The Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids values museums as a place to protect, preserve, and perpetuate their culture, traditions, and identity as they walk in two worlds. Voices of those from the past and those in the present speak to future generations. This session examines the collaborative effort between the Wanapum and the Grant County Public Utility District to tell the story of the Wanapum people in a living heritage center through exhibits and architectural design.

1. Western Museums Association Annual Meeting
INSPIRE
Tacoma, WA
October 21-24, 2018
Session: Inspiring Future Generations at the Wanapum Heritage Center
The Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids value museums as a place to protect, preserve, and perpetuate their
culture, traditions, and identity as they walk in two worlds. Voices of those from the past and those in the
present speak to future generations. This session presents the collaborative effort between the Wanapum and
Grant County PUD to tell the story of the Wanapum people in a living heritage center through architectural
design and exhibits.
Monday October 22, 2018 1:30PM-2:45PM
Title: Moderator Introduction
Talk
Slide 1: Title
 Good afternoon
 Welcome to our session “Inspiring Future Generations at the Wanapum Heritage Center”
 My name is Angela Neller and I am the Curator of the Wanapum Heritage Center
 Today I will be the moderator for this session

2. Slide 2: Signing of Agreement
 This session presents the collaborative effort between the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids and Grant
County Public Utility District to tell the story of the Wanapum in a living heritage center.
 They work together to protect the natural and cultural resources as stipulated in the original 1955
Federal Power Commission license and the renewed 2008 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
license
 The current license orders the continued commitment to the Wanapum to identify, protect, and manage
cultural resources, gravesites, and relics that are significant to them
 It includes provisions to ensure cultural artifacts are properly handled and curated
 The stipulations to identify, protect, and manage cultural resources in the original 1955 license, before
the enactment of the National Historic Preservation Act, demonstrate the Wanapum’s commitment to
heritage management and site protection within their homeland
 This puts the Wanapum in-line with articles, 11, 12, and 31 of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
 These are the rights to practice and revitalize cultural traditions and customs, maintain and protect sites
and artifacts, protect and perpetuate ceremonies, repatriate human remains, and control cultural heritage
and traditional knowledge

3. Slide 3: Smohalla BAE Image
 The mission of the Wanapum Heritage Center is to protect, preserve, and perpetuate the culture,
traditions, and identity of the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids
 It is first and foremost for the Wanapum
 It’s programs contribute to the identity and living culture of the Wanapum as they endeavor to develop
and sustain programs that
 Maintain the teachings of the elders
 Preserve their beliefs through the preservation of stories and the practice of traditional lifeways
 Revitalize the Wanapum language
 Maintain stewardship over cultural and natural resources within their homeland
 And, educate others to instill an appreciation of the culture of the Wanapum that is being protected for
future generations

4. Slide 4: Maps
 The Wanapum Heritage Center is located on the Columbia River in Eastern Washington within the
Columbia Plateau
Slide 5: Longhouse Group Image
 Our speakers today will be
 Angela Buck who is the Past Director and current Strategic Advisor for the Wanapum Heritage Center
 Dustann Jones who is an Architect with Mithun
 Bianca Message who is the President of Andre & Associates Interpretation and Design
 Our first speaker will be Angela Buck