The Seattle Times continues its special report this week on the discovery of a major village of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington.
Part 3 focuses on how the state could have gone ahead with construction in an area known to have been the home of a Klallam village. A newspaper report in the 1920s noted the discovery of tribal remains at the very same site.
But no one thought or seemed to care about it. "If anybody had said, 'Do you understand that you are going to spend the next year and a half of your life dealing with the implications and the contents of this site in relation to Native Americans?' you would have said, 'You've come to the wrong party. I don't see any Native Americans here. Are there Native Americans here in Port Angeles?'" Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald recalled to the paper.
The mistake was a costly one. After spending about $60 million, the state agreed to halt work at the site when the tribe objected. Tribal leaders had earlier signed an agreement to allow work but the discovery of more than 330 ancestors changed their minds.
The Seattle Times website [Link]
contains more information, resources and a slideshow about the village.
Get the Story:"Walking together" meant walking away from project (The Seattle Times 5/24) Relevant Links:
Tse-Whit-Zen Village News - http://tse-whit-zen.elwha.nsn.us
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - http://www.elwha.org Related Stories:
Seattle Times: Unearthing Tse-whit-zen Village (5/23)
Lawmaker defends proposed land swap with tribe (04/13)
Washington tribe rejects offer on village site (03/29)
2005 Paddle Journey to end at Tse-whit-zen village (03/15)
Washington tribe backs probe into work at village (1/31)
Washington tribe still affected by excavation of village (1/27)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe tells panel of racism (01/20)
Healing ceremony held at Klallam village (1/17)
Talks continue over future of Klallam village (1/11)
Top official set to abandon work at Klallam village (12/17)
Washington officials won't oppose tribe on village (12/16)
Meeting scheduled on future of Klallam tribal village (12/14)
Editorial: Work at Klallam tribal village should stop (12/14)
Washington tribe wants construction stopped (12/13)
Editorial: Let tribe complete work on village (12/03)
Washington tribe to discuss future of village (11/29)
Construction at tribal burial site still in dispute (11/18)
Washington tribe wants work stopped at bridge site (10/08)
Discovery of village strains Washington tribe (07/28)
Klallam village in Washington larger than expected (7/23)
Klallam village in Washington called significant find (07/14)
Washington tribe helping with removal of remains (04/20)
State to pay for reburial of Klallam ancestors (04/13)
Wash. tribe to sign agreement for reburial of ancestors (03/16)
Tribal remains used as landfill at mill site (11/07)
Wash. negotiating with tribe on handling of remains (10/15)
State, tribe mum on discovery of remains at worksite (09/12)