Thank you for visiting the United Way of Clallam County's Book Club! This book club was begun this year to invite readers to come together to read books about diversity, equity, and inclusion-related subjects.
Breaking Ground
This month's book is Breaking Ground: The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and the Unearthing of Tse-whit-zen Village by Lynda Mapes. Mapes is the environmental reporter for the Seattle Times. In Breaking Ground, she recounts the circumstances behind the state dry dock project that uncovered the Klallam village of Tse-whit-zen, the largest and oldest Indigenous village sites ever found in their region.
The book is available at the Forks and Port Angeles branches of North Olympic Library System and also as an e-book from NOLS. It is also available at local bookstores and online booksellers.
In search of the story behind the story, Lynda spent more than a year interviewing tribal members, archaeologists, historians, city and state officials, and local residents and business leaders. Her account begins with the history of Tse-whit-zen village, and the 19th and 20th-century impacts of contact, forced assimilation, and industrialization. She then engages all the voices involved in the dry dock controversy to explore how the site was chosen, and how the decisions were made first to proceed and then to abandon the project, as well as the aftermath and implications of those controversial choices.
We invite you to join us in understanding this shared moment in Clallam County history.
Suggestion for an upcoming book?
If you would like to see a book highlighted in a future newsletter, please reach out to Community Impact Director Mary Beth Gregory at mary.beth@unitedwayclallam.org