Move to Higher Ground

Mission

Our mission is to secure the future of the Quileute Tribe by moving our at-risk community to the safe zone where our heritage and culture can continue to thrive for generations to come.

Vision

Our vision is to see the Quileute People practice our rich and vibrant traditions in a community, safe from tsunamis and floods, where we can continue to pass on teachings to the bearers of our culture—the Quileute Youth.

Help Us Achieve Our Mission and Vision
JOIN OUR MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND PROJECT

Help Save and Preserve the Quileute Culture and Traditions for 7 Generations to come.

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The Quileute Tribe of La Push, on the northwest tip of the Washington coast, welcomes you to our Move to Higher Ground project.

The priority of the Tribe was the relocation of the Quileute Tribal School which was successfully completed in the summer of 2022.

What’s at stake?

Living in a tsunami zone at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, a catastrophic earthquake can wipe out our community in less than 10 minutes – an entire generation of the Quileute people will cease to exist. We need your help to move our tribal community from a disaster zone to a safer, better, and higher ground.

Regardless of natural disasters there is a vital need to rebuild the community on higher ground and develop sustainable housing options that are safe for tribal community members. It is vital that the community also implements infrastructure that can handle storms and other climate change issues. Creating a successful community is all about climate resiliency.

Relocating to Higher Ground is truly a matter of life or death for our Quileute people.

What’s next?

With the successful relocation of the Quileute Tribal School, phase 1 is now complete. The next phase of the Move to Higher Ground project will continue to focus on the preservation of life and community and cultural resources. The Quileute Tribe intends to relocate our senior center, human services, government administration, and natural resource departments and to provide more housing out of the tsunami zone.

Phase 2 is focused on safe housing for the community. This has been a project focused on getting feedback, planning process, and heavily community centered. What is the planning process? Extensive and intensive community driven process.

The Move to Higher Ground Timeline:

 

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Time Immemorial

Quileute people have lived on the lands of La Push

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1700s

First contact with European Traders

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1855

Quileute signed the Treaty of Olympia with the United States

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1856

Treaty of Olympia was finalized on January 25

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1859

The Treaty of Olympia was ratified by the U.S. Senate and proclaimed by the U.S. President

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1889

Executive Order from President Benjamin Harrison established a one-square mile of reservation at La Push, WA

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1909

Olympus National Monument established

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1936

Constitution and By-Laws of the Quileute Tribe established

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1937

Corporate Charter of the Quileute Indian Tribe issued by Secretary of the Interior

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1938

Olympic National Park founded by Franklin D. Roosevelt

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1974

Boldt Decision reaffirmed treaty fishing rights

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1997

Quileute hosted the Intertribal Canoe Journey or “Paddle to La Push”

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2012

Land legislation, signed by President Obama, transfers 750 acres from Olympic National Park, as higher ground, back to the Quileute Tribe

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2016

Quileute Tribe awarded grant funding for the school

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August 5, 2022

Quileute Tribe celebrated the long-awaited completion of the newly constructed Quileute Tribal School at the Move to Higher Ground relocation area.

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2022—2023

School year marks the first year for students at the new location safely out of the tsunami zone. Phase 1 relocation of Quileute Tribal School.

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2022—Present

Phase 2 centered around developing Safe Tribal Housing and Updating the Master Plan of the Project.

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Future

Phase 3 begin planning for the Cultural Center and future administration buildings.

Contact

Quileute Move to Higher Ground

PO Box 279
La Push, WA 98350
(206) 388-9200
info@mthg.org