PORT ANGELES — Three hundred people gathered Saturday in a sleet-swept construction yard to help heal the wounds they felt in the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard controversy.
For three hours, Native Americans and non-Natives prayed and sang in English and Salish, heard words of support from other Northwest Washington tribes, and shared hopes that the site of a former Klallam village and its people could be renewed.
The 22.5 acres of waterfront land would have become a mammoth onshore dry dock to build huge concrete anchors, pontoons, and highway decks to replace the east end of the Hood Canal Bridge.
That was before workers discovered artifacts, human bones and entire burials from the former village of Tse-whit-zen.
“I welcome you to our village,” said Frances Charles, chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, whose ancestors lived on the spot as long as 2,700 years ago.
“To see the different nationalities and races standing here in your support is great medicine for the Klallam people,” said Dennis Sullivan, tribal vice chairman.
Another Lower Elwha Klallam member, Phil Charles, said: “It is very good four our hearts and our souls. You are making my heart smile.”
