November 28 at 7 PM: Snoqualmie Tribal Member McKenna Sweet Dorman will share an overview of the Tribe’s history in the valley and connection to the region’s natural resources.
  • November 30 at 7 PM: Snoqualmie Tribal Member Steven Mullen-Moses will share an archeological history of the valley.

“This collaboration with the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA is an opportunity for us to share information about our culture and long connection to this beautiful region,” said Snoqualmie Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Jolene Williams. “We hope this gives our neighbors in the valley insight into our commitment to stewardship of our shared natural environment.”

Said the YMCA’s Executive Director Nate Smith, “We are excited to partner with the Snoqualmie Tribe to share this exhibit and to host presentations for residents of the Valley. This collaboration to help provide educational opportunities that celebrate the Tribe’s culture, heritage and history is something we are honored to be a part of.”

The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Known as the People of the Moon, Snoqualmie tribal members were signatories to the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855. Snoqualmie Tribal enterprises provide over 1,700 jobs, and the Tribe has donated over $1.5 million to nonprofit organizations in the Snoqualmie Valley since 2010.

The Snoqualmie Branch of the YMCA of Greater Seattle was established in 2012 and serves the communities in and around North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City and Preston. The YMCA strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Snoqualmie Valley YMCA is located at 35018 SE Ridge Street in Snoqualmie, WA.