Tatoosh Island, off Cape Flattery, the western-most point in the continental United States. Many Ozette residents would spend summers on Tatoosh, from which they would fish and hunt sea lions and fur seals.
According to archaeologist Gary Wessen, who wrote his dissertation on the use of shellfish at Ozette, the Makahs are unique among coastal tribes in that they rely on an ‘interceptive’ rather than ‘terminal’ fishery. In other words, the fish they pursued and lived on moved up and down the coast in seasonal migration, often several miles out from Cape Flattery.
The rocks and caves of Cape Flattery are home to fur seals and sea lions that the Makahs hunted.
In February 1970 a storm revealed timbers of a house at Ozette, leading to the 11-year excavation of several longhouses at the village.
WSU archaeologist Richard Daugherty, director of the Ozette excavation, signed an agreement with Makah elders, including Ed Claplanhoo ’56. Here Claplanhoo stands in front of the memorial to Makah veterans.
Claplanhoo and his wife in traditional Makah headgear.
Ed Claplanhoo
Sharon Kanichy ’01 was born the month a storm uncovered Ozette. Kanichy now teaches history at the high school in Neah Bay.
Janine Bowechop, executive director of the Makah Cultural and Research Center, with traditional Makah canoes, each carved out of a single cedar log.
A fishing net from the Ozette excavation.
Remains of a whaling canoe from the Ozette site.
Carving from whale bone
A boy at the annual Makah Days
A dance during Makah Days
A scene from Makah Days
A beached canoe at Neah Bay during the annual Makah Days
Other coastal tribes, from the U.S. and Canada, come to Neah Bay for Makah Days canoe races
