The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is one of three tribes that comprise the Klallam people today. The Klallam people and their ancestors have lived and fished along what is now known as the Strait of Juan de Fuca since time immemorial. The Klallam people ceded their broad land claims to the government in the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point in exchange for certain promises, including the right to keep fishing in their traditional territory. Over the next century, those rights were severely eroded. The 1974 Boldt decision reaffirmed the tribe's fishing rights, and the removal of the Elwha River dams holds promise for returning significant amounts of salmon to the tribe's traditional fishing spots along the river. Salmon has historically been the tribe's mainstay food source, but they also gathered shellfish and vegetation and hunted whales, elk, and deer. In recent years, the tribe has reunited and has experienced a cultural reawakening. The rediscovery of the ancient village of Tse-whit-zen has helped spark a renewed interest in the Klallam language and tribal history.
Learn more about the tribe's history by clicking on the links below:
Timeline: A timeline of events starting in the 1700s, which includes key events that have impacted the tribe.
History: 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 Lower Elwha Reservation was established in 1968, over a century after the tribe surrendered their land in the Treaty of Point No Point. During the intervening years, tribal members 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. 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.
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.
Fishing, Hunting, and Gathering: Information about traditional Klallam fishing and whaling activities.