By Corvo Rohwer, Puyallup Tribal News
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud (sɫupayqʷuʔ) was one of 10 honored individuals recognized during the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Intellectual House (wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ) at the University of Washington on March 14.
The building is located within the University of Washington campus in Seattle and serves as a space where Native students can gather for cultural connection and gain access to resources. Grounded in the tenets of both learning and Coast Salish tradition, the 10-year celebration served to honor those who helped bring the Intellectual House to life over the years.
The event opened with an honor song performed by the Muckleshoot Canoe Family before Vice President and University Diversity Officer Rickey Hall greeted attendees at the podium. A gracious dinner courtesy of Natoncks Metsu was served before the rest of the program.
Following an introduction by Intellectual House Director Chenoa Henry, along with remarks from UW Regent and Suquamish Chairman Leonard Foresman, McCloud took to the stage to be blanketed and appear amongst fellow community leaders. Her contributions to the continued success of the Intellectual House include participation in the blessing of the grounds, providing input on construction and design of the longhouse and holding the position of Intellectual House Elders Committee Chair.
Humbly accepting her honors, McCloud emphasized that her efforts to support the Intellectual House come from her drive to benefit the Tribal community.
“I’m a worker,” McCloud said. “I have a lot of experience in a lot of different things. From Tribal Council to the clinic, and I’ve been the cultural director for a lot of years. Part of my opportunity right now is taking all the experience of what I’ve done and make sure we do things the right way and in a good way.”
Phase one of the Intellectual House was completed in 2015. Phase two of the campaign has begun funding its project goal of $18.5 million. The second half of the project has a focus on further developing a center dedicated to the needs of Native students on campus, including professional job opportunities. This space will expand to include meeting areas, art labs and an Elders lounge, and is currently projected to be completed in 2027.
