Balch, Gary
Gary Balch is a direct descendent of Lord James Balch. In the year 1870, white settlers in Washington Territory began to bring pressure upon the Bureau of Indian Affairs to move all treaty Indians to reservations. Many of the Peoples merely wandered the land, and without a clear title, they were easily and frequently dispossessed.
In 1874, under the leadership of Lord James Balch (Gary’s ancestor), a band of S’Klallams raised enough money to pay $500 in gold coin for a 210-acre tract near Dungeness, Washington. This began the Jamestown S’Klallam community. Gary is still doing his part to carry on with the traditions of his ancestors. His handmade drums reflect his respect for the original method used in the making of drums.