Fun day exploring the relationship between Duwamish culture and native habitat restoration. Talks, demo, food, storytelling & cultural programming. Stay all day or drop-in.

Free activities. 10 am- Restoring Native Habitats; 11:15 am- Brunch provided; Discovering the Duwamish Hill Preserve; 12 pm- Basket Making Demo; 1 to 3 pm-Duwamish Storytelling and Cultural Programming.

Free tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2725364
Facebook event page here.

FREE EVENT DAY
WHAT: Preserving the Duwamish Cultural Landscape
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, 10am to 4pm. Free
WHERE: Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center, 4705 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106, 206-431-1582.

“Preserving the Duwamish Cultural Landscape” is a free public outreach event of the Duwamish Longhouse Urban Reforestation Project sponsored by a King Conservation District grant.

The Duwamish Tribe, Seattle Parks and other community partners are all working to restore native habitats that preserve the Duwamish cultural landscape for all to explore. The Duwamish Tribe is still here and its traditional stories provide a narrative for a deeper understanding of the indigenous land we all share and the bounty that awaits us as traditional habitats are restored.

Regarding the Duwamish Urban Reforestation Project, invasive plants have been removed and native plants reintroduced. One of them, the Western Red Cedar has been used by our people to make baskets, weave hats and traditional clothing. Duwamish tribal member, DeAnn Sackman Jacobson, will talk about how our ancestors harvested bark and other materials to make baskets and garments. She will demonstrate the process of preparing and weaving the bark.

Brooke Alford of the Duwamish Hill Preserve will speak about the restoration of Duwamish Hill in Tukwila, their native plant nursery and volunteer opportunities. Native storyteller Roger Fernandes will share the Duwamish epic North and South Wind story associated with the Duwamish Hill site. Duwamish tribal member Blake Shelafoe will also share his own story about the Duwamish River.

AGENDA–SCHEDULE

10-10:15 Opening. Duwamish Reforestation Project update. Presenter: Nancy Sackman (Duwamish Tribe).

10:15-11:00–Restoring Native Habitats. Insights into the native habitat restoration of Seattle’s green spaces by Seattle Park & Recreation–cedars, cattails and more. Presenters: Michael Yadrick and Lisa Ciecko, Seattle Parks. Explore More: http://www.seattle.gov/parks

11:15-12:00–Brunch (soup, fruit, cookies, coffee/tea)

11:15-12:00–Discovering Duwamish Hill Preserve

The Duwamish Hill Preserve is a 10.5 acre parcel of Duwamish tribal historical, cultural and ecological significance in Tukwila. Along the banks of the Duwamish River, the hill is a glacial remnant where many rarely seen species of flora and fauna can be found. It is the site of the Duwamish tribal oral tradition known as the “Epic of the North & South Winds.” Learn how to volunteer. Presenter: Brooke Alford, MLA, Urban Habitat Landscape Design.

Duwamish Hill Preserve http://forterra.org/subpage/duwamish-hill-preserve

12:00-1:00–Duwamish Basket & Mat Making Demonstration

Presenter: Deanne Jacobs (Duwamish Tribe).

1:00-2:00—Epic of the North & South Wind (Duwamish Oral Tradition)

Presenter: Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha Band of the Klallam Indians) is a renowned storyteller and artist living in Seattle, WA. Storytelling is Healing and Teaching The true power of storytelling comes when the moisture of the teller’s breath gives life and power to the story.

At one time, all Duwamish people knew the same stories. We understood the world through those common stories. The stories taught and guided and healed us. Sent to us by our ancestors who knew we would need these stories so we could live in the world in a good way– those stories are still waiting to do their work for those who will listen.

2:00-3:00—Duwamish Cultural Sharing—We Are Still Here

Songs, stories & dance. Participatory. Bring your drum. Presenter: Blake Shelafoe (Duwamish Tribe).

This year, the Duwamish Longhouse is reforesting the hillside behind the Longhouse and Seattle Park’s Department is restoring 40 acres in the West Seattle Green Belt. Duwamish activities are funded in part by a grant from the King County Conservation District. http://www.kingcd.org/programs-grant.htm

Our project’s objectives are:

to restore the Longhouse’s property’s ecosystem by providing a place to sustain native food and medicine, habitat and wildlife in relation to the Duwamish culture,

to engage the public and raise educational awareness of the Duwamish native culture and its relationship to the restored ecosystem, and

to work with community partners to increase public awareness of urban reforestation stewardship.

206.431.1852, dts@qwestoffice.net, www.duwamishtribe.org