NEAH BAY — A Makah elder known as a tribal peacemaker, spokesman and mediator has died of heart failure.
Blanchard Matte died in Gig Harbor on Friday. He was 77.
Matte was a calm, loving elder, said Iris Shue, Matte’s niece and Makah tribal court judge.
“Of all his many accomplishments, our family in particular has been proud of his work involving getting the Indian Child Welfare Act approved by Congress and implemented,” Shue said.
She also talked of “his support of civil rights and as a veteran, wanting the freedom he and others fought for to be respected for our own people as well.”
Matte, born Jan. 4, 1939, was a graduate of Neah Bay High School’s Class of 1958. He had been a member of the football, basketball and track teams.
He collapsed Nov. 28 and was taken to Gig Harbor for medical attention, where he died surrounded by family, Shue said.
Matte’s funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Assembly of God Church, 220 Third St., in Neah Bay.
As the eldest male in the family, Matte was the traditional leader of the family, Shue said. He served as an elder of the Makah Assembly of God Church and did his best to be a good Christian. Matte served as a role model for the family and community, she said.
“When I graduated from law school, I thought I would know more than him,” Shue said.
Instead, Shue said she found herself learning from Matte’s wisdom and knowledge of traditional justice.
“Some of his solutions were innovative, others more traditional,” she said.
Matte served in the Navy from 1962-63 on the submarine USS Torsk, SS-423, Shue said.
Public service
He was a special assistant to the governor on Indian Affairs and served on both the Port Angeles School Board and the Clallam County Democratic Central Committee.
He also worked as a general manager for the Lower Elwha S’Klallam tribe and was a senior grants writer in transportation, roads and bridge replacement for the Neah Bay community, served as the Makah fisheries director and served on the Makah Tribal Council for six years.
Shue said that, with his balance, skills and calm demeanor, Matte was a steadying influence.
“It’s a part of why he was on the tribal council,” she said.
As a Makah Tribal Council member, Matte attended the Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians, which includes a membership of 56 Tribes from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Northern California.
He was elected vice chair and represented the group at local, regional and national meetings for more than six years.
He was a founding member of the Native Vote — Washington and attended many of the Affiliated Tribes Veterans, Health and Environmental Committee meetings, said Shue, adding that he was committed to improving educational and youth services for all Makah students.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
