TALKING POINTS 

Many of you have already written eloquent letters of support. If you are composing your letter now, here are a few points you might want to address.  

• Old Man House holds enormous historic and cultural significance to the Suquamish Tribe. Although it is a tiny park, it is part of the site of the mother village of the Suquamish people and was the site of one of the largest long houses in the region, and the home of Chief Seattle. The park is located well within the boundaries of the Port Madison Reservation. 

• There is no one better able to interpret the historic significance of this site to the public than the Suquamish people, whose small museum has been named the best Native American museum west of the Mississippi by the Smithsonian. 

• The Tribe has committed to keeping the park open to all, and are looking forward to sharing the rich culture and history of this region through interpretive displays at the park. Their commitment will make it an even more valuable cultural and historical site for the visitors who come from all parts of the world to learn about Chief Seattle and his people. 

• The Tribe has also acknowledged the other uses of the park, for water access, quiet meditation, education about the marine environment, archeology, and small gatherings, and the Tribe's Park Management Plan addresses the needs of all these user groups.

• Park neighbors have a legitimate interest in the security and maintenance of the park. These concerns have also been carefully addressed in the Park Management plan, and reviewed with neighbors. 

• The Suquamish Tribe has been seeking the return of the park since 1983. They have maintained throughout that their intent to continue to keep this park open to the public. 

• The Tribe has conducted an exhaustive public involvement process leading up to the drafting of the Park Management Plan. The process, carried out in conjunction with Suquamish Olalla Neighbors, included surveys (316 were collected), a website, notice in newspapers, letters mailed to residents of adjacent neighborhoods, newsletters, and two community meetings. A total of 471 comments were collected and entered into a database used for the preparation of the management plan, and 91 comments were received on the draft management plan. 

• A committee of Tribal and non-Tribal members drafted the park management plan, which was ratified by the Suquamish Tribal Council after review by the larger community. 

• The Tribal Council has set aside $50,000 over five years for maintenance and improvements at the park and committed to establishing a park community advisory board.

• This year is the 100th anniversary of the year the land was taken from the Tribe. The Tribe has waited long enough. This is the right time to return the land. 

READ A RECENT LETTER from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.