SUQUAMISH — Visitors and canoe pullers planning to follow the tide to the 2009 Tribal Journeys will notice several large changes in Suquamish. But the underlying flow of the new buildings and projects being planned follows the tribe’s long-standing goal: revitalizing the culture and traditions of the Suquamish people.

Designs and fund-raising efforts have begun for a new Suquamish Museum and Traditional Community House, as residents and tribal members prepare for the Tribal Journeys. The event is expected to bring 6,000-10,000 people to the community.

“I think the main purpose of all of these projects is looking to the future of the tribe, especially a cultural resurgence,” said Suquamish Foundation director Michael Felts. The foundation was created to raise and manage the $20 million needed to fund the host of projects. “Most of these projects are going in downtown, which is a return to the cultural center of the community.”

In addition to a new museum and community house, which will be used for tribal celebrations and gatherings, a new dock is slated to be built, a welcoming totem pole will be erected on the corner of South Street and Suquamish Way — where the “Land in the Sky” totem pole stood for 40 years before it was removed in July 2005. A new baseball diamond is also being created on Totten Road and Chief Sealth’s grave will be refurbished before the Tribal Journeys rows into town, said Suquamish Tribal engineer Bob Gatz.

“The museum is planned to be on Division Road and Suquamish Way,” he said, noting that it would be across the street from the new tribal center on Suquamish Way. “The community house will be located downtown, and it will be very traditional. Both will be single-story wood structures.”

Half of the project funds will be generated by the tribe, Felts said. The other half will come from grants and contributions. Both tribal and non-tribal members serve on the Suquamish Foundation Board and are helping decide what amenities each building will feature, Felts said.

“The dock and some other projects have economic facets as well as cultural purposes,” he said. “We’re developing a relationship with Seattle to form eco-tourism in the area. These projects will provide a development, cultural and economic boost to Suquamish.”

Construction on the projects is expected to begin either this year or next, once plans and permitting cycles have been approved, Gatz and Felts said. All are expected to be ready by summer 2009, they added.

“I see these being used for both cultural and ceremonial uses,” Gatz said. “I think that will be really good for the tribe.”