Fundraising is underway for the Chetzemoka interpretive trail, a sign tour through Port Townsend to honor the last hereditary chief of the S’Klallam people, Chief Chetzemoka.

The trail, a project of the Native Connections Action Group of the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, in partnership with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, will feature 19 sites throughout Port Townsend.

At each site, signs will offer historic information about Chief Chetzemoka (pronounced Cheech-ma-han; later changed by settlers to Chetzemoka) and the S’Klallam people of the 19th century, as well as the impact of the arrival of European settlers and connections to present-day S’Klallam people.

While the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is working to write and authenticate the historic information on each sign and paying for permits and other costs, the Native Connections Action Group hopes to raise $50,000 to cover the cost of making the signs.

“Our goal is to get our money secured by the end of the year,” said Jamestown S’Klallam Elder Celeste Dybeck, who also is a member of the Native Connections Action Group. “Right now, we’re just shy of $12,000.”

The project already has secured a matching donor, Harbor Wholesale Foods, which plans to match the first $15,000 raised.

With the help of community donations, the Native Connection Actions Group hopes the match will quickly bring fundraising up to $30,000.

Dybeck said they hope to have secured the money in full by January. They plan to have the signs finalized and made by April and have a ribbon cutting of the interpretive trail on June 29, which is the 133rd anniversary of Chief Chetzemoka’s death. The ribbon cutting is set to take place at Memorial Field.

“We’ve been very well-received by everybody,” said Dybeck, who added that some of the signs had been sponsored by organizations and community members invested in the project.

Several sites on the trail will be located in the downtown historic district, but they extend to other areas, including uptown, Laurel Grove Cemetery, the Port Townsend Golf Course, North Beach and Fort Worden State Park.

There will be three possible loops to the trail: one 3-mile, one 6-mile and one 12-mile loop for walking, cycling or driving.

More information about the sites along the trail will be available through a web-based exhibit that will be accessible via QR Codes on the signs, and in a booklet that will be for sale at retail outlets.

Two large map signs, one at Pope Marine Park and one at Chetzemoka Park, as well as free printed maps, will guide people along the trail.

Checks may be made out to Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship with Chetzemoka Trail in the memo line and mailed to Native Connections Action Group, PO Box 303, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Questions can be addressed to Jo Blair at 360-385-5999 or barbarablair@mac.com, or Maria Mendes at maria.mendes@snet.net.

Current information about the Chetzemoka Trail and Native Connections Action Group can be found at quuf.org/about-quuf/committees/native-peoples.