The Pacific Northwest is made up of a rich mix of heritage and traditions, and the traditional arts of these cultures. Please explore this website to find...

Traditional Arts
a searchable data base of folk and traditional artists from Washington state that is a useful educational tool for learning about Washington cultural traditions,

Heritage Tours
audio tours with accompanying booklets for exploring regions of Washington state,

Heritage Events
a calendar listing of heritage events in the Northwest

Resources for Teachers
lesson plans and traditional artist listings.

NEW! Educational Curriculum Unit:
King County and Western Washington Cultural Geography, Communities, Their History and Traditions.
Designed for Use by Washington State 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teachers for Washington State Culture and History curriculum. Classroom-Based Assessment Unit for ENDURING CULTURES.

What is Northwest Heritage Resources?

Northwest Heritage Resources is a non-profit organization first established in Washington state in 1995.  Its’ mission is to conserve cultural heritage and to present, promote, preserve and document the diverse cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest.

What is folklife?

“When Congress created the American Folklife Center in 1976, it had to define folklife in order to write the law. Here is what the law says:
American folklife is the traditional, expressive, shared culture of various groups in the United States: familial, ethnic, occupational, religious, and regional. Expressive culture includes a wide range of creative and symbolic forms, such as custom, belief, technical skill, language, drama, ritual, architecture, music, play, dance, drama, ritual, pageantry, and handicraft. Generally these expressions are learned orally, by imitation, or in performance, and are maintained or perpetuated without formal instruction or institutional direction.”

- from, Folklife and Fieldwork: A Layman’s Introduction to Field Techniques. by Peter Bartis; Revised 2002. Publications of the American Folklife Center, no. 3

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