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Old
Man
House Park
2004 CAMPAIGN
Old
Man House Park
Respect
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A Letter of
Support
Dear Mr Wolslegel and Washington State Parks,
Six generations of my family have resided in the Seattle area. I was born there and have been a full time resident of Bainbridge Island
and Kitsap County since 1963. I summered here since 1940. I am 63.
I am a two-time Governor's Award historic preservationist and long time Island local historian. David Hansen, WSP historian and I have
worked together on Fort Ward. I ran educational programs for Suquamish tribal youth in 1970, cleaning up the community cemetery
and hearing stories of the elders, and in 1982 I was a marketing consultant for and helped create the Suquamish Museum along with many
wonderful people. I was a trustee of the Kitsap Museum and served for several decades with the Bainbridge Island Museum.
Old Man House State park is a very unique and sacred place to the Suquamish. For many years I have conducted individual and group
interpretive trips to the park both my kayak and by land. I have shared the spot with dignitaries and guests from Japan, Norway, England, Belgium and all over the US. I recently had the great coincidental privilege with sharing it with a great great grandson of Chief Seattle and his mother... and my own grandson!
Old Man House park is more than a neighborhood park, yet many newcomers to the Reservation in Port Madison see it primarily as such because it is small, offers limited public parking and amenities, and is one of only two places in the community where the public has access to the water. It was a blessing when the state at the time of the Snyder U.W. archaeological dig and Agate Pass bridge opening purchased the land thus preserving it and preventing it from becoming more private residences. State archaeologists have monitored its historic resources, both on site and beneath neighboring landscapes. The original site was larger than the park.
The history and issues of land use and property acquisition within the reservation is sadly all too common to urban reservations under heavy developmental pressures. It is all the more tragic that a people dependent upon the water for their livelihood and culture have been stripped of the waterfront of their reservation lands. Even though Old Man House State Park had strong cultural ties to Suquamish Tribal history and culture, still during the State Centennial's celebrated Paddle to Seattle when dozens of tribes sent their youth and elders in canoes from all over the state and Canada, Suquamish Tribal officials had a difficult time gaining access to their ancient ancestral village site as a place to welcome visiting canoes. That should never be.
In response to shocking vandalism a few years ago at the Suquamish Cemetery I helped maintain, (whose history ought to make it a National Historic Landmark and Monument, and which along with Old Man House State park site and the Suquamish Museum are at the core of our
county's cultural tourism destinations), a group of statespersons and peacemakers stepped forward and formed The Ollalla Group, attracting
community leadership from the tribal and non-tribal community, faith communities, and schools. Their full circle approach to include all
members of the community respectfully has helped heal many hard feelings and given recognition to outstanding educational and cultural achievements within the community.
I understand that diminishing state park funds are causing a re-examination of park operations and management. I understand that
a growing corp of volunteers or other agency management teams are being considered to help meet park needs. Old Man House State park is such a unique and special site, it deserves the most careful of considerations.
My daughter worked for a summer with Barbara Buher in the NPS's Indian Liason Office for the Rocky mountain states between borders. She spent a summer meeting with National Trustees for Historic preservation, Tribal leaders, and recreational interests to mitigate conflicts in the use of sacred lands by non-tribal recreators. It meant getting people to sit down at the table same as is done in the Ollalla Group.
I suggest you not do anything about turning over the management or maintenace of Old Man House State Park without at least meeting with
them, and the Suquamish community as a whole. Many of us would like to see the Old Man House site turned over to the tribe to manage or
own, perhaps with covenants. The state has done a good job here with few exceptions. But it is hard to envision anyone who is a better "Friend of Old Man House State Park historic site" than the Suquamish whose history is the very reason for its being in the first place.
The park should not be allowed to become a battle ground for political idealogies and land use squabbles. Its use should recognize its sacredness and history.
All best, respectfully,
Gerald Elfendahl
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