Sacred tribal site vandalized
CHIMACUM, Wash. — Graffiti expressing affection for someone named Miranda has marred one of the most sacred sites for an American Indian tribe in Washington state.
Jamestown S’Klallam officials learned in July of the pink and white painting of “I (heart) Miranda” on the towering Tamanowas Rock northwest of Seattle. The 43-million-year-old monolith has been used for millennia by Salish Native Americans for hunting, refuge and spiritual renewal rituals. In the Klallam language, Tamanowas means “spirit power.”
“It’s an incredibly important site for us,” said Annette Nesse, chief operating officer for the tribe. The Jamestown S’Klallam bought the rock and 62 acres for $600,000 in December.
Standing more than 150 feet tall, Tamanowas Rock is made up of a pair of basalt masses that shoot up through a dense forest, offering sweeping vistas of Admiralty Inlet, Whidbey Island and the Cascades.
The graffiti is about 8 feet long with letters that are roughly 3 feet tall. Nesse doesn’t think the painting was done with malice. “I just think whoever painted that didn’t realize how important the rock is to us,” she said.
Information from: Peninsula Daily News, http://www.peninsuladailynews.com
