Elwha Watershed Information Resource
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People and Communities

The description of current economic and demographic conditions is based largely on an August 2007 report prepared by the Battelle Memorial Institute under contract with NOAA's Coastal Services Center.
People & Communities focuses on the people of the Elwha watershed. This section includes general information on the current economy and demographics of people living in the watershed, as well as more specific information on the history and culture of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

Learn more about the people and communities of the Elwha region:

The Region: This section focuses on basic economic and demongraphic information associated with the Elwha watershed. Components include:

  • The People: Baseline demographic data for the county is being collected prior to dam removal, including statistics on population, ethnicity, age, gender, and education.
  • The Economy: Baseline economic data for the county is being collected prior to dam removal, including statistics on employers, income, and unemployment.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe: The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is one of three tribes that comprise the Klallam people today. This section focuses on tribal history, language, culture, and life on the reservation today. Tribal information is divided into four sections:

  • Tribal History and Periods: Includes the history of the tribes in the Elwha watershed, important treaties, and the recent discovery of the ancient village of Tse-whit-zen.
  • Elwha Culture: Stories and legends, canoe journeys, art, and a glimse of life on the reservation today are included in this section.
  • Elwha Language: The Klallam language is an integral part of their culture. This section focuses on the role the Klallam language plays in the community.
  • Relationship with Resources: Olympic mountains and Elwha river are integral components of the past, present, and future of the Elwha Klallam Tribe.

Photographs and Interviews: This section provides links to transcripts of interviews with tribal members and a database of photographs of tribal evenets.

Gallery: Collection of photographs from the Elwha Klallam Tribe.