By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News
This Earth Day, the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Department planned a full day of activities focused on community clean up and environmental restoration.
Multiple departments, students from both Heritage High and Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, tribal employees, and a few local businesses and non-profit organizations volunteered their time to the cause on the morning of April 22.
The Tribe hopes that this Earth Day gathering will serve as the kick-off event that will get the community more involved in their upcoming projects and events that are aimed at taking care of Mother Earth.
Said Melissa Gobin, Environmental and Education Outreach Coordinator, “I noticed there was a need for this and there are people wanting to do this work. We don’t want it to be just Earth Day, we want it to continue on. I think it’s important for all of us to network together, so we have some opportunities for the public to come in and give back, and so people know what’s out there and what the Tulalip Tribes is doing in natural resources because it’s important.”
All told, dozens of volunteers helped collect trash on Mission Beach and along 27th Ave, while several others opted to tend to the garden beds of the Senior Center, the Tulalip Health Clinic, and Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary.
If you are interested in volunteer work to help combat pollution and preserve our natural world, keep an eye out for future events planned by the Tribes Natural Resources team as they plan on hosting many more get togethers throughout the year.