By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
As fall arrives, the Tulalip community has launched an exciting new project, The Season of Healing. This initiative offers events, including Ted Talk-style lectures, coastal jams, and hands-on crafting workshops, all aimed at fostering healing, connection, and growth. On Monday, September 9, the first talk of the series took place at the Gathering Hall, where tribal members gathered for dinner and an evening of reflection led by several guest speakers.
The event was hosted by Alicia Horne, executive assistant for the National Native American Boarding School Coalition. She was joined by prominent voices in the healing movement, including Tribal Chairwoman Teri Gobin, Deborah Parker, CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and special guest, Clinical Addiction and Mental Health Therapist Serene Thin Elk from South Dakota. The theme for the evening was “Weaving Love Back into Our Lives,” and the speakers focused on addressing the traumas that often disrupt daily life while emphasizing the importance of self-love and community support.
Parker set the tone for the evening by reflecting on the seasonal transition and how it relates to personal introspection. “You can really feel the summer was carefree, and now you can feel the clouds roll in. The weather is changing. It’s such a special time for us in the Northwest. We start to go into that meditation state as we go into the winter,” she said, highlighting the opportunity for healing and growth during this quieter season.
Gobin addressed the historical traumas deeply rooted in the Tulalip community, specifically the impact of the boarding schools that operated for 75 years. “As a board, we’ve assembled a series of meetings for the next eight Mondays to address multiple concerns and issues. Many of us may not recognize how the Tulalip boarding schools have impacted us as a people. These talks are meant to encourage open, honest dialogue—without judgment—so we can begin to envision what a healthier, safer community looks like.”
Serene Thin Elk, the evening’s guest speaker, brought her expertise in trauma therapy to the conversation. She shared insights on how personal trauma can manifest in everyday life, often leading individuals to downplay their struggles or minimize the pain they’ve endured. “There might be times in someone’s life when they minimize something hard that they just can’t let go of or cannot go through. They make it seem less important,” Serene said. She emphasized that healing from trauma begins with acknowledgment and the belief that one’s strength and resilience will ultimately prevail. “If you ever doubt your power or strength, remember everything will be okay.”
For Serene, the opportunity to speak at Tulalip was motivating. “It means so much to come to another tribe and see how you do things here. It’s very inspiring. I think that sometimes, when we are in our communities, we don’t see our strengths. I see many of the programs and things that your community is doing, and it gives me ideas to bring back to my community,” she noted.
As the evening ended, attendees left with a sense of purpose, carrying the messages of healing and self-love into their lives. This first event set the stage for the Season of Healing series, which will continue to address various aspects of personal and collective trauma over the next eight weeks. The project aims to foster a deeper understanding of how historical pain shapes modern challenges while offering a path toward resilience and renewal.
Tulalip tribal members can watch this event and others on iamtulalip.com.