Elwha Watershed Information Resource

A canoe enters Port Angeles Harbor during the Tribal Canoe Journey 2005, "Paddle to the Lower Elwha," Michelle Charles

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: This section includes the history of the tribes in the Elwha watershed, important treaties, and the recent discovery of the ancient village of Tse-whit-zen.

• Timeline: A timeline of events starting in the 1700s, which includes key events that have impacted the Tribe.
• History: Tells a brief history of the Tribe's lifestyle, first contact with explorers, and their villages and governments.
• Point No Point Treaty and Other Treaties: The Tribe was a signatory to the Treaty of Point No Point in 1855. The Tribe agreed to surrender their land claims in exchange for certain assurances. In the treaty, the Tribe agreed to share their fishing rights with the new settlers, but the Tribe would retain the right to fish at their "usual and accustomed" places.
• Elwha River Restoration: Two dams built on the Elwha River in the early 1900s have had significant negative impacts on salmon runs and restricted tribal fishing rights.
• Elwha Reservation: The Elwha Reservation was became federally recognized in 1968--over a century after the Tribe surrendered their land in the Treaty of Point No Point. During the intervening years, Klallams faced many struggles to obtain lands near their traditional territory.
• Ancient Village: Tse-whit-zen: Nestled in the crook of what is now Port Angeles Harbor, the ancient village of Tse-whit-zen (pronounced ch-WHEET-son) flourished for over 2,700 years and dates back to 750 B.C. However, after its disappearance it was buried for over 100 years and rediscovered in 2003.
• Finding Tse-whit-zen: A local Port Angeles construction project led to the rediscovery of the ancient tribal village of Tse-whit-zen and unearthed over 300 graves. Artifacts from the archaeological dig at Tse-whit-zen shed clues on what life was like in the tribal village and what might have happened to its inhabitants.
• Fishing, Hunting, and Gathering: Information about traditional Klallam fishing and whaling activities.

Elwha Culture: This section focuses on the culture of the Elwha Klallam Tribe.

• Resource Use: The natural resources (such as the Olympic Mountains and the Elwha River) that surrounded the Tribe provided them with everything they needed. The Tribe has always respected these resources and many of the Tribe’s sacred sites are located along the river and in the mountains.
• Stories from Our Ancestors: Content under development by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
• Salmon in Elwha Culture: Salmon was the most important part of the Tribe’s traditional diet and the Tribe had great respect for the salmon. The Tribe often celebrated important salmon events (for example, in the First Salmon Ceremony), and the Tribe had taboos--that is, special rules--for catching, preparing, and eating salmon.
• Canoe Journeys: Canoe travel was an essential part of traditional coastal tribal culture. However, the once flourishing Northwest canoe culture deteriorated over the 20th century and many tribes no longer even owned ceremonial canoes. The 1989 Paddle to Seattle sparked a renewed interest in the canoe culture and the inter-tribal canoe journey has developed into an annual event.
• Art: Content under development by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
• Elders: Content under development by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
• Life on the Reservation Today: Content under development by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.

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: The Olympic Mountains and Elwha River are integral components of the past, present, and future of the Elwha Klallam Tribe.