The commissioners did not respond to yesterday's email asking why proponents of renaming the courthouse had requested contact information for people who oppose renaming it. Here is today's email:
Dear Commissioners,
The Clallam County Courthouse is not yours to rename. It belongs to the people of this county—past, present, and future. The courthouse is a historic public building that represents generations of citizens who built this community long before any of you held office. As elected officials, you are temporary stewards, not owners with the authority to rebrand or repurpose our shared heritage. We have already seen decisions where public assets—like Towne Road and even our county parks—are treated as though they could simply be handed away. The courthouse should not become another example. This should never happen without clear, broad support from the citizens whose building it actually is.
Modeled response from an individual commissioner applying good-governance principles
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for taking the time to write. I hear the concern in your message, and I agree with the principle that the Clallam County Courthouse is not a private asset of current officeholders. It is a public building with historic and civic meaning, and any proposal affecting its name or public identity should be approached with humility, transparency, and respect for the people of this county. The courthouse was built in 1914 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which reinforces that it is more than a functional building; it is part of Clallam County’s public history (Clallam County, n.d.; National Park Service, 1987/2011).
I also want to be clear about the legal framework. Under Washington law, the Board of County Commissioners has authority over county property and county business, but that authority must be exercised by the board through lawful public process, not by personal preference or informal action (RCW 36.32.120; Clallam County, n.d.). Public business must be conducted openly, and the public has the right to attend and observe meetings where such matters are considered (RCW 42.30.030).
As an individual commissioner, I do not believe a historic public building like the Clallam County Courthouse should be renamed absent broad and clearly demonstrated public support. At this time, based on the concerns I have heard, I am not persuaded that threshold has been met. I would be more supportive of exploring other ways to recognize Justice Owens that do not alter the name of the courthouse itself.
Legality, however, is only the floor. Good governance asks more of us than whether we technically can act. It asks whether we have listened carefully, whether the process has been open enough to earn public confidence, and whether the outcome will strengthen rather than divide the community. Clallam County itself recognizes preservation of local cultural heritage as a legitimate public responsibility through its Heritage Advisory Board, which exists to advise the Board of Commissioners on matters related to preserving the county’s cultural heritage (Clallam County, n.d.).
For that reason, I do not believe a decision of this kind should be rushed or treated as symbolic housekeeping. If a historic public landmark is to be renamed, the board should be able to show not only legal authority, but also a transparent process, a clear public purpose, and meaningful community support. Even when a board has the power to act, it still has a duty to steward shared institutions in a way that respects those who came before us, those who are here now, and those who will inherit this county after we are gone.
Thank you again for speaking up. Public input is not an obstacle to good government; it is one of the ways good government is tested.
"The commissioners did not respond to yesterday's email asking..." You must have this phrase saved somewhere to copy and paste. I see it EVERY TIME. lol
A public landmark is not a canvas for temporary power. If officials intend to rename shared civic heritage, they must combine clear legal authority with enough durable public trust to ensure the decision outlasts their term.
This proverb is grounded in local, state, and national public-stewardship principles. At the Clallam County level, the county’s Heritage Advisory Board exists to advise the Board of Commissioners on preserving the county’s cultural heritage, and the county charter requires board action to occur through an open, public process rather than personal discretion (Clallam County, Washington, 1976, 2024a, 2024b). At the Washington State level, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation describes heritage resources as part of our “collective shared heritage” and frames their stewardship as a shared responsibility, while the State Historic Preservation Plan emphasizes that shared heritage shapes both present community identity and future decisions (Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, n.d., 2020). At the national level, the Clallam County Courthouse is already recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its political/governmental and architectural significance, reinforcing that it is more than a functional building; it is a civic landmark with historic meaning that extends beyond any one officeholder’s term (National Park Service, 1987/2026).
Great article Jeff. Thank you once again. As human beings, we are supposed to learn from our past. If history keeps getting buried and modified to make someone feel better, where are the lessons? How can the next generation learn?
Jeff, excellent article. I love history but I am not in favor of what are local leaders are doing to this county. I think they forgot who they represent here. We are the tax payers who pay their salaries but it seems they do not have our best interests at hand. Hopefully residents remember when it’s time to vote in our elected officials….
But, if you ignore heritage, force businesses to shut down, drive people out, and do all that you can to depopulate and deindustrialize the area, the cheaper and easier it becomes to purchase the once-valuable land to add to the "reservation". Like Communist creep-- they're in it for the long haul. If they can depopulate the entire Olympic Peninsula, the movement to re-wild it, with the Tribe's "managing" it, becomes closer to reality.
I am in Idaho now. My Congressman holds bi-monthly phone-in conferences-- like zoom without the video-- where people express their needs and problems and the Congressman's staff notes the issues and DOES something about them. Imagine-- a government that represents the constituents instead of themselves and their cronies! We read, in the newspapers, how people opposed a wind farm so the politicians shut the project down! The legislation is CUTTING the 2026 budget by 4%, not finding new ways to gouge the taxpayers. You don't see fentanyl addicts living on the streets-- neither is tolerated.
"Why can't Clallam County and WA be like that?" John, With proper, qualified leadership, they could! Return! from Idaho and VOTE FOR JAKE! MUCH IS AT STAKE!
Well, I can't vote in WA anymore, as a card-carryin', gun-totin', MAGA hat wearin' Idahoan, but I can continue to stir up shit from afar and will continue to be a keyboard activist and thorn in the side to the miscreant politicans, as well as financial support to Jeff, Jake, and others if I can.
I do! And since the Democrat election officials do not check residence, I could cast lots and lots and lots of conservative votes in WA-- we know they do nothing to stop it because they assume it is their ignorant slime that will cast more votes for THEM! Ha! Fight fire with fire, eh? Seriously, as tempting as that would be, I believe in integrity. In fact, that may be what's wrong with conservatives-- they have too much integrity to cheat and no experience to catch the slime that DOES cheat.
The Olympic Peninsula is second only to Yosemite as far as beauty is concerned, and I have many friends still there. OF COURSE I care-- for you folks reading this too. I am one of you, in spirit, but the constant ire was literally making me sick. I get nauseous when I read about the BS the Democrats are doing, and my blood pressure has reached dangerous levels from their misdeeds. So, we sought asylum in Idaho, and so far, we are loving it. Weather is just a tad colder/warmer than Sequim, with only 7" rain/yr. Plus, we went from a tiny hovel to a spacious mansion (by comparison) so now are kids can visit and now have to endure a 3 hour drive from Seatac or stay in a motel or airbnb-- we actually have room to accommodate their visits-- SIMULTANEOUSLY! And the stairs are helping to restore dangerously-lost muscles that happens to many of us old farts. Walking may be good cardio, but it does little for leg strength. If you're over 70 or so, try getting up off the floor. You may be shocked. So, we are very happy here, but miss our friends and the gorgeous scenery in Sequim. It was a very hard decision.
And, Jennifer, I appreciate your comment but it's she, not he. Few men would declare themselves to be unimportant, LOL.
Denise, the trade-offs are high, as I wrote below, but sometimes on has to make the leap, even at age 76. It's rarely an easy decision but it's nice to know that Idaho is a refuge waiting for you. Life is too short (at 76) to keep hoping for significant change. I want to enjoy my final days in peace, not mired up to my neck in bullshit, no matter how pretty the views.
"The only constant is change." - Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher. "He who controls the language controls the people." - George Orwell, modern author and sage. One of the issues I see, not just locally but nationally, is that students are not taught real history in school these days, and this, have some trouble separating fact from fallacy. A real community embraces local history as a glue that binds them together, using it both as a celebration of the hard work of those who came before them experienced to create an ever-evolving community, and as a blueprint to help guide the community to a successful, cohesive future. Jeff, this is a stark reminder of what can happen to a community that forgets its historical past.
Panta Rei - have a small sign in my studio that my Mom made as a reminder about change in her gardens... yes, change is constant, but forgetting the history is truly sad.
So much of what Jeff reminds us about our area is a part of my upbringing as well. I'm struggling with this one, Jeff. It's hard to not just be angry that landmarks that are woven into the fabric of our County are being TAKEN from us. It appears the offspring of our County's Founding Father's are the only ones not allowed to celebrate their history - just bankroll erasing it.
Jeff, you have written a beautiful tribute to your family of 6 generations, the friends and neighbors, Tribal and non-Tribal, throughout these generations, and for all the generations to come. You told your story and that of CC in this article not to grieve the loss of the past, but to look forwsrd with hope of restoring its humanity. Your family and friends are grateful for and proud of you. Thank you.
Also, why my dad moved here back in 1986, along with all of the family...and me. He had a deep heritage here. Coming out camping with his family growing up in the 1950's. My grandfather helped build the roads with the CCC (The Civilian Conservation Corps) back in the 1930's. He loved the area. However, it wasn't possible to move his family from Seattle out here. He DID, however, move out here in the late 1990's as a resident of Fifth Avenue Sr. Independent Living in Sequim. I would visit my grandparents there.
Much of this history pre-dates the totem poles, the Blyn "takeover", etc. So, where is MY heritage? Where is EVERYONE'S heritage? How is this "inclusive"?
Heritage is an interesting topic that I find even more "interesting" with the advent of DNA, 23 and Me, and the internet in-general. How timely this discussion is. I am third generation Clallamite Native, and even in my short time of 73 years, have watched heritage of some being overshadowed by others, and their agendas. I was reading a short history of the Olympic Hotsprings Resort, yesterday, and how it was annexed into ONP, unceremoniously and eventually closed, as I recall well. We lost sizeable revenue and tourist draw to the Olympic Peninsula, with that event, and others, including the numerous resorts that dotted the shores of Lake Crescent, Lake Sutherland, and the coastline all the way to Ocean Shores, with multiple supporting businesses in the form of gas stations, mom and pop grocery/hardware/outfitter, with tackle shop enterprises and restaurants that no longer exist. The Port Angeles, Salmon Derby, alone, drew fishers from all over the world, with Derby Days celebrations lasting over a week. The former AGGIES Motel in Port Angeles was booked all summer long, with the former Chinook, Flagstone, et al. motels booming. The demise of the Hurricane Ridge Lodge (intwerp center), wash-out of Olympic Hotsprings Road, Aldwell and Glines Canyon Dams removal, numerous other sites, campgrounds and family-oriented activities, all but gone. Various Amphitheaters with campfire talk sites during summer evenings within ONP are now inaccessible or have been "let-go", having been severely impacted by resources being commandeered by minority factions, to accommodate "fish, and cultural heritage", while reducing economic opportunities, and livelihoods for local tax payers and lifelong residents. The Olympic Hotsprings inpacted several, if not numerous family heritages, including the Schoeffel, Everett, and all the families who supported the resort. We hear that road maintenence and acessibility were a major reasons for the closure, and I can understand that, having worked for ONP in Maintenance and Utilities for 22+ years, as a Seasoal and Fulltime employee. I worked the Elwha Valley all the way to the former resort and campground (which still exists), inaccessibly. Aerial trams have created opportunities all over the world to reduce "boots on ground" in sensitive areas, or access, yet the Olympic Peninsula is being "saved" for reasons unknown to many. Cancelled heritages, indeed. We have tribal casinos, concert venues, golf courses with short-term rentals within walking distances, all owned by "sovereign nations" within the United States of America. All of these activities encourage obesity and ensuing health issues, while texting selfies to the folks back home instead of exercising with fresh air. Most "locals" from my observations have maintained a robust healthy lifestyle, accordingly. Why was it we moved to Palm Springs North, honey? I've covered a lot of ground, here, but the dots are there if one cares to connect them. We have the resources, but we need to stop giving them away to those who effectively increase taxes via non-contribution, and restrict our earned use.
ANDREA, why isn't there recognition for our forefathers? Who honestly settled the land? It's great that natives were here, but who made it to where it is today? How did the Tribe improve and make the roads, building and infrastructures? What they have built or improved was with our money. What the settlers did was with their backbreaking hands and money. If the funding was cut off today, the Tribe would collapse.
I don't think they'd collapse, they have too much of a reserve set up. I just think they'd shift the way they do things to adapt to the current market. Nothing about heritage, for sure!
Yes. As far as I know, (because a read the book about him) Dale Faulstich made most of the totem poles here. They are beautiful. Some are a little scary-looking, but I love the totem poles. My grandad grew up on a dairy farm in Forest Grove, OR. He used to go hunting here in the mountains. This was in the 1920's and 30's. As a child, I remember creeping into his office just so I could get a look at his mounted, big, white mountain goat head! Grandad let me pull his chin whiskers, LOL!
I remember life here on the peninsula as Jeff so poignantly described … living here in Sequim and Port Angeles was filled with familiar and comfortable stability and all that pleasant living had to offer….now felt is a great sense of loss. The comfort of identity in the geography and landmarks has disappeared. It’s not just about the “time immemorial” people, whose traditions are generally embellished, but about economic transformations that destroyed mom and pop grocery stores, drug stores, department stores…and PR program consultants that changed language to redefine the reality and history. “Time immemorial” people are immigrants…Asia and Europe was their true ancestral home. No sea-going explorers wrote down or remember when they arrived.
Over the years members of the city council have expressed the importance of augmenting the Port Angeles water supply, but only conservation measures have been implemented during dry period water shortages. This is the single most critical resource for the very existence of any town, yet action or outcomes do not follow the lip service. Lip service is the new tradition.
Years of study about the Olympic mountain goats resulted in a much-tauted goat airlift. Monitoring revealed high mortality among the relocated goats in the North Cascades. For example, out of 115 goats tracked by the Tulalip Tribes, only three survived, while only one of 36 survived in a Stillaguamish Tribe study. Despite low survival rates, the project is considered a success. The new tradition hearing spinmeisters turning lemons into lemonaid.
The common thread of the examples presented by Jeff is the ability by one entity to sell a bridge to another entity.
Jasmine Felicia Crockett (born March 29, 1981) is a Black American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023.
From Wiki: "Crockett was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Rev. Joseph Crockett and his wife, Gwen Crockett, a former postal worker.[1][2] She attended Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and Rosati-Kain Academy.
While Crockett was performing in Little Shop of Horrors at Rhodes College, a professor recognized her public speaking ability and encouraged her to join mock trial, where she began developing her legal voice.[4] Crockett stated she became interested in practicing law after she and other black students became the "victim of a series of hate crimes".[5] She graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration.[6]
She began law school at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University before graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 2006 with a Juris Doctor and passed the bar examination"
"While Crockett was performing in Little Shop of Horrors at Rhodes College, a professor recognized her public speaking ability" LOL! Funny!
ABeetle, didn't know that. The Little Shop of Horrors crossed with her speaking abilities sounds like the stage set by our Board of County Commissioners Meetings : )
Having and holding reverence for one's ancestry is a positive thing. I want all who claim JST tribal membership to be friends and neighbors. What I do not want is someone enjoying rights and privileges that I do not. The tribes are in the petroleum business, the gaming business and in the business of getting grants, tax advantages and much more from our Government. All of these businesses being practiced just like their ancestors did; did they ? The incongruence of a feather headdress and a cell phone cannot be ignored. A JST member is a sovereign or is a USA citizen; whichever best serves in the circumstance on that day. Claiming rights of ancestry and living the technology of today is hypocrisy defined. Friends and neighbors or sovereign, but not both/and.
Off topic - the CCCD elections: I wrote to the contact in city government to ask the Commissioners why there was a difference in elections. Evidently my inquiry was referred to the Elections Manager.
"I am writing to inquire why there are different criteria for voting in different elections in Clallam County. I understand that the Library system is requesting a lid lift in the property taxes levied on County residents. According to what I have read the County will soon send out a ballot to every registered voter in the County so that they can have a say in this matter. That is as it should be.
That contrasts with the election for the Board of the Clallam County Conservation District. This entity has received $2 million in taxpayer funds from the County at the behest of the Commissioners. I do not recall voting on that funding. The Board makes decisions that can affect every resident in the County. For the Board election, ballots are not being sent out to all registered voters. Instead one has to request a ballot. And in order to request a ballot one has to first know there is going to be an election. And then one has to know where to look to make a request.
I only inadvertently stumbled across a discussion about the election, the need to request a ballot and the deadline to do so. Why is this election different, so secretive? It is almost as if only certain people in the know will be allowed to vote. This lack of transparency does not inspire confidence in the process. I understand that a recent election for the CCCD was thrown out by a judge because of irregularities. I suspect this one will be challenged as well."
Here is the answer I got from Ian Hillway, Elections Manager:
<<<
Thanks for reaching out. Put simply, the law requires that they follow a different process than we do.
If the Conservation District wanted to change their elections, it would require the State Legislature to change the law to allow them to do so. The Clallam County Election Office also don’t run elections for HOAs, diking districts, or draining districts, these legal entities all have different types of laws that cover them.
If you are interested in learning more about how different types of special purpose districts work in relation to taxation, the MRSC website looks like it has a decent breakdown of different types of taxation available to different types of districts here: https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/finance/revenues/special-purpose-district-revenues If you search for “Conservation District” on that page, it may have some useful information. Since I am not involved in Conservation District elections, I don’t have more detailed information on their processes for you.
Hopefully, this answers your questions as they pertain to the County. If you have questions about how the Conservation District operates beyond what is covered by the links above, you may need to reach out to them directly for further clarification.
Loudly complain ("belly aching") about being erased / overlooked / victimized in some way...
...when that supposed erasure literally didn't occur (or was wildly exaggerated)...
...only to then turn around and actively erase / ignore / minimize someone else's existence/experience/history in the very next breath...is total hypocrisy.
That said I have always enjoyed native culture and I must say how disappointed I am that some tribal members bought in to the ICLEI divide. As one who grew up amongst tribal members they are all millionaires or dead or almost dead from being millionaires.
I think they are being exploited by the globalists.
This reminds me of the early 80's when I worked alongside a Yup'ik native in rural Alaska, 100% blood quantum. Pretty much every time he'd start into an aspect that was related to something mysterious to native ways, and have me wide-eyed with intrigue, he'd finish the thought with, "Just fucking with you," and walk off laughing. Later he'd explain that he messed with gussuks all the time that way because there's immense gullibility with them.
Totem poles...
A road back into the Elwha that likely wouldn't impede the salmon...
Now, commissioners are considering renaming the courthouse ---- I honestly do not know how anyone would think she would want this with (setting everything else aside) with the atrocities that are going on in family court alone.
The commissioners did not respond to yesterday's email asking why proponents of renaming the courthouse had requested contact information for people who oppose renaming it. Here is today's email:
Dear Commissioners,
The Clallam County Courthouse is not yours to rename. It belongs to the people of this county—past, present, and future. The courthouse is a historic public building that represents generations of citizens who built this community long before any of you held office. As elected officials, you are temporary stewards, not owners with the authority to rebrand or repurpose our shared heritage. We have already seen decisions where public assets—like Towne Road and even our county parks—are treated as though they could simply be handed away. The courthouse should not become another example. This should never happen without clear, broad support from the citizens whose building it actually is.
Modeled response from an individual commissioner applying good-governance principles
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for taking the time to write. I hear the concern in your message, and I agree with the principle that the Clallam County Courthouse is not a private asset of current officeholders. It is a public building with historic and civic meaning, and any proposal affecting its name or public identity should be approached with humility, transparency, and respect for the people of this county. The courthouse was built in 1914 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which reinforces that it is more than a functional building; it is part of Clallam County’s public history (Clallam County, n.d.; National Park Service, 1987/2011).
I also want to be clear about the legal framework. Under Washington law, the Board of County Commissioners has authority over county property and county business, but that authority must be exercised by the board through lawful public process, not by personal preference or informal action (RCW 36.32.120; Clallam County, n.d.). Public business must be conducted openly, and the public has the right to attend and observe meetings where such matters are considered (RCW 42.30.030).
As an individual commissioner, I do not believe a historic public building like the Clallam County Courthouse should be renamed absent broad and clearly demonstrated public support. At this time, based on the concerns I have heard, I am not persuaded that threshold has been met. I would be more supportive of exploring other ways to recognize Justice Owens that do not alter the name of the courthouse itself.
Legality, however, is only the floor. Good governance asks more of us than whether we technically can act. It asks whether we have listened carefully, whether the process has been open enough to earn public confidence, and whether the outcome will strengthen rather than divide the community. Clallam County itself recognizes preservation of local cultural heritage as a legitimate public responsibility through its Heritage Advisory Board, which exists to advise the Board of Commissioners on matters related to preserving the county’s cultural heritage (Clallam County, n.d.).
For that reason, I do not believe a decision of this kind should be rushed or treated as symbolic housekeeping. If a historic public landmark is to be renamed, the board should be able to show not only legal authority, but also a transparent process, a clear public purpose, and meaningful community support. Even when a board has the power to act, it still has a duty to steward shared institutions in a way that respects those who came before us, those who are here now, and those who will inherit this county after we are gone.
Thank you again for speaking up. Public input is not an obstacle to good government; it is one of the ways good government is tested.
Sincerely,
[Commissioner Name]
Clallam County Board of County Commissioners
References
Clallam County. (n.d.). Boards, committees, and commissions. https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/636/Boards-Committees-and-Commissions
Clallam County. (n.d.). Courthouse. https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/1276/Courthouse
Clallam County. (n.d.). Government. https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/27/Government
National Park Service. (1987/2011). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Clallam County Courthouse. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/6e456f7f-1095-461d-86d8-d3710ef0154d
Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). RCW 36.32.120: Powers of legislative authorities. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=36.32.120
Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). RCW 42.30.030: Meetings declared open and public. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.30.030
"The commissioners did not respond to yesterday's email asking..." You must have this phrase saved somewhere to copy and paste. I see it EVERY TIME. lol
ANDREA, and we will keep seeing it, it is their only defense.
@JeffTozzer, Meeting dates are subject to change. For current meeting information refer to the CivicClerk Portal at https://clallamcowa.portal.civicclerk.com/
BOCC Charter Review Commission Town Hall Meeting Forks - April 6, 2026
BOCC Charter Review Commission Town Hall Meeting Sequim - April 14, 2026
BOCC Charter Review Commission Town Hall Meeting Port Angeles - April 21, 2026
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/210/Charter-Review-Commission-CRC
Good Governance Daily Proverb:
A public landmark is not a canvas for temporary power. If officials intend to rename shared civic heritage, they must combine clear legal authority with enough durable public trust to ensure the decision outlasts their term.
Sources behind the proverb:
This proverb is grounded in local, state, and national public-stewardship principles. At the Clallam County level, the county’s Heritage Advisory Board exists to advise the Board of Commissioners on preserving the county’s cultural heritage, and the county charter requires board action to occur through an open, public process rather than personal discretion (Clallam County, Washington, 1976, 2024a, 2024b). At the Washington State level, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation describes heritage resources as part of our “collective shared heritage” and frames their stewardship as a shared responsibility, while the State Historic Preservation Plan emphasizes that shared heritage shapes both present community identity and future decisions (Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, n.d., 2020). At the national level, the Clallam County Courthouse is already recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its political/governmental and architectural significance, reinforcing that it is more than a functional building; it is a civic landmark with historic meaning that extends beyond any one officeholder’s term (National Park Service, 1987/2026).
References
Clallam County, Washington. (1976). Clallam County home rule charter. https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3210
Clallam County, Washington. (2024a, October 7). Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board bylaws. https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19714/HAB-Bylaws-approved-10-7-24
Clallam County, Washington. (2024b). Heritage Advisory Board (HAB). https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/737/Heritage-Advisory-Board-HAB
National Park Service. (2026). Clallam County Courthouse (National Register Information System No. 87001459). https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/01b1fcb9-377f-4903-abc5-6fa858af47d8
Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. (n.d.). Archaeology. https://dahp.wa.gov/archaeology
Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. (2020). Washington State historic preservation plan 2021–2026. https://dahp.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Final%20State%20Preservation%20Plan_2.pdf
Great article Jeff. Thank you once again. As human beings, we are supposed to learn from our past. If history keeps getting buried and modified to make someone feel better, where are the lessons? How can the next generation learn?
They don't learn. That's the whole idea.... unfortunately.
Jeff, excellent article. I love history but I am not in favor of what are local leaders are doing to this county. I think they forgot who they represent here. We are the tax payers who pay their salaries but it seems they do not have our best interests at hand. Hopefully residents remember when it’s time to vote in our elected officials….
But, if you ignore heritage, force businesses to shut down, drive people out, and do all that you can to depopulate and deindustrialize the area, the cheaper and easier it becomes to purchase the once-valuable land to add to the "reservation". Like Communist creep-- they're in it for the long haul. If they can depopulate the entire Olympic Peninsula, the movement to re-wild it, with the Tribe's "managing" it, becomes closer to reality.
I am in Idaho now. My Congressman holds bi-monthly phone-in conferences-- like zoom without the video-- where people express their needs and problems and the Congressman's staff notes the issues and DOES something about them. Imagine-- a government that represents the constituents instead of themselves and their cronies! We read, in the newspapers, how people opposed a wind farm so the politicians shut the project down! The legislation is CUTTING the 2026 budget by 4%, not finding new ways to gouge the taxpayers. You don't see fentanyl addicts living on the streets-- neither is tolerated.
Why can't Clallam County and WA be like that?
"Why can't Clallam County and WA be like that?" John, With proper, qualified leadership, they could! Return! from Idaho and VOTE FOR JAKE! MUCH IS AT STAKE!
Well, I can't vote in WA anymore, as a card-carryin', gun-totin', MAGA hat wearin' Idahoan, but I can continue to stir up shit from afar and will continue to be a keyboard activist and thorn in the side to the miscreant politicans, as well as financial support to Jeff, Jake, and others if I can.
NOI, your comments inspire me to hope.
Denise, I love NOI, he still cares even from afar!
I do! And since the Democrat election officials do not check residence, I could cast lots and lots and lots of conservative votes in WA-- we know they do nothing to stop it because they assume it is their ignorant slime that will cast more votes for THEM! Ha! Fight fire with fire, eh? Seriously, as tempting as that would be, I believe in integrity. In fact, that may be what's wrong with conservatives-- they have too much integrity to cheat and no experience to catch the slime that DOES cheat.
The Olympic Peninsula is second only to Yosemite as far as beauty is concerned, and I have many friends still there. OF COURSE I care-- for you folks reading this too. I am one of you, in spirit, but the constant ire was literally making me sick. I get nauseous when I read about the BS the Democrats are doing, and my blood pressure has reached dangerous levels from their misdeeds. So, we sought asylum in Idaho, and so far, we are loving it. Weather is just a tad colder/warmer than Sequim, with only 7" rain/yr. Plus, we went from a tiny hovel to a spacious mansion (by comparison) so now are kids can visit and now have to endure a 3 hour drive from Seatac or stay in a motel or airbnb-- we actually have room to accommodate their visits-- SIMULTANEOUSLY! And the stairs are helping to restore dangerously-lost muscles that happens to many of us old farts. Walking may be good cardio, but it does little for leg strength. If you're over 70 or so, try getting up off the floor. You may be shocked. So, we are very happy here, but miss our friends and the gorgeous scenery in Sequim. It was a very hard decision.
And, Jennifer, I appreciate your comment but it's she, not he. Few men would declare themselves to be unimportant, LOL.
Denise, the trade-offs are high, as I wrote below, but sometimes on has to make the leap, even at age 76. It's rarely an easy decision but it's nice to know that Idaho is a refuge waiting for you. Life is too short (at 76) to keep hoping for significant change. I want to enjoy my final days in peace, not mired up to my neck in bullshit, no matter how pretty the views.
"The only constant is change." - Heraclitus, ancient Greek philosopher. "He who controls the language controls the people." - George Orwell, modern author and sage. One of the issues I see, not just locally but nationally, is that students are not taught real history in school these days, and this, have some trouble separating fact from fallacy. A real community embraces local history as a glue that binds them together, using it both as a celebration of the hard work of those who came before them experienced to create an ever-evolving community, and as a blueprint to help guide the community to a successful, cohesive future. Jeff, this is a stark reminder of what can happen to a community that forgets its historical past.
Communists have stirred up the natives better than Gilligan did with drums.
lol.
Panta Rei - have a small sign in my studio that my Mom made as a reminder about change in her gardens... yes, change is constant, but forgetting the history is truly sad.
So much of what Jeff reminds us about our area is a part of my upbringing as well. I'm struggling with this one, Jeff. It's hard to not just be angry that landmarks that are woven into the fabric of our County are being TAKEN from us. It appears the offspring of our County's Founding Father's are the only ones not allowed to celebrate their history - just bankroll erasing it.
Jeff, you have written a beautiful tribute to your family of 6 generations, the friends and neighbors, Tribal and non-Tribal, throughout these generations, and for all the generations to come. You told your story and that of CC in this article not to grieve the loss of the past, but to look forwsrd with hope of restoring its humanity. Your family and friends are grateful for and proud of you. Thank you.
Yes. This is what I moved here for.
Also, why my dad moved here back in 1986, along with all of the family...and me. He had a deep heritage here. Coming out camping with his family growing up in the 1950's. My grandfather helped build the roads with the CCC (The Civilian Conservation Corps) back in the 1930's. He loved the area. However, it wasn't possible to move his family from Seattle out here. He DID, however, move out here in the late 1990's as a resident of Fifth Avenue Sr. Independent Living in Sequim. I would visit my grandparents there.
Much of this history pre-dates the totem poles, the Blyn "takeover", etc. So, where is MY heritage? Where is EVERYONE'S heritage? How is this "inclusive"?
Heritage is an interesting topic that I find even more "interesting" with the advent of DNA, 23 and Me, and the internet in-general. How timely this discussion is. I am third generation Clallamite Native, and even in my short time of 73 years, have watched heritage of some being overshadowed by others, and their agendas. I was reading a short history of the Olympic Hotsprings Resort, yesterday, and how it was annexed into ONP, unceremoniously and eventually closed, as I recall well. We lost sizeable revenue and tourist draw to the Olympic Peninsula, with that event, and others, including the numerous resorts that dotted the shores of Lake Crescent, Lake Sutherland, and the coastline all the way to Ocean Shores, with multiple supporting businesses in the form of gas stations, mom and pop grocery/hardware/outfitter, with tackle shop enterprises and restaurants that no longer exist. The Port Angeles, Salmon Derby, alone, drew fishers from all over the world, with Derby Days celebrations lasting over a week. The former AGGIES Motel in Port Angeles was booked all summer long, with the former Chinook, Flagstone, et al. motels booming. The demise of the Hurricane Ridge Lodge (intwerp center), wash-out of Olympic Hotsprings Road, Aldwell and Glines Canyon Dams removal, numerous other sites, campgrounds and family-oriented activities, all but gone. Various Amphitheaters with campfire talk sites during summer evenings within ONP are now inaccessible or have been "let-go", having been severely impacted by resources being commandeered by minority factions, to accommodate "fish, and cultural heritage", while reducing economic opportunities, and livelihoods for local tax payers and lifelong residents. The Olympic Hotsprings inpacted several, if not numerous family heritages, including the Schoeffel, Everett, and all the families who supported the resort. We hear that road maintenence and acessibility were a major reasons for the closure, and I can understand that, having worked for ONP in Maintenance and Utilities for 22+ years, as a Seasoal and Fulltime employee. I worked the Elwha Valley all the way to the former resort and campground (which still exists), inaccessibly. Aerial trams have created opportunities all over the world to reduce "boots on ground" in sensitive areas, or access, yet the Olympic Peninsula is being "saved" for reasons unknown to many. Cancelled heritages, indeed. We have tribal casinos, concert venues, golf courses with short-term rentals within walking distances, all owned by "sovereign nations" within the United States of America. All of these activities encourage obesity and ensuing health issues, while texting selfies to the folks back home instead of exercising with fresh air. Most "locals" from my observations have maintained a robust healthy lifestyle, accordingly. Why was it we moved to Palm Springs North, honey? I've covered a lot of ground, here, but the dots are there if one cares to connect them. We have the resources, but we need to stop giving them away to those who effectively increase taxes via non-contribution, and restrict our earned use.
I can't hit "like" enough times. Your contributing comment is a treasure. So much packed into it! Thank you so much for sharing!
ANDREA, why isn't there recognition for our forefathers? Who honestly settled the land? It's great that natives were here, but who made it to where it is today? How did the Tribe improve and make the roads, building and infrastructures? What they have built or improved was with our money. What the settlers did was with their backbreaking hands and money. If the funding was cut off today, the Tribe would collapse.
I don't think they'd collapse, they have too much of a reserve set up. I just think they'd shift the way they do things to adapt to the current market. Nothing about heritage, for sure!
Yes. As far as I know, (because a read the book about him) Dale Faulstich made most of the totem poles here. They are beautiful. Some are a little scary-looking, but I love the totem poles. My grandad grew up on a dairy farm in Forest Grove, OR. He used to go hunting here in the mountains. This was in the 1920's and 30's. As a child, I remember creeping into his office just so I could get a look at his mounted, big, white mountain goat head! Grandad let me pull his chin whiskers, LOL!
I remember life here on the peninsula as Jeff so poignantly described … living here in Sequim and Port Angeles was filled with familiar and comfortable stability and all that pleasant living had to offer….now felt is a great sense of loss. The comfort of identity in the geography and landmarks has disappeared. It’s not just about the “time immemorial” people, whose traditions are generally embellished, but about economic transformations that destroyed mom and pop grocery stores, drug stores, department stores…and PR program consultants that changed language to redefine the reality and history. “Time immemorial” people are immigrants…Asia and Europe was their true ancestral home. No sea-going explorers wrote down or remember when they arrived.
Over the years members of the city council have expressed the importance of augmenting the Port Angeles water supply, but only conservation measures have been implemented during dry period water shortages. This is the single most critical resource for the very existence of any town, yet action or outcomes do not follow the lip service. Lip service is the new tradition.
Years of study about the Olympic mountain goats resulted in a much-tauted goat airlift. Monitoring revealed high mortality among the relocated goats in the North Cascades. For example, out of 115 goats tracked by the Tulalip Tribes, only three survived, while only one of 36 survived in a Stillaguamish Tribe study. Despite low survival rates, the project is considered a success. The new tradition hearing spinmeisters turning lemons into lemonaid.
The common thread of the examples presented by Jeff is the ability by one entity to sell a bridge to another entity.
“Each and every day, I take pride in my heritage and my family and community's history.” Jasmine Crockett
“The historian must serve two masters: the past and the present.”
Fritz Stern, German-American historian (1926- )
Now I am curious to look at Ms. Crockett's heritage....
Jasmine Felicia Crockett (born March 29, 1981) is a Black American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023.
From Wiki: "Crockett was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Rev. Joseph Crockett and his wife, Gwen Crockett, a former postal worker.[1][2] She attended Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and Rosati-Kain Academy.
While Crockett was performing in Little Shop of Horrors at Rhodes College, a professor recognized her public speaking ability and encouraged her to join mock trial, where she began developing her legal voice.[4] Crockett stated she became interested in practicing law after she and other black students became the "victim of a series of hate crimes".[5] She graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration.[6]
She began law school at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University before graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 2006 with a Juris Doctor and passed the bar examination"
"While Crockett was performing in Little Shop of Horrors at Rhodes College, a professor recognized her public speaking ability" LOL! Funny!
ABeetle, didn't know that. The Little Shop of Horrors crossed with her speaking abilities sounds like the stage set by our Board of County Commissioners Meetings : )
LOL! Right!
[the masochistic patient meets the sadistic dentist]
Arthur Denton: I think I need a root canal. I definitely need a long, slow root canal.
Having and holding reverence for one's ancestry is a positive thing. I want all who claim JST tribal membership to be friends and neighbors. What I do not want is someone enjoying rights and privileges that I do not. The tribes are in the petroleum business, the gaming business and in the business of getting grants, tax advantages and much more from our Government. All of these businesses being practiced just like their ancestors did; did they ? The incongruence of a feather headdress and a cell phone cannot be ignored. A JST member is a sovereign or is a USA citizen; whichever best serves in the circumstance on that day. Claiming rights of ancestry and living the technology of today is hypocrisy defined. Friends and neighbors or sovereign, but not both/and.
Off topic - the CCCD elections: I wrote to the contact in city government to ask the Commissioners why there was a difference in elections. Evidently my inquiry was referred to the Elections Manager.
"I am writing to inquire why there are different criteria for voting in different elections in Clallam County. I understand that the Library system is requesting a lid lift in the property taxes levied on County residents. According to what I have read the County will soon send out a ballot to every registered voter in the County so that they can have a say in this matter. That is as it should be.
That contrasts with the election for the Board of the Clallam County Conservation District. This entity has received $2 million in taxpayer funds from the County at the behest of the Commissioners. I do not recall voting on that funding. The Board makes decisions that can affect every resident in the County. For the Board election, ballots are not being sent out to all registered voters. Instead one has to request a ballot. And in order to request a ballot one has to first know there is going to be an election. And then one has to know where to look to make a request.
I only inadvertently stumbled across a discussion about the election, the need to request a ballot and the deadline to do so. Why is this election different, so secretive? It is almost as if only certain people in the know will be allowed to vote. This lack of transparency does not inspire confidence in the process. I understand that a recent election for the CCCD was thrown out by a judge because of irregularities. I suspect this one will be challenged as well."
Here is the answer I got from Ian Hillway, Elections Manager:
<<<
Thanks for reaching out. Put simply, the law requires that they follow a different process than we do.
County government elections are dictated by RCW Title 29A: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A These are the “elections” that most people are used to.
Conservation Districts follow RCW Title 89.08: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=89.08&full=true These laws tell the Conservation District how they must operate, and dictate how their elections work.
If the Conservation District wanted to change their elections, it would require the State Legislature to change the law to allow them to do so. The Clallam County Election Office also don’t run elections for HOAs, diking districts, or draining districts, these legal entities all have different types of laws that cover them.
If you are interested in learning more about how different types of special purpose districts work in relation to taxation, the MRSC website looks like it has a decent breakdown of different types of taxation available to different types of districts here: https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/finance/revenues/special-purpose-district-revenues If you search for “Conservation District” on that page, it may have some useful information. Since I am not involved in Conservation District elections, I don’t have more detailed information on their processes for you.
Hopefully, this answers your questions as they pertain to the County. If you have questions about how the Conservation District operates beyond what is covered by the links above, you may need to reach out to them directly for further clarification.
Thank you,
This is not intended as legal advice.
Ian Hillway | pronouns: he/him/his
<image001.png>Election Confidence Team
Elections Manager
223 E. 4th Street, Room 42|Port Angeles, WA 98362
( 360.417.2217)
>>>
So the CCCD is like an HOA? I don't think so.
How many HOAs get $2 million of county taxpayer money without having to be accountable to every voter in the county?
It's more than likely that the member/ citizens of the HOA are Giving 2 M.
Loudly complain ("belly aching") about being erased / overlooked / victimized in some way...
...when that supposed erasure literally didn't occur (or was wildly exaggerated)...
...only to then turn around and actively erase / ignore / minimize someone else's existence/experience/history in the very next breath...is total hypocrisy.
That said I have always enjoyed native culture and I must say how disappointed I am that some tribal members bought in to the ICLEI divide. As one who grew up amongst tribal members they are all millionaires or dead or almost dead from being millionaires.
I think they are being exploited by the globalists.
This reminds me of the early 80's when I worked alongside a Yup'ik native in rural Alaska, 100% blood quantum. Pretty much every time he'd start into an aspect that was related to something mysterious to native ways, and have me wide-eyed with intrigue, he'd finish the thought with, "Just fucking with you," and walk off laughing. Later he'd explain that he messed with gussuks all the time that way because there's immense gullibility with them.
Totem poles...
A road back into the Elwha that likely wouldn't impede the salmon...
Just fucking with you.
Sounds like the last episode of Dark Winds... :)
"Time immemorial" how ridiculous. Talk about brainwashing of the people, how goofy do you have to be?!?
Now, commissioners are considering renaming the courthouse ---- I honestly do not know how anyone would think she would want this with (setting everything else aside) with the atrocities that are going on in family court alone.