Snoqualmie arts commissioners move to rehome controversial story pole, back loan of murals to historical museum

At a regular meeting of the Snoqualmie Arts Commission, commissioners discussed downtown public art they said has prompted concern among members of the Snoqualmie Tribe and voted to recommend that five artworks from the city council chambers be transferred on loan to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum.

The commission emphasized it would consult the tribe before taking further steps on the downtown story pole and that any removal or relocation would follow the city’s municipal code requirement that the Arts Commission review and submit recommendations to the city council. "No existing work of art owned by the city of Snoqualmie should be removed, relocated, or altered without prior review by the arts commission, which shall submit its recommendation to the council," a commission member read aloud from the municipal code during the meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the question as both cultural and procedural. Commissioners said tribal members have raised concerns that the downtown story pole is not part of local Salish carving traditions and that the pole’s authorship and symbolism do not reflect Snoqualmie tribal heritage. The commission moved to gather more information, invite tribal input and, separately, to send a recommendation to council supporting a museum loan for the council-chamber pieces.

Commissioners recounted local history and differing community views. Council member Kat Cotton told the commission that "the Salish tribe and the coastal Salish and Snoqualmie tribes, do not carve story poles. That's not part of their heritage," and that the particular downtown pole was carved by a non‑Native settler, not by Snoqualmie carvers. Cotton said a Fall City totem pole carved by Hugh Hines in 1936 was produced by a settler and not based in Snoqualmie tribal story traditions.

Commission members said they have heard concerns from downtown merchants and from members of the Snoqualmie Tribe for several years. Commissioners discussed a range of options including relocating the story pole to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum, displaying interpretive signage that clarifies the piece’s origin, or replacing it with tribal‑approved artwork. Mayor Nicole Ross and the city attorney were identified as staff contacts for next steps.

Formal action: Commissioners voted on a motion to authorize the arts commission liaison to draft a letter to city council recommending the five council‑chamber artworks be loaned to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum. The motion was made and seconded during the meeting and recorded as approved by the commission; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the minutes provided. Commissioners said the loan would preserve the works, allow professional conservation (including climate control at the museum) and make them more broadly accessible.

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners distinguished discussion items (options for the story pole, outreach to the tribe, and possible replacement pieces) from the formal recommendation to council (the loan of the council‑chamber works). Commissioners said they will consult the city attorney about next steps on the story pole and will invite the Snoqualmie Scribe and tribal representatives to a future meeting or to the council hearing where public comment will be received.

Context and next steps: Commissioners said the story pole has been a topic through multiple administrations, including during the Larson mayoralty, and that a presentation on the downtown inventory was previously given to council in October 2023. Several commissioners recommended that any council hearing include time for public comment so downtown merchants and other residents can speak. Commissioners agreed to return with a written recommendation and additional outreach results before any removal or permanent relocation is executed.

Ending: The commission asked staff to reach out to the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum and to the tribe, to document the provenance and appraisal information for the council‑chamber works, and to prepare a formal letter for the commission to sign and send to city council. No final action on the downtown story pole—removal, relocation or replacement—was taken at the meeting; commissioners said any final decision must follow the municipal code review and council action.