Longhouse, museum in the works

Architect Todd Lawson is taking part in preserving the history of his people by designing a longhouse to be built on the Clatsop-Nehalem Tribes’ recently regained land.

“As an architect, designer and artist, it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something really meaningful,” Lawson said.

Lawson was awarded the Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s 2020 Van Evera Bailey Fellowship to support his work on the project. Lawson, who lives in Seattle, will use the fellowship to help fund the continuation of a project he’s been working on as a volunteer.

The first phase involves researching the traditional longhouses of Indigenous people on the coast, spanning from Alaska to Northern California. He also plans to research Clatsop-Nehalem traditions, art and history.

Lawson’s research will culminate in helping create a new cultural and environmental center and museum in the form of a traditional longhouse on the tribes’ land.

The land, returned to the tribes by the North Coast Land Conservancy, was one of the main longhouse neighborhoods for the tribes centuries ago, Lawson said. “Now we’re sort of getting this rebirth through this land,” he added.

Lawson began researching his lineage as an undergraduate studying architecture at the University of Oregon. He has ties to both the Clatsop people and Chief Coboway, as well as a family of settlers by the last name Smith.

One of the most prominent historical figures is Celiaste (also known as Helen) Coboway Smith, the daughter of Chief Coboway and wife of Solomon Howard Smith. She lived from 1801 to 1891.

Lawson never met his grandfather, who was both a Clatsop and Smith, but he heard stories from his grandmother. That spurred his interest in reading old newspaper articles, looking at historical archives and visiting gravesites to help him trace his ancestry.

“Now I’m a member of the tribe, decades later,” he said. His personal research and interactions with tribal scholars have led him on an amazing exploration, he said. “It never ceases to amaze me what I learn almost daily.”

His goal now is to continue strengthening Oregon and the country’s collective memory with accurate pieces of history on the Clatsop-Nehalem people and what happened to them as a result of white settlement. He feels it’s important to share not just the negative and shameful parts of the past, “but also the amazing things that happened on the coast,” he said.

Lawson’s interest in his history and his peoples’ is complemented by his long-term affinity for vernacular architecture, defined as a constructed environment that is based upon local needs and incorporates materials indigenous to its particular region.

“That’s always been a passion of mine,” he said.

Now, these two passions are merging as he assists in creating plans for the longhouse. He said the especially tricky part for architecture and design is walking the “fine line between imitation and inspiration.”

“We don’t want it to be a decorated barn,” he said. “It needs to be truly rooted in the traditions of the longhouse.”

Although plans are still being developed, he anticipates the building will include meeting space, classrooms, office space and a museum.

“We want to be a welcoming group and bring people to the site,” he said.