Story Circles dedicated with drums, song, poetry and fanfare

October 5, 2010

“Wow, it’s a beautiful day!” Maya Lin proclaimed to the enthusiastic crowd attending the dedication of the seven Story Circles at Sacajawea State Park on Friday, August 27. Gorgeous weather was just one aspect of an event graced by tribal drum blessings, poetry, shared music and an outpouring of community spirit. Lin recited each Story Circle's description while Rex Buck (Wanapum Tribe) assisted with pronunciation of corresponding Sahaptin texts. She invited dedication attendees to walk around and through the Story Circles site, read the descriptions, sit in or on the circles, and introduce themselves to other circle explorers.

The dedication, led by Confluence board of directors member and Port of Kennewick director of operations Dan Cryer, featured a diverse mix of local business, representatives from local, state and federal government, tribal and arts organization speakers, musicians, artists and poets. Sacajawea State Park and the Tri-Cities Sacajawea Dedication Committee volunteers supported the event from setup to take-down.

The program opened with the Yakama Warrior’s colors presentation. The Mid-Columbia mastersingers, led by artistic director Justin Raffa, invited attendees to join in singing “America the Beautiful”. An original fanfare, penned by composer Chuck Eaton of Richland, Wash., was performed by his trombone ensemble, McBONES. The Local Poets, led by Irene Hays, recited prose written for the dedication.

Dedication speakers praised the combined efforts of business groups, civic and art organizations, and energetic volunteers in bringing this day to fruition. “Today we celebrate life, heritage, creativity and storytelling. Confluence is the coming together of two or more rivers; confluence is the coming together of two or more peoples. We as individuals only know the stories that we carry within us. How lucky we are to have these story circles in our community,” asserted Pasco Mayor Pro-Tem Rebecca Franzen. Kris Watkins, president and CEO of Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau reflected the sentiments of many: “We are so pleased to have this artwork in the Tri-Cities region.”

“It is a humbling experience,” said Confluence Project executive director, Jane Jacobsen. “When we hear the continuation of these drums in a few moments, we’ll know that the drums were here hundreds of years ago, they’re here today and—guess what—they’ll be here hundreds of years from now. It is a continuum that just doesn’t stop.”

Bobbie Conner of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) observed, “This was a bustling, robust, busy place. It was lively with plateau culture. And, our culture has persisted. It has resisted and it has survived somehow against enormous assaults in the last 150 years. We are … humbled by our culture and how it has sustained us.” Antone Minthorn, Confluence Board president and member of the Umatilla Reservation, summed it up: “We can all succeed together. Confluence Project is our legacy.”