At the time the Denny party landed on Alki Point in 1851, the Duwamish Tribe lived in over 90 longhouses on 54,000 acres in what is now Seattle, Renton and other suburbs.

While Duwamish members assert historic claims, buttressed by 4,000 years of archeological evidence of inhabiting the current Discovery Park, the tribe remains with neither a reservation nor official recognition by the federal government.

On Nov. 22 nearly 600 members claiming Duwamish ancestry will invite dignitaries and the public to celebrate the grand opening of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Museum, 4705 West Marginal Way S.W.

Not only is it a longhouse, this project has taken a long time to complete, some 32 years since discussions first started. Their last longhouse burned down in 1894.

Set on just over a half-acre, the structure is 6,044 square feet. The major hall, a remake of an historic longhouse, is 2,250 square feet. While the building's Alaskan yellow cedar evokes a bygone era, the 704 square-foot modern stainless steel kitchen serves proudly as a focal point for its members and guests.

"Socializing here involves food," said James Rasmussen, longhouse director and third-generation Duwamish council member who has been hired full time to operate the complex. Some may recall Rasmussen owned Bud's Jazz Records in Pioneer Square.

"We went out of business," he said with regret. "Selling records is like selling dinosaur food when there are no more dinosaurs." Rasmussen continues to play trumpet and compose jazz.

While the vinyl record has become a fading remnant of the past, Rasmussen fights for the Duwamish Tribe to remain relevant.

"Our exhibit space and gallery will tell the story of the Duwamish," said Rasmussen. "Mary Lou Slaughter, a master basket maker and descendant of Chief Seattle and (his daughter) Princess Angeline, will have her work displayed. Andrew Whiteman meets here every week to plan the exhibits."

Whiteman is exhibit designer for the Burke Museum.

While enthusiastic about the grand opening of the longhouse, this celebration of Duwamish recognition is bittersweet.

Rasmussen explained, "(President) Clinton officially recognized our tribe in the final hours of his administration, but then Bush came in and immediately wiped it out."

Some are quick to blame other tribes for hindering their legitimacy.

"Other tribes have said we don't exist, that we're dead," said Cecile Hansen, Duwamish tribal chairman and the great-great grandniece of Chief Si'ahl', or Chief Seattle. "But we're here. Our goal is to be a recognized tribe."

"Some of the opponents are fellow native American tribes who feel threatened by the possibility of a casino in Seattle," said Duwamish Longhouse architect Byron Barnes. "That's the reality," said the Portland resident who is part Native American, referring to the claim by some Duwamish that the Muckleshoot and other tribes have used political influence and payoffs to the government to fight the Duwamish Tribe's claims to legitimacy.

A more upbeat reality is the grand opening of the longhouse after so many years of planning, which thrills Barnes, who describes himself as "one of the first vegetarian Buddhist Blackfeet.

"I've been working on this since my daughter was one," he said. "Now she's over 30."

Hansen, who has worked 10 years with Washington State Child Protective Services, will now work in the long house's tribal council facility.

"They gave me an office in here," she said humbly. "But if people want to find me I'll be in the kitchen making smoked fish and Indian fry bread. And I hope everybody will want to join us at our official ribbon cutting. People here talked about supplying umbrellas to guests since it will be in November, but I am thinking positively. Maybe that day will be nice, like an Indian Summer."

Steve Shay can be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com.