Beaver Tales Coffee and on the Coupeville Wharf will serve as the creative hub for the newly approved Coupeville Creative District.

Michelle Cladusbid and her husband Tony Cladusbid, a member of the Swinomish Tribal Community, own Beaver Tales Coffee. The couple have dreamed of creating an inclusive cultural center for more than five years.

They opened Beaver Tales on Coupeville’s wharf in March 2024 and have sponsored weekly community events since September.

Thanks to its new creative district designation, Beaver Tales is now home to the swədəbš Cultural Center. The word swədəbš has a couple of pronunciations: “Schwedobs” or “Schwedops” which means People of the Salmon in the Coast Salish Lushootseed language, Michelle Cladusbid explained.

“More than anything it is important that folks understand that the swədəbš Cultural Center, while originally the vision of Beaver Tales Coffee, is now a collaborative project and Creative Hub,” Michelle Claudusbid wrote. “Tony and I, while working to acknowledge Indigenous presence — ‘We Are Still Here,’ is a phrase we often use when people ask us ‘…Are there still Indians?’ Yes, yes, there are. We are working to bring forth history and culture showing that our indigenous peoples are not just surviving but thriving. We have always supported artists and businesses — native and non-native.”

With the intention of strengthening the community’s cultural fabric, the Coupeville Creative District was certified by the Washington Arts Commission, or ArtsWA, last November. Other creative districts certified since the program’s 2017 inception include Langley, Edmonds, Port Townsend and Olympia, among others.

“Every creative district is required to have a community project and Beaver Tales is our community project,” Lisa Bernhardt, President and Administrator of the CCD. “Yes, we do need to shine a light on our Indigenous history. The biggest thing Michelle and I are unified on is for the public to understand that it’s a cultural hub for all creatives. The creative economy of Washington State represents 8% of our state’s GDP — there’s economic incentive.”

She added that the Pacific NorthWest Art School administers the creative district as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

In addition to its collaboration with Beaver Tales, Bernhardt said the creative district includes the Pacific NorthWest Art School, which, for nearly 40 years, has attracted faculty and students nationwide.

“It also includes our partners in the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce, the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, the Town of Coupeville, the Island County Historical Museum and the Coupeville Festival Association,” Bernhardt added. “It represents the culinary artists, the gallery artists, the museum, and all our festivals from Mussel Fest, Water Fest, to the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival.”