Olympic College celebrates installation of Lushootseed language markers on Bremerton campus on Thursday, May 12

BREMERTON – Olympic College is pleased to celebrate the installation of Lushootseed language markers on the Bremerton campus.

A public art project years in the making, the waymarkers are written in the Native American Lushootseed language and will be placed on the Bremerton campus to welcome visitors.

The reception for the installation of the markers is 3 p.m., May 12, in the lobby of Bldg. 7 on the Bremerton campus, located at 1600 Chester Avenue. Attendees are invited to sample indigenous and regional flavors from Olympic College’s own Chef Chris Plemmons, meet the artists who designed the markers, and enjoy music from Port Gamble S’Klallam and Suquamish Tribal singers.

A special blessing of the installation will be offered, with a keynote from Olympic College student leader Valerie St. Pierre.

“It is my hope and prayer that these Lushootseed waymarkers are the first steps in honoring the ancestors, Olympic College’s first steps in recognizing the Land we occupy, and the first steps in healing this shared space,” said St. Pierre, who is a member of the Apsáalooke Crow tribe. “Lushootseed IS the language of the Land. When we preserve the language, we preserve the culture.”

Anthony Jones, one of two designers who created the patterns for the tiles used in the project, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute his skills.

“As a Coast Salish artist, I am grateful to be part of this project to represent the Lushootseed language in the lands that the Suquamish people have called home since time immemorial,” he said. “Although I am a member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, my great grandmother was a Suquamish tribal citizen, basket weaver, and Lushootseed speaker. I am pleased that my artwork is helping to honor the language of my ancestors.”

Olympic College Art Faculty Deanna Pindell, who helped organize the creation of the markers, noted that it took the skills of many people throughout the college to bring the project to fruition.

“More than 50 people across the campus have supported this project over the last four years,” she said. “I hope that our collaborative public artworks will create a more welcoming atmosphere on campus for people of all languages.”

The placement of the markers on the Bremerton campus is a visual acknowledgement of the fact that Olympic College campuses are located on the ancestral lands of the Suquamish, Duwamish, Squaxin Island and Skokomish tribes.

“It is important to acknowledge this land’s legacy, and placing these markers on our Bremerton campus is one way to remind us of the language and culture of the Native peoples who resided on this land long before we were here,” said Olympic College President Marty Cavalluzzi. “We hope these markers will serve as a beautiful welcome to campus while also fostering a sense of respect for the land’s history.”

Olympic College’s full land acknowledgement statement is available on the college’s Diversity Advisory Council page.

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