Construction of the Coast Salish Institute and Creation of Humanities Endowment

FAIN: CH-50885-13

Northwest Indian College Foundation (Bellingham, WA 98226-9278)
Sharon Kinley (Project Director: May 2010 to December 2016)

Construction, fixtures, furniture, and equipment, as well as endowment and fundraising expenses, for the Coast Salish Institute to enable the college to continue preserving and revitalizing the endangered Coast Salish culture and language.

Funds requested will help us raise $3 million toward the creation of a new Coast Salish Institute facility and supporting humanities endowment. Of the $3 million, $2.75 million will be applied to facilities construction and $250,000 to the humanities endowment. The new $5.55 million, 12,710 square foot facility will be equipped with culturally-appropriate language labs; video production areas; distance learning capabilities; and the lecture, archive, and classroom spaces needed for program and research expansion. The endowment will support staff salaries and expenses related to humanities symposia and lectures. The new facility allows the Institute to serve as a repository of knowledge and culture for museums, civic organizations, institutes of higher education, scholars, and indigenous peoples the world over. It also allows us to undertake more work in language preservation, the development of culturally relevant curricula, research into traditionally healthy lifestyles and more.