The Tulalip Tribes's new Hibulb Cultural Center opened on Sat., Aug. 20 just north of the City of Everett in Snohomish County, WA. Easily accessible from Interstate 5, the Hibulb Cultural Center is expected to be a major Native American attraction in the Pacific Northwest.  It showcases the traditional cultural values, spiritual beliefs and hunting, fishing and gathering lifestyles,  of the Tulalip Tribes (Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and other tribes signatory to the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot).

"It was the vision of the Tulalip people to build a cultural center where we could gather as a community to share our knowledge and stories with one another, a place where we could rediscover our traditions together, and a place that offers our children an educational experience so that they can carry our culture into the future.  And now the time has come when we can also share with the surrounding community our own story in our own words—so that visitors can learn in a place that truly expresses the spirit of the Tulalip people," said Mel Sheldon, Chairman of the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors.

Join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion. Walk through the museum and experience the spirit and history of the Tulalip Tribes - a land based and waterborne people.  Let the texture of light, stone-work, and cedar transport you through time.  Allow the architectural elements to build within your imagination, a bridge from inside to the natural world outside, where tall cedars stand watch and wildlife proliferates, where mother-nature offers up her gifts of food and medicine to the people—experience the transparency between hearth and the natural world that has defined the spirit of our culture for time immemorial.

Sit in a cedar longhouse which is built into the museum and, with the assistance of an interactive media system, learn about the history of how our people used and continue to use, the longhouse and the role it has played in our spiritual, political, and everyday lives.  As you walk down the main corridor of the museum look at the beautiful craftsmanship that our contemporary artists have contributed by way of story poles, carvings, and art-stenciled design elements that are a permanent part of the museum's interior structure.

In our permanent exhibit learn about our binding relationship to cedar and salmon.  Learn how our weaving, fishing, and cooking technologies helped to define our culture.  From the distant past into modern times learn how colonial policies and the relationships between the Tulalip people and settlers continue to affect the community even today.  Individual sections of the permanent exhibit tell the story of the boarding school here in Tulalip, the Point Elliot Treaty, an explanation of how our government is structured, and a genealogy wall that lists every tribal member, past and present.  Our temporary exhibit "Warriors: We Remember" tells the story of the
Tulalip Tribe's military tradition that was born of a warrior spirit. The exhibition honors the Tulalip men and women that served our country in times of conflict and peace, so that we may live with an enduring sense of freedom. 

For centuries the people of the Tulalip Tribes relied on the region's natural environment for food, clothing, commerce, culture and protection.  With extensive landholdings in the Puget Sound area, the Tulalip people traveled the highways of the Salish Sea and Pacific Ocean to promote a thriving culture.  Year-round activities included trading and socializing with hundreds of Tribes, and hunting and gathering an abundance of wildlife, seafood, cedar, and plant life.  In the 21st century, the Tulalip people are challenged to maintain, rebuild, and restore their cultural ways. 

The Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve will serve to deepen Tribal membership participation and awareness of our traditions.  With a 23,000-square foot cultural center, a 10,000-square foot collections wing, and a 42-acre natural history preserve, current and future generations can share in the rich culture of the Tulalip people.  Behind the Center's mission is an effort to ensure a sense of pride, permanence, and future in the hearts and minds of its membership.  From the mid 1800's until the 1930's, Tulalip Indian Boarding Schools separated children from parents, compromising family life and suppressing Coast Salish culture, history, life-ways and spirituality.  This effect on 4 - 5 generations lingers today, adding urgency to Tribal government's role in sponsoring cultural rediscovery.

"We have dreamt about this day for many years," said Hank Gobin, Director of the Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve. "Words cannot express the joy we feel that our cultural center is open and ready to educate and inform the Tulalip community, and the world, about our vibrant culture.  While our priority will be helping our Tulalip youth and membership with the rediscovery of our traditions, values and life-ways, we will share our dream with everyone." said Gobin. "With our service to the community, we hope to remove stereotypes and barriers and promote more understanding and respect for our history, traditions and future direction."

Thirty years ago tribal elders had a vision for a cultural center and museum that would assist young tribal members in learning their traditions and history - a place where cultural classes in weaving, carving, language, and other traditions would be offered to Tribal members, and a space that would allow the Tulalip to share their journey with the world.  Following the initial development of the Collections Facility in 2008, Phase II construction began on the Museum.  Phase III will now focus on restoration and enhancement of the 42-acre Natural History Preserve, an outdoor extension of the museum and collections facility.

Behind the scenes at the Hibulb Cultural Center, the Curations Facilityfeatures a fully certified collections and archeological repository, and staff for field work in archaeology and reparations.  It is the only tribal facility certified by the state of Washington.  Reflecting a Tribal commitment to a more proactive role in protecting historic sites and burials, the curation facility is entrusted with the solemn responsibility to manage historic Tribal artifacts and burials that are discovered throughout Puget Sound.

The Natural History Preserve, which is five percent complete, will benefit from the assistance of partnerships between the community, other institutions and organizations.  The Center will seek funding to finance the tribe's vision for the preserve: which includes large-scale environmental restoration projects, walking paths, an observational platform to look over the estuary, a totemic sculpture garden, visiting artists' accommodations, a carving shed, a canoe storage facility, and various gardens that will supply food and medicine to the tribal membership.

About the Tulalip Tribes

The Tulalip Tribes are federally recognized successors in interest to the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and other tribes and bands signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott.  The 22,000-acre Tulalip Indian Reservation is located north of Everett and the Snohomish River, and west of Marysville, Washington.  The Tribes maintain an aggressive environmental preservation program, both on and off of the Reservation to complement the Snohomish region's natural resources: marine waters, tidelands, fresh water rivers and lakes, wetlands, and forests.  Developable land and an economic development zone along the I-5 corridor provide revenue and services for Tribal members.  Tribal government provides health and dental clinics, family and senior housing, utilities, cultural activities, schools, childcare, higher education assistance, recreation, cultural and historical activities.  The Tribes have approximately 4,000 members, with 2,500 members living on the Reservation.  The governing body is the seven-member Tulalip Board of Directors.  For more information, visit www.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov .