Prior to the move beginning, the museum’s Native American Advisory Board recommended holding a ceremony to bless and protect the people involved in building and moving the New Burke.
Last week, tribal leaders returned to the Burke—this time in the new facility—to offer a second cedar brushing ceremony acknowledging the commitment of the Burke community as we near the end of the move.
Cedar holds significant importance for many regional tribal communities—it is unbreakable, water-resistant, bends with the winds and is believed to provide strength.
More than 80 Burke staff, volunteers, and tribal leaders came together for the ceremony. Each person was brushed with cedar collected from trees at the University of Washington, dipped in water from Clark Creek near Puyallup.
Marilyn Wandry (Suquamish) brushes a Burke Museum staff member with cedar during the ceremony.
Cedar holds significant importance for many regional tribal communities.
Connie McCloud (Puyallup Tribe of Indians) during cedar brushing ceremony.
Connie McCloud (Puyallup Tribe of Indians) brushes Burke Museum Curator of North American Anthropology, Sven Haakanson (Sugpiaq), with cedar during the ceremony.
The Burke is sincerely grateful to Rex Buck (Wanapum), Angela Buck (Wanapum), Connie McCloud (Puyallup Tribe of Indians), and Marilyn Wandry (Suquamish) for their generosity of time and spirit in offering this blessing.
