Sequim, Washington, a hidden gem nestled on the Olympic Peninsula, offers a unique travel experience where art, culture, and history seamlessly intertwine with the natural landscape and the spirit of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. This community provides visitors with a breathtaking immersion into a rich cultural heritage, enhanced by the stunning backdrop of the Olympic National Park.
The Olympic Peninsula itself is a well-known destination for outdoor enthusiasts, boasting majestic mountains, verdant forests, and rugged coastlines. However, a visit to 7 Cedars, a resort located within the Jamestown S’Klallam tribal campus in Sequim, elevates the experience to a new level. Here, visitors encounter "The Land of Sea-to-Sky," a monumental totem that serves as an introduction to the tribe’s cultural identity.
Carved from a 400-year-old Western Red Cedar and standing at an impressive 42.5 feet tall, "The Land of Sea-to-Sky" is just the first of numerous totems displayed throughout Sequim. This particular totem is a visual narrative, telling the story of the landscape and its inhabitants that hold deep significance in the S’Klallam Tribe’s traditions. The base of the totem features a carved orca gracefully arching through the water, symbolizing all marine life. Above the orca, carved waves transition into rolling foothills, which then rise into a mountainous wilderness. The totem continues upwards, depicting a progression of both real and mythological animals, including the chum salmon, black bear, wolf, mountain goat, and marmot. At the very top, the legendary Thunderbird is perched, overlooking the surrounding landscape.
Teresa Smithlin, a tribal descendant and representative of 7 Cedars, explains that "The Land of Sea-to-Sky" serves as an introduction to the S’Klallam culture. "The totem’s story and design honor S’Klallam cultural history and celebrates our ecological landscape. On a symbolic level, it also honors the Tribe’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Once you get beyond the initial ‘wow,’ you realize that there’s quite a bit being shared within those carvings."
The tribal campus is home to even more totems, each telling unique stories about historical events, fabled adventures, cultural traditions, and even 7 Cedars itself. These totems are all crafted from single western red cedar trees, harvested from the Olympic Peninsula’s Hoh Rain Forest and ranging in age from 500 to 900 years old. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe continues to add to its collection, aiming to preserve and share its history and culture with visitors.
Tribal Chairman W. Ron Allen emphasizes the tribe’s vision in a 7 Cedars booklet, stating, "We see this place as a gateway to the Olympic Peninsula. The totem poles are a way to make a strong lasting impression on visitors to our home."
The totems serve as an invitation for visitors to explore, learn about, and appreciate the land that forms the backdrop for these captivating stories. For those seeking outdoor adventures, the Olympic Peninsula offers a multitude of options. Visitors can hike through the mountains, cycle along the renowned 130-mile Olympic Discovery Trail, observe whales breaching in the Puget Sound, or enjoy a round of golf in the favorable climate created by the Olympic Rain Shadow.
For those seeking more relaxed activities, 7 Cedars provides a variety of options closer to the resort. Guests can enjoy gaming, indulge in delicious cuisine, and admire tribal art displayed throughout the resort, including in the hotel rooms. A self-guided tour of the tribal campus’s totems offers a deeper connection to the tribe’s culture.
Smithlin notes that "Guests seem to really enjoy taking pictures of the totems. The art makes such an impression; you can’t help but want to take the memory back home and share it."
The influence of the totems extends beyond mere visual appeal, inspiring other aspects of the resort experience. The 7 Cedars’ Totem Rewards Program pays homage to the totems, encouraging visitors to return. Basic "Totem" members receive discounts at the resort’s hotel and golf course restaurants, reduced prices on gas at Longhouse Market & Deli, and special offers from local businesses. Higher tiers, "Raven" and "Eagle," offer even greater discounts and benefits, including courtesy vehicle service, priority game seating, and invitations to VIP events for "Eagle" members.
To encourage new visitors to experience the Olympic Peninsula, 7 Cedars offers a chance to win a one-night stay at the resort and a half-day whale watching tour provided by the Puget Sound Express.
Kyla Rigg, group sales manager for 7 Cedars, recommends the whale watching tour to all visitors during whale-watching season, which runs from April to October. "If you’ve never seen a whale, watching an orca breach will take your breath away. Plus, you get this incredible view of the mountains and sea while you’re out there."
The whale tours symbolize the continuity of the Olympic Peninsula. The stories and settings depicted in the totems at 7 Cedars span centuries of oral tradition and history. At the same time, experiences like witnessing an orca leaping from the Sound remain accessible to visitors today. Travelers to the Olympic Peninsula can experience it from two perspectives: through the stories and art of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and through their own personal adventures.
Smithlin concludes, "There’s something special about the Olympic Peninsula. The totems alone are worth seeing, but there’s even more to enjoy and explore."
