Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund Awards Renton History Museum Grant Money To Continue Free Storytelling Program

The Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund has awarded the Renton History Museum a grant to continue its free storytelling program for schools in the Renton School District.  In 2010 and 2011 the Renton History Museum was able to offer a Native American storyteller to any school that participated in its Coast Salish curriculum; the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund grant will extend that program.  The charitable fund supports organizations that help build a stronger neighborhood in Snohomish County and the surrounding region.

The Museum's Coast Salish curriculum is available free of charge to third and fourth grade teachers in the Renton School District.  Its five units meet the requirements of the Washington state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and provide students the opportunity to do hands-on study of Native American-made objects in the process of learning about Coast Salish history and culture.  In 2010 and 2011, over 600 students at eight Renton elementary schools benefited from the curriculum; an additional 500 learned about the oral tradition from storyteller Roger Fernandes.  The Tulalip Tribes grant will fund the continuation of free storytellers for Renton schools in 2012 - 2013.

The Renton Historical Society operates the Renton History Museum in cooperation with the City of Renton.  Its mission is the preservation, documentation, and interpretation of the history and culture of greater Renton.  The museum is located at 235 Mill Avenue South; hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Editor's Note: Information provided by the Renton History Museum.