School Field Trips

School Field Trips

Lelooska Cultural Center Update – January 2024

 

Spring Reservations Are Here! 

We are excited to bring you new offerings for this Spring, please note that there has been a complete overhaul of our offerings, read carefully before reserving. 

Spring 2024 Field Trips

Along a winding road, nestled amongst the shadows of trees, a family has continued their cultural traditions for generations. The Lelooska Foundation and Cultural Center was founded by Chief Lelooska, a civic leader, artist, storyteller, historian and culture bearer whose performances enraptured audiences and who began the Lelooska Foundation Permanent Collection. Chief Lelooska passed too soon in 1996, but his family and supporters have ensured his legacy continues through educational programs and activities. You’ll arrive under the shade of giant trees, with the grounds covered by native plants as you venture into our historic buildings to learn more about many of the Native Peoples that span our continent.

In an effort to provide a more intimate learning experience, we are offering the following experiences for school groups this spring.

Exploring Traditions: Woodcarving  Fridays at 10am

90 Minutes, 35 or 80 Guests Maximum, dependent on date, $12 Per Person (Processing Fee Included)

Northwest Coast Woodcarving is one way in which a noble family shares their rights, crests and privileges that have been handed down through their family since the beginning of time. These crests which manifest themselves as animals, supernatural beings and ancestors are most commonly shared through their story, song, mask and dance during a potlatch.

Although many First Nations people along the Northwest Coast have a carving tradition, the styles and variations vary throughout the region. Chief Tsungani will be discussing both the history, and techniques used in woodcarving. He will demonstrate the tools used in the creation of ceremonial masks, discuss the type of materials used and give your students the opportunity to see a block of wood begin to transform into a carved mask. Hands on examples will be passed around so that students can deepen their understanding.

Following this presentation students will have the opportunity for a self guided tour in the Lelooska Museum with our knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions. The museum collection spans across the United States and Canada and contains art and artifacts from many cultural regions.

***** Noteworthy – If you come to a Large Group event, that’s a 10am event where we are having up to 80 tickets available, we will be splitting the large group into 2 smaller groups, each starting in different buildings and then swapping. *****

Included In this Field Trip:

  • 30-45 Minute Presentation & Woodcarving Demonstration with Chief Tsungani.   Duration is dependent on age level. 
  • Question & Answer Time with Chief Tsungani. 
  • 30 Minutes for Self Guided Tour of the Lelooska Museum with knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.
  • Additional time can be spent:
    • Completing the Museum Hunt in the Lelooska Museum
    • Taking a group photo in front of the totem pole outside the museum 
    • Completing the native plant find while exploring our grounds 
    • Further exploration of the Gathering Hall collection 
    • Exploring the Gift Shop in the Gathering Hall

Exploring Traditions: Storytelling, Tuesdays & Thursdays, & Select Fridays at 10am

90 Minutes, 120 Guests Maximum, $12 Per Person (Processing Fee Included)

This is not a School Living History Performance, this is a presentation similar to the tours offered in 2022.

Step inside the Ceremonial House, as the cedar doors swing open, you’ll enter the space where the Lelooska Family hosts their Living History Performances. Carvings on house posts surround you as you have a chance to sit inside this traditional building and hear several traditional stories shared by Chief Tsungani. At least two of the masks used in the Living History Performances will be on display, most often an articulated or transformation mask. During the presentation, learn how these masks are created and used. Examples of the different stages in the creation of these masks will be on display, from a block of cedar to a completed mask. Students will also learn about the significance and importance of this building, how it is constructed and what is represented in the carved house posts, welcoming figure, screen, drum and copper. There will be a time for questions and answers at the end of the sharing time.

Next students will visit the Lelooska Museum & Gathering Hall on a self guided tour to explore the art and artifacts in our collections. The museum collection spans across the United States and Canada and contains art and artifacts from many cultural regions.

Included In this Field Trip:

  • 45-60 Minute Presentation & Storytelling with Chief Tsungani.   Duration is dependent on age level. 
  • Question & Answer Time with Chief Tsungani. 
  • 30 Minutes for Self Guided Tour of the Lelooska Museum & Gathering Hall with knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.
  • Additional time can be spent:
    • Completing the Museum Hunt in the Lelooska Museum
    • Taking a group photo in front of the totem pole outside the museum 
    • Completing the native plant find while exploring our grounds 
    • Further exploration of the Gathering Hall collection 
    • Exploring the Gift Shop in the Gathering Hall

Lelooska Museum: Artists At Work Tuesdays at 10am & 1pm, Fridays at 11:30am

60-90 Minutes on Site, 35 or 80 Guests Maximum, dependent on date, $12 Per Person (Processing Fee Included)

Immerse your students in the grounds of the Lelooska Cultural Center as you visit the Lelooska Museum for an in depth look at the art and artifacts that share the cultural heritage of Native Peoples from across North America. Interpreters will take your students on a guided tour of some of the significant art and artifacts in our museum collection.

Your students will have the chance for hands-on learning with our cultural sharing box. They will have the chance to touch and handle a carved wooden mask, a miniature button blanket, a miniature bentwood box, a ravenstail weaving sample, abalone shell, ermine, trade beads, cedar bark and more.

You will then walk down to the Gathering Hall and see traditional artists working on their art. 

You will encounter artisans working on at least one of the following traditional art forms: woodcarving, button blankets or northwest coast flat design. You will also have a chance to see additional exhibits and explore our gift shop where there will be a variety of books, shirts, and educational materials.

***** Noteworthy – If you come to a Large Group event, that’s a 10am event where we are having up to 80 tickets available, we will be splitting the large group into 2 smaller groups, each starting in different buildings and then swapping. *****

Included In this Field Trip:

  • 15-45 Minute Guided Tour of the Lelooska Museum. Length dependent on age level. Knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.
  • 15 Minute Presentation and Hands On Opportunity with Cultural Sharing Box
  • 30 Minutes to watch traditional artists at work in the Gathering Hall. 
  • Additional time can be spent:
    • Completing the Museum Hunt in the Lelooska Museum
    • Taking a group photo in front of the totem pole outside the museum 
    • Completing the native plant find while exploring our grounds 
    • Further exploration of the Gathering Hall collection 
    • Exploring the Gift Shop in the Gathering Hall

Cultural Sharing Boxes

We are excited to share that we will begin checking out our new Cultural Sharing Boxes this Spring. Each box will help deepen your students’ understanding through hands-on learning experiences focused on the Northwest Coast. Each box includes a carved cedar mask, miniature button blanket, ravenstail weaving sampler, miniature bentwood box, abalone shell, ermine, wood samples, cedar bark, and more.

Please complete the 2024 Cultural Sharing Box Reservation Form if you are interested in borrowing a Cultural Sharing Box, include on that form the dates that you are hoping to reserve the box for, they will be available starting in April.

Virtual Field Trip

Join us virtually from your classroom for a behind the scenes look at the masks shared in our live performances. Listen to Chief Tsungani share stories, and learn more about the rights, crests and privileges shared in our ceremonial house. This is just the beginning, we have much more in the works, and will be adding to this content as we are able. This virtual experience is best suited for students in the 3rd or 4th Grade.

Thank you to the Price Foundation for their support in making it possible to create virtual programming.

These are challenging times for many. In lieu of a charge for this content we are asking for those that can to make a donation that will help us continue to grow our online presence and add additional content.

To participate please complete this Virtual Field Trip reservation form. 

To be added to our emailing list or make school request, please fill out this request form, and make sure you check your spam folder if you don’t hear from us! –  2024 School Event Interest Form.  

We always welcome everyone to join us for Evening Performances!

Evening Living History Performances

Saturday April 13, Saturday May 25, Thursday June 20, 2024 at 7pm

90-120 Minutes, with time before and after for Lelooska Museum & Gathering Hall Exploration

200 Guests Maximum

School Group Rate $16 + $2 Processing Fee

Experience magnificent Northwest Coast masks as they come to life in the glimmering firelight of a Kwakwaka’wakw ceremonial house. The Lelooska Family shares the songs, dances, stories, and masks which display the rights, crests, and privileges bestowed on them by the late Chief James Aul Sewid. Chief Tsungani carries on the traditions of his brother, the late Chief Lelooska, performing with other family members in Ariel, Washington, 31 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon.

The performance you will witness was developed by Chief Lelooska, Chief James Aul Sewid and tribal elders to share the history and culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. The Lelooska Foundation has sponsored these programs since 1977.

Chief Tsungani

Tsungani, meaning “he who excels” also holds the Kwakwaka’wakw name, Qa7axtal’es, which translates to “He who arises early and invites the people into the house to eat”. Tsungani as the main dancer in the Living History Programs for many decades, was an expert at handling the large, articulated masks—a skill much respected by the Old People. At traditional potlatches, he was often called upon to perform with the masks for multiple chiefs. When his brother Lelooska passed away in 1996, Tsungani became Clan Chief of the House of Lelooska and the House of Sewide. The name Gixken meaning “Chief of Chiefs” was also passed to him.

As Clan Chief, Tsungani devotes his time to educational work as the storyteller in the Living History Programs and as an active Northwest Coast Woodcarver. He continues to work in the traditional styles creating masks, totem poles, bowls and rattles. His work can be seen throughout the country, but his greatest honor are the pieces that he has been able to create for several  hereditary chiefs.

Additional Information:

Upcoming School Tours and Field Trips

Click HERE for April Events Calendar

Click HERE for May Events Calendar

To be added to our emailing list or make special school request, please fill out this request form, and make sure you check your spam folder if you don’t hear from us! –  2024 School Event Interest Form.