The South Whidbey Historical Society’s annual meeting will include updates on recent projects and local discoveries, including a log house on Langley Road.
The meeting is 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. The event is free and there will be a door prize drawing for a set of Lorna Cherry’s books on the history of South Whidbey.
Local researcher Kyle Walker will provide an update of her research into the history of the Snohomish Tribe on South Whidbey (villages, events and notable figures), the impact European immigrants had on tribal assimilation and the challenges faced by biracial families and women in a cross-cultural, rural setting. She holds a master’s degree in Pacific Northwest history, historic preservation and archival management.
Pamela Bond and Joel Christoe, who both serve on the Snohomish Tribal Council, will be present.
Bond is vice chair of the Snohomish Tribal Council and an advisor to the Tangled Web of History project. She has a bachelor’s degree in politics and environmental studies from Oberlin College and serves as the Fish, Wildlife and Environmental Director of the Tribe.
She is the founder of the Salish Sea Environmental Education and Action and a cultural educator for the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in Seattle.
A traditional indigenous plant medicine and food specialist, Bond dedicates her time to sharing the culture and histories of the First People of the Salish Sea and specializes in traditional weaving and native crafts. She will open the meeting with a traditional blessing.
Christoe is a board member of the Snohomish Tribal Council and a member of the Tangled Web of History project team. He was born in Everett, located on the traditional homelands of the Snohomish people. He is a direct descendant of Joseph Brown and Mary Shelton, who settled at Sandy Point on the site of an ancient permanent village of the Snohomish people.
Christoe is a board member for the Snohomish Cultural and Family Services and co-founder of People of the Confluence. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and 17 years of leadership experience testing and ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants around the world. A Navy veteran, Christoe currently works in quality assurance/aerospace for the Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle.
