Honoring Native American Heritage

Lakewood resident Deborah Saluskin hopes that tomorrow's event in Tacoma will educate people about the Native American people and their rich history living in the Pacific Northwest.

Native Quest Founders are inviting the public to attend Longhouse Theatre’s inaugural performance featuring “One Crazy Raven,” by Gene Tagaban at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Native Quest, located at 2354 S. Jefferson Avenue, Tacoma, WA.

“One Crazy Raven” is a presentation of traditional and contemporary Native American music, stories, song and dance. Gene Tagaban is Cherokee, Tlingit and Filipino and has been a performing artist, speaker, motivator and trainer for 20 years.

Born and raised in Tacoma, Saluskin said a lot of the Native American children have lost their identity. She believes it's important the youth and people have somewhere to go.

"We need something like this in the Tacoma area," she said. "It's not just about the history and knowledge of the books to learn about the people."

Saluskin represents the Assiboine/Siox tribe on her father's side and Upper Skagit-Samish tribe on her mother's side, respectively.

Saluskin said she plans to volunteer for Native Quest. She was a teacher's assistant for youth programs around Tacoma and believes the cultural center's interactive displays and exhibits will provide a better context on how Native Americans lived.

"A lot of the tribes, they have their language and culture, she said. "What’s important is that the youth and people have somewhere to go, somewhere centralized where they can be educated."

Native Quest is a cultural center celebrating education, nurturing, and honoring the heritage of all urban Native Americans living in South Puget Sound. The cultural center has a bookstore, museum and museum shop, gallery, resource center, espresso and café.

Native Quest Presents "One Crazy Raven"

When: Friday, October 14

Time: First performance starts at 6:00 p.m. then another at 8 p.m.

Where: 2354 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma Wa.

Contact: The seating is limited at both performances and reservations can be made online at www.nativequest.net/ or by phone at 253-310-6254.

How much: $8

For regularly scheduled cultural events and featured performers visit www.nativequest.net/