PORT ANGELES — The saga of Tse-whit-zen village will receive international exposure when Lower Elwha Klallam tribal members present the drama to a gathering of the International Rural Network and the Rural Policy Research Institute.
Set for June 19-24 in Abingdon, Va., the conference will assemble more than 400 experts, researchers and leaders from more than 20 countries to address issues in health, education and culture in rural communities.
Its theme will be “The Power of Place: Rural Communities, Global Reach.”
“Tse-whit–zen village represents the ‘power of place’ to our people, our ancestors and our ability to sustain our heritage and culture,” said Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles.
“Speaking to this conference’s international audience is the perfect forum for us to share our history and the difficult issues we face.”
Tse-whit-zen is the ancestral Klallam village that was unearthed in August 2003 at the former site of the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard.
By December 2004, archaeologists had discovered 335 intact burials, thousands of fragmented remains and more than 10,000 Native American artifacts, some of them 2,700 years old.
Found during Web search
Denise Brennan, tribal grant writer and planner, said the invitation to the conference — including air fare, lodging and other expenses — grew from a Web search she conducted in March.
“I was just looking for grant funding, and I happened upon this site for the Rural Policy Research Institute,” Brennan said.
“I asked myself, ‘Is this Tse-whit-zen or what?”‘
Brennan contacted conference sponsors, who “were very excited about what was going on here. They invited us to participate.”
Frances Charles, Brennan, and tribal members Arlene Wheeler and Carmen Charles will make the trip.
Their presentation is set for the assembly’s fourth day.
Originally, the Lower Elwha tribal members were to participate only in a panel discussion. But after sponsors learned details of Tse-whit-zen, “they gave us a solo slot of 90 minutes, which is quite an honor,” Brennan said.
“This is going to allow the tribe to expand on certain elements of the presentation. We’re going to talk about the site, how it was revealed, what happened with the Department of Transportation, and some of the community issues we’ve been dealing with.”
