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If you are following the Wallingford Indigenous Research Project led by Historic Wallingford, we’d appreciate your input to help guide next steps.

The project, entitled Beyond Acknowledgment: Indigenous Wallingford Futures, began in June. The research team, led by Dr. Alexandra Meany, included UW graduate student Naomi Vaughn Wynn and UW freshman Amara Aalfs-Weinbaum, both of whom trace their lineage to Indigenous tribes. The first phase involved developing a reading list that guides those interested through the histories of Indigenous people in the area and lays the groundwork for the next steps in the project. Locally, many of the books can be found at Pacific Northwest Shop, 4411 Wallingford Avenue N, and through the Seattle Public Library system.

In the brief time from June to August, this team searched local archives for information about activities by Indigenous people in and around what is now called Wallingford. The team made a presentation of their findings to the Historic Wallingford Board of Directors on August 28th. Currently, the board is reviewing that documentation and considering future activities.

At the Great Wallingford Bratwurst Festival, Historic Wallingford polled the community about six potential activities that would relate to the research:

1. Art in public places
2. Talks and panels
3. Native plantings
4. Musical collaboration
5. Walking tours
6. Develop an ongoing research team to continue research of Indigenous activities in Wallingford

You are invited to share your opinions about these activities on this survey, open through Friday, October 9th—the results will be reviewed at a planning session by Historic Wallingford on Sunday, October 10th.

One thing I learned from this research is the natural history of the area south of Green Lake extending west to where the Lower Woodland Playfields now stand, which was once a marsh. Tribes once held potlatch at Green Lake, and salmon spawned in the lake, using Ravenna Creek to travel there from Lake Washington. When the water levels of Lake Washington and Green Lake were lowered, and then the park around the lake was developed, these activities came to an end. Over time, the marsh was filled, and ball fields were built on the site.

The Historic Wallingford Board of Directors looks forward to connecting with local indigenous organizations to partner with Historic Wallingford to share Indigenous stories today. If you have any comments or interest in being involved, please visit the website or contact the board by email.

Historic Wallingford is grateful to 4Culture, which partially funds this work.