We currently do not have any art or historic markers of Coast Salish representation in our town and I think the bronze sculpture piece would be a wonderful memorial to commemorate this site on Pioneer Way where the Native burial was found.

This could be a historic, artistic and educational marker. Then this site could be linked with other sites as part of the Trail of Honor concept that also honors our veterans, pioneers and our natural environmental assets. This can only benefit our town.

Also, I’d love to see our town erect at least one large cedar “storypole” or cedar archway over one or more of our main streets with traditional Coast Salish designs.

For carvings, I’d recommend we enlist the talents of Coast Salish artists. Coupeville created such a lovely salmon wheel and now whale wheel that is a centerpiece for the town and we sorely need something like this here in Oak Harbor.

This will add value to our town, preserve our earliest history and be a source of town pride as well as a draw to tourists making Oak Harbor a more desirable destination place.

Native peoples have lived, harvested and fished in the area that is now Oak Harbor for at least 11,000 years. We really do need to have some markers to acknowledge this.

Melissa Duffy
Oak Harbor