Tamástslikt Cultural Institute facts for kids
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
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| Established | 1998 |
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| Location | Pendleton, Oregon, United States |
| Type | Cultural museum |
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute is a special museum and research center. It's located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton, Oregon. This institute teaches about the history and culture of three Native American tribes: the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes. It's the only Native American museum you'll find along the famous Oregon Trail.
The museum's main exhibit shares the history of these three tribes. It also tells the story of their reservation. There's another hall for special, changing exhibits. These shows feature Native American art, crafts, history, and folklore from the tribes.
Contents
History of the Institute
In 1993, people celebrated 150 years of the Oregon Trail. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation used this time to share their ideas. They wanted to build a center to tell their side of the Oregon Trail story. This center would also help their local economy.
The tribes hoped the center would bring new businesses and jobs. They planned to get money from different places. This included federal funds, local fundraising, and grants.
After three years, the tribes did not get federal money. The government said their budget did not include funds for Native American centers. Soon after, the Oregon Legislature gave some lottery money for the center.
Sharing Their Story
In the summer of 1993, the Confederated Tribes held a special exhibit. It showed Native American history and culture from before the Oregon Trail. On August 12, 1993, a wagon train celebrating the Oregon Trail was stopped. Native Americans on horseback met it at the Umatilla Indian Reservation border. This was to show that they needed federal funding for their center.
Antone Minthorn, a leader of the Confederated Tribes, spoke to the crowd. He explained that the tribes had raised a lot of money themselves. This was more than other trail projects that did get federal help. Minthorn stressed how important the new center was for his people. He said it would be a place for learning and research for everyone.
He also talked about the high unemployment rate for the tribes. The center would help create jobs and improve life. Minthorn's protest asked for support to share a different view of history.
Building the Center
In December 1993, the plans for the new center were shown. It was designed by Jean Jacques Andre. The main exhibit would focus on the tribes' life before Europeans arrived. It would also show their current reservation and future hopes. A part of the exhibit would cover the Oregon Trail's impact on their way of life. The tribes also sought private funding for the project.
In May 1994, Representative Bob Smith supported the center. He asked for $2 million in federal funds for it. Community support continued to grow. In September 1994, a local newspaper shared details about the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. It included drawings and ways to donate. That same month, a large loan guarantee helped the tribes start building.
On June 9, 1995, a groundbreaking ceremony took place. Over 300 people attended. Tribal elders and children from a preschool program performed the ceremony. Boys played special drums, and girls used miniature root diggers to break ground. The Oregon National Guard later prepared the building site.
Roberta Conner became the first director in February 1998. She oversaw the final preparations. After ten years of planning, the institute opened. A special ceremony for the tribal community was held on July 24, 1998. The public could visit starting July 31. About 4,000 people visited in the first three weeks.
What Does "Tamástslikt" Mean?
The center was first going to have a very long name. Tribal elders decided a shorter name would be better. Átway Celia Bearchum suggested "Tamásclikt." This word comes from the Walla Walla North East Sahaptin language.
"Tamásclik" is a verb that means "to turn over." Think of how seasons or years turn. The English spelling is "Tamástslik." Adding a 't' to the end changes it from a verb to a name. A language expert helped correct the spelling. The final name, Tamástslikt (pronounced Tuh-must-slickt), means "interpreting our own story."
Our Mission
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute has two main goals. First, it wants to keep alive the many cultures and histories of the Native people. These are the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes. Second, it aims to teach everyone about their cultures, histories, and modern lives.
What You'll Find There
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute is a large building, about 45,000 square feet. It's built with native stone and wood. Inside, there are 15,000 square feet for permanent and temporary exhibits.
Other areas include special rooms for storing old items (archives). There's also a Research Library, a Museum Store, and the Kinship Café. You can also find meeting areas for different events.
Meeting Spaces
The institute has five meeting areas for the public. These include the Gallery, a Classroom, and a Conference Room. There's also a Multipurpose Theater and the Celilo Lobby. In the Coyote Theater, a guide named Spilyáy, the magical coyote, introduces the exhibits. The Celilo Lobby has walls made of basalt rock. It features a huge mural of Celilo Falls.
Collections and Artifacts
In 2003, the institute had over 2,500 artifacts. These items are kept safe in special vaults and the Research Library. By 2011, they had added more items. This included new donations and many books. They also received historical papers from the University of Oregon.
Their collections include many interesting things. You can find baskets, stone tools, traditional clothing, and old glass photo plates. There are also audio and video recordings, local newspapers, and family records. The institute also has old and new photographs. Modern artwork and beadwork from community members are also part of the collection.
Exhibits to Explore
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute has three main permanent exhibits. They are called "We Were," "We Are," and "We Will Be." Spilyáy, the coyote guide, helps tell the story through each exhibit.
Permanent Exhibits
In "We Were," you'll see items from before contact with Europeans. The "Seasonal Round" shows how tribes lived through the year. Other displays feature a winter lodge and traditional clothing. You can also see a recreation of the 1855 Treaty Council of Walla Walla. This is shown in the tribal language. The exhibits use interactive screens and horse displays. There are also replicas of a boarding school and a church.
"We Are" shows tribal people as soldiers and government leaders. It highlights their role in the economy and salmon recovery. This exhibit shows how they balance modern life with old traditions. It also explains how they still follow the Law of the Salmon.
"We Will Be" shares the future hopes and dreams of the Confederated Tribes.
Temporary Exhibits
The institute also has a gallery for changing exhibits. These shows focus on different parts of Native American history and culture. They often feature work from other organizations and guest artists. In 2011, many community groups helped create these exhibits and programs.
Past Exhibits (since 2010)
- "Tall-in-the-Saddle"
- "Cowgirls: Contemporary Portraits of the American West"
- "Honoring Our Veterans"
- "Painted Metaphors: Pottery and Politics of the Ancient Maya"
- "Transitions, Joey Lavadour, One-Man Show"
- "Charles M. Russell: Master of Western Art"
- "Native Kids Ride Bikes"
- "Artworkz, 2nd Annual Youth Art Show & Competition"
Special Events and Programs
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute hosts many fun events. They have Kids Day Camps and Craft Lessons. There's also a Community Academy and Kids Powwows. These special events happen throughout the year. The institute also often has guest speakers. They talk about museum work, sustainability, and economics.
Caring for the Environment
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute works to protect the environment. They also try to be sustainable. In 2011, their Kinship Café stopped using Styrofoam. They now use containers that break down naturally.
The building has also been improved to save energy. They sealed vents and installed energy monitors. They use energy-efficient lights and motion-activated fixtures. They also made changes to their heating system. From 2003 to 2013, the institute greatly reduced its electricity and natural gas use.
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute follows a "people, planet, and profit" approach. This idea was shared by John Elkington.
Wind Turbine Project
A 50 kilowatt wind turbine was built in 2013. This turbine was paid for by grants and energy incentives. It fits with the Confederated Tribes' policy. They are against large wind farms but support using wind power.
How the Museum is Run
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation own and operate the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. In 2011, there were 2,860 enrolled members in the tribes.
Working with Others
The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute works with many partners.
National Park Service
In 2011, the institute worked with the National Park Service. They helped create new films for several historic sites. These included Whitman Mission National Historic Site and Nez Perce National Historic Park. They also agreed to store artifacts from the Frenchtown Historic Site.
Homeland Heritage Oregon Trail Maps
The institute created a special map called the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Homeland Heritage Corridor map. They printed 300,000 of these maps in 2011.
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
The institute is helping the Confederated Tribes rename places in Oregon. They are changing names that include the word "squaw" to indigenous names.
Partnerships with Other Museums
In 2005, the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute made agreements with other museums. These included the Oregon Historical Society and Washington State Historical Society. Members of any of these museums can visit the others for free. This agreement honored the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. It also celebrated the Walla Walla Treaty Council's 150th anniversary. These museums had worked together before. In 2001, they created an exhibit about artist Dale Chihuly. They also loaned artifacts to each other.
Gallery
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Tamástslikt Logo
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The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute building
