Tacoma artist Shaun Peterson, who also took on the native Puyallup name Qwalsius in 2005, created a 22-foot-tall carved figure for Tollefson Plaza. The figure is a woman in a white dress with a Thunderbird design and woven cedar hat, and she welcomes visitors of all cultures to what was once a key village site for the Puyallup people. Tacomaculture.org calls her "Tacoma's first truly indigenous monument," and she'll be unveiled (and blessed) Saturday morning. Peterson views his native name, which was also that of his great-grandfather, as symbolic of a responsibility to honor his family, ancestors and tribe through his life and work.  It's ... kind of a big deal, and so is this unveiling.

[Tollefson Plaza, 10 a.m. - noon, free, 17^th and Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.591.5200]