Northwest Native Canoe Center

Updated: June 23, 2022

Summer 2022

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and the United Indians of All Tribes (UIATF) are happy to announce the design of the Canoe Carving House, as part of the Northwest Native Canoe Center, is moving forward with the goal of being under construction in 2023. The community-initiated project will celebrate the canoe culture that is dominant among the Pacific Northwest coastal tribes and will be located on the west shore of Lake Union in Lake Union Park.

In February 2021, the design team from Jones & Jones presented the project to the Seattle Design Commission and in April SPR provided an update to the South Lake Union Community Council. Both groups were excited to see the project moving forward.

"This first phase of the Northwest Native Canoe Center (the Canoe Carving House) has been a dream of ours for many years," said Mike Tulee, Executive Director of UIATF. "The facility fits directly into our mission and will provide educational and cultural opportunities that reconnect Indigenous people to their heritage and will strengthen their sense of belonging."

The entire center will comprise the Canoe Carving House and the Welcome House. The Welcome House (second phase of the Canoe Center), will provide educational interactive displays, a gift shop, a catering kitchen and a multi-use space for cultural events. UIATF is launching fundraising efforts for the Welcome House portion of the project. Please visit United Indians of All Tribes Foundation's website to contribute. Once funding is secured SPR and UIATF will move forward with the second phase of the Center.

Location

Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N, 98109

Budget

Seattle Parks and Recreation $750,000
State of Washington Department of Commerce: Three grants totaling $1,984,780

Schedule

Planning and Design: 2019 - Early 2023
Construction: TBD

Project Description

The Carving House will provide insight into distinctive varieties of Native American culture and be a place where Native carvers are safe, and the public is welcome. The Carving House will include a living roof and the beach will have a carved Welcome Figure. The facility will provide space for an ongoing Native American canoe carving program, and storage for canoes that will be hand-launched into the lake during operating hours. Docents will also explain the Northwest Native American skills and beliefs used over generations in building canoes.

This project was selected for the second round of Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Funding. The application received in this community-initiated process is a preliminary concept and the final design may be constrained by the project budget. All projects will go through Park's public involvement procedure which includes public meetings and community input. They will also go through an internal Parks process to ensure the most effective implementation.