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Present
Preserving the past, for our future
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ABOUT NOOKSACK
TRIBES CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
The Nooksack Tribe affirms its commitment to
preserve and protect the cultural resources that are
irreplaceable and endangered. This
Trust includes the management of ancient and
contemporary cultural sites and resources
that are fundamental to traditional life
ways, values and histories of our people.
The Cultural
Resource Department is assigned regulatory
and cultural obligations and works to
protect what are known as tribal cultural
sites, traditional cultural properties,
archaeological sites and historical sites.
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What is Cultural Resources?
Since time of
testimony, Nooksack people have lived
through out the Northwest Region, occupying
both U.S. and Canada. They gathered
food, hunted, fished and lived in small to
large villages along the many tributaries of
the Nooksack River, as well as the Fraser.
They worshiped in sacred places and
carefully buried their dead. As time
went on, pioneers moved into the areas,
building homes, and occupying land in
different ways. Like the Nooksack they
too worshiped in special places and had to
bury their dead. However, forcing
Nooksacks away from their own traditional
lands.
Regardless, all
have left remnants of their past lives on
and around this area. This is the
legacy of our lands, and heritage of all
people. In order to adequately
preserve for our future, we need to
understand our past.
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CULTURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT ARE CREATED TO
PROTECT CULTURAL RESOURCES FROM ANY AND ALL
UNLAWFUL ACT
What is Unlawful?
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Defacing a pictograph or
petroglyh. (from not only theft, but
also vandalism)
-
Using a tool to
knowingly remove an artifact from the
ground.
(a
tool being any
instrument, even a stick).
-
Digging for
or, possessing human remains, or
funerary objects.
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Digging or
probing the ground for historic or
prehistoric material.
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Vandalizing
cultural sites.
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Over all,
the biggest crime is taking what was
loaned to us by our children, away
from our children.
| "we used to take care of our own up
until the white man took over.
After that, we left our future in
the hands of the white mans
government. Now that our past
is being unearthed, the white mans
government is putting back into our
hands, the responsibility to take
care of our past. And it is up
to us, the present, to make sure
that there will be a stronger
foundation for our future." |
The cultural resources department is
in the beginning stages, but is sure to grow
and provide
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THE CULTURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT PLANS TO
OFFER SERVICE TO THREE MAJOR OBJECTIVES
1. Education (including, but not
limited to Language, location of place
names, traditional trade skills, etc.)
2. Regulatory (land development issues with
state, county, or private land
owners).
3. Cultural events (Tribal gatherings,
and other traditional, cultural
events where suitable).
| However, as stated the Cultural
Resources Department is in the early
planning stages, and for cultural
issues pertaining ot either
education or events, will still need
to go through Abbie Smith. As
for Land development, place name
location, cermonial fire wood
permits, and cultural resources of
that nature, you can contact: George Swanaset, Jr. Cultural
Resources Director
(360)592-5176 ext. 3209
email address:
gswansetjr@nooksack-tribe.org |
