TULALIP – The Tulalip Tribes have dreamed for decades about having a museum to call their own.
They won’t have to dream much longer.
Dozens of people gathered under a white tent on Saturday morning for the groundbreaking of the Hibulb Museum, which is scheduled to be finished in 2009.
“We’ve reached a point where we can now start giving time and attention to the perpetuation of our culture through the museum,” Tulalip cultural resources manager Hank Gobin said. “This is a significant cultural and educational milestone.”
Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald
Tribal members beat drums and chanted as leaders turned the first scoops of dirt with golden shovels. Balloons were released into the sunlit sky. Then everyone feasted on salmon, meatloaf, crab salad, bread, fruit, macaroni and cheese, and pie.
The mood was celebratory. Many of the tribes’ artifacts are scattered in storage lockers, homes and other museums.
“It means we’re going to have a place to preserve our history, and youths and people can have a place to learn about their ancestors,” Tulalip acting general manager Shelly Lacy said.
Crews will begin work on the museum in March.
The $10 million museum will span 35,000 square feet of space in two buildings. First, workers will construct the smaller building, which will be used for processing and storing artifacts. A larger building will house the main museum. Tribal leaders hope to choose an architect by April.
After the buildings are finished, workers will build interpretive trails through the forest and wetlands surrounding the site.
The tribe can afford to build the museum because of the financial success of Quil Ceda Village and the Seattle Premium Outlets mall. The tribe’s casino profits have also helped, said Les Parks, a member of the tribes’ board of directors.
The museum will be an investment in the tribe’s future, just as the casino and outlet mall were, Parks said.
“We’re going to tell a story with this museum, where children can walk back into the early 1800s and see who their families are,” he said.
Gobin can already visualize the museum buildings. Hours before the groundbreaking, he stood near the edge of the forest and motioned with his arm where each will stand.
“The tribe is now finally in a position to realize the dream,” he said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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