Sacred Shores
Editor’s note: Originally published October 25, 2017. Republished July 16, 2020.
For nearly 10,000 years the ever-so-magnetic land of Everett has seen and cradled many faces of travelers, tycoons, and tribes.
The first documented human settlement of the city was a tribal village named Hibulb, and was located at the northwestern tip of the Everett peninsula. The village of Hibulb was a sub settlement of the Snohomish natives who also laid homes along the heavily wooded Snohomish river, and what is now the bay of Port Gardner. The word “Hibulb” translates to the meaning “place where the white dove sleeps”, and just as you wouldn't put a cemetery in your living room, the surrounding tribes forbade the building of homesteads on Everett's beautiful shores for centuries.
A view inside a Tulalip longhouse, 1914.
They believed Everett was a “sacred land” and reserved the space exclusively for ceremonies, meetings, and even burials. Theoretically, that could be the explanation for the twilight air that makes the city so alluring, and might be why we didn't heed our native brothers wishes.
If you happen to be a rule breaker such as myself and live in this sacred city here are some awesome places to sit and pay homage to our native brothers and sisters.
A pair of moccasins made by the Tulalip tribe.
On the 1700 block of Grand Avenue, just moments away from Hewitt's main drag, sits a picturesque land of open sea air, the finest real estate in the neighborhood, and even bags for your dog's secret burials. Grab a bottle of champagne and a flat of turkey wraps because they have picnic tables you would get married in front of.
Bring your newspaper, smoking jacket, bike or car because this lookout is the balcony of Everett. Good for a break in the day or a nice place to think. You can never go wrong having a sit in Legion Park.
The coordinates won't be so easily found when looking for this simple oceanic view sitting along the west of Marine View Drive. Grab your thinking cap because an ancient lookout awaits you with a view free from power lines, buildings, and business; just open ocean free and sacred.
It's easy to see why settlers have traveled far and wide to lay foundations in the city of Everett's vast forest of cedar, bountiful shores of marine life, and surrounding mountain ranges. Respectfully though, the most important feature was laid to rest in our beautiful city's ancient shores.
Take in the silence of the ocean air in “the place where the white dove sleeps”.
You can learn more about local Native American culture by visiting the Tulalip Tribes Hibulb Cultural Center. It's full of artifacts and is a repository of knowledge about early settlement on the shores of Everett.
Hibulb Cultural Center
6410 23rd Ave NE
Tulalip, WA 98271
(360) 716-2600
Musician Steph Thompson obtained her love for writing after her degree in publishing from Seattle Central. Originally from North Carolina, she's been an Everett transplant a little under 10 years. She respects the arts, appreciates a good taco, and doesn't mind indulging in a rich stout.