Discover the Columbia Plateau’s past, present at Archaeology Days

One day for adults. Two days for youth. Insights, fun and learning for all.

MATTAWA — The Wanapum People and Grant PUD invite you to the Wanapum Heritage Center for Archaeology Days 2018.

Youth Days, Oct. 29 and 31, 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Both days are already booked solid with hundreds of visiting students. Space is still available for homeschoolers and their families. All visitors should bring sack lunches.

Kids see, touch and feel local native crafts, including flint knapping, weaving, beadwork, hide processing and Wanapum cultural displays. They can try their hands at spear throwing using an atlatl launcher and enjoy storytelling, skits and hands-on activity booths. Experts share their knowledge about area flora and fauna, electricity safety and the importance of preserving natural and cultural resources.

Adult Day is Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Many of the same exhibitors are present, but this day takes a more scholarly turn with a series of archaeological-themed discussions by local and regional experts (see speaker lineup, below).

Since 1999 Archaeology Days has given visitors a glimpse into the past and present of the Columbia Plateau and its people, history and culture. Come and enjoy it with us!

The Wanapum Heritage Center, 29082 Highway 243, Mattawa, is near Priest Rapids Dam. Call 509-766-3461 or visit wanapum.org for complete details or to schedule student visits.

ADULT DAY, OCT. 30, speaker lineup

9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Opening prayer. Rex Buck, Jr., leader of the Wanapum

9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon, professor of archaeology, Central Washington

University, will look at the network of collectors, archaeologists, sites and objects on the mid-Columbia and how their contributions help us build local and regional chronologies for the area.

10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Charles Nelson, retired Bellingham archaeologist, will discuss opportunities for

further analysis of materials from the "Tucannon Site," an archeological site in the Lower Snake River region of Columbia County, Wash.

10:45 to 11:15 a.m. BREAK Visit demonstrations, displays, exhibits.

11:15 a.m. to noon Author and historian Bill Layman and Colville tribal member Randy

Lewis discuss Harold J. Cundy's work to locate and record with pencils and ink

the rock-art drawings in the basalt and granite of the Columbia Plateau, 1927 to

1936.

Noon to 1:15 p.m. LUNCH The Wanapum will serve a traditional salmon lunch

1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Katrina Claw, research associate in the University of Washington Pharmaceutics

Department, discusses genomic research with tribal communities, past, present

and future.

2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Lawyer Tom Keefe will discuss the life of David Sohappy (1925-1999), a

Wanapum who fought for tribal fishing rights in Oregon and Washington.

3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Dale Croes, Washington State University archaeologist, and Ed Carriere,

Suquamish elder and master basket maker, will discuss "Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry: Fifty Years of Basketry Studies in Culture and Science."

4 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Closing prayer, Rex Buck, Jr., leader of the Wanapum