Tulalip Bay Fire Chief Teri Dodge, pictured third to last in back row, with a handful of the volunteer firefighters that serves the northern half of Tulalip from Priest Point area to Fire Trail Road. Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
By Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
TULALIP – Firefighters at the Snohomish County Fire District #15, known as the Tulalip Bay Fire Department, are asking Tulalip tribal members to consider them when voting in this year’s general election, held on November 4.
The fire department, which services 12,000 people living in an area of 22 square miles on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, is seeking permanent funding by way of an Emergency Services Property Tax levy. The levy will expand the department’s services to include Basic Life Support ambulance transport and improve current emergency medical services if passed.
Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors supports the levy and has promised to match the requested $80,000 in the levy. This will provide funding for additional staff to transport patients to local area hospitals during medical emergencies.
The fire department receives 700 calls a year, with 90 percent requiring medical transport. If the levy passes, Tulalip Bay Fire Chief Teri Dodge states the funding will minimize the department’s need for private ambulance services and provide essential training for staff.
“With the addition of the Tulalip Early Learning Academy in Tulalip, the need to have our own transport has increased,” stated Dodge.
“We’ve never had a levy not pass, but we need a 60 percent majority for it to pass,” said Fire Chief Dodge.
The station currently has a rotating shift of 32 volunteer firefighters, but due to a lack of funding the department has not been able to staff for their own ambulance transport.
If the levy passes it would eliminate wait times for ambulances and cut patient costs.
According to the Tulalip Bay Firefighter’s Association, if the levy is passed, “the maximum tax increase per $200,000 assessed valuation will not exceed $50 per year or approximately $4.16 per month.”
“This levy will help us help the people who are like family to us. We have a great history with the community. This department is different than any other fire department. Our staff goes through extensive cultural training and it is reflected in the diversity of our staff. If the levy passes the cost will be a third of what it is now for our community,” said Dodge.
Brandi N. Montreuil: 360-913-5402; bmontreuil@tulalipnews.com
TULALIP – Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks hosted the Providence Classical Christian Highlanders on Monday, October 20, at the Francy J. Sheldon Gymnasium at Heritage High School.
The Lady Hawks were up for a tough battle when they walked on the court to play the Northwest 1B varsity volleyball league’s top contender, having only lost two games this season.
Despite the lacking score, the Lady Hawks performance during the game is a far cry from their last two seasons under coach Amy Andrews. New head coach Raveon Harrowa has used her strong background in volleyball to create a team spirit within the Lady Hawks ranks. This has resulted in consistent communication during rallies, something Coach Andrews struggled to develop in the team.
While the Lady Hawks continue to seek their win, the team’s growth cannot be denied as sportsmanship and team spirit bring their own winning qualities to the young team.
Heritage Hawks – 12 10 9 – 0
Providence Classical – 25 25 25 – 3
You can watch all Heritage Lady Hawks home games on channel 99 on Tulalip Broadband or online at www.tulaliptv.com.
Brandi N. Montreuil: 360-913-5402; bmontreuil@tulalipnews.com
Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center & Natural History Preserve will be hosting their annual Halloween Event on Sunday, October 26, from 1: 00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Families are encouraged to dress in costume while attending the event, which will feature crafting projects, story time for youth and a movie.
For more information contact, Mary Jane Topash, Hibulb Group Tours Specialist at 360-716-2657.
DENVER, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund), a national Native education non-profit, today announced that Comcast and NBCUniversal is partnering with them to further the cause of Native American higher education with a donation of $5 million of advertising for its 2015 public service announcement (PSA) on its cable system and an additional gift of $500,000 of in-kind services and cash. The support will help the College Fund launch its 25(th) anniversary goals to increase Native American scholarship support and financial assistance for the nation’s tribal colleges and universities to increase the number of Native Americans with a higher education.
Comcast and NBCUniversal’s commitment follows its 2013 donation of more than $6.35 million in television advertising time for the College Fund’s 30-second Help A Student Help A Tribe (www.tribalcollege.org) PSA. Comcast and NBCUniversal played the advertisement over several weeks in nine major metropolitan markets at prime viewing times, resulting in increased public awareness about the need to support Native higher education. Internationally renowned advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy and award-winning director Joe Pytka donated their talents to collaborate on the production of the PSA, which depicts the impact one person has on their Native American community after earning a higher education.
“We are delighted to support the American Indian College Fund’s mission to provide Native American students with access to affordable, high quality education, and congratulate them on 25 years of making a meaningful difference in the lives of Native American youth,” said Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation. “As we prepare to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we are proud to support the next generation of Native American leaders who strive to continue their education through tribal colleges and universities.”
Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund said, “As indigenous people, we honor storytelling as a means of sharing our values and our way of life. The American Indian College Fund’s partnership with Comcast and NBCUniversal allows us to bring our story to a broader audience. The engagement of all Americans in the education of tribal people is strengthened when they hear our story. We appreciate that Comcast and NBCUniversal have allowed us to use their technology to share who we are with the rest of the country. They are part of the movement to improve American Indian higher education and we are proud of our partnership with them.”
About the American Indian College Fund
Founded in 1989, the American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest provider of support for Native higher education for 25 years. The College Fund provides an average of 6,000 scholarships annually and support for the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities located on or near Indian reservations. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators. For more information, please visit www.collegefund.org.
MARYSVILLE – Totem Middle School was placed on lock down after police searching for a suspect on foot was last seen near the school area. The Marysville School District website stated the lock down was due to police activity near the area and not regarding any student activity on campus.
Students were not believed to be in any immediate danger and the lock down was a result of precautionary measures. Parents were not allowed to enter the school or pick up students during the lock down.
The Marysville Police lifted the lock down approximately at 2:08 p.m and school resumed normal operations.
Maria Tallchief was considered America’s first major prima ballerina and was the first Native American to hold such distinction.
Tallchief’s innovative role as the first sugar plum fairy in ‘Nutcracker’ and passionate dancing revolutionized the ballet but offstage her life was filled with personal struggles and discrimination.
ASU’s Simon Ortiz and Labriola Center Lecture on Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community presents Sandy Osawa’s ‘Maria Tallchief,’ a documentary that will be screened at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Osawa will follow the free screening and lecture with a Q & A about her one-hour documentary, which aired on PBS from 2007-2010. Osawa broke media barriers in the 1970s by launching the first 10-part national television series to be entirely produced, acted and written by Native Americans. She was also the first Native American filmmaker to produce a documentary for network television, called ‘The Eighth Fire,’ first broadcast on NBC stations in 1992.
Osawa spoke to Get Out from her home in Seattle, Washington, to discuss her landmark documentary and the life of one of the most brilliant ballerinas of the 20th century.
Q: What drew you as a filmmaker to Maria Tallchief’s story?
SO: What drew me to her story was the fact that there’s a shocking lack of Native American stories and she had been on my mind for some time. I first heard about her when I was in college, so that had always stayed in the back of my mind. Then years later I met her grown daughter, Elise Maria Paschen, at a writer’s workshop in Oregon. I asked Elise if there had ever been any full-length documentaries on her mother. She said, ‘No, there isn’t.’ Elise then gave me her mother’s number and I called her up. When I asked Maria Tallchief about the possibility of doing a documentary she said, ‘Let’s do it.’
Q: There were some parallels with you and Maria Tallchief in that you are both Native American women who were underrepresented in your respective professions. Did that help you relate to her?
SO: I actually did feel that there were layers, a lot of levels that existed between us. One of them was the fact that Maria Tallchief said she was shy growing up … painfully shy. I also suffered with that aspect of being shy. I went to school in Port Angeles, Washington and although there was a tribe nearby, there really weren’t any Native Americans at my school. Every summer I would go back to the reservation and that was very much a coming home period and it felt positive. Going back to school was the reverse feeling. Maria said she had that same feeling when balancing the Indian and non-Indian world. Maria was also very quiet about her own accomplishments and was reticent to say anything about her amazing career, which meant I had to resort to some of her friends, associates and family to fill in those gaps. Many people who are raised in a traditional Native American setting are not fond of bragging.
Q: I was surprised to discover there were factions in ballet and Tallchief was an outsider in terms of where she fit in this world.
SO: When she started her career, the only star ballerinas that existed were Russian and English, no Americans. For example, she was asked to change her name to Maria Tallchieva to sound Russian. It’s kind of hard to fathom this now, but this was in the 1940s and 1950s. She was America’s first prima ballerina. It’s a huge milestone people and are always asking, ‘Why didn’t we know about her then?’ It’s all boils down to who writes our history and whose story gets told.
Q: In addition to having to overcome hurdles in the ballet world, Maria Tallchief had a lot of personal issues to face.
SO: I think with any artist there are always going to be obstacles in the way and she certainly faced her share of them. Even when she was born there was turmoil. In the film we focus on a time period when she was young where her relatives were being murdered for oil. Being born a girl in that era and in that environment of murder, it did not look like a very good start for Maria. We show that in the beginning to demonstrate the stress that exists in most Native Americans lives. There are difficulties, there’s hardships, and if you happen to be born into oil money, like her family was, there were tremendous obstacles.
Q: Maria Tallchief died in 2013 but was alive when your film first premiered in 2007. What was her reaction to the documentary?
SO: We set up the premiere at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago so that we could be with her in the audience. She was actually living in a nursing home when we screened the film but was able to come that night and she sat in the front row right next to me. When it ended, she got up and publicly thanked us and was very happy with the film. Her daughter later confirmed how appreciative Maria was. It was very nerve wracking for me because when you’re dealing with a legend, you’re very nervous if you’ve nailed it or not. It was a great final affirmation that she was happy and that we had done a great job.
If you go
What: ‘Maria Tallchief’ lecture, film and Q & A
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16
Where: Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
Kauffman & Associates, Inc., an American Indian-owned communications and professional services firm, has won the 2014 National Health Information Award for its 2-year national campaign encouraging American Indians and Alaska Natives to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Other 2014 award winners include the American Association of Retired Persons, American Lung Association, Parents Magazine and the Mayo Clinic. The National Health Information Awards program honors high-quality consumer health information. The awards program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for consumer health professionals who work in consumer health education fields.
Working with its client, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Tribal Affairs Group, KAI tested messages and images with American Indian and Alaska Native stakeholders throughout the United States and created radio spots, videos, billboards, bus signs, brochures, fact sheets and social media spots. KAI also recruited partner organizations from across the country and conducted outreach at large powwows, conferences, summits and sports events. KAI Vice President for Communications, Kim Blessing, reported “the campaign generated more than 100 million media impressions, recruited 113 tribal and organizational partners and distributed 23,000 informational brochures”.
“American Indian and Alaska Native people finally have the opportunity to ensure their health needs are fully covered, but they have to sign up. This is so important. It was a privilege to help CMS with this campaign,” said KAI President Jo Ann Kauffman, a public health professional and member of the Nez Perce Tribe.
The campaign also included a 7-minute video featuring former CBS News reporter Hattie Kauffman. This video, directed by Josephine Keefe, won the 2014 Telly Award earlier this year. The video is available online and is currently being played in Indian health clinic waiting rooms across the nation. Monthly radio public service announcements (PSA) were also produced by KAI, and featured both English and Native language speakers. Radio PSAs were sent to Native radios each month on topics about special benefits and protections for American Indians and Alaska Natives. These PSAs were recorded in English, Navajo, Lakota, Ojibwe and Yupik. Companion “drop-in” articles were placed in Native newspapers to reinforce the radio messages.
KAI has provided research and communications support to federal agencies, tribes, nonprofits and foundations in the area of public health, education, justice and community development since 1990.
Tamara Morden makes last minute checks to boxes that will be given to families in need. Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
By Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
TULALIP – Tulalip Church of God, known locally as the ‘red church,’ helps families in the Tulalip and Snohomish County area supplement their dietary needs. The food bank hands out donations to nearly 400 families every second and fourth Tuesday of each month, says volunteer and organizer, Tamara Morden, who explains that families must provide an address of residence to receive donations.
Local businesses such as Safeway, Winco and Northwest Harvest donate much needed supplies and are the food bank’s main source of food supply. Morden, who works a full-time regular job says she volunteers 20 hours a month to pick up, pack, and organize donations.
“Everyone is welcome who needs it. We don’t turn people away,” said Morden.
The food bank is open every second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers are always welcome.Tulalip Church of God is located at 1330 Marine Drive NE, Tulalip, WA 98271 and can be reached at 360-653-7876.
These prearranged food boxes will help feed nearly 400 families in the Tulalip and Snohomish County areas.
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Tulalip Church of God food bank received this large donation of onions from a local WalMart.
Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
Johnny Moses, a member of the Tulalip Tribe, smiles as he speaks before a signing ceremony by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray for a resolution designating the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day, Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, in Seattle. Murray invited city council members and tribal leaders to the Monday afternoon signing ceremony for resolution, which the council approved a week earlier, designating it as a day to celebrate the culture and contributions of Native Americans. The second Monday in October is celebrated nationally as Columbus Day, which also has been a day to celebrate people of Italian heritage. ELAINE THOMPSON — AP Photo
BELLINGHAM — By a 6-0 vote, City Council officially recognized Coast Salish Day on the date federally recognized as Columbus Day at its regular Monday night meeting, Oct. 13.
At the Monday afternoon meeting that fell on the federal holiday, all six council members present said they would support an ordinance recognizing Coast Salish Day on the second Monday of October each year, the same date that is nationally set aside for Columbus Day. Council member Jack Weiss, who joined council members Roxanne Murphy and Terry Bornemann in presenting the ordinance, was absent.
At previous meetings, Murphy had announced she would bring the ordinance forward to honor local tribes on the day many still use to honor explorer Christopher Columbus.
Council received an outpouring of community feedback about the proposal, ranging from people who said, “Pick another day,” to young tribal members who said they are still bullied for how they look, to general support from a variety of community members, Murphy said.
“I’m just hoping we can do right by the negativity the Coast Salish have experienced,” Murphy said.
Neither the city nor the state officially recognize Columbus Day as a holiday. For council member Michael Lilliquist, that meant the recognition of Coast Salish Day would not take anything away from the city but serve to celebrate the city’s historical connection with Coast Salish people.
“The names we use for streets and places here are Coast Salish names,” Lilliquist said. “It’s important to recognize that, not just as something of the past, but something that’s still living today. They’re still here. I’m not really happy with focusing on Columbus. I don’t want to get into that fight.”
Bornemann said he was happy to help Murphy bring the ordinance forward.
“We have a shared history with the Coast Salish people here. … Some of it has not been all that good,” Bornemann said.
Bornemann recalled an incident from many years ago when he was downtown and called 911 for someone who needed medical help. He remembered being asked if the person was Native American.
“I said it was none of their … business, they needed to get someone down there,” Bornemann said.
“I think this is one little step of recognizing what valuable contributions (the Coast Salish people) made to this area, and their long, noble history,” Bornemann continued.
Council members Gene Knutson, Pinky Vargas and Cathy Lehman all voiced their support for the ordinance and thanked Murphy for bringing the proposal to council.
In the future, all second Mondays in October could include the raising of tribal flags at City Hall and events featuring speeches from tribal leaders, along with other traditions the Nooksack Indian Tribe and Lummi Nation or other Coast Salish tribes would like to bring forward, according to a proposal accompanying the city ordinance.
“Most fundamentally,” the proposal reads, “the dream is that all future Coast Salish Days will remove any previous negativity from the former holiday and institute a day of celebration, culture, healing and respect.”
Seattle City Council passed a similar ordinance Oct. 6, recognizing Indigenous People’s Day.
Washington is one of several states that do not celebrate Columbus Day as a legal holiday. Banks and federal government offices are typically closed for the federal holiday. Bellingham city offices will not close for Coast Salish Day.
Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/10/13/3911107_bellingham-council-poised-to-recognize.html?sp=/99/101/&rh=1#storylink=cpy
Shooting for Avatar 2, the sequel to James Cameron’s world wide box office smash, begins in 2015, and new casting call information reveals the inclusion of Native Americans in supporting roles. Filming will be split between Manhattan Beach, California, and a location in New Zealand.
The film is currently set for a December 2016 premiere in the United States.
A direct sequel to the first film Avatar 2 it’s believed the plot will follow Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who uses the technology to transfer his consciousness in to the body of his Na’vi, so he can live a fresh life with princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Something tells us this won’t go smoothly however.
Also reprising their roles are Sigourney Weaver as “Dr. Grace Augustine”, Stephen Lang as “Colonel Miles Quaritch,” and Joely Richardson is rumored to be newly joining the cast.
Although the status of the idea is unknown, James Cameron has stated that he wants to film Avatar 2 at a higher frame rate that usually used, and possibly as high as 60fps, something usually reserved for video games. Since most theaters don’t run at this rate it may only be reserved for special circumstances or the future when higher frame rates might become the standard.
Cameron has also expressed interest in filming some scenes at the deepest location on earth accessible by humans, the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Though again the status of this is not clear.
Cameron who wrote, will direct and produce the film has his work cut out over the next few years as he’s agreed to two more Avatar movies, Avatar 3 and Avatar 4. Judging from the fact that the first Avatar was one of the highest grossing films of all time, continuing the franchise makes sense.
