PORT ANGELES — Dry Creek Elementary School officials have unveiled a plaque, entitled “The Klallam Pledge,” near the school’s entryway to commemorate area Native Americans.
“We unveiled it as part of our 2016 Native American Day” celebrated at the school earlier this month, Principal Michael Herzberg said Friday.
“It has significance for us because it is something that we can take from that day of learning about native culture.”
About one third of the students attending Dry Creek are Native American, Herzberg said.
During the May 20 event, students rotated to different stations to learn about Klallam lifestyle and culture.
Educational stations focused on Klallam stories and beading projects, Klallam songs and dances, outdoor and interactive games, and cedar’s importance in carving and weaving.
The event culminated with a closing assembly, during which students with Dry Creek’s after-school program performed the Klallam pledge in Klallam and the plaque was unveiled.
Wording on plaque
The plaque, written in both English and Klallam, says: “I am a strong Klallam. I make good choices. I learn from my elders. I speak Klallam and sing. I take care of this land. I take care of my people. I keep on trying to do the best I can.”
The pledge was developed by Jamie Valadez, Klallam language teacher at Port Angeles High School, and the late Adeline Smith, who was an elder in the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe and a fluent Klallam speaker.
The students also crafted necklaces, each with one of the phrases from the pledge on the back, Herzberg said.
“These are positive affirmations for all of the kids, things that we strive to do as learners,” Herzberg said.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
