Clallam County proclaims Indigenous Peoples' Day after heated public debate

The Clallam County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a proclamation recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day and encouraging education and partnership with local tribes.

Commissioner Josiah Ozias, who read the proclamation to the board, said the document was meant to “encourage empathy” and to prompt the community to “consider what the implications of this history might be.” Ozias read language that recognizes the county occupies tribal ancestral land and calls for appreciation of indigenous cultures and partnerships.

The proclamation prompted extended public comment before the vote. Opponents described the language as divisive and inconsistent with the pledge of allegiance. Jake Segars of District 3 told the commissioners that the proclamation “is promoting a false narrative of racism that is insulting to the residents of this county,” and asked why the county would prioritize that statement over protections for property owners affected by fish-passage projects. Stephanie Day of Sequim asked whether residents can “be citizens of The United States” while also endorsing a land-acknowledgment proclamation, saying “you can’t be both.”

Supporters urged the board to adopt the proclamation as a step toward understanding and conservation. Lisa Decker cited economic ties between tourism and intact forests, telling the board that tourism generated “284,000,000 a year in 2023” for Clallam County and arguing that preserving legacy parcels supports that economy. Tim Wheeler called Doc Holliday “a precious legacy” and urged the commissioners to accept trade options that would avoid revenue loss to the county.

After the public comment period and brief procedural discussion about the condensed agenda and missing vouchers, the board moved, seconded and approved the consent agenda item containing the proclamation. The clerk recorded the ayes and the chair declared the consent agenda approved; the proclamation was signed by Commissioners Johnson, French and Ozias.

The proclamation text, as read by Commissioner Ozias, states that Clallam County “recognizes that systemic racism toward indigenous people perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating health, education, and social crises,” traces origins of Indigenous Peoples’ Day to a 1977 U.N. delegation and notes regional tribal support for the change from Columbus Day. The proclamation also “encourages all to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the indigenous peoples of our region, to learn more about the history of indigenous peoples and their cultures, and to continue efforts to promote the well-being and growth of our indigenous communities.”

What happened next: the proclamation will be implemented as written; no additional ordinance or funding was authorized as part of the item during this meeting. Commissioners said they want the language to encourage empathy and educational activities rather than assign guilt or legal obligations.

Why it matters: the item drew unusually broad and emotional public participation and highlighted tensions in the county over historical framing, local economic priorities, and relationships with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. The discussion also surfaced related policy debates on forestry and county revenue that the board said it will continue to review through advisory committees.

Provenance: First related public comment appeared at 00:01:17 (Jim Buck and other commenters urging action on DNR/trust lands). Commissioners discussed and read the proclamation beginning 00:13:28; the proclamation text was read aloud and signed (00:13:28–00:21:00).