həʔapus Village Park and Shoreline Habitat

What is the relationship between humans, technology, and the natural habitat? How have indigenous and settler technologies shaped Seattle’s waterways? Explore this and more at

həʔapus Village Park and Shoreline Habitat
Visitor info on the Port of Seattle Website: https://www.portseattle.org/places/hapus-village-park-and-shoreline-habitat
Information from the Duwamish Tribe: https://www.duwamishtribe.org/ha-ah-poos

həʔapus (approximate pronunciation: ha-apoos) Park is an important site for Coast Salish culture and history; the area bears archeological evidence of human settlement dating back to 2000 BCE. Europeans started aggressively settling in the area in the 1850s, and in 1865 all Indigenous people were expelled from this and all other land within Seattle city limits by City Ordinance Number 5. Over the next 100 years, the park’s land, like the rest of the Duwamish River, was radically transformed by heavy industry. In the 1970s, the Port of Seattle purchased the land to build a cargo facility, but was forced to halt construction after the Duwamish Tribe found further evidence of the site’s archeological significance. Today, the Duwamish River Community Coalition continues work to restore the land’s coastal ecology.

Before visiting, read about the history of the site on the Port of Seattle website and browse Duwamish River Valley Coalition’s “River for All” campaign. While visiting, make sure to read the interpretive materials which describe the various ways humans have navigated the coastal environment throughout history. You should also check the Events Calendar of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, which is across the street from the park and which periodically offers free, one-hour “eco-tours” of the site.

For 25 points, post a selfie of your visit and write 250-ish words reflecting on how the site makes you think about humans, technology, and the coastal landscape.