The release of Tahoma and Its People has triggered a happy lahar of unintended (and mostly terrific) consequences. Giving book talks via Zoom—21 presentations to over 1,100 people—has been a good challenge and a great joy. (Check https://jeffantonelis-lapp.com/appearances/#video for links to upcoming talks to join one.) So has leading trips on the mountain—with masks and social distancing, of course. A videographer producing Mountains of Water, a docuseries on watersheds in the West, invited me to be involved with the Mount Rainier segment. Check out the video teaser at https://youtu.be/2aJcNNwJUPk.
Another interesting project has been Science Stories, a University of Puget Sound undertaking that pairs artists with scientists to create art exhibits. I don’t consider myself a scientist, per se, but received an invitation nonetheless to pitch Tahoma to a gaggle of artists at a workshop in January 2020. Shortly thereafter, Tacoma artist Mark Hoppmann asked me to work with him on a piece inspired by the book. Delighted but uncertain of what that meant, I said yes. Turns out, it’s been a super cool experience!
Mark works with a variety of media, primarily as a book artist. These folks create one-of-a-kind books that are well, flat-out amazing. Check out his work at http://markhoppmannart.com/the-book-arts/. My introduction to book art began at Evergreen with my colleague Lucia Harrison, a book artist (among other things) whose drawings appear in Tahoma. You can see some of Lucia’s book art at https://luciaharrison.com/section/172354-Artist-Books.html.
Zoom-based brainstorming sessions with Mark landed us on the main concept, starting with a papier-maché replica of the mountain. It would sit upon a base with a drawer housing two portfolios of hand-drawn cards with the theme being the Native American presence at Tahoma. The first set of twelve 5-by-7 inch cards are collages of some of my ten years of field notes for the project, combined with Mark’s interpretive drawings of photos that I provided. The second set of cards is drawings of eleven plants and animals detailed in Tahoma, most of which hold great significance to Native people. The Lushootseed and English words for each organism are on the card. Here are some of my favorites:
Also known as Puget Salish, Lushootseed is one of the original languages of Puget Sound Country. People living along the Sound and the drainages flowing into it spoke Lushootseed, a word derived from one meaning “saltwater” and another meaning “language.” Of the many dialects, the Muckleshoot people, on whose ancestral lands we live in Enumclaw, speak the Wuhlshootseed dialect. I began studying the language in 1996, shortly after beginning employment with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe in its Education Department. My first teachers were tribal elder Doris Allen and linguist Zalmai Zahir. I eventually began studying under tribal elder Donna Starr, with whom I consulted for some of the book’s content. I occasionally continue my language studies with her.
It’s been a great privilege to learn (a tiny bit of) Wuhlshootseed, and to witness Lushootseed’s rebirth among tribal groups in the region. Once in danger of extinction, most Puget Sound-area tribes now have language programs for people of all ages, along with excellent online resources. As Donna has long said, “Our language is asleep. We awaken it by speaking it.”
When Science Stories opens at the University of Puget Sound in October 2021, the cards will surround the mountain model, allowing viewers a 360° view of the mountain and the opportunity to study the cards. Beginning in January 2022, the entire exhibit will travel to other universities in the region.
I hope you enjoy the language card images herein, and that you’ll visit the Science Stories exhibit next year—I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep your boots dry and your spirits high.
P.S.
And this review by of Tahoma and Its People just came in!
https://www.outdoorsnw.com/2020/12/book-reviews-snuggle-up-with-these-books-this-winter/
Jeff your efforts to first write the book and now to nurture it’s growth into something much more is inspiring. I am so proud of you and it has enhanced my 52 year love affair I have had since the first time I laid eyes on her as a 10 year old.
Thank you I love you dearly.