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SAM Secures Federal Grant to Bring Exhibition of the Art and Culture of the Native Coast Salish Peoples to Seattle
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
August 14, 2008

Rep. Jim McDermott spoke recently at the Seattle Art Museum. With strong congressional support, SAM has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that will help bring the first major exhibition of the art and culture of the Native Coast Salish Peoples to Seattle later this year, called S'abadeb – The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art and Artists.



Good morning---

I am very proud of our congressional support that helped secure the federal grant that will bring the first major exhibition of the art and culture of the Native Coast Salish Peoples to Seattle.

Exhibiting the Art and Artists of the Coast Salish is an important endeavor and the $400,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities makes it possible. It is ironic that we recognize the Duwamish Tribe through a grant like this but they are not yet recognized broadly by the federal government.  I’ll keep fighting for recognition.

We live in a city named for a great Salish and Duwamish tribal leader, so we all have a stake in the history of the Salish people.  Despite the advances in technology that have brought us access to instant information, I worry that we may be forgetting history, and not passing on to the next generation that which is foundation of our community and our way of life.  That makes this exhibit especially important.

I believe Seattle is more environmentally and socially aware because of the philosophy and respect for people and the land that we inherited from Chief Seattle, and the Salish and other Native Peoples.  The exhibit will give us a chance to look back in time at the people and culture that shaped our region and our community. 

S’abadeb means the gifts and when the exhibit opens in October, SAM will share a gift with Seattle that is priceless.  I want to personally thank Bruce Cole, the chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and I want to extend an invitation for him to return in October to help us open this wonderful exhibit.

Thank you.