A prayer was made. The sun came out. And with the snip of a bright red ribbon the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center opened its doors for business, pleasure, and a cold lesson in the realities of a tribe being placed back onto a map by those who tried to erase it, and by those who continued their hereditary connection to it.

More than 200 hundred filed into the standing-room only reception hall Saturday Jan. 3 to hear two hours of speeches and presentations by politicians, neighboring tribe members, fund raisers, descendants of the Denny family, and the real stars of the show, some of the 600 Duwamish tribe members, descendants of Chief Sealth.

The nearly $4 million project has taken more than three decades to reach this point. Many private donors, some who gave via the Friends of the Duwamish, pooled their funds with the Gates Foundation, Paul Allen and others.

"I am so pleased," said Duwamish Tribal Chairwoman Cecile Hansen, after receiving a lengthy applause. "I have been around for many, many years to pursue the fishing rights, and the (official) recognition of our tribe. The biggest thing we wanted was our own place. You are here in our home. We want you to come back. We will have programs. I'm the tenacious cranky chair here to keep everybody on focus. Welcome. Now let's get close and hug each other. I'm amazed everyone came to the party."

"What does it feel like? Absolutely wonderful, absolutely warm. It's not even cold out," said museum director and Duwamish member James Rasmussen, who wore a feather and a grin for the entire event.

Reverend Paul B., Benz with the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington, led the prayers, some involving tribal spirituality. Chad Lewis, chairman of the Duwamish capital campaign committee officiated the presentations and was himself honored by Rasmussen, Hansen, and others with a blanket, a band of feathers, and much sentiment.

"This is tremendously important day," said King County Council member Dow Constantine. "The Duwamish have always been here. Now they have the principled manifestation for the rest of us to see..."

"The circle has been reconnected," said Amy Johnson, honored with her father, Andy Harris, who is the great grandson of David Denny, one of Seattle's famed founders.

"This wouldn't have been the Seattle we know today without the help of Chief Seattle. Today's recognition is long overdue."

To visit, and support the Duwamish Tribe and the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, contact the Honorable Cecile Hansen at Duwamish Tribal Services, 4717 West Marginal Way SW, Seattle, 98106, or call (206) 431-1582 or email: dts@eskimo.com.

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