The Longhouse

Hah-ah-poos. That's what they called the hats the people wore. It was the name of the Duwamish village that was once across the street from the new Duwamish Long House on Marginal Way. Though the village is no more, the land now consists of a park and raised up boat skeleton.



But the Longhouse was amazing. The second I went inside I was enveloped in this amazing scent of cedar wood. What was the most fascinating was the story that the floor told. Mary Lou Slaughter, who designed the wooden portion of the floor, is one of the most clever of people. Where the central smoke pit would have been, is a rectangular structure, representing the duwamish or "people of the inside." And the duwamish were surrounded by the cascades, which are signified by the parallel zigzag lines fencing in the duwamish.



And here is a photograph of Fizan posing with the traditional duwamish vest, hat and drum set.



And here is Evangelina who is modeling her Duwamish attire!