'The Lelooska Foundation and Cultural Center' is a living history museum in Ariel, Washington, highlighting Kwakwaka'wakw and other Indigenous cultures and historis.[5] It is operated by the Lelooska Foundation that was established in 1977.[4][1]
 Carved sculpture by Lelooska in Denver, Colorado | |
 | |
| Established | 1977[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | 165 Merwin Village Road Ariel, Cowlitz County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 45°57′25″N 122°34′19″W / 45.957°N 122.572°W |
| Type | Native American cultural |
| Founder | Lelooska, Don Morse Smith[2][3] |
| Director | Mariah Stoll-Smith Reese[1] |
| President | Tsungani Fearon M. Smith[4] |
| Owner | Lelooska Foundation |
| Website | lelooska |
The museum is a nonprofit organization with nine employees.[4]
Collections
editCollections include baskets, parfleches, corn husk bags, dolls, spoons, cradles, moccasins, tomahawks, pipes, pipe bags, dresses, a 15-foot birchbark canoe, and a replica fur trade store.
Living history
editThe foundation operating the museum also sponsors living history programs and performances, conducts classes in woodcarving and other Native art forms, and demonstrations of dance and basket weaving.[1][6]
Founder
editLelooska, Don Morse Smith, for whom the foundation is named, was a non-Native artist[2] who carved sculptures and totem poles, one of which is displayed at the Christchurch International Airport in New Zealand, and another at the Oregon Zoo.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Lelooska Foundation holds annual fundraiser". The Reflector. Battle Ground, Washington. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
- ^ a b "Pendant". National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Baker, Dean; Oregonian, Special to The (2013-08-06). "Lelooska family helps keep Native traditions alive in Ariel, Washington". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
- ^ a b c "Lelooska Foundation". Cause IQ. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Kozlowski, Ellie (2021). Washington Day Trips by Theme. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 9781591939252.
- ^ "Lelooska Foundation Living History performances", The Daily News, Longview, Washington, November 12, 2016
- ^ "Lelooska, Master Carver, Won Acclaim For His Totem Poles", The Seattle Times, September 7, 1996
