We are all citizens of qatáy

The name ‘Kah Tai’ has been a subject of debate in terms of authenticity, origin and even spelling and pronunciation. It is in reality a phonetic representation of the S’Klallam name for where we live. The S’Klallam language was not rendered into a written alphabet until 1992. That alphabet spells the name ‘qatáy’ and is pronounced as most of us already do. The first syllable does not have a long 'i' vowel sound, but an 'ah' sound, with the accent on the second syllable, which does have a long 'i' sound. It does not sound like 'mai tai'.

We are all citizens of qatáy. Our lagoon and park are the southern expression of qatáy Valley, altered with dredge spoils in the 1960s but with the intervention of time and nature and more than a little help from friends, a nature park, protected in perpetuity by the grant that provided for the park’s creation.

Kah Tai is now one of 18 sites on the Chetzemoka (čičməhán) Interpretive Trail. The Jamestown S'Klallam, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes and surrounding communities joined together for the grand opening and dedication of the Chetzemoka (čičməhán) Trail on 29 June 2019.

The Chetzemoka (čičməhán) Trail is a joint endeavor of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the Native Connections Action Group, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The historic sites selected by the Tribe are connected by a trail to increase the visibility of the S'Klallam history in qatáy (Port Townsend), their traditional territory. More information can be found on the Jamestown S’Klallam website: http://www.tribalmuseum.jamestowntribe.org/hsg/exhibits/chetzemokatrail/ct_menu.php.