Life of Makah Elder Honored

Dignataries choked back tears and hundreds of people listened in aching silence to dedications for Ed Claplanhoo, a deeply distinguised elder of the Makah people, at his funeral service in Neah Bay, Saturday, March 20.

Claplanhoo passed away at 81, Sunday, March 14. Hundreds of friends and colleagues, and blood and adopted relatives, arrived from all over the United States to attend the farewell. Adopted brothers and sisters from the Squaxin and Quilcene tribes were among the attendees.

Claplanhoo, born in 1928, was 16 months old when his grandmother brought him in a canoe to be raised by adoptive parents in Neah Bay.

Dignitaries included Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty, Dr. Ann Ranker, Reverend Frank Cole, John Heinz, with the Indian Health Service, Antonio Sanchz and Luis Esteban.

In the eulogy, Dr. Ranker said, "When we think of the name of Ed Claplanhoo, we think of the Makah Tribe." Sharing memories from his family Ranker said Claplanhoo, as a boy, gathered firewood and water for his family and kept a pet deer until he yelled at it.

Quiet chuckles ran through the people as Ranker described the speed-driving skills, especially along the twists and turns of Highway 112, that earned Claplanhoo the nickname of "Fast Eddy." He taught his kids to drive by leaving them to drive backwards until he thought they were ready to drive forwards, reflecting his saying, "You can't know where you're going until you know where you've been."

Claplanhoo was a driving force behind protecting the 500-year-old Ozette village site. He represented the tribe with archaelogists to properly open and catalog the artifacts discovered there.

When the site was first revealed by a landslide, a local teacher alerted Claplanhoo to artifact theft. Claplanhoo wouldn't listen to him, referring to him as a "hippie schoolteacher." The teacher's persistence won through, and Claplanhoo displayed the flexibility that made him so effective by overcoming his own prejudices to save his people's heritage.

The tribal leader was instrumental in the founding of the Makah Museum and Cultural Center and the subsequent development in tourism based on this important cultural trove.

Claplanhoo served 2 years in the U.S. Army, at Fort Warden, near Port Townsend, and Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, both in Washington State. That short stateside tour colored his whole life, as he promoted the cause of Makah military veterans. He kept and wore a collection of military-style garrison caps, covered with colorful pins and patches.

He was a staunch and hard-working supporter of the Democratic party, traveling all over the state and country to promote the needs of his people.

Commissioner Doherty read a message acknowledging Claplanhoo's passing, from House Minority Leader Lynn Kessler, who was unable to attend because of upcoming legislation and a recently-contracted case of pneumonia.

Governor Chris Gregoir sent a representative to extend personal condolences to Thelma Claplanhoo and Ed's friends. Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen sent personal regrets through Antonio Sanchez, who with Claplanhoo originally organized reconciliation between Spain and the Makah Nation.

Luis Esteban, Consular Representative for the King of Spain, who had originally worked with Sanchez and Claplanhoo to make The Diah Veteran's Park possible, said "I was impressed by the manner he defended the honor and history of the Makah Nation."

He raised anotther chuckle when he said that Claplanoo told him, "Let bygones be bygones." But the response was a standing ovation when he presented Thelma Claplanhoo with a Spanish flag and said, "Fly it when we celebrate Ed."

Claplanhoo donated land to build the memorial, as well as the large fir trees that grew on the site. These were cut and polished to a golden sheen, to form the corner columns of the native-style memorial house.

A Squaxin adopted brother said, "Our families were torn apart," remembering the long, shameful history of what native peoples endured at the hands of the invaders. Claplanhoo did much to make it possible for native people to integrate in a new situation that couldn't be helped, while retaining as much as could be salvaged from the Bad Times of their own culture.

Pastor James Kallappa remembered Claplanhoo's powerful blend of strength and humility, like the proverbial lion and lamb.

Kallappa recalled how 44 years as the Makah Days emcee had earned the elder the nickname of "Mr. Makah Days."

Reverend Cole remembered how Claplanhoo lend a hand with anything. As a young college student, he came to the rescue of the newly-installed preacher, who admitted he had no building or plumbing skills. Claplanhoo had a term paper due on Indian lore and culture, but he said he would fix the Assembly of God's plumbing if Cole's wife Jane would take dictation as he worked.

Cole added, "We got an education, Eddy got his term paper, and we got our toilet."

Claplanhoo was the Makah Nation's first college graduate, from Washington State University.

Cole said that, twice in Claplanhoo's life, before moments of success or opportunity, he had visions of the ground turning white around him, as though he were walking on a field of clouds. Cole said he had no doubt Claplanhoo was walking the field of clouds for a third and eternal time.

The Patriot Riders motorcycle club stood outside the Neah Bay School gym, holding national and veteran's flags and opening doors as guests arrived.

Somber suits and dresses were graced by vests, hair styles, hats and jewelry in native art styles from across the continent. Family members wore hand-made cedar roses.

The Makah Tribal Council declared March 19 a tribal holiday in honor of Ed Claplanhoo, in recognition of his many services to the tribe, the Makah veterans, and in the interest of native peoples.

A representative of Senator Brian Hatfield read a letter in which the Washington State Senate recognized and honored Claplanhoo as a cultural treasure, on behalf of the Makah Nation, Washington State and all Native Americans.

The service culminated in a memorial service at the Fort Núñez Gaona - Diah Veterans Park, which would never have existed without the stalwart and constant efforts of Claplanhoo himself. His flag-draped coffin rested in the park building during a 21-ring salute, a 21-gun salute, and the blowing of Taps. The flag was folded and placed in the arms of Thelma Claplanhoo.

The family and the community repaired to the gym, to partake in a lavish dinner, reflecting the generosity the Makah pride themselves upon, and had been so important to the great Makah elder.

Makah Days will never be the same without him.