May 24, 2004

Randy Person
Washington State Parks
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, Washington 98504-2650

Dear Mr. Person:

The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission wishes to add its voice to those you have received from the tribes regarding the fate of the Old Man House. The significance of this location to the Suquamish Tribe far exceeds that of anyone from outside the tribal community. Far too often people today try to wipe the significance of tribal historic and cultural locations from their slate of priorities, even though the link in such instances goes back thousands of years. That kind of connection cannot be ignored, or de-prioritized. The value here quickly becomes a matter of human dignity and rights. It goes to the history of this land, and to the legacies we will leave for our children. We encourage you to embrace such values as a matter of honor and integrity.

Old Man House, located within the boundaries of the Port Madison Reservation, is a place of vast historic and cultural significance to the Suquamish Tribe. To some it may be little more than a small park, but it is the sacred location of the Mother Village to the Suquamish. It is the site where one of the largest long houses in history once stood, more than two football fields long. Suquamish great grandparents lived there, raised their families there and practiced their rich customs and traditions there for a hundred or more generations. This was the home of Chief Seattle. 

You need look no further than the Suquamish Museum to get a flavor of the respectful way the Suquamish cherish their traditions, and share them with all who will listen. With very limited financial resources, the Tribe turned that museum into one of the very finest in the nation. With the roots of the Suquamish at the Old Man House running so deep, such respectful treatment will clearly carry over to that sacred location. The Tribe plans to keep the park open to all, and is committed to developing it into a site where all can come to learn about Chief Seattle and his people. 

The Tribe’s Park Management Plan also addresses other uses of the park, ranging from water access to education about the marine environment. Maintenance and security interests have also been thoroughly addressed, as have a plethora of other public interests, through a highly comprehensive public involvement process. The Tribe has set aside $50,000 over five years for maintenance and improvement, and plans to establish a park community advisory board.

It has now been a full century since the land was taken from the Tribe. Now is the time to return it. We urge your full consideration of the Suquamish Tribe’s logical and historically valid proposal. 

Sincerely,

Billy Frank, Jr.
Chairman