Peninsula College ceremony opens longhouse on campus
David Hudson with the Hoh tribe, left, and Lester Greene with the Waatch village of the Makah tribe beat drums and sing during the grand opening of the House of Learning and Longhouse Cultural Center at Peninsula College on Monday. -- Photo by Chris Tucker/Peninsula Daily News
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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The concepts and planning of the longhouse came out of a group of about 25 people which included Peninsula College representatives as well as members of six of the region's tribes - Jamestown S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Hoh, Quileute, Makah and Port Gamble S'Klallam.
"To me it doesn't matter if we [Peninsula College] have representatives in the group, it is the tribal representation that makes the difference that brings the purpose to it," said Maria Peņa, who has worked with the group since the foundation.
"Without these people, it is just another four walls going up."
Tom Keegan, president of Peninsula College, welcomed elected officials and tribal representatives as well as young Native Americans who attended the ceremony.
"I would like especially to welcome the tribal youth," Keegan said.
"You are why we are here today, and you are why the longhouse is here today."
Tribal representatives
Representatives of each of the tribes' tribal councils spoke at the ceremony.
Chris Morganroth III, treasurer for the Quileute Tribal Council in LaPush, began his speech by greeting the audience in Quileute language.
"Many years ago, the education of our young people was different than it is today," Morganroth said.
"We taught through show and tell, stories and life experiences."
The differences from then until now are not that great, he said.
"I don't see much difference outside of reading and writing. We are still doing whatever we can to teach them," he said, alluding to the name of the longhouse - House of Learning
The walls and beams of the $830,000 longhouse, which is nestled in the southeast corner of campus among cedar trees, are solid cedar, Keegan said.
Art on display
An entrance hall of the 3,000-square-foot building will serve as a gallery of Native American art, featuring two pieces loaned from each of the tribes.
The Jamestown S'Klallam made two permanent donations, including the welcoming arch on which is inscribed the Native word for the House of Learning longhouse.
Jamestown S'Klallam artist Heather Johnson-Jock donated a traditional loom and blanket to stay in the longhouse permanently.
The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe donated some permanent art in the form of the bronze paddle door pulls crafted by Darrell Charles Jr.
The largest room will be suited for small gatherings of about 100 people or fewer for cultural classes, performances or dinners. The building is equipped with a full-scale kitchen.
More than 100 people attended a ceremonial blessing of the site on Dec. 12, 2006.
Partially funded with $250,000 in private donations, the $830,000 structure's construction was part of a $36 million building program on the campus that includes the new $22 million science and technology center and a $14 million library and administration building.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: October 15. 2007 9:00PM