MATTAWA - Leaders of the Wanapum Band of Native American peoples and Grant County Public Utility District officials broke ground last week for the long-planned new Wanapum Heritage Center.

The new heritage center will be located on the ancestral grounds of the Wanapum tribe near Priest Rapids Dam. The 50,000 square-foot facility is intended to protect, preserve and perpetuate the culture, traditions and identity of the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids.

"This day will long be remembered after many of us are gone," said Wanapum tribal leader Rex Buck, Jr. "The new Heritage Center is built for the Wanapum, the people of Grant County and visitors throughout the world so that the identity of the Wanapum will never die and be forgotten."

According to Grant PUD spokeswoman Sarah Morford, the PUD and the Wanapum tribe have worked together for more than 60 years to preserve the natural and cultural resources of the lands surrounding Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. Brought together in the 1950s with the federal licensing of the dams, the groups committed to a long-lasting relationship built on mutual trust and respect, she said.

As construction on the dams began, the Wanapum stood in support of the utility, Morford said. In return, Grant PUD provided the Wanapum an opportunity to maintain their traditional culture and religious lifestyle at their ancestral home.

"This new Wanapum Heritage Center is a solid example of the power of trust between Grant PUD and the Wanapum Band," Grant PUD Interim General Manager Tony Webb said. "By working together, future generations will understand the importance of the natural resources along the Columbia River. The culture, traditions and beliefs of the Wanapum will be perpetuated for generations to come."

The $20 million Wanapum Heritage Center will feature exhibit space for temporary and permanent displays. It will also have a repository and collection facility, a library, staff offices and an open space for large group activities, conferences, demonstrations, trainings and living culture programs.

Construction is anticipated to be complete in mid-2014.