Message from the Board of Trustees
Keeping the Cultural Fires Burning
For Centuries, the Tulalip Tribes have relied on the natural environment to feed, cloth and protect them. With land holdings in the Puget Sound area, the Tulalip people had plenty of seafood, cedar, and plant life to provide the basic needs for their community. In return, being meticulous stewards of the land was a must. Fully utilizing all of the natural bounty that was afforded to the Tulalip people resulted in them becoming masters at carving and weaving cedar and skilled fisherman. To honor the connection to the land and water, the Tulalip Tribes were directed by their general membership to construct a cultural center and natural history preserve.
In the 21st century, the Tulalip people are challenged in maintaining and restoring their cultural ways. With the construction of a 23,000 square foot cultural center and 42 acre natural history preserve a current and future generations can share in the rich culture of the Tulalip people. Hibulb Cultural Center, a name based on a traditional fortified encampment, has a mission to share Tulalip history, culture and language, and reflect the natural beauty of its site by: protecting, maintaining and preserving the legacy of traditional cultural values and spiritual beliefs for which the Tulalip ancestors gave their lives; assuring that these values and beliefs are treated with dignity, respect, and integrity within the Tulalip community and surrounding communities; and keeping the cultural and spiritual fires burning for future generations. The implied responsibilities of this mission are to conserve and care for the material artifacts; oral traditions; photographs, documents and archival materials; to share the culture, in order to promote understanding and respect for the traditions; and to promote the rediscovery of the traditions within the Tulalip youth.
The Hibulb Cultural Center will be a source of civic pride for the Tulalip Tribes and neighboring communities. Its design and programs will honor Native traditions and culture, embrace artistic innovation, and foster cross-cultural education and exchange. More than 13, 000 daily visitors already visit the Tulalip community and offering them a cultural experience was identified as a critical need by over 60% of those interviewed in 2006 by the consulting firm Strategies 360. |