11/12/2025
This Veterans Day, we’re honoring Edward Eugene Claplanhoo (1928–2010) — a Makah elder, Army veteran, and community leader from the Olympic Peninsula who dedicated his life to service in every sense of the word.
After being drafted in 1950, Edward returned home to Neah Bay and went on to become the first Makah to earn a college degree and later Chairman of the Makah Tribe. During his leadership, he helped oversee the Ozette Indian Village excavation in the 1970s — and made sure the artifacts stayed in Neah Bay, where they belonged. His vision led to the creation of the Makah Museum in 1979, now home to the incredible Ozette collection.
Even decades after his military service, Edward kept finding ways to honor others. In 2008, he helped establish Fort Núñez Gaona–Diah Veterans Park, a space dedicated to Makah and Native veterans — a place where community, culture, and remembrance come together.
