A new longhouse is now open at Western Washington University, and it carries a name that honors the land on which it stands. The Lhaq'temish-ew'xw e tse XwLemi -- translated as "Building of the Lummi Who Are Descendants of One of the 44 Original Tribes" -- opened to the public on May 14 during the Native American Student Union's annual Spring Powwow and Coastal Jam. More commonly known as the House of Healing, it is the first longhouse built within the City of Bellingham.
Western Washington University sits on the ancestral lands of the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe, and for years, Indigenous students and community members pushed for a space that reflected that history and provided genuine belonging on campus. The project traces its roots to a 2016 letter written by three Indigenous students who asked university leadership for more support, including a dedicated longhouse. What followed was nearly a decade of advocacy, planning, and construction before the building took shape at the south end of the Sehome Hill Arboretum.
Construction began in 2024 and was completed earlier this spring. The building houses the tribal liaison's office, space for the Native American Student Union, a kitchen, and study areas designed to serve both Native students and the broader campus community. At the opening celebration, attendees raised their hands in "Hy'shque," a gesture of thanks in the Lummi language, as tribal leaders from across the region and state elected officials joined the ceremony.
The longhouse design draws on Coast Salish architectural traditions, with a style that reflects the deep ties between the peoples of the Salish Sea and the physical landscape of Whatcom County. The building's location near the Sehome Arboretum -- a forested green space beloved by Bellingham residents -- reinforces the connection between land, culture, and community that the project is meant to embody.
For decades, Indigenous students at WWU and across Washington have advocated for spaces that acknowledge their presence and history on campuses. The opening of the House of Healing marks a concrete step toward that recognition, and it arrives at a moment when universities nationally are grappling with questions of land acknowledgment, Indigenous inclusion, and the long-term institutional commitments those principles require.
The building is intended not just as a student center but as a site for collaboration between the university, tribal nations, and the broader Bellingham community. University administrators have described it as a resource for all of campus -- a place where knowledge, traditions, and relationships between Western and Indigenous communities can continue to grow. More information about programming and access is available through WWU's Native American and Indigenous Student Services.
For Bellingham residents, the House of Healing is a visible reminder of the living Indigenous cultures that predate the city and continue to shape the region. Events and programming at the longhouse will be listed on the WWU events calendar. Community members interested in learning more about the building's history and the advocacy behind it can follow WWU News for ongoing coverage.
