The Seahawks were joined by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe this week at Lumen Field for a blessing ceremony to celebrate and honor the latest piece of artwork that was installed at the Muckleshoot Heritage Plaza.

A bronze canoe, which is the final design element of the plaza was recently installed and the Seahawks were joined by Muckleshoot Tribal Councilmembers, dignitaries and about 50 students from the Muckleshoot Youth development program summer camp. The group began the day with prayer, song and drum music before blessing the bronze canoe with cedar leaves.

Muckleshoot Tribal Councilman Donny Stevenson said, "It's such an incredible privilege and honor to be able to be here to celebrate and share the Muckleshoot culture and the teachings that we, as the first people of this land carry with us to this day. I think it's particularly fitting here in Muckleshoot Heritage Plaza within Lumen Field to have our canoe represented with paddles up. That is something that is indicative of our culture and our lifestyle. We are certainly a water people first and foremost and the water way were our highways and byways in this land traditionally. It's how we traveled from place to place, village to village, land to land, built and maintained relationships, trades. Our economy was based in the canoe. We hunted from canoes. We fished from canoes. Our substance, in all ways, were rooted in this deep tradition."

The bronze canoe features five seats, that sit two people in each for a total of 10 people. The canoe also has paddles that are facing upright towards the sky, which Stevenson explains is a sign to communicate visually that the tribe is coming with goodwill and friendship.

"This special canoe will not only inspire our fans," said Zack Hensley, VP of Operations and general manager of Lumen Field. "But also educate them on the important history of the Pacific Northwest region and the significance of these lands overall."

The canoe is the latest piece of artwork installed in the plaza. In 2023, a mural featuring bright, vibrant colors showcasing the rich cultural history of the Muckleshoot Tribe and the significance of its people, land and water, and new stair railing art, featuring traditional Salish fish designs to represent a school of salmon swimming upstream were unveiled.

This newest piece of artwork highlights the long-standing partnership between the Seahawks and the Muckleshoot Tribe.

Sam Obrovac, a Muckleshoot artist said, "I fully appreciate the fact that opportunities like these create visibility for all of us and for our culture, for a living culture to be witnessed, for what it was in the past, what it is currently, what it's evolving into and the three strings that tie together that past, present and future."