The Suquamish Tribe of Washington celebrated the return of artifacts from the Old Man House village site, the historic home of Chief Seattle.

The Old Man House was the largest winter house in the area. The federal government burned it down after Chief Seattle died in 1870.

The land passed into private ownership but a portion was purchased by the Washington State Parks. Excavation uncovered some of the items that were returned to the tribe this week.

“On the way over from Seattle, a pod of orcas surrounded the ferry — stopped the ferry for I don’t know how long,” tribal member David Sigo told The North Kitsap Herald . “It was a powerful thing. They were welcoming the ancestors back home.”

The tribe will house the artifacts at the Suquamish Museum.

Get the Story:
Dozens of orcas surround ferry carrying tribal artifacts from Seattle to Suquamish museum (AP 10/31)
Suquamish Tribe celebrates return of ancestral objects (The North Kitsap Herald 10/31)
Tribal Artifacts Come Home to Suquamish (KING 5 News 10/29)