S'Klallam
/ˈsklɑːləm/noun
A member of the S’Klallam Indigenous peoples of the northwestern Olympic Peninsula and nearby regions of Washington State.
Did you know?S’Klallam is an English rendering of an Indigenous self-designation traditionally associated with strength, rather than a word created by English speakers.
Etymological Timeline
Precontact
Klallam
Nux̌áy̓əm
“The Klallam people’s traditional self-designation, commonly translated as “strong people.””
18th–19th Century
English
Clallam
“An anglicized form used by outsiders for the people and their language.”
19th Century
English
S'Klallam
“A spelling reflecting the people’s own naming tradition and distinguishing the tribal name from simplified outsider forms.”
20th Century
English
S'Klallam
“Established in tribal, scholarly, and governmental usage for the people, language, and communities.”
Modern English
English
S'Klallam
“The standard contemporary English form for the S’Klallam people and their federally recognized tribal governments.”