Members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington said the controversy over a tribal village has brought racist attitudes to the forefront once again.

The tribe has been threatened with boycotts and other protests for opposing work at the village. Tribal members told the Port Angeles Multicultural Task Force that the reaction is indicative of the racism they have felt for years.

The state halted work at the Tse-whit-zen village last month. The site, which contains hundreds of remains and thousands of artifacts, is considered one of the most important in the Pacific Northwest.

"The biggest archaeological discovery in the state they did in 15 months,'' tribal member Monica Charles was quoted as saying. "It should have taken 20 years."

The task force will continue taking testimony at the tribal center next Tuesday.

Get the Story:
Tribe tells of years of bias in Port Angeles (The Peninsula Daily News 1/19)
Multicultural Task Force meets again next week (The Peninsula Daily News 1/19)
Local lawmakers urge Gregoire, Lower Elwha to meet over Port Angeles graving yard (The Peninsula Daily News 1/19)
In Olympia, graving yard discussion yet to come before state Transportation Commission (The Peninsula Daily News 1/19)
No chance to restart Port Angeles graving yard, state Transportation Commission told (The Peninsula Daily News 1/20)

Relevant Links:
Tse-Whit-Zen Village News - http://tse-whit-zen.elwha.nsn.us
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - http://www.elwha.org

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