House of Healing – Opening Ceremony

Uzma and I are so honored to be with you all today. Just two years ago, in the spring of 2024, many of us gathered on this very spot for the blessing and the ground-turning ceremony for the House of Healing Longhouse, which carries the Lummi name “Lock-tuh-MISH’ Awck ET-say WHUH-luh-mee.” That ceremony represented a promise we made to our tribal partners and our students.

At that time, we spoke of a vision for what this space could become. Today, we have the privilege of seeing that vision realized—not just in these beautiful timber logs, but in the spirit of community that fills this room.

Before we begin, I must express my deep appreciation to Laural Ballew, our Executive Director of American Indian/Alaska Native and First Nations Relations & Tribal Liaison to the President. Laural, this Longhouse stands as a testament to your unwavering leadership.

I’d also like to acknowledge and honor the Lummi Nation, whose generous support and partnership have been foundational to this project. We are deeply honored by the presence of our partners from the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish, Muckleshoot, Stillaguamish, Swinomish, and Tulalip tribes.

I want to recognize Chairman Tony Hillaire of the Lummi Nation, Frank Leyva from the Nooksack Tribal Council; Teresa Sheldon from the Tulalip Board of Directors; Eric White, Chair of the Stillaguamish Tribe; and Fred Cayou from the Swinomish Tribal Senate. Thank you all for your leadership, guidance, wisdom, and partnership in bringing us to this historic day.

We are also joined by Trustees Mo West and Ashlynn Tibbot.

I want to acknowledge the strong support from State Representative Debra Lekanoff, who not only supported and advocated for our state funding request for the project, but who also gave the Longhouse its name, the “House of Healing.” We greatly appreciate the funding for this project from the State Legislature, and particularly want to recognize former State Senator (and current WWU trustee) David Frockt for leadership to help secure this funding. 

We are also grateful to Congressman Rick Larsen for his leadership in securing federal funding for this building, and we greatly appreciate the representatives from his office who are joining us today, as well as staff from Senator Patty Murray’s and Senator Maria Cantwell’s office. I also want to acknowledge the attendance of State Representatives Alex Ramel, Alicia Rule, and Joe Timmons; thank you for being here.

I also want to recognize and thank Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund and Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu for joining us today and for their continued partnership and support for our community and this region.

Finally, we want to express our thanks to the Mount Baker Foundation, Whatcom Community Foundation, WECU, and all of the other individuals, tribes, and organizations who made gifts to support this project and whose names are on the paddles on our donor wall.

At Western, we often open our gatherings with a land acknowledgment to recognize that the ground beneath our feet is the ancestral homeland of the Coast Salish peoples, who have lived here and cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. It is an important practice of respect and remembrance, but we must always ask: What comes after the words?

The existence of this Longhouse on our campus is an answer to that question. It represents a transition from a verbal acknowledgment to a physical, permanent presence. It is a visible recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and a reminder that our university’s future is inextricably linked to the original stewards of this land. By opening these doors, we are affirming that Native knowledge and culture are foundational to the Western experience.

When we gathered here in 2024, I took a moment to acknowledge a painful part of Western’s history—specifically the racist teachings that occurred decades ago and the harm they caused to the Lummi community and beyond. At that time, I offered a sincere apology on behalf of the university.

Standing here today, I want to reaffirm that apology. We do not look back to dwell on the past, but to ensure it informs a better present. The House of Healing is more than a name; it is an active mandate for this institution. It is a space designed to foster the learning and reflection necessary to ensure that Native voices are heard and respected. It is a place where we can begin to repair generational harms through genuine understanding.

This Longhouse is a testament to the voices of the students of the Native American Student Union and the elders who refused to let this dream fade. For our Indigenous students, this is a sanctuary—a place where your identity is celebrated as the core of your academic journey. For our broader campus, it is an invitation to engage in a more authentic relationship with the history and the people of this region.

I want to be clear: today is not the conclusion of a project. It is the start of a more intentional chapter. This House of Healing is our commitment to connect more deeply with tribal communities and to work more effectively to increase educational opportunities for tribal students.

To the students, elders, and community members who guided us to this moment: thank you for holding us to the highest aspirations. May this House of Healing serve as a vibrant center for gathering, where stories are shared, traditions are honored, and every person who enters finds a sense of belonging and peace.

Thank you all for being part of this new beginning for Western Washington University.