Klallam - Definition and Overview

Klallam (also Clallam) refers to four distinct but otherwise related bands of Native Americans from western Washington state in the United States and British Columbia in Canada. Three Klallam bands live on the Olympic Peninsula in the far northwest corner (bordering the Strait of Juan de Fuca) of the state and one at Becher Bay on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

• Klallam (Lower Elwha) Native American subtribe
• S'Klallam (Jamestown) Native American subtribe
• S'Klallam (Port Gamble, aka Little Boston) Native American subtribe
• Becher Bay Reserve

Language

Nəxʷsƛ̕ay̕əmúcən, the Klallam language, is unique. Here are some links:

• Klallam language (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/)
  • Introduction (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/WordList/KlIntroduction.htm)
  • Map (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/WordList/KlMap.gif)
  • Family tree (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/WordList/SalishanFamilyTree.jpg)
  • Alphabet (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/WordList/Klalphabet.htm)
  • Wordlist (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/WordList/Klindex.htm)
  • Phrases (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/Phrases/index.htm)
  • "The Flood" (story) (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/Flood/index.htm)
  • "Two Dead Fisherman" (story) (http://www.ling.unt.edu/~montler/Klallam/Fishermen/index.htm)
• Washington Post: "Northwest Tribe Struggles to Revive Its Language" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A54559-2003Mar30&notFound=true)