Wanapum Heritage Center

DESERT AIRE — Angela Buck was the last to speak last Thursday at the official opening of the new Wanapum Heritage Center, which is just south of here, near the Priest Rapids Dam.

And she was the best.

Angela warned the 400 or so in attendance that she was feeling “very emotional” before she spoke, and she was. Haltingly, taking deep breaths to keep herself in check, she spoke about the dream that came true.

When the dream started to become a reality a few years ago, Angela was given the assignment of building it. The task was tough at times and, at least three times, Angela thought about quitting.

“But that man (husband Rex Buck Jr.) wouldn’t let me quit,” she said. “‘Remember the children,’ he said. Yes, the children.”

Earlier during the ceremony, Rex Buck Jr. had said this center was built for the Wanapum of the past, the Wanapum today, the children and the yet to be born. It will keep the spirit of the Wanapum alive into the future.

But the center was built for everyone to see, Angela said, not just the Wanapum. She thanked those in attendance for being there and invited them to come back again and again.

Angela wants everyone to learn about the River People. They were here before the dams and the Europeans, are still here and will always be here.

The Wanapum history depicted in the center, said Grant County PUD General Manager Tony Webb, ranges back 12,000 years. He, too, invited everyone to visit.

Rex Buck Jr. noted that the main entrance of the center faces due east purposely. The Wanapum want the light of the sun to shine on visitors as they approach and enter.

Rex Buck Jr. said it’s a light that shines upon the people of the world. It’s what makes them all brothers, he said. And a project like this demonstrates how brothers can work together.

Webb noted he and Rex Buck Jr. met monthly to discuss the progress and the needs. He said the PUD board of commissioners was committed completely to the best that could be done.

Webb said the PUD went by this simple rule: “Do the right thing and do things right.” He had it in mind every time he sat with Rex.

The ceremony started at 10 a.m. and ended by about 10:35. That was a surprise. It was scheduled for an hour with seven speakers.

There were seven, but five spoke briefly and gave way to Angela and Rex, who led the singing of the opening and closing songs of faith.

Rex reminded everyone that just one week earlier a tragedy had struck the PUD and the region when six workers had been burned in an explosion at Priest Rapids Dam. He set aside time for being thankful that all six had survived.

But the star of the ceremony was Angela. She pulled away from the microphone at times to keep from crying.

Repeating words she had expressed earlier to Rex, she said: “We’re here. We’re here.”

The center, which has 50,000 square feet of space and cost $11.35 million, is magnificent. It’s a must-visit place, but give yourself a day to read about the exhibits that represent 12,000 years of the Wanapum.

The permanent exhibit that will make you stop for at least a moment is a round television screen set high on a wall. Every few seconds it shows a member of the Wanapum from the past or present.

Two Wanapum women who, like everyone else, visited the center for the first time, were mesmerized by the display. They exchanged words each time they recognized someone.

“Yes we know them,” one of the women said. “They’re family.”

The center includes permanent exhibits and temporary ones. There is one room, rather large and somewhat empty, for traveling exhibits.

The permanent exhibits are spectacular. Some are done in 3-D fashion so that they reach out and grab your attention.

During her remarks, Angela said the first time she was aware of the dream was 37 years ago. She said it became a vision about 17 years ago.

Now, under her leadership, it is a reality.

Building and site construction started in August of 2012. Construction of the exhibits, which cost $4 million, started in November of 2014.

The center is located at 29082 Highway 243 S, Mattawa, WA. The entrance lane is to the right off of the PUD’s access road to Priest Rapids Dam.

The center’s hours will be from 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m-5 p.m on weekends.

You may call 793-1532 to arrange for guided tours.