George family assists in Sacajawea Center 25th Anniversary
Zahnive George plays a flute during the Sacajawea Interpretive Center 25th Anniversary event in Salmon, Idaho.
SALMON — For 25 years, the Sacajawea Interpretive, Educational, and Cultural Center (SIEC) had become a cornerstone of the Salmon, Idaho community when sisters Rozina George and Rose Ann George upheld their cultural responsibility to honor their ancestor as direct familial descendants of Sacajawea and Chief Cameahwait-Sacajawea’s brother.
For both George and Abrahamson, the mission had always been personal: their father Wilford George had instilled in them a profound respect for heritage, ancestry, and the importance of preserving culture and homeland, and this led to the establishment of the SIEC by the sisters as co-founders. And, this year, the Sacajawea Interpretive, Educational, and Cultural Center (SIEC) marked its 25th anniversary.
George family members with Salmon staff member at the anniversary event.
The celebration of the center’s anniversary was hosted by Suzy Avey, the Director of the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center.
The celebration opened with a special prayer and re-dedication by familial descendant Emma George, and a formal recognition of co-founders Rozina George and Rose Ann Abrahamson for their pivotal role in the establishment and ongoing involvement with the center. It was followed by cultural performances by familial descendant Zahnive George Bettles and her family for the two days of the celebration.
Attendees participate in round dancing on the interpretive center grounds.
Additional highlights of the event were also engaging historical forums, on Friday by keynote speaker Dr. John Mann, author of “Sacajawea’s People: The Lemhi Shoshones and the Salmon River Country,” and on Saturday by University of Utah historian Dr. Wanda Pillows presenting on “Representations of Sacajawea.” Between the two speakers, a special showing and presentation was held of the theatrical production from the opera “Nu Nah-Hup,” a historical biopic of Sacajawea by Libretto Rose Ann Abrahamson and Composer Justin Ralls, which received a standing ovation.
The overall celebration culminated with gifting and gratitude to those who continue to share and preserve Sacajawea’s legacy and perpetuity of the SIEC. The 25th Anniversary was enjoyed by all those who attended while new historical insight was gained and reconnections were made.
A statue of Sacajawea at the interpretive center in Salmon, Idaho.
