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OLYMPIA, WA – Following statements by Governor Jay Inslee and President Biden’s formal apology for the Federal Indian boarding school program, which the President said “served as places of trauma and terror for more than 100 years,” the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) acknowledged the restorative work performed by Washington’s Tribes —efforts that now receive support from ArtsWA’s Tribal Cultural Affairs (TCA) program.
"Tribal Cultural Affairs is uniquely situated to engage with, and support, Tribal communities and Indigenous persons in recognition of the value of culture, traditions, ceremonies, and the passing of ancestral knowledge,” said Cheryl Wilcox (Cowlitz), TCA Program Manager.
The Washington State Legislature approved funding for the TCA program in 2023. TCA staff learned from their initial outreach that cultural preservation and revitalization are priorities for Washington’s Tribes and developed their funding programs to meet this urgent need.
“While the injuries inflicted by the century-long Indian boarding school program are incomprehensible, ArtsWA has long understood the power of the arts to heal,” said Karen Hanan, ArtsWA’s Executive Director. “ArtsWA and the TCA program are dedicated to supporting Washington’s Tribes as they recover and reclaim their culture.”
Today, TCA supports the Tribes through outreach and grant funding as they work to rebuild their languages, arts, and cultures. TCA’s first round of funding included projects for Native language-learning apps, Tribal language dictionaries, and more. Several of these projects are spotlighted in a newly released video, linked below.
“We understand that Tribes never stopped honoring and teaching their culture, even in the face of harsh policies instituted by the Federal and State governments,” said Wilcox. “We offer our thanks and respect for their bravery and vision."
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