Nestled in the heart of the beautiful and lush grounds of The Evergreen State College is s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ House of Welcome, also known as the Longhouse, on the Indigenous Arts campus. The gathering place hosts many opportunities for Native artists as well as workshops providing a nurturing common ground to share art, wisdom, cultural practices and experiences which educate and empower the community. The Longhouse helps promote self-determination and cultural resilience, representing, facilitating, and nurturing Pacific Rim Native arts and culture by creating programs through grants that create and host Native arts classes. These programs connect Native artists with students and collaborators.
Completed in 1995, s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ House of Welcome was the first longhouse built on a college campus in the United States. It was the combined construction effort of many tribes, The Quinault Indian Nation donated some of the timber, The Burke Museum donated the cedar posts and shakes from a display longhouse from the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, The Squaxin Island Tribe provided some funding, and the Makah and Skokomish Tribes were consulted for cultural and spiritual leadership. The students at TESC contributed to the Welcome Woman figure at the entrance of the campus. There were 1000 people at the opening ceremony there, this also marked the first year of the Daniel J. Evans Scholar program, which enabled five Native scholars to study on campus, including: Hazel Pete of Chehalis, John Hottowe of Makah, and Billy Frank Jr. of Nisqually.
s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ House of Welcome celebrates its 30th anniversary with an open house from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. It will begin with a procession (procession participants are to gather at 11 a.m.). The event is led by Director Laura VerMeulen, Tlingit, and emceed by John Goodwin, Makah. It will feature speakers from the pillar families who helped create the Longhouse including the Witner family from the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Hillaire family, Lummi Nation, the Hottowe family from the Makah Tribe honoring Alex McCarty, the Hazel Pete family: Yvonne Peterson and Trudy Marcellay, Chehalis, Colleen Jollie speaking about the early days, the Vi Hilbert family, Upper Skagit, and Bruce Miller family, Skokomish. Also, we will be hearing from Founding Director Tina Kuckkahan, Lac du Flambeau Tribe.
In addition, there will be performances from the Alaska Kuteeyaa Dancers and the Git Hoen Dance Group led by David Boxley. Lunch will be served, and PNW Alutiiq Culture Camp
artists will share song during the meal, and we will hear from the Coast Salish Wool Weavers speak about their work
There will be a supporting art show in the Gallery, which ties to the celebration and will be showing from Sept. 29 to Dec. 12. The show features Native artists that have a connection to the Longhouse either through the pillar families or a Longhouse Grant.
Alexis Xochihua, Gallery Coordinator and the Indigenous Arts Campus Studio Technician shared: “Since 1995, the House of Welcome has been honored to work with many Native artists from all over the world. Through grant programs, workshops, residencies, events, and art shows, the House of Welcome has worked to uphold and revitalize traditional art forms, expand expectations of what Native art is, and support Native artists in their artistic journey. This show is to celebrate the amazing artists who have been an integral part of the past 30 years of the House of Welcome. Featuring artists such as Kayeri Akweks, Upper Mohawk First Nations, from New Zealand, Dan Friday Lummi, Ashley Frantz, Makah, Jennifer Younger, Tlingit and many more!”
WHAT:
30th Anniversary of s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ The House of Welcome
WHERE:
s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ The House of Welcome at The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Parkway, Olympia The Gallery at The Evergreen State College
2737 McCann Plaza Dr NW #2204, Olympia
Celebration ceremony: noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct 25Native American art show: Sept 29-Dec 12. Gallery hours: Please check website for details.
Also, don’t miss the Native Market, which will be in December, Fri & Sat 12 & 13t.
Cost:
Free
LEARN MORE:
https://www.evergreen.edu/houseofwelcome https://www.evergreen.edu/give/houseofwelcome