About
The Quileute Tribe of La Push, on the northwest tip of the Washington Coast welcomes you to learn more about our Move to Higher Ground (MTHG) project.
Move to Higher Ground (MTHG) is a comprehensive plan to relocate critical community facilities and future housing of the Quileute Tribe to the safety of lands above the reach of tsunami waves and flood waters.
Phase 1 of MTHG was the relocation of the Quileute Tribal School, which was completed in August 2022. With the Tribal School relocation complete, Phase 2 is underway, which is centered around developing tribal housing in a safe location and updating the master plan.
Background, Legislation Brings Opportunity
Quileute People, are inhabitants of the Northwest Coast as we have been since time immemorial. We hunted, fished and gathered across the Olympic Peninsula and waterways, traveling with the seasons. Traditionally we harvested the land’s resources, which provided everything we needed, from cedar to salmon and berries to whales. Our culture is deeply rooted in the land, rivers and sea.
Following the 1856 Treaty of Olympia and 1889 Executive Order by President Benjamin Harrison, we were confined to the village of La Push, WA, a one-square mile reservation, and cut off from access to many of our inland camps and villages.
Located at the confluence of the Quillayute River and Pacific Ocean, our village currently includes coastal lowland, floodplain and a lack of land suitable for development. This leaves us vulnerable to tsunamis, floods, and storm surges. Further exacerbating the challenges facing our village, the climate change crisis and rising sea level presents even greater threats to our future.
As a result of these impending disasters, our Tribe spent decades working to reacquire land to expand our reservation borders and move our people to safety. Tribal homes, the senior center, and key tribal departments such as natural resources, accounting, public works, the Tribal Council office, human services, and tribal courthouse, are all in the danger zone.
In 2012, after nearly 50 years of Tribal leadership fighting to regain land, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 1162 returning hundreds of acres of Olympic National Park to the Tribe. This legislation enables us to preserve our livelihoods and rich heritage by allowing our people to move to higher ground, away from tsunami danger.
In accordance with this historic legislation, we launched the Move to Higher Ground Project. In 2022 we completed Phase 1, relocating the Quileute Tribal School.
Learn More About Visiting Quileute:
Approximately three million people visit Olympic National Park each year, and due to its natural scenic beauty and proximity to the park, La Push has always been a popular tourist destination. In keeping with our traditions as good hosts, the Quileute Tribe welcomes visitors and encourages individuals to learn more about our history and respect our culture:
FAQs:
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- Is Twilight helping with the funding?
No, those associated with the Twilight franchise have not offered to fund this project. - Is the U.S. government paying for any part of the move?
Moving expenses were not included in the 2012 legislation, but the Tribe may be eligible for funds from governmental funding programs, such as Indian Community Development Block Grants. - How is this project being funded?
Through grants and donations. - How much land was granted in the Olympic National Park?
785 acres of land were transferred from Olympic National Park to the Tribe but not all of it is developable. The legislation states that it will “provide the Quileute Indian Tribe with approximately 275 acres of land currently located within the Park and approximately 510 acres of land along the Quillayute River, also within the Park. Not all areas are developable due to critical areas such as steep slopes and wetlands. - How can I lean more about the Quileute people?
Visit QuileuteNation.org and our Instagram page.
- Is Twilight helping with the funding?
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