BOD members Theresa Sheldon and Deborah Parker blanket Rae Anne Gobin during a surprise acknowledgement honoring her 50 years of service on Wednesday, January 21.
By Wade Sheldon
For Rae Anne Gobin, a 50-year career with the Tulalip Tribes didn’t start with a grand plan but with encouragement from her parents and a willingness to explore unfamiliar territory. When she first applied for her job, she couldn’t have known that a single opportunity would develop into a lifetime of service to her people. Like many young employees, she faced uncertainty in those early days, unsure of what to expect and afraid of falling short, but she was determined to do her
“My parents encouraged me to work for the Tribe, and when I started my first job, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Rae Anne said. “I worried about making mistakes, disappointing others, and not knowing enough, but I was surrounded by a community that genuinely cared about my success.” That sense of support, she explained, quickly became the foundation of her career. Her first position, funded through grant money, opened the door to future opportunities, and she began learning lessons that would guide her for decades to come. “That first job taught me so much,” she said. “The importance of showing up on time, being accountable for my work, communicating with others, solving problems, asking for help, and handling challenges.”
As her career advanced, Rae Anne did not stay in one role; she gradually grew alongside the Tribe as it expanded and changed. She started as a secretary and, over time, took on various positions, each deepening her understanding of tribal government and the responsibility of serving her community. Looking back now, she sees her personal growth as linked to Tulalip’s growth.
“When I look back from my first days on the job until today, there has been so much progress,” she said. In those early years, tribal government was small and closely connected. “When I first started, we had an Executive Director, a Services Manager, a Business Manager, and only a small number of employees,” she recalled. Protecting and strengthening sovereignty was central to the work, and the daily operations of that small staff created the framework for everything that exists today.
With limited personnel, employees were often required to handle multiple responsibilities, and Rae Anne found herself taking on many different roles as the Tribe worked to build its systems. “In the early days, our workforce handled multiple responsibilities,” she said. “I performed duties as the recording secretary, court clerk, cashier, and even carried out early human resources functions.” As the Tribe expanded, new programs were developed, and positions that once had been shared among many people became full-time roles of their own. “With that growth and success came the ability to fund full-time positions such as a court clerk and develop the court system,” she said, describing those years as important milestones in Tulalip’s development.
Although there were moments when she considered leaving, especially during times of change or when family responsibilities weighed heavily, Rae Anne says her sense of belonging always brought her back to Tulalip. She remembers leaders who encouraged tribal members to explore opportunities both within and beyond the reservation, including Don Hatch (Penoke), who often walked through the offices, urging employees to consider jobs with agencies like PUD or the phone company.
“I often thought about leaving, too,” she said. “But the strong sense of connection and knowing that my own family had served as board members kept me rooted here. This place, this work, and our people became part of who I am. My sense of place has always been Tulalip, and my commitment has always been to want more for Tulalip.”
As the Tribe continued to expand, Rae Anne’s responsibilities grew along with it, and one area of her work eventually became a defining chapter of her career. What began as a simple task within Human Resources gradually developed into a major responsibility that would shape tribal policy and workplace practices for years to come.
“Over the years, one of my biggest responsibilities became overseeing the Tribe’s drug testing program,” she said. What started as a small assignment eventually grew into a full department of its own, reflecting both the growth of the Tribe and the increasing complexity of its operations. In many ways, the program symbolized how informal systems from the early years were transformed into structured departments as Tulalip matured into a large governmental and corporate organization.
Just as the Tribe evolved, so did the tools of the workplace, and few changes were as dramatic as the shift from typewriters to computers. For Rae Anne, that transition remains one of the most vivid markers of how much time has passed.
“As for the biggest challenges I’ve overcome during my career, the transition from typewriters to computers stands out the most,” she said. “When I first started, everything was done on a typewriter. We used carbon paper to make copies of letters we mailed out, and we relied on a mimeograph machine to create our newsletters.” Those early newsletters, she recalled, were a small but meaningful part of office life. “One of the best parts of those newsletters was the ‘Teepee Talk,’” she said. “Everyone looked forward to that.”
Throughout her career, Rae Anne says it was the people around her who most shaped how she worked and the values she carried. When asked about mentors and influences, she names leaders whose teachings extended far beyond job duties and titles.
“Francis Sheldon, Wayne Williams, Clarence Hatch, Delores Gobin, Gwen Hatch, Lavinia Carpenter, and Paula Cortez were especially memorable,” she said. “Because of the strong work ethic they demonstrated and the teachings they shared so effortlessly.” From them, she learned not only how to do her job but also how to carry herself with responsibility, humility, and respect for the community she served.
Perhaps the most striking change she witnessed over five decades was the sheer scale of Tulalip’s growth. What began as a small workforce handling whatever tasks were necessary has become an organization employing more than 3,000 people, operating programs, enterprises, and services that reach far beyond what anyone in those early offices could have imagined.
“Watching the Tribe grow from a small workforce to an organization with more than three thousand employees is something I never could have imagined,” she said. “The scale of what Tulalip has built far exceeds anything I dreamed of when we were just a handful of people doing whatever work needed to be done.”
Despite the many changes in technology, leadership, and structure, the lessons Rae Anne learned early in her career have remained constant. Dependability, she says, became the foundation for everything else she achieved.
“Showing up, being dependable, present, and ready to work,” she said. “That commitment created the foundation for everything else. I also learned the importance of treating people with respect and understanding that everyone plays a role in moving the Tribe forward.”
Serving her own community for half a century, Rae Anne views it not as a job, but as a lifelong responsibility and an honor.
“It has been an honor to contribute, even in a small way, to the growth of our Tribe and strengthening our sovereignty,” she said.
To young tribal members just beginning their careers, her advice reflects the same values that guided her through five decades of service.
“Stay open to learning and don’t be afraid to start small,” she said. “Every job, no matter how simple it may seem, teaches you something valuable. Show up, be dependable, and ask questions. Focus on what you contribute to the Tribe and our people.”
When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Rae Anne does not speak of titles or accomplishments, but of commitment. “I would hope people remember me as someone who cared for the Tribe and the commitment I gave.”
Even after 50 years, her motivation remains rooted in the same purpose that brought her through the doors as a young employee.
“Knowing that the work I do still makes a difference,” she said. “My passion comes from seeing the Tribe grow through every improvement, every program, and the steps forward remind me why this work matters. Tulalip is my home, my community, my sense of place, my identity.”