MARK WAITE / PVT Johnny Bobb says a prayer and beats on a drum as he circles a hole where tribal members planted a willow during the dedication of the Timbisha-Shoshone Community Center in Furnace Creek. Advertisement

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. -- Members of the Timbisha-Shoshone tribe commemorated the completion of their community center at Furnace Creek Saturday morning, planting a willow tree in a traditional ceremony.

"This hole is here in the middle of Mother Earth. This hole is sacred," said Johnnie Bobb, a member of the Yomba tribe near Austin before the planting.

Bobb walked clockwise around the hole, reciting a prayer in English and Shoshone, while waving some sweet-smelling, burning sage. He beat on a drum and sang a song.

Afterwards about 60 people standing in a circle around the site were invited to place some sage in the hole and pour some water.

"Put it in a hole, say something to it. Put a little prayer in there," Bobb urged the crowd. "The traditional ways are very important."

A few participants, like longtime Timbisha Shoshone resident Pauline Esteves, said a prayer in Shoshone while she placed some sage in the offering.

Tribal Chairman Joe Kennedy said the tribe had desired to get a community center started in 2001. The tribe received a $550,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to build the 3,500 square-foot community center.

"When I ran for the council this was my goal to get these buildings up. It took three years," Kennedy said. "We had a long process of trying to get this going."

Kennedy applauded the construction crew, McGuinness Construction Company of Lovelock, for building the community center in 129 degree heat in Death Valley. It was completed in late September.

Tribal members held a general council meeting in the new community center after the ceremony and lunch.

The Timbisha Shoshone received title to 7,240 acres of land during a ceremony on January 2000. Their other holdings include land at Death Valley Junction, near Lida in Esmeralda County and at Scotty's Junction on Highway 95.

The community center will be used for meetings and for visits by doctors or counselors. An exhibit of tribal arts and crafts is also being considered.

"On behalf of the Timbisha village we're real grateful for the building and we can't wait to move in," tribal administrator Barbara Durham said. "We can't wait for the AC."