PORT ANGELES — Tribal members marched from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s tribal center to the Elwha River to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police escorted about 20 people — many carrying signs — as they participated in the walk Wednesday.
“Part of our service here is to provide awareness for the community about the importance of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness also,” said Beatriz Arakawa, Lower Elwha Family Advocacy program manager and victim advocate. “It’s important. We’re a small community but there are services here.”
Lower Elwha Family Advocacy provides a number of services for people suffering in domestic violence cases, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, transportation, financial assistance and advocacy-based counseling.
Those services are available to anyone in the Port Angeles area and not just to tribal members, she said.
She said she was thankful for those who attended the event, which started with a prayer song led by Mark Charles and his nephew.
The walk has been held in October each year since about 2009, she said. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
To reach the Lower Elwha Family Advocacy hotline, call 360-460-1745.
Another organization that provides services is Healthy Families of Clallam County. Their crisis line is 360-452-4357.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
Beatriz Arakawa, Lower Elwha Family Advocacy program manager and victim advocate, holds a sign during the domestic violence awareness walk at the Lower Elwha Kilallam Tribe’s reservation Wednesday evening. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
Lower Elwha Kallam Tribal member Mark Charles, left, and his nephew Dylan Thomas of the Esquimalt tribe, sing and drum during the domestic violence awareness walk at the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s reservation Wednesday afternoon. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
