{"id":28768,"date":"2026-07-22T14:45:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/?page_id=28768"},"modified":"2026-07-23T06:06:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:06:26","slug":"blake-island-washington","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/ex-ex-2014\/blake-island-washington","title":{"rendered":"Blake Island, Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blake Island, Cultural Representation, and the Legacy of Tillicum Village<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blake Island is one of Puget Sound\u2019s most storied landscapes\u2014a place where hikers wander quiet salal forests, boaters tie up at a rustic marina patrolled by bold raccoons, and historians trace the island\u2019s ties to Chief Seattle and to the 1993 APEC summit hosted by President Bill Clinton inside the Tillicum Village longhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blake Island is a short distance from the city of Seattle in Puget Sound. It is part of Kitsap County and is managed by Washington State Parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Puget Sound is cupped by two dominant mountain ranges. In the depiction below, to the left, the rugged Olympics give way to the densely wooded Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island. To the right, the Cascades frame your view of Seattle’s ever-evolving skyline. These mountains drain immense volumes of fresh water into the Puget Sound basin through thousands of rivers, streams, and creeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The island offers 360\u2011degree views of the Olympics, Cascades, and Seattle skyline, plus weathered architecture and quiet forest interiors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Blake Island lies near the center of this vital body of water. Thousands of species-including humans-depend on Puget Sound for food and sustenance. Ihese waters are among the most productive habitats for salmon and shellfish on the Pacific Coast, though pollution, urban development and overharvesting are growing threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blake Island has showers<\/strong>, located near the main campground restrooms.
Campsites range from $12 to $71.53 per night<\/strong>, depending on site type and season. This includes standard sites, marine trail sites, and group sites<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For decades, the Blake Island\u2019s most visible attraction was Tillicum Village, a privately operated cultural\u2011tourism site offering salmon\u2011bake dinners and Native\u2011inspired performances. Its closure in 2021 marked not only the end of a beloved Seattle excursion but also a turning point in how Coast Salish nations expect their cultures to be represented\u2014and how the public understands cultural appropriation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cTillicum\u201d means friendly people in Chinook jargon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cultural Appropriation and Tillicum Village<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tillicum Village was founded in 1962 by a non\u2011Native restaurateur. Its longhouse architecture, carvings, masks, and performances drew heavily from Northern Northwest Coast art traditions (Haida, Tlingit, Kwakwaka\u2019wakw), even though Blake Island sits in the homelands of Coast Salish peoples such as the Suquamish and Duwamish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Moorage fees are: Dock:<\/strong> $1 per vessel foot. Buoy:<\/strong> $23 per night<\/strong> (flat fee) Electrical hookup:<\/strong> $6<\/strong> The marina is the island\u2019s main access point; moorage buoys ring the shoreline. Blake Island has 23\u201324 moorage buoys<\/strong>. All are first\u2011come, first\u2011served, with a 3\u2011night limit<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Coast Salish and Northern Northwest Coast mismatch is the core of the cultural\u2011appropriation critique:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • The attraction used Indigenous imagery without tribal governance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It blended multiple tribal traditions into a pan\u2011Indigenous aesthetic, erasing cultural specificity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It presented Native culture through a commercial tourism lens, not a sovereign tribal one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It shaped public understanding of \u201cNorthwest Native culture\u201d in ways that were visually compelling but not culturally accurate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Bald eagles, oystercatchers, herons, and forest songbirds thrive across the island\u2019s varied habitats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Was the State guilty of cultural appropriation?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Tillicum Village itself was a private concession, not a state\u2011run cultural program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Washington State Parks leased the land but did not design the art or performances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The state\u2019s role was primarily regulatory and logistical, not interpretive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      However, by hosting a non\u2011tribal cultural attraction on tribal homelands for decades, the state participated indirectly in a system that allowed cultural appropriation to flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      But Coast Salish artistic exchange is real<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      It is also true that Coast Salish nations have long exchanged artistic ideas with neighboring tribes. Canoe journeys, trade networks, intermarriage, and shared ceremonial spaces created a fluid artistic landscape. Even today, Coast Salish artists draw inspiration from other Northwest Coast traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      The difference is agency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Tribal artists choose how and when to incorporate outside influences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Tillicum Village imposed a blended style without tribal authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"
        Blake Island\u2019s beaches, forests, and campsites remain open to visitors, though the replica longhouse and store are closed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        This distinction\u2014sovereign artistic exchange vs. commercial appropriation\u2014is central to understanding why Tillicum Village became controversial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"
        Blake Island\u2019s raccoons are legendary\u2014bold, clever, and notorious for raiding unattended food. There is no evidence<\/strong> of any relocation plan for \u201cJimminy.\u201d Given park wildlife rules, he is almost certainly staying right where he is. Jimminy and his kin remain the island\u2019s unofficial welcoming committee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        The village founder was Bill Hewitt, a Seattle restaurateur and entrepreneur. Hewitt owned restaurants and food\u2011service businesses in Seattle in the early 1960s. He saw an opportunity during the 1962 Seattle World\u2019s Fair to create a \u201cNorthwest Native cultural experience\u201d for tourists. He leased land on Blake Island from Washington State Parks and built the Tillicum Village longhouse, salmon\u2011bake pits, and performance hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Hewitt\u2019s vision was well\u2011intentioned but not tribally governed, which is why the attraction later drew criticism for cultural appropriation and pan\u2011Indigenous blending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Tribal governance has its own set of issues. Chief Seattle (Si\u2019ahl) was a leader of both the Suquamish and Duwamish peoples, reflecting his Suquamish father and Duwamish mother. The Suquamish Tribe is federally recognized, with sovereignty affirmed since the Treaty of Point Elliott (1855). The Duwamish Tribe is not federally recognized, though their petition is under federal reconsideration. The Suquamish casino is one of the major tribal economic engines in the central Puget Sound region and is fully compliant with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which requires federal recognition. The Suquamish Tribe owns and operates the Clearwater Casino Resort in Suquamish, Washington. The not recognized Duwamish do not have a casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        What Art and Totem Poles Remain on Blake Island?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Several carved elements from the Tillicum Village era remain on the island, though the longhouse is closed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        In 1993, President Bill Clinton hosted the first Asia\u2011Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders\u2019 meeting inside the Tillicum Village longhouse. World leaders\u2014including heads of state from across the Pacific Rim\u2014were photographed inside the longhouse, giving the site a brief global spotlight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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        • Totem poles near the longhouse exterior<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Carved house posts and decorative panels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Masks and interior carvings (not publicly accessible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Northern\u2011style formline artwork on the longhouse fa\u00e7ade<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          These state-owned pieces are preserved but not interpreted, pending decisions in the ongoing Blake Island Master Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Is There Still a Store or Ice Cream?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          No. The Tillicum Village gift shop and snack bar are closed, and there is no operating store on Blake Island today. Visitors must bring their own food\u2014or arrive by private boat with supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          Tillicum Village closed at the end of the 2021 season when Argosy Cruises ended its concession due to pandemic\u2011related revenue losses and the need for costly repairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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          Where Cruise\u2011Ship Passengers Go Now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          With Tillicum Village closed and no ferry service to Blake Island, cruise passengers seeking an Indigenous cultural experience now visit tribally owned and operated cultural centers, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          Pebble beaches, driftwood, and quiet coves make Blake Island one of the Sound\u2019s most peaceful shoreline destinations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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          1. Suquamish Museum<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            The closest cultural successor to what Tillicum Village should have been. Authentic Coast Salish art, history, and interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              A modern Coast Salish longhouse offering exhibits, markets, and guided interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Hibulb Cultural Center (Tulalip Tribes)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                A major museum with galleries, gardens, and educational programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. Tribal art galleries and studios<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Carvers, weavers, and printmakers across the Salish Sea welcome visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  1. Canoe Journey hospitality sites<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    Rotating tribal hosts welcome thousands of paddlers and visitors during the annual Tribal Canoe Journey\u2014one of the most authentic cultural experiences in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    These destinations provide what Tillicum Village could not: tribal authority, cultural specificity, and living tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n\n\n\n

                    The Future of Blake Island<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                    Washington State Parks is evaluating four master\u2011plan alternatives, including a tribal partnership model that could revive cultural programming on the island. Whether the longhouse is restored, repurposed, or removed, any future cultural experience must be tribally led, tribally designed, and tribally governed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    Blake Island remains open for hiking, boating, camping, birding, and beachcombing\u2014but its cultural future will depend on how Washington State Parks and Coast Salish nations choose to reinterpret the island\u2019s past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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                    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Blake Island, Cultural Representation, and the Legacy of Tillicum Village Blake Island is one of Puget Sound\u2019s most storied landscapes\u2014a place where hikers wander quiet salal forests, boaters tie up at a rustic marina patrolled by bold raccoons, and historians trace the island\u2019s ties to Chief Seattle and to the 1993 APEC summit hosted by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28780,"parent":16,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-28768","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4nQeu-7u0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28768"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28827,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28768\/revisions\/28827"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eskimo.com\/~mighetto\/murrelet\/Wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}