Blessing the La Conner Swinomish Library

Like loons calling across the water, like Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," the Swinomish Canoe Family hushed the crowd of 150 people as they sang and drummed a blessing prayer, the chorus meandering its way from the majestic totem outside into the La Conner Swinomish Library Saturday afternoon.

The building felt just a little more hallowed. And crowded. Whew! There were a lot of people there.

The pole, made from a 400-year old western red cedar, carved by Kevin Paul and assisted by his son-in-law Camas Logue, represents sharing of resources, guidance and wisdom. The figure at the bottom is a Coast Salish welcoming figure symbolizing inclusion.

This theme of inclusion continues to run throughout the building and was remarked upon by speakers representing the Swinomish Tribe, the Town, Skagit County and Washington state.

Matt Aalfs, principal of the architectural firm BuildingWork, in collaboration with Paul, "looked at La Conner buildings and that informed my design ... and worked with Swinomish to incorporate, especially Kevin's pole – and used the colors of the pole for the building."

As Mayor Ramon Hayes so clearly stated (and restated) a lot of hard work by a lot of people, cooperating with each other over a long period of time, made this happen.

The play of light from the welcoming windows to the warm wood donated by Sierra Pacific to 42 roof-top solar panels, to carved canoe paddles gracing the walls, and enough space to welcome 150 people, quiet sitting spaces, a conference room and a child's area made all the years of hard work worthwhile.

B.J. Carol, representing Friends of the Library, pointed out that the beginnings of this chapter of the La Conner Swinomish Library reaches back decades – to a time when it was the La Conner Library. Back then the Swinomish kids (including Kevin Paul) walked across a swing span bridge (long gone) from the Swinomish side to the La Conner side to attend school – if they missed the bus. Back then the word "Swinomish" was not in the library's name.

Maybe that was part of the awe, the beauty, the solemnity of the occasion – the love and cooperation of a community joined together. Rep. Dave Paul (D, Oak Harbor) had to take a moment, before thanking all who contributed through the years.

It seemed almost everyone attended the dedication. The Swinomish were there - Kevin Paul, Brian Wilbur, senator; Miss Kialah Seymour and Jr. Ruby Swaltcelitca Billy, Swinomish youth royalty; Eugene Edwards, lead Canoe Family singer; many other tribal people as well as County Commissioner Ron Wesen and Washington state Librarian Director Sara Jones.. Not just book lovers, but people lovers.

Jones said, "It takes a village."

Wesen, gave a grateful thanks remembering he and Hayes traveled to Olympia more than once to ask for funding. And then more trips and more funding. COVID-19 hit and construction costs hit the roof – it seemed. More funding was needed. In the end, the state of Washington gave nearly two million dollars and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $800,000.

Wilbur ended his thanks with "We did it!" The dedication pamphlet quotes him, "When there are common interests and goals, native and non-native communities can find ways to work together and build relationships that help each other grow. That's what Swinomish and La Conner did with the construction of this library and our communities have grown closer because of it."

All who contributed from bake sales to raffles to the Friends of the Library to the more than 900 donors and almost 2.500 gifts with untold volunteer hours were honored. And remember the kids? High school kids hauling books from the former library to the new one, slipping down the street in the early morning fog in early October 2022.

And from first to last, everyone praised Susan Macek, this day chair of the library's board of trustees, but for 10 years director of the La Conner Library Foundation. Speakers recounted one successful stitch after another leading to the weaving together of the $4.8 million that turned that pot of gold into the new library dedicated Saturday.

Library Director Jean Markert's comments at the program's end: "without all of you, our library would not exist," is most true of Macek, whose tireless efforts gathered the funding that brought the building into existence.

Jim Airy was also heralded. First as a Library Foundation board member, then chair of the library's board of trustee's, he worked closely with Macek in developing relationships and planning presentations to the county and state governmeents and the Swinomish Tribe.

Markert may have been considering these leaders when she said, "We want this library to be a place of discovery, connection and inspiration for all people in our community. It is a place where everyone should feel welcome and connected."

Hayes looked so proud to finally say, "Welcome to the La Conner Swinomish Community Library. Is it or is it not magnificent?"