UW "wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ" Intellectual House 4.46

For over 40 years the Native American community has envisioned the building of a longhouse-style facility at the University of Washington, to function as a “home away from home” for Native students attending this educational institution.

On March 12, 2015, we completed Phase One and opened the doors to our multi-service space.

The Intellectual House provides a multi-service learning and gathering space for Native students, faculty, staff, and others from various cultures and communities: a space where we come together in a supporting and welcoming educational environment to share our knowledge and cultures with one another.

The name wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ is a Lushootseed word that means Intellectual House. It was gifted to the UW by respected Coast Salish elder, the late Vi Hilbert. The wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ honors her legacy as a cultural leader and educator; its coastal architectural design recognizes and pays homage to the people whose land it is built on.