Hibulb Cultural Center
Joan Smith | Published on 9/1/2026
On August 18th, 11 League members and two guests followed the river trail path that leads to the entry of the Hibulb Cultural Center on the Tulalip Reservation. The Tulalip tribes of Skykomish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and other bands that signed the Point Elliot Treaty are recognized widely as the Coast Salish people. Hibulb, their village, lay at the mouth of the Snohomish River, near what is now Legion Park.
Jasmine, our guide, had us begin our visit at the “longhouse.” Inside this replica, the group viewed a video of stories about the tribal history. A model of a fire is central and recessed into the floor. The wide stacked benches surrounding the fire allowed us to sit. In the original, they allowed families to sleep, shelter, and warm during the winter.
After the introductory video, Jasmine gave us a guide map to the exhibits. We followed her to the exhibit hall past a variety of canoes. She left us in front of two carved welcome figures and pointed out that “Grandma” on the right of the entry was the keeper of stories and loved to share.
As we entered, our first stop was before the interactive cedar tree that showed its many uses. A display showing the life cycle of salmon and its importance to the Coast people follows. Throughout the exhibit hall, display cases, photos, and detailed explanations reveal the life of these first people of Washington and their attempt to reclaim their original language and native practices after the government’s original policy of assimilation tried to eradicate them.
A section with the Treaty of Point Elliot uses panels to describe the evolution of tribal sovereignty and the Tulalip Tribes’ focus on environment and business to sustain their longevity. The guide shows 13 stops. The Cultural Center rotates items in the gallery annually, so a return would highlight new artifacts. The group reconvened at the Cedars Café at the Tulalip Tribe Casino for conversation and lunch.