The newest exhibit at the White River Valley Museum – Sasquatch: Ancient Native Perspectives on the Mysterious Beings of the Woods – shines light on the origins of Sasquatch as understood through some regional Native American traditions.

It will run from July 11, 2018 through December 16, 2018.

Long a subject of popular culture, cryptozoology and lore, people have been fascinated with the possible presence of mysterious humanoid beings that live deep in the Pacific Northwest forests. The exhibit content draws from the words of Native people interviewed by anthropologists, c1900 to 1950 and includes art, artifacts, maps and spoken quotes .

Visitors will come face to face with:

  • The giantess Dzoonokwa or Slapu who steals children that wander too far from home.  She pops them in the basket on her back and carries them away,
  • A Stick Indian that represents a wild humanoid known to play tricks on its neighbors,
  • The famous Sasquatch known for stealing smoking salmon and prowling about the woods and streams of the Pacific Northwest

Upper S’Klallam artist and storyteller Roger Fernandes’s artwork forms the backdrop of four scenes depicting mysterious beings in their native habitat. The exhibit also includes traditional masks, and spoken quotes from anthropological records dating back to the early 1900s. Maps are on view to help illustrate the deep traditional history of what the Muckleshoot call Stick Indians, Linnaeus named Homo Monstrous and the Stalo Nation of British Columbia call Sasquatch.

Other Upcoming Exhibit Events:

  • August 2, 7pm – FREE (no registration but space is limited)
    Native Storytelling with Roger Fernandes
    Recommended Ages: 7 and up
  • September 6 at 6pm– FREE (no registration but space is limited)
    Big Foot Does Not Like Birthday Parties Story and Song Time with Eric Ode
    Recommended Ages: 3 and up
  • November 1, 6-8pm – FREE (no registration but space is limited)
    Sasquatch themed Snack & Paint
    Recommended Ages:  5 and up
  • November 3, 2-3pm – $6 per child, ages 7 -12 (pre-registration required)
    Creature classification with Point Defiance Zoo
  • December 8, 2pm – Included with regular museum admission or membership
    Sasquatch: Man-Ape or Myth? Lecture with David George Gordon
    Recommended Ages:  12 and up

About the White River Valley Museum:
The White River Valley Museum creates an exciting and educational experience for visitors through a series of award-winning exhibits and programs on regional cultures, arts and history. The Museum’s artifact collections focus on Puget Sound history, Northwest Native culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railway.

The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On the first Thursday of each month the hours are extended from 6 to 8 p.m. It is located at 918 H St. S.E. in Auburn. Regular admission is $5 adults, $2 seniors and children, children 2 years of age or younger are always free.  Admission is free for everyone all day on the first Thursday and the third Sundayof every month.

Call 253-288-7433 or visit www.wrvmuseum.org for event information.

White River Valley Museum
918 H St. SE
Auburn, WA 98002
253-288-7433

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