‘Nation to Nation’ talk focuses on partnerships

Chairman shares inner workings of government

Posted

Wind battered the windows of the Northwest Maritime Center Friday afternoon as a mix of roughly 40 city, county and port officials, historians, educators, business people and tribal members gathered to discuss partnerships with S'Klallam tribes on the Peninsula.

Outside, Port Townsend Bay was crashing with tempestuous waves, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and the conversation on “Nation Within a Nation Relationships" was focused on working together.

“We not only share this land and the water that surrounds us and all the creatures that call this land home, but we also share some of the same challenges,” said Mayor Deborah Stinson as she opened the meeting. “How can we manage the change and the chaos with few resources? We all do much better when we work together.”

The afternoon kicked off with honoring tribal elder Marlin Holden, the great-great-grandson of Chief Chetzemoka, for his work in environmental protection and keeping S'Klallam traditions alive.

“Marlin shows us how to work together,” said former county commissioner Kathleen Kler. “We want to say thank you to Marlin for knowing how to share two cultures.”

Both Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe, and Frances Charles, chairwoman of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe, attended the meeting and gave updates on the work they are doing in their communities.

Allen started off the discussion by explaining the inner workings of tribal government, and how they interact within state government and federal government to advocate for their people, for the environment, for preserving their traditions and for their economies.

“What is our standing as a government in the American family of governments?” Allen asked. “For many generations that relationship was off the radar. But in the last 30 to 40 years, things have changed.”

Allen and Charles joked that they see each other less often in Washington state than they cross paths in Washington, DC, where they are often lobbying for the rights of native people.

But at home, they are equally busy and hope to be involved with local government issues as well.

“Keep us in the loop,” Allen said. “We’re partners in the communities.”

A prime example of this is the upcoming opening of the Chetzemoka Interpretive Trail, a sign tour through Port Townsend to honor the last hereditary chief of the S'Klallam people, Chief Chetzemoka. The opening ceremony for the trail will take place June 29, the same date that the Northwest Maritime Center will be receiving a totem pole and canoe from the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe.

Allen said that he and Jake Beattie, director of the Northwest Maritime Center, have been in discussions about expanding native maritime education at the center.

“We have been talking with Jake about a seafood outlet or a cafe down here,” Allen said. “Not only would it bring traffic down Water Street, but it would be an expansion of our seafood operation.”

Meanwhile, Charles said the Lower Elwha S'Klallam tribe is also partnering with Port Angeles city officials to expand their convenience store, and partnering with the Port Angeles waterfront to build a longhouse.

Both Charles and Allen mentioned the importance of education and informing tourists about the history and culture of the S'Klallam tribes on the Peninsula.

“We do have to deal with anti-Indian rhetoric and racism,” Allen said. “Today’s environment is not encouraging. We have to counter that rhetoric.”

One way to increase that education would be to have Port Townsend street signs in both English and Klallam, Charles said. Port Angeles downtown streets are signed in that way.

“That has made a big difference to recognizing our tribes,” she said. “I challenge you in Port Townsend to start looking at those Klallam names.”

Celeste Dybeck, a Jamestown elder and an initiator of the Chetzemoka interpretive trail project, said that the idea to add Klallam names to Port Townsend street signs is one that is in the works, and could be in the works once the trail project is complete.