Pillars of Indian culture honored (Seattle Times)

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Sunday, May 8, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.




Pillars of Indian culture honored

By Sonia Krishnan

Seattle Times Eastside bureau

They were the soldiers of the Puget Sound-area tribes, the ones who fought to preserve traditional Native American ways in a modern society.

They wove baskets to tell stories and spoke their native tongues, even though the government banned their language in schools through the 1930s.

Some of the teachers are in their 80s and 90s now; some have died. Yesterday, these tribal elders were honored at the Seattle Art Museum for their spark, bravery and, most of all, their determination to keep Native American culture alive in the face of discrimination and displacement.

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002267356_tribalhonors08m.html