Klahowya! The call of “welcome” among fur traders and residents during the 19th century across the region comes from Chinook Jargon – a combined language including elements from Chinook, Salish, Makah, French, English and more. On April 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fort Nisqually welcomes guests to the museum for this spring awakening event filled with activities, demos, and guided mini-tours.
Attendance is free for residents of Pierce County and Native Tribal members.
The Fort will be filled with historical interpreters in period clothing eager to answer questions and demonstrate historic trades and crafts, such as blacksmithing and book binding. Visitors will have plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from, including planting your own seeds to take home, watching a sheep shearing demo, sampling food prepared in the museum’s period kitchen and playing Victorian games.
2024 marks 90 years of Fort Nisqually’s placement and preservation in Point Defiance Park. At Klahowya, visitors can begin collecting our limited edition 90th Anniversary trading cards. A Fort Nisqually event tradition beginning in 2022, trading cards are available to collect at most events. These free cards contain illustrations of different volunteers and characters around the fort. For Klahowya, these cards will contain Chinook Jargon words and phrases, as well as our 90th Anniversary logo.
Fort Nisqually is pleased to offer free admission to this event for Pierce County Residents and members of Native Tribes. For those outside of these groups, tickets can be purchased at the door. Tickets, including tax, start at $16 for adults and $13.50 for Youth. Senior, military and family discount tickets are available. Visit fortnisqually.org for more information or call 253-404-3970.
If I were being picky, I’d say it’s not so much Makah words in the Jargon as Nuuchahnulth, but hey, Makah’s as close as you can possibly get to that!
