PUYALLUP RESERVATION, Tacoma, Wash. — The Puyallup Tribe of Indians and City of Tacoma have worked together to add the Twulshootseed language to existing street signs in Tacoma. These signs can be found on roads within the Puyallup Reservation.
There are 27 honorary names being used. Six names will run north and south along Portland Avenue, Grandview Avenue and Pioneer Way. The other 21 names will run East/West starting at 28th Street and going up to 38th Street including Roosevelt Avenue, T Street and Browning Street.
Tacoma’s City Council approved the plan during its Oct. 8 meeting. The Twulshootseed street signs will be placed under the existing green street signs that are in English. They will also have information about the translations and pronunciation. One hundred seventy-four signs are to be placed.
“Tribal Council wholeheartedly supports normalizing Twulshootseed in public infrastructure projects and believes that the public will greatly benefit from learning and speaking our language,” Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud said in a letter of support.
The signs are unable to translate into people’s names but the City of Tacoma and Puyallup Tribe agreed to use the signs to share the Creation History of the Puyallup Tribe and all the characters.
“The honorary renaming of Tacoma’s streets to recognize Tribal language near the Puyallup Tribe’s administration building on the Eastside is a testament to the City of Tacoma’s dedication to inclusivity and respect for the Tribe’s history and traditions,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “The Puyallup Tribe has long been the stewards of this land and, by renaming these streets, we not only celebrate the vibrant languages that are integral to our Tribal community members, we also invite our entire community to engage with and learn from these rich histories.”
In the future, signs featuring a small story, illustrations and audio buttons will be added to parks on the reservation.
