LUMMI ISLAND, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Northwest Indian College has purchased a property that will become a new educational center.

Known as the Legoe Bay Educational Center, the facility will provide a permanent place for learning, gatherings and community events.

The Center will provide accessible indoor and outdoor space for teaching, meetings, retreats and community gatherings. The ADA-accessible property includes multiple meeting spaces, two kitchens, two bathrooms, classrooms, outdoor gathering areas and gardens overlooking the water.

The waterfront site sits next to the original location of the Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture, founded in 1973 to train Tribal members to operate fish and shellfish hatcheries.

College leaders say the acquisition is especially significant because it reconnects NWIC with the place where its story began more than 50 years ago.

NWIC President Dr. Lexie Tom says the center honors the College’s roots and will help teach future generations about Tribal leadership, self-determination and economic development.

“The acquisition of this property in Legoe Bay, Lummi Island, is one way for Northwest Indian College to honor our past. Our past leaders dared to dream of economic prosperity at a time when
many of our people didn’t have hope for the future. That dream resulted in the Lummi Aquaculture project and Lummi Indian School of Aquaculture,” Tom said in a statement.

In comments via email to My Bellingham Now, NWIC spokesperson Denver Pratt said the recently-purchased property is anticipated to hold classes and educational activities around the start of the new year, or winter quarter for the college.