"We Snoqualmie feel intimately connected to Snoqualmie Falls. We have the sacred responsibility to be the spiritual stewards for this great gift of the Creator to The People. The power of the Spirit is strong.

In that sacred task, I have, over the past 15 years, participated in the efforts of my tribe to preserve, protect, restore and celebrate the inherent sacredness of Snoqualmie Falls, for all people, for all time.

We work to restore the natural flow of water over the falls, to restore the sacred cycle that for thousands of years has produced legendary mists that, when hitting the plunge pool 268 feet below the lip, transform into a connection of worlds, uplifting the prayers and delivering blessings � an interaction of spirit.

Snoqualmie Falls is an inherently sacred place that is visited by an estimated 1.5 million visitors annually. I would say in my native understanding that the Spirit of Snoqualmie Falls draws them there. These visitors go away uplifted, feeling better for having made their journey."

Get the Story:
Lois Sweet Dorman: Lost in translation: a connection to the sacred (The Seattle Times 6/21)

Related Stories:
Snoqualmie Tribe wins ruling on sacred waterfalls (04/05)
Deal protects waterfall sacred to Snoqualmie Tribe (08/31)
Snoqualmie Tribe seeks federal study of sacred falls (04/15)
Snoqualmie Tribe battling state over power plant (04/08)
Snoqualmie Tribe opposes expansion of lodge (03/11)