Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (SHABOG)

**Land Acknowledgment and Indigenous Relations**: The board engaged in extensive discussion about revising their land acknowledgment to be more concise and authentic. Board member Travis raised concerns that the current statement reads as though written from a non-indigenous perspective and suggested incorporating language that reflects genuine shared stewardship rather than acknowledgment from a distance. The discussion revealed tension between making the statement shorter while ensuring it doesn't relegate indigenous presence to the past tense. The revision process also sparked debate about whether "traditional and ancestral territory" language might be problematic, as these terms have been used historically to limit rather than empower indigenous rights. **Arboretum Purpose and Identity**: A significant philosophical discussion emerged about whether the arboretum's fundamental purpose is clearly articulated. Travis argued that th…

**Travis (Board Member)**: Advocated for more authentic indigenous representation in the land acknowledgment, expressing discomfort with language that positions non-indigenous people as acknowledging indigenous presence rather than recognizing ongoing shared stewardship. Questioned whether the arboretum's purpose is clearly defined and suggested the current policy reads more like activity descriptions. **Joan Drinkwin (Board Member)**: Strongly defended the existing arboretum policy as comprehensive and appropriate, opposing changes to accommodate the longhouse. Supported revising the land acknowledgment but wanted to maintain the current purpose statement unchanged. **…

**Travis, on land acknowledgment authenticity:** "Personally, I'd love for there to be a statement if we're going to make a statement that feels like it's coming from a place of genuinely representative diversity in all of the different peoples that are involved in the arboretum's stewardship and care and history." **Joan, on maintaining current policy:** "I don't want to change the purpose statement. I think our purpose statement is fantastic, and it says what it needs to say, and I don't wa…

The board moved from having an informal reappointment process to a competitive application system for city-appointed positions, as announced by the mayor to increase diversity and opportunities. The land acknowledgment statement is now under active revision rather than remaining static, with specific language changes being developed for tribal consultation. The board shifted from th…

The Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors met on January 16, 2025, to discuss ongoing projects including the Indigenous Longhouse construction, trail maintenance issues, and revisions to their land acknowledgment statement. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (SHABOG):** A joint board with representatives from both the City of Bellingham and Western Washington University that oversees the management and stewardship of Sehome Hill Arboretum, a forested area used for education, recreation, and research. **House of Healing/Longhouse:** A traditional Indigenous structure being built on the arboretum grounds through collaboration with the Lummi Nation. The building will serve educational and cultural purposes for both the university and broader community. **Land Acknowledgment:** A formal statement recognizing the Indigenous peoples who are the traditional stewards of the land. The board is revising theirs to be more concise and inclusive. **Siberian Elm:** An invasive tree species that has established a significant population in one area of the arboretum. The board is developing a management strategy to control its spread while preserving the forest ecosystem. **Jersey Street Trail:** A trail corridor connecting the Sehome neighborhood to Western Washington University campus that has developed drainage and widening issues requiring maintenance intervention. **Washington Conservation Corps (WCC):** A program that provides young adults with conservation work experience. The city uses WCC crews for various environmental restoration projects. **Trail Counter/Trail Cam:** Electronic devices used to count foot and bicycle traffic on trails to help inform management decisions about maintenance priorities and usage patterns. **Unceded Territory:** Land that was never formally given up by Indigenous peoples through treaties. The board discussed whether this term is technically accurate in their context, given that treaties were signed, though under disputed circumstances. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | John (Chair) | Board Chair | | Steve | City of Bellingham Parks & Recreation | | Wayne Galloway | Western Washington University Grounds (remote) | | Kendra | Board member, tribal liaison contact | | Travis | Board member | | Nick | Board member | | Joan Drinkwin | Board member (joined late) | | Kate | Meeting support/technology | | Laurel | Tribal liaison (referenced, not present) | | Arlen | Washington Trails Association volunteer | | Ryan Roby | Lead organizer for February volunteer work party | ### Background Context The Sehome Hill Arboretum represents a unique partnership between the City of Bellingham and Western Washington University, managing a forested area that serves multiple purposes: student research, community recreation, and now Indigenous cultural education through the House of Healing pr…