Tamástslikt Cultural Institute

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System four special dogs, the Lewis and Clark Pups, will travel in the paws of their ancestor Seaman, dog of Meriwether Lewis. The pups will travel more than 3,700 miles to complete their mission to commemorate and protect the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As they make their stops they will be reporting back in on their adventures. Follow Rocky, Harper, Dakota, and Keelie on their adventures at: https://www.nps.gov/lecl/newfie-news.htm

Keelie here! I enjoyed visiting the Living Culture Village. I got to enjoy a view of the Blue Mountains, go inside a teepee and a tule mat tent which you see in my photo.

Did you know Celilo Falls was known as the “Wall Street of the West”? The Núunim Lawtiwáama (Our Friends) wall is a mural of Celilo Falls which was inundated when The Dalles Dam was built in 1969. American Indians, including the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla peoples lost a sacred fishing site and place of trade. Can you imagine what Lewis & Clark thought coming up on these majestic falls?

Today I visited Tamástslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, outside Pendleton, Oregon. I was greeted by Director, Roberta Conner and her horses Hero and Squeezy.

Squeezy was nice enough to let me have a ride! Did you know Tamástslikt is the only Tribally owned and operated museum along the historic Lewis & Clark and Oregon Trails?

Interpreter John Bevis taught me how to say Tamástslikt, Tuh-must-slickt. It is a word in the Wallulapum or “Walla Walla” languages that means to turn, turn over or turn around.

Tamástslikt has 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. I was so excited to learn about the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes. I enjoyed viewing this art installation of photos of beadwork.

The Museum Store at Tamástslikt has so many handmade items like the beaded necklace I tried on and exclusive Pendleton blankets like the one behind me called the Kusi blanket. I knew I would need another journal for my trip so I bought one with the tribal flag on the front. Did you know that Kusi means horse, but Kusi Kusi means dog in the Walla Walla language? I wonder what words Lewis and Clark learned while visiting the people here?

I had such a fun day at Tamástslikt. I ate huckleberry pie in Kinship Café, bought wonderful gifts in the Museum Store and enjoyed everything in the exhibits. If you get a chance visit Tamástslikt!

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