TIME TO APOLOGIZE TO THE DUWAMISH TRIBE?

It’s happening Saturday, March 30 at Duwamish Longhouse, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
4705 W Marginal Way SW

“In the spirit of cultural humility, we apologize – and listen to the voices of the land,” reads a flyer put out by the Grandmothers Global Healing Movement, founded by Norma Jean Young, focused on bringing the Wisdomkeeping Grandmother’s presence and voice back to the world.

Young first gathered global Grandmothers in 2003 at “Getting Down to Earth with the Grandmothers” on Whidbey Island, at Whidbey Institute. It featured five key grandmothers: from New Zealand, Tibet, Hawaii, Lummi, and Grandmother Vi Hilbert of Upper Skagit Nation.

The Apology will be focused on the Duwamish people, and all Native American tribes, at a ceremony March 30 at the Duwamish Longhouse, 4705 W. Marginal Way SW, Seattle at 1 p.m. A meal will be served at 3 p.m., with music throughout.

The apology is co-sponsored by the Duwamish Longhouse and the Grandmothers Global Healing Movement. Featured speakers include H.E. Dagmola Kusho Sakya of the Tibetan Buddhist lineage; Rev. Kelly Brown, lead pastor of Plymouth Church Seattle; Pastor Pat Wright of Total Experience Gospel Choir fame; and others. Everyone is encouraged to bring food and gifting to the Indigenous, whether dollars, services or goods.

“This critical time of breakdown in our world culture demands the presence that holds life whole. Wisdom-keeping grandmothers have always been stabilizers, looked to for functional guidance to hold life whole – especially in troubled times,” says Young. “This is a healing event to bring together the essential components of healing—cultural humility, apology, listening, and taking action in partnership.”

Norma Jean Young, a reiki master, served as a healer and helper to Great Grandmother Vi Hilbert in the three years before she died. Hilbert, the last fully fluent language speaker of Lushootseed culture, was a most valued Grandmother taproot who served many Coast Salish tribes. She was named a Washington State Living Treasure in 1989, and received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994, presented by President Bill Clinton.