Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (SHABOG)

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-SHA-2025-01-16 The Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors met on January 16, 2025, to discuss ongoing projects including the Indigenous Longhouse construction, trail maintenance issues, and revisions to their land acknowledgment statement. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors (SHABOG):** A joint board with representatives from both the City of Bellingham and Western Washington University that oversees the management and stewardship of Sehome Hill Arboretum, a forested area used for education, recreation, and research. **House of Healing/Longhouse:** A traditional Indigenous structure being built on the arboretum grounds through collaboration with the Lummi Nation. The building will serve educational and cultural purposes for both the university and broader community. **Land Acknowledgment:** A formal statement recognizing the Indigenous peoples who are the traditional stewards of the land. The board is revising theirs to be more concise and inclusive. **Siberian Elm:** An invasive tree species that has established a significant population in one area of the arboretum. The board is developing a management strategy to control its spread while preserving the forest ecosystem. **Jersey Street Trail:** A trail corridor connecting the Sehome neighborhood to Western Washington University campus that has developed drainage and widening issues requiring maintenance intervention. **Washington Conservation Corps (WCC):** A program that provides young adults with conservation work experience. The city uses WCC crews for various environmental restoration projects. **Trail Counter/Trail Cam:** Electronic devices used to count foot and bicycle traffic on trails to help inform management decisions about maintenance priorities and usage patterns. **Unceded Territory:** Land that was never formally given up by Indigenous peoples through treaties. The board discussed whether this term is technically accurate in their context, given that treaties were signed, though under disputed circumstances. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | John (Chair) | Board Chair | | Steve | City of Bellingham Parks & Recreation | | Wayne Galloway | Western Washington University Grounds (remote) | | Kendra | Board member, tribal liaison contact | | Travis | Board member | | Nick | Board member | | Joan Drinkwin | Board member (joined late) | | Kate | Meeting support/technology | | Laurel | Tribal liaison (referenced, not present) | | Arlen | Washington Trails Association volunteer | | Ryan Roby | Lead organizer for February volunteer work party | ### Background Context The Sehome Hill Arboretum represents a unique partnership between the City of Bellingham and Western Washington University, managing a forested area that serves multiple purposes: student research, community recreation, and now Indigenous cultural education through the House of Healing project. The board operates in a complex environment where they must balance environmental stewardship, educational access, and cultural sensitivity. The ongoing construction of the House of Healing represents a significant step in acknowledging the Indigenous history of the land and creating space for healing and learning. This project has prompted the board to reconsider how they frame their own role and purpose, leading to discussions about their land acknowledgment and potentially the name of the arboretum itself. The board faces practical challenges typical of managing public green space: invasive species control, trail maintenance, and balancing multiple uses while protecting the forest ecosystem. They also navigate the administrative complexity of joint city-university governance, including recent changes to how city-appointed board positions are filled. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began with an important announcement about changes to city board appointments. Going forward, city-appointed positions will require a full reapplication process rather than automatic renewal, part of the mayor's effort to increase diversity and consistency across all city boards. The board received updates on several ongoing projects. The House of Healing construction is progressing well, with the main structural logs now in place and an anticipated opening in November 2025. There's been discussion about the building's Indigenous name and whether the arboretum itself should adopt the same terminology. Trail maintenance emerged as a significant issue. The Jersey Street Trail, which connects the Sehome neighborhood to campus, has developed serious drainage and erosion problems. A Washington Trails Association volunteer conducted a detailed assessment recommending removal of accumulated debris to expose the underlying gravel base. The board discussed coordinating between city and university staff to address these issues. The board spent considerable time revising their land acknowledgment statement, working to make it more concise while ensuring it reflects present-day Indigenous presence rather than just historical acknowledgment. They plan to have the tribal liaison review their proposed changes before finalizing them. Finally, they discussed strategy for controlling an invasive Siberian elm population that has established itself along the main arboretum drive, requiring coordination between city arborists and university grounds crews. ### What to Watch Next • The House of Healing is scheduled to open in November 2025 - watch for community ceremonies and educational programming • Trail maintenance work on Jersey Street Trail should begin once coordination between city and university crews is finalized • The revised land acknowledgment will be reviewed by the tribal liaison before adoption • February 15 volunteer work party will address restoration of the old Southridge Trail section ---