Stewart Huntington
ICT
TACOMA, Washington — The Puyallup Tribe is moving uptown.
Well, actually downtown after receiving a donation of a 22,000-square-foot former community center near downtown Tacoma.
Local business Alma, LLC, donated its former downtown Tacoma community center to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. The landmark building, once a thriving venue for arts, food, and community events, is now officially under the stewardship of the tribe.
“Today is a very exciting day for the Puyallup Tribal Nation,” Councilmember Annette M. Bryan told ICT. “This gift of this beautiful building in downtown Tacoma, which is our ancestral homelands, is somewhat of a miracle, if you think about it, because usually our land is taken from us. It’s not given back to us. And so we are just completely honored and thrilled.”
From 2018 to 2023, the building operated as a vibrant gathering space for music, art, and cultural exchange. It featured a café, rooftop event area, and indoor performance hall with a capacity of 500 — hosting everything from community markets and dance nights to cultural celebrations spotlighting Native and other BIPOC creators.
The building transfer was finalized on Monday, July 28.
“This building was always intended for the people of Tacoma,” representatives from Alma said in a statement. “We could think of no better recipient than the Puyallup people, who have cared for this land since time immemorial. Their leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to cultural values and to the local community deeply inspire us.”
The building was donated with no strings attached — an uncommon gesture that reflects the growing movement to restore land and resources to Indigenous stewardship.
“Tacoma was built on some ancestral tribal village sites, especially by the mouth of the river,” Bryan said. “And so it’s really exciting to have this opportunity to get back a small piece.”
The Puyallup Tribal Council will assign staff to explore future uses for the space, aligning it with the tribe’s values and community priorities.
“We are looking at a couple parcels next to the building that have dilapidated houses on it and one’s a vacant lot,” said Bryan. “Maybe acquiring those to expand the property and parking opportunities.”
The transaction was facilitated by Anpo, an Indigenous-led nonprofit, which supports land return, language preservation, and cultural revitalization in Native communities.
“The Puyallup people have always been stewards of the land, water, and salmon — not just for their own community, but for all who call this place home,” said Jodi Archambault, founding president and chief executive of Anpo. “This gift recognizes that deep responsibility and honors a truth that’s long been known here: when Indigenous leadership thrives, the whole region benefits. We are proud to stand alongside the tribe as they continue to shape a more just and vibrant future.”
Fresh off a tour of the building on Monday with other tribal council members, Bryan thought about the national picture.
“This is unprecedented here for the tribe,” she said. “And unfortunately in Indian Country. And so I hope that others will follow the lead on this kind of Landback donation and really think about the tribes in your area.”
And she also thought about the local picture, imagining the things the tribe might do with the property – for its members and for the broader community.
“Stay tuned,” she said, smiling.
