Bonita Cleveland, the chairwoman of the Quileute Tribe of Washington, will testify at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday.

Cleveland will testify in support of S. 636. The bill transfers 772 acres within Olympic National Park to the tribe in order to move reservation residents out of a tsunami and flood zone.

“It’s an honor to represent my people during this historic event," Cleveland told The Peninsula Daily News. “I carry the spirit of the entire village with me as well as the spirit of all the elders and ancestors who dedicated their service to this effort

Get the Story:
Quileute tribal chairwoman to testify to Senate committee about need for higher ground (The Peninsula Daily News 4/13)

Committee Notice:
HEARING on S. 636, A bill to provide the Quileute Indian Tribe Tsunami and Flood Protection, and for other purposes; S. 703, the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 201l; and S. 546, the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2011 (April 14, 2011)

Related Stories:
Bill introduced to take Quileute Tribe away from tsunami zone (3/18)
Washington tribes evacuate coast in response to tsunami threats (3/11)
Quileute Tribe asks Sen. Cantwell to support federal land swap (2/24)
New chair of Quileute Tribe calls federal land swap a major priority (1/27)
Bill resolves long-running boundary dispute with Quileute Tribe (12/17)
Quileute Tribe reaches deal for park land transfer (7/28)
Quileute Tribe to meet over park boundary dispute (10/12)
Quileute Tribe, National Park Service in dispute (10/5)