Wanapum Culture To Be Showcased At CWU

July 3, 2003

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- As part of the local summer heritage program called "Exploring Kittitas County," the Central Washington University anthropology department museum will host a free, public presentation by members of the Wanapum tribe from Vantage.

Tribal members will be on the CWU campus Thursday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the north side of Farrell Hall, just west of the CWU Library.

They will bring the "Wanapum Native American Discovery Unit," a motor home museum, and teach about Wanapum Culture, as well as showing kids how to make tule mats, according to Martha Duskin-Smith, museum curator.

"Tule mats serve many purposes, from lodge coverings to personal use," she says, "and are very important to Wanapum cultural tradition. It will be a memorable day."

From 10 a.m. to noon, participants will learn to make the tule mats. Those wishing to take part in the mat-making program need to register by calling Erin Black at (509) 925-3778.

From 1 to 3 p.m., tribal members will demonstrate traditional skills in stone tool, string and mat making. The anthropology department museum's storage room will also be open to display a portion of the university's collection of local Native American material, according to Duskin-Smith.

For additional information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 925-3778, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.