LAPUSH — When the Quileute tribe decided to begin selling canned salmon, it turned to the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe for help.
Quileute Tribal Chairman Russ Woodruff said the tribal council had been talking about canning salmon for some time, but faced the problem of not having a cannery.
“We really didn’t want to build an expensive cannery, and the Elwha Fish Co. already has the canning equipment,” Woodruff said.
“There is no sense in two tribes having the same thing, so we agreed to help each other.”
Quileute Executive Director Walter Jackson said the tribe benefits from having a product they can sell at a variety of outlets, and the Elwha tribe receives a financial boost for its canning services.
“We have been working with all of the tribes to promote all of our products together,” Jackson said.
“Tribes need to work together more so everyone benefits.”
Quileute label
The result of the verbal agreement between the tribes is canned wild king salmon, coho salmon and smoked coho and king salmon under the Quileute Seafoods label, Woodruff said.
