By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
Walking down the main corridor of Marysville Pilchuck High School feels different now. A formerly muted, grey brick wall that has watched generations of students come and go is bright and full of life. Why? Because it’s been transformed by the brushstrokes of Tulalip elder and artist Monie Ordonia.
The 63-year-olds newly completed mural, painted in vivid tones of blues, greens, and earthy reds, tells a story. As she puts it, “it’s a land acknowledgement without words”. It’s an acknowledgement of place, identity, and enduring connection.
The mural’s backdrop is two perspectives on Mount Pilchuck, the mountain for which the high school takes its name. One depiction captures the iconic mountain as it’s often seen from the valley below; towering, majestic, and steeped in morning light.
The other depiction is viewed from Monie’s matriarchal lens as she views the mountain as a vessel of cultural memory. Emerging from the mountain’s silhouette is a subtle, yet powerful, portrait of Pilchuck Julia. She is a Coast Salish ancestor who lived throughout the 1800s and early 1900s in present-day Snohomish County. Her face, stoic and strong, seems to look out toward the land she loved. The very same land where Marysville and Tulalip now persist side by side.
“Bringing forth the history and journey of the Tulalip people, Snohomish people, and Coast Salish people who were the original teachers of this land and who still persist today was the intention,” Monie explained to an auditorium filled with high school students and faculty. “Pilchuck Julia was one of our people who lived through so much change. She represents the spirit of resilience that’s still here.
“It’s not difficult to imagine the mistreatment and shunning she endured as a Native person living in colonial times. Even with that, she still managed to have beautiful relationships with the community,” continued Monie. “I’d like that to be a reminder that regardless of if you’re Native or non-Native, popular or a loner, an athlete or a bookworm, you can have beautiful relationships with each other. And you all are capable of forming a great community and family full of shared experiences and mutual respect.”
In between the mural’s depiction of Mount Pilchuck and Pilchuck Julia is a canoe and four paddles that were painted by Native Liaison Doug Salinas. He shared, “In painting those elements, I was assisted by several Tulalip teenagers who were summer youth employees. Their pride and eagerness to help me create something lasting on campus is what I’ll remember most about this experience.”
For decades, Tulalip youth have attended Marysville Pilchuck High School. From the early days when few Native students were present, to today, when dozens of Tulalip students proudly represent their culture in classrooms, on sports teams, and in clubs. The relationship between Tulalip and Marysville hasn’t been simple, to say the least, but, to Monie and Doug, their mural reflects a shared journey toward mutual recognition and a huge step forward for empowering the school’s Native student body.
“This mural means a lot to our students,” stated Jessica Bustad, Executive Director of Education. She’s a proud Tulalip tribal member, parent, and former M.P. graduate. “When our kids see Monie’s and Doug’s work, they see Tulalip stories and history, they see the Lushootseed language, they see themselves. The mural not only recognizes their cultural roots, but it also tells them they belong here.”
For Tulalip youth currently attending M.P., that sense of recognition and belonging is tangible. Senior student and Tulalip tribal member Nevaeh Childers reflected, “I feel like the mural is really important because it’s representation for us Native students and makes us feel like we belong. Being a student here at M.P. has given us the opportunity to learn Lushootseed from Natosha Gobin and Michelle Myles, to participate in [United] Native Club, and learn about our ancestors and history.”
The mural is both a tribute and a teaching. As Pilchuck Julia’s eyes gaze across the horizon, the mountain, the canoe, and the word family all flow together.
“Every brushstroke is filled with belonging,” Monie reassured. “This mural is for our kids. So that when they walk these halls, they’re reminded of who they are and where they come from. Because no matter who they become or where they go, they will always be Tulalip.”