The Chah-pekw O鈥� Ket鈥�-toh center is located on the banks of the Stone Lagoon next to Redwood National Park. It will teach visitors about the tribe鈥檚 connection to the coastal bay, and the hardships faced by indigenous communities.
Rosie Clayburn is the tribal heritage preservation officer for the Yurok Tribe.
鈥淲e have so many exhibits," she says. "We have so many stories to tell here. This place is so deep in history and there鈥檚 such a significance here.鈥�
Clayburn says the visitor center has been completely remodeled. She鈥檚 excited the tribe not only has a place for people to learn about the tribe鈥檚 history but which also welcomes tribal members.
Yurok Tribal chairman Joe Jones says this partnership helps to honor the indigenous communities from the region.
鈥淭his is a special place," says Jones. "For a long time parks weren鈥檛 always a welcoming place for indigenous people. We鈥檝e been working hard to establish relationships and intend to change that.鈥�
Jones says too often the story of indigenous people has been told by non-natives. But this center will be run by members of the Yurok tribe to help share their story.
Some members of the community say it鈥檚 intimidating to be the first tribe to enter into a partnership with the state of California like this.
Jones hopes this new partnership with the state parks will serve as a model for future relationships with indigenous communities across the state.
