Land Acknowledgement

ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl' awh-ah-dees) Park scenic view

We acknowledge that the City of Kenmore is situated upon the ancestral lands of the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Sauk-Suiattle, Duwamish, Stillaguamish, Tulalip, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, and other Tribes who are part of the Coast Salish Peoples. We recognize and express our deepest respect for their enduring stewardship and profound relationship with this land, which they have cherished and protected since time immemorial. We honor the First Peoples, acknowledge their vibrant cultures, and commit ourselves to learning from their wisdom in our journey to promote justice, equity, and mutual understanding. We pledge to stand alongside these communities in acknowledging past injustices and working towards a future that respects and celebrates the diverse heritage of this land.

The City of Kenmore’s Commitment to the Land Acknowledgement

It is important to the City that the Land Acknowledgement is not a hollow promise, but rather a living document the City honors through its actions. The Kenmore City Council reads the Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of each meeting at City Hall. Here are just a few additional actions that Kenmore has taken to support this commitment:

Cultural Resource Review

The City worked with the Western Washington tribes throughout design and construction of the City’s Walkways and Waterways Park Improvement Projects at Log Boom Park and ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl' awh-ah-dees) Park with the goal of protecting fish, habitat, and cultural resources. The Tribes provided valuable expertise and advice that guided development of these projects. For example, as part of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Tribal Consultation, and in upholding Washington State’s unique government-to-government relationship with the Tribes, the City began early and frequent engagement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Fisheries Biologist and cultural resource reviews and their findings were shared with Western Washington Tribes for review and comment by Tribe archeologists.

Stewards of the Land

The City is intentionally making progress towards removing fish-blocking culverts and replacing them with fish-friendly culverts that will improve access for Tribes to enjoy their fishing rights. We are also working to return land to its wild habitat state, converting developed land with homes and lawns near streams, creeks, and wetlands back to a natural condition. For example, the City has used King County Conservation Futures grant funds in addition to its own resources to remove existing structures and hardscapes (such as driveways, patios, etc…) from formerly developed properties, such as the Longfellow and Lindenmeyer properties near Swamp Creek, and restore them back to a natural state, often floodplains and wetlands.

At Wallace Swamp Creek Park, the City has been removing invasive species and planting native plants in their place through the years. In 2022-23, at ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl' awh-ah-dees) Park, 4.5 acres of invasive plant species, including blackberries and invasive reed canary grasses, were removed and replaced with over 15,353 native plants and .5 miles of stream riparian was restored within the most western 11 acres of the 40 acre park. During construction of the Sammamish River Bridge, 445 linear feet of riparian habitat were restored for a total of about 29,258 square feet of restored land. Over 3,000 native plants and shrubs were planted at the newly renovated Log Boom Park.

ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park

In April 2021, the Kenmore City Council approved a name change from Squire’s Landing Park to ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis (Tl’ awh-ah-dees) Park, the name of the Lushootseed village previously located in or near present-day downtown Kenmore. ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis translates to “a place where something is grown or sprouts” and honors the Coast Salish People who originally inhabited the area and the many Indigenous Peoples who still reside here. The name was recommended by the Kenmore Heritage Society, Ray Fryberg (Tulalip Tribes), and Iissaaksiichaa Ross Braine (Kenmore Resident /Apsaalooke Nation). The new name is displayed prominently at every entrance to the park in the Lushootseed language, two cultural interpretive signs and ten plant markers within the park are also written in Lushootseed. Two large works of art by Ty Juvinel, Salmon Scarcity and Alone We Thrive, are on display within the park.

Ty Juvinel "Salmon Scarcity"

Ty Juvinel "Alone We Thrive"

Town Center Story Pole

On Saturday August 26, 2023 to kick off the City’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel unveiled Kenmore’s newest piece of public art, an indigenous story pole, in Town Square. A story pole is a traditional Native American way of telling stories and this pole shows an important legend of the Tulalip people, that of the killer whales. Deputy Mayor Melanie O’Cain said of the unveiling, “What a beautiful way to celebrate 25 years of Kenmore as a city while also honoring the First People who have called this area home since time immemorial.”

The story pole depicts the tale of two brothers, ancestors of the Tulalip Tribes who lived long ago at Priest Point. The brothers were seal hunters who went into the ocean to live as orcas, returning to their people only in the Tribe’s most dire circumstance. One year when the people had been unable to gather as much food for winter as usual, they were starving by spring when the salmon run began but just when they thought their suffering was over, hordes of seals came and ate up all the salmon. In despair, the people called out to their ancestors for help. The brothers heard their pleas and arrived as orcas who hunted the seals and threw their bodies onto the beach, both saving the people from starvation and preserving the salmon runs for generations to come. Today the orca is the logo of the Tulalip Tribes and they are greeted by the Tulalip people at sea with the words “Killer whale, killer whale, your ancestors were also my ancestors.”

Juvinel, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, is a Coast Salish carver and artist, a cultural preservationist, activist, and storyteller. He has previously created artwork for the Seattle Children's Museum, the University of Washington Burke Museum, the Seattle Library, the Tulalip Hibulb Museum, the Edmonds Historical Museum, the City of Edmonds, the City of Olympia, and the Museum of History and Industry. He got his artistic start young with drawing and graffiti, making his first paddle around age 11 upon discovering Coast Salish art and carving. He became a graphic designer for the Tulalip Tribes as an Apprentice Carver and has written and illustrated two children’s books, How Mouse Moved the Mountain and How Puppy Got Long Ears. To view more of his work, please visit https://lightningwaqwaq.myportfolio.com/.

Special thanks go out to Suzanne Greathouse of the Kenmore Heritage Society, who said, “I’m so happy the city commissioned this incredible indigenous art and it will now be displayed here permanently for everyone to enjoy.” This could not have happened without her efforts and support to make this story pole a reality.

The City of Kenmore is situated upon the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples so it is with the deepest respect that the City dedicates this indigenous artwork in a beloved public space where it can be viewed and enjoyed by all.

The story pole unveiling was part of the City’s 25th Anniversary Celebration which also featured a traditional hoop dance, a form of sharing culture and celebrating unity that embraces Native American culture, performed by Michael Goedel.

Story pole by Ty Juvinel Community Participation Hoop Dance at dedication, August 2025

Recognition to Thank and Credit the Partners Who Helped Develop the Land Acknowledgement

Thank you to all our partners for sharing their wisdom, guidance, insight, and valuable resources. Without your dedication to educating and fostering a respectful understanding of the rich indigenous heritage of this region, we would not have been able to craft this meaningful statement.

We are grateful to The Tulalip Tribes, The Duwamish Tribe, The Suquamish Tribe, The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, The Snohomish Tribe of Indians, and The Sauk Suiattle Tribe for sharing their experiences, stories, and rich cultural histories. You have shown us the depth of your connection with these lands and waters and highlighted the significance of acknowledging our shared history.

The Coast Salish Gathering and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation have been instrumental in guiding our research and understanding, as well as in helping us build a better appreciation of the cultural richness of the Coast Salish Peoples.

The Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has provided crucial historical and archaeological context, enhancing our understanding of the longstanding relationship between the Coast Salish Peoples and this land.

We also acknowledge the immense contribution of the University of Washington American Indian Studies Department and the University of Washington Digital Library. The academic resources you provided have significantly enriched our understanding of the cultural, historical, and political aspects of the Coast Salish Peoples.

Native Land Digital, a non-profit led by Indigenous First Nation People, has been indispensable in helping us appreciate the nuanced landscape of indigenous territories.

Our thanks also extend to The Kenmore Heritage Society for shedding light on the local history of Kenmore, and to JSTOR (Journal Storage) and The Burke Museum for their extensive archives and scholarly works, which have been invaluable in our research.