Our priority was the relocation of the Quileute Tribal School (QTS).

Formerly located on a deserted US Coast Guard site, QTS was a few feet above sea level at the Quillayute River estuary, within the Pacific Ocean tsunami inundation zone. On August 5, 2022, the Quileute Tribe celebrated the completion of its newly constructed school on the designated MTHG relocation zone, beyond the threat from tsunamis.

The new facility includes a full-size gymnasium with high school regulation sized basketball and volleyball courts, computer and technical skills labs, science laboratories with lockable chemical preparation rooms, a fully equipped woodshop, state of the art technology to enhance student learning, and an upper school lounge where the older students can gather to collaborate, study, or relax during free time.

With Phase 1 completed, the Tribe is now working to establish the next phase of the project.

Phase 2: MTHG Master Plan Updates and Housing Expansion

Phase 2 began in 2024 with a Move to Higher Ground Survey. The purpose of the survey was to aid the Tribe in prioritizing community needs and plan for future development of the MTHG site.

The survey was completed by 116 participants representing a broad cross-section of generations; 65% of the respondents are enrolled Quileute members and 75% of respondents work for the Tribe. The top priorities identified by respondents included the need for additional housing and the development of a Cultural Center.

Through community feedback, a variety of housing needs were identified, including standard single-family housing, elder housing, apartments, townhomes, and non-traditional options such as transitional, multi-generational, and non-HUD (Housing and Urban Development) funded homes.

The availability of grant funding solidified housing as the focus for Phase 2, so the MTHG team has developed preliminary designs and applied for money to build eleven single family homes and seven townhomes (with two units per townhome), resulting in twenty-five additional housing units on the higher ground site.

Phase 3:

The results from the 2024 MTHG Survey also made clear the need for a follow-up survey focusing specifically on our vision for the proposed Cultural Center. In May 2024, the Tribe conducted the Move to Higher Ground Cultural Center Survey. Survey respondents indicated a preference to design the Cultural Center to combine elements of both a public museum space and a community centered space focused on culture; 71% of respondents voted for this option. This information is being used to inform decisions regarding the proposed Cultural Center design on the La Push Move to Higher Ground Site as we move into Phase 3 planning.