Elliott Way's Honorary Name, Dzidzilalich. Photo by Jo Cosme.
Introducing Dzidzilalich
Dzidzilalich ("little crossing‑over place")
On Monday, April 24, Mayor Bruce Harrell along with Suquamish Tribal Council Treasurer Denita Holmes and Muckleshoot Tribe Vice Chair Donny Stevenson unveiled the honorary street sign at the new Elliott Way roadway, reading Dzidzilalich. Pronounced pronounced DZEE-dzuh-LAH-leech, the new street sign serves as a reminder for folks who drive, walk, or bike along Elliott Way that the Puget Sound Coast Salish people have resided in this place since time immemorial. This name honors their cultures, communities, resilience, and history.
Dzidzilalich means “little crossing-over place” in Lushootseed, one of the languages of the Coast Salish people, and refers to one of the several villages that once stood here. According to HistoryLink, the “little crossing-over place” likely refers to either a saddle of land (about where today’s Washington Street is located) that provided a route between the bay and the lagoon (located approximately where Occidental Park is today) or the trail along today’s Yesler Way, which led to Lake Washington.
The Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribal Councils provided guidance to the city of Seattle’s Mayor’s Office, the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and the Seattle Department of Transportation in the process of selecting Dzidzilalich as the honorary name for this roadway.
Members of the Muckleshoot Tribe gave a Tribal Blessings at the event. Photo by Jo Cosme.
Suquamish Tribal Council Treasurer Denita Holmes, left, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Muckleshoot Tribe Vice Chair Donny Stevenson unveil the honorary street sign at Elliott Way. Photo by Jo Cosme.
Friends CEO Joy Shigaki speaks at the Elliott Way opening and Dzidzilalich Honorary Naming event. Photo by Jo Cosme.
Dozens of Tribal members, community partners, donors, and supporters came out to celebrate the opening of Elliott Way and the honorary naming. Photo by Jo Cosme.