Chris Cook – Forks Forum photo

The  Quileute Tribal Council and people of the Quileute Tribe held a "Quileute Tsunami Protection Legislation – Move to Higher Ground Potlatch Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 25 at the A-Ka-Lat Center in La Push. A fancy dinner was served to a full house that included representatives of federal, state and local governments. The celebration marked the passage of House Bill 1162 from the 112th Congress.

Quileute Tribal Council Chairman Tony Foster (left) holds a framed original copy of the House Act that made law that releases 785 acres of Olympic National Park lands to the Quileute Tribe. The new lands will be used to relocate buildings now located along the coast at La Push that are located on lands threatened by destruction by a future tsunami. The buildings to be relocate include tribal offices, the Quileute Tribal School, the Elders Center, Quileute residences now located in the coastal village at La Push and more.  

President Barack Obama signed the act on Feb. 27. Joining Foster are (from left) former Quileute Tribal Council Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer, Quileute Tribal Councilmember Lonnie Foster, emcee for the evening Vince Penn from Quileute Public Works, and holding the framed act with Tony Foster is Harold "Buzz" Bailey Jr. from the law firm Garvey, Schubert, Barer. Bailey served as counsel for the Quileute Tribe as the act made its way through Congress and to the President’s desk. 

Watch for a complete report and additional photos in the Thursday, Nov. 1 issue of the Forks Forum. 

For more information on the Quileute Tribe go to www.quileutenation.org.