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By Monica Brown, Tulalip News writer.
TULALIP, Wa- Tulalip’s annual Native Bazaar is happening this weekend, Nov 23rd and 24th, and December 7th and 8th. The bazaar is a great place to buy handmade gifts for friends and family and offers everything from cedar woven items art, carvings and drums, to jewelry, clothing and food.
The bazaar is open 9:00am – 4:00pm and is located at the Don Hatch Jr Youth Center, 6700 Totem Beach Rd, Tulalip. I-5 exit 199, follow the signs.
By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
TULALIP − “It’s about language and perspective. How issues are talked about. How issues are presented and received,” said Ryan Akin, one of the new additions to the child and family therapy team at beda?chelh. As he transitions into his position in the Tulalip community, Akin discusses his views on mental wellness and what it takes to get there.
“I’d like to explain a little bit about what I do,” he began. “I am a counselor, not a therapist. Therapy in practice works to identify a problem and help people fix that problem. Counseling moves away from the very sanitized and sterile practice of therapy, focusing on people. Everyone here is an individual. We respond to the person, not the issue.”
Grief counseling is one aspect of his job, and in an effort to understand the people he is working with, he was encouraged to attend a funeral service for a tribal member to experience the grief of the family and the community. He offered grief counseling to kids for a week following the funeral.
“This is so different than the institutionalized idea of people. Rather than learning about them and their needs, I live with them and experience who they are in order to understand their needs,” Akin explained.
The Tulalip community is unique, as are most tribes. They have a history of generational trauma intertwined with tradition and cultural revitalization.
“Understanding generational trauma is integral in helping people to wellness. You have to know that each piece that shapes behavior potentially stems from these traumas. It’s the difference between ‘and’ and ‘but’. I’m trying to be ok but I have this trauma, versus, I have this trauma and I will be ok.”
Ultimately, Akin’s goal is to help remove the generational trauma Tulalip people, and all Indian people, have been steeped in. Healing the community now will prevent the coming generations from experiencing these same traumas.
“We focus on the small steps towards healing, not the five to ten years it takes to get there. This is not a doctor’s office. There is no checklist or agenda. It is based on the person.
“For Indian people, the road to wellness is more like a filter. Holding on to what was, bringing that forward to what is now, and looking to what will come next, while continuing to bring the past forward,” he concluded.
Akin acknowledges the team of counselors he has joined. It is their joint work to promote mental wellness and work towards building a strong connection with the community in order to create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.
“I want people to understand what we do here. I want anyone to be able to come and talk about things that we can help them with,” he said.
For more information contact Ryan Akin at rakin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov, or by phone at (360) 716-3284.
Andrew Gobin: 360-716-4188; agobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
by Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
TULALIP − Coming to the MarysvilleSchool District, Dr. Becky Berg aimed to “hit the ground running,” according to the Marysville Globe. True to her word, Berg wastes no time when it comes to improving community schools. On November 14th, she and other district officials held a community meeting at the TulalipAdministrationBuilding, the first in a series of meetings, in order to identify concerns and provide information about this year’s levy.
“We want to hear from you all,” Berg said. “What are the concerns you have about your schools? What are some positive things or what would you like to see continued?”
Two breakout sessions, facilitated by Berg and assistant superintendent Ray Houser, were a forum where the community spoke on a personal level with district officials, discussing their past experiences attending Marysville schools or having children attend Marysville schools, what works in the district, changes that they’ve seen, improvements that need to be made, and programs they’d like to see developed. One major issue raised by parents and teachers at the meeting was the drastic educational gap in the classroom.
“We have high school math classes with students meeting and exceeding their level, mixed with students that are stuck at a 5th grade level,” said heritage principal Shelly Lacey.
Other topics discussed were programs that have been cut, including evening transportation after extra curricular activities like sports, band, clubs, etc., and problems with the schools’ environment such as bullying, apathetic staff, and teachers uninterested in whether or not students learned.
“We don’t feel welcome. Our kids feel unwelcome at school, and we as parents feel that we can’t approach the teachers,” said Misty Napeahi. She has children in school now, as well as graduates of the MarysvilleSchool District.
Many of these issues were addressed in the levy presentation that followed the discussions, which highlighted specific areas that need improvement. Line items included in the levy are programs for high achieving students, students needing to be brought up to grade level, transportation, teachers and aides, support staff (nurses, counselors, etc.), staff training and development, extra curricular activities, and upgrading district technology, each addressing various academic needs. Each of these items discussed, as well as dollar allocations, emphasized the levy as the means to helping every student to succeed. The support staff and staff development portions are crucial to changing the environment of Marysville schools, which is a constant concern at Tulalip.
Upgrading technology and accessibility may be the most crucial for academic success at the current time.
“We spent all the time, money, and effort to put in the fiber-optic network we have now, yet it remains inaccessible because of a lack of hardware,” said Jim Baker, the district’s executive director of finance. “With the proper tools and training, we hope to improve student performance in the classroom, as well as the effectiveness of the teachers.”
District officials stressed the need for the levy to pass in order to provide better resources in the classroom.
“As it stands, there is more advanced technology and capable users at McDonald’s than there is in our schools,” noted Berg.
This levy truly is all encompassing, addressing academic, structural, and environmental needs. If passed, the levy stands to increase funding for these programs by $85 million over the next four years. The issues discussed at this and other community meetings will be deciding factors in how the money is spent, specifically with regards to staff development. The next community meeting and levy presentation is slated for December 4th of this year, 6:00 pm at the district office. More information is available on the district website, or you may call the district office at (360) 653-7058.
Andrew Gobin: 360-716-4188; agobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
By Colin Bane Nov. 19 2013 Westword.com
November is American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month — so naturally, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, which oversees the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, is celebrating with a show of skateboard art at the State Capitol. A public reception for the show, curated as part of the Colorado Creative Industries Creative Capitol series, will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Capitol’s first floor lobby and Rotunda Gallery. The artwork will be on display through January 30.
“Skateboarding as a means of expression in itself and the art that so often goes with it have been a huge part of what we’re calling our Live Life Call to Action movement,” says featured artist Walt Pourier, an Oglala Lakota artist based in Denver. His graphics on decks for Wounded Knee Skateboards are featured in the exhibit, alongside the “Raven Cry” series of paintings he completed earlier this year during his artist-in-residence stint at the Denver Art Museum and photographs from this summer’s One Gathering Skate for Life, an annual event at the Denver Skatepark hosted by Pourier’s non-profit organization, the Stronghold Society.
Pourier’s Denver-based graphic design firm, Nakota Designs, produces art for a number of Native American non-profit organizations, and his involvement with skateboarding has taken him all the way to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. His deck graphics for Wounded Knee — including stark portraits of Black Elk, Crazy Horse and the White Buffalo — have won him plenty of fans in the skateboarding world and among young Native skaters, but Pourier says getting local recognition in 2013 has been one of the biggest honors of his career.
“It really means a lot to be getting these opportunities, like the artist-in-residence thing at the Denver Art Museum, the Mayor’s Diversity Award we won last year for our work with the Stronghold Society, and now to have our work hanging in the State Capitol,” Pourier says. “We see Denver as center of Native country here in the United States, with a huge Native urban population, and these kinds of recognitions are really helping us to make Denver our base, a center point we can reach out from to serve this community and also the surrounding states and Native communities around us.”
That work has included getting skateparks built at Pine Ridge in South Dakota and other reservations, and working with young people through other efforts like the Kimimila Age of the Daughters Gathering for young women and Tusweca Tiospaye, an annual Nakota Dakota language summit. “Our young people are learning the value of Native art, language, and culture, and not just preserving it or appreciating the historical value but very much making it a part of their lives now and in the future,” Pourier says. “Nothing gives me greater hope for our Native youth than to overhear a bunch of kids out at the Denver Skatepark or the Wounded Knee 4-Directions skatepark in Pine Ridge, speaking to each other in Lakota or other Native languages.”
By Nanette Bradley Deetz 19 Nov 2013
Nativenewsonline.net
SAN FRANCISCO – On Nov. 10, the 38th Annual American Indian Film Festival Awards Ceremony premiered at the San Francisco Jazz Center.
This year marked a change from the usual Palace of Fine Arts to this new, centrally located venue. The Jazz Center provided a state of the art theater on two levels plus a restaurant/bar that served a full dinner menu. The stage and theater design provided an intimate and warm relationship between the performers and audience.
Mike Smith (Dakota), festival director of the American Indian Film Institute welcomed those in attendance by reminding us of the important role the arts have always played in American Indian life; from storytelling, songs and dance, crafts and arts to now include media arts. Many of these arts were traditionally considered medicine. This was also the first year that the film festival was streamed live via the internet. There are plans going forward for the Awards to be broadcast on national television.
The Opening Prayer was offered by Lorraine Laiwa and Pomo singers from Northern California.
Actress Tonantzin Carmelo and actor Michael Spears were the Awards host. This year’s film festival included more feature length films than in any previous year. They were all stunning, and included “The Cherokee Word for Water,” directed by Charlie Soap; “Chasing Shakespeare,” directed by Norry Niven; “Bury My Heart with Tonawanda”, directed by Gary Sundown; “The Activist,” directed by Cyril Moron; “Moose River Crossing,” directed by Shirley Cheechoo; “Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope,” directed by George Lucas, and dubbed entirely in the Navajo language with no English subtitles; “The Lesser Blessed,” directed by Anita Doron; “Winter in the Blood,” directed by Alex and Andrew Smith and “Maina,” directed by Michael Poulette.
“Maina,” starring Roseanne Supernault won the award for Best Feature film. Roseanne Supernault also won an award for Best Actress for her role in this feature film. Chaske Spencer won Best Actor for his role in the feature film, “Winter in the Blood.” Actress Tantoo Cardinal won Best Supporting Actress for her role in ”Maina” and Kiowa Gordon won Best Supporting Actor for his role in “The Lesser Blessed.” “Dancing on the Run,” directed by Cowboy Smith and featuring the music of Inez Jasper won the Best Music Video category.
“Standing on Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Tourists” directed by Toby McCloud won for Best Documentary Feature and is a tremendously important film. The film documents indigenous shamans of the Altai Republic in southern Siberia, and the Winnemum Wintu of Northern California, led by tribal Chief Caleen Sisk. These two diverse groups find common ground resisting government mega projects. The issues the Winemum Wintu face are complex and center around federal recognition for the tribe, land and water rights, and protecting sacred sites.
“We have been battling PG&E and water bottling companies because our sacred springs (located on Mt. Shasta) have been dry now for two weeks. This is only the second time, in the entire history of our people that this has occurred. These artisan springs are being drained off. That coupled with the strange snow that contains siridite chemicals from the trails of jets, and poor rainfall in general has been disastrous. If this continues, our sacred springs will never be the same again. This isn’t a good sign at all”, remarked Tribal Chair Sisk.
The evening entertainment began with Swil Kanim playing his virtuoso violin, and his comedic storytelling, poetry and audience interaction. Vaugn Eaglebear, a Lakota/Colville comedian, had the audience laughing until tears flowed with his own brand of dead-pan, rez humor. Lines like, “My goal in life is to move to India and open a convenience store and sell cigarettes, gas…” or “I left my coat hanger in my car. Good thing I’ve got my car keys in my pocket. I left the kids in there too”, or “you know you’re poor when you use coffee filters for toilet paper, and toilet paper for coffee filters”. Cody Sunbear Blackbird (Eastern Band Cherokee/Dakota) flute player and the youngest recipient of the Flutist of the Year Award from the Native American Music Association graced us with his music. He played both the single cedar bird flute and a duet on the drone flute (double style) with Swil Kanim that was exquisite. The audience was also treated to “Twice As Good” the father and son blues duo and their band from the Elem Pomo Indian Colony in Northern Calif., as well as Inez Jasper, pop singer from Canada. “Scatter Their Own,” from Pine Ridge, South Dakota provided alternative Native rock music.
The very prestigious Eagle Spirit Award for excellence in film arts was awarded to Sacheen Littlefeather. This was the highlight of the evening.
“I’m better known for refusing awards than for receiving them,” said Littlefeather. “Even though refusing the Academy Award for Marlon Brando cut short my acting career, I was so lucky to participate and be a part of important Native American events during these past 40 plus years,” she continued.
Some of the events she has been part of include the occupation of Alcatraz Island, the 7 month sacred Indian run across Europe and behind the Iron Curtain, into the Soviet Union to protect Mother Earth and promote peace.
She was a founding member of the Red Earth Indian Theater Company in Seattle, Washington during the 1970s. This was the very first American Indian Theater Company in the United States. Littlefeather worked tirelessly to bring about change and awareness about the misuse of sports mascots. She was also one of the consultants to the San Francisco Ballet Company’s production of “Song for a Dead Warrior” based on the life of Richard Oaks.
“This ballet was performed worldwide and in the United States at the Kennedy Center. It was also featured on KQED’s Great Performances in Dance”, said Sacheen. “I am so very proud of the work I did with Mother Teresa in Aids and Hospice while she was here in San Francisco. From that experience, I became a founding board member of the American Indian Aids Institute, where I continued to work”, remembered Littlefeather.
For the past 25 years, She has pushed for the sainthood of Kateri Tekakiwitha by the Catholic Church. Her dreams came true recently when she traveled with 900 other Natives from the United States and Canada to the Vatican City.
“It was the first time in history that Mohawk was spoken in the Vatican. What a thrill”, recalled Littlefeather. Currently Sacheen Littlefeather is a member of the Marin Indian Alliance, a founding member of “breast friends for life”, a member of SAG (screen actors guild) and AFTRA. “I am so honored and grateful to be a part of the ever growing Bay Area Indian community, our powwows and to witness our growth and our growing pains. I have an acute appreciation for life and beauty and a belief in the stories told from our native point of view. We now have the right to tell our own stories, act in them, direct them, produce them, all of it”, said Littlefeather.
A bright light in the regional economic recovery is shining as years of planning, perseverance and investment by the Nisqually Tribe are coming into fruition.
Already one of Thurston County’s largest nonstate agency employers, the tribe is using revenue from our gaming enterprise to prime the broader economy by making investments in nongaming initiatives that benefit everyone.
Recent investments coming on-line include:
• Two new market/gasoline stations — one in Lakewood and another in Nisqually Valley — are open, and a third on Marvin Road will be under construction soon. Total investment is more than $3 million and the outlets will provide more than 50 full- and part-time jobs.
• In partnership with developer Wig Properties, the tribe has acquired the 215-acre Lacey Gateway property, next to and around Cabela’s in Lacey. We expect to site a large-scale phased mixed-use retail development on the property as the market demand grows.
• WHH Nisqually Services is a construction and construction management company launched by the tribe that expects to be providing services to Joint Base Lewis McCord, Navy installations, and other major facilities.
• She-Nah-Nam Seafoods is a new enterprise established to buy, process and sell high-quality, branded seafood. The operation will work in tandem with the shellfish farm the tribe has acquired and is operating on Henderson Inlet.
• The new Public Safety Complex will provide up to 100 new jobs when it is completed later this year. In addition to the 60,000-square-foot building, contractors also extended fresh and wastewater lines and are building a wastewater treatment plant. Future plans call for a new fire station and judicial services facility at the site.
• Private contractors, architects, landscapers and others collaborated on construction of important tribal infrastructure, including the new $10 million Tribal Center and the $7.6 million Youth and Community Center.
Nisqually’s annual payroll is more than $50 million, paid to more than 1,000 employees who live throughout Thurston and Pierce counties – and we’re hiring more people. The tribe spends tens of millions of dollars a year buying goods and services from private companies — and we’re increasing spending each year. We’re generating more taxes for local and state government.
Last year the tribe donated $2.5 million to charitable and local government partners to help keep people safe, to help children succeed, to improve community health, to honor veterans and to protect the environment.
Nisqually’s economic progress, and the contribution the tribe is making to the regional economic recovery, has been made possible with the exceptional support we receive from local governments — especially the cities of Olympia, Lakewood, Lacey, and Thurston and Pierce counties — and from state and federal elected officials and agencies.
At Nisqually, we are just getting started. Our goal is to diversify the tribal economy, provide jobs and opportunities for our members, and create benefits for the entire region.
Cynthia Iyall is chairwoman of the Nisqually Tribal Council.
No Excuses: Fiscal responsibility and financial planning
By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
Tulalip − With the holidays coming into full swing and people struggle to make ends meet, family budget and financial planning are too often a second thought.
“In general, American families lack budgeting and financial planning,” said Dave McLean, the housing finance and budget advisor at Tulalip.
“The best thing families can do is sit down and specify their needs and wants. Bills and groceries are needs, for example. Make a financial plan and budget to cover your living costs, then the rest of your money can go towards purchasing things you want, or into savings. As a general rule you should save about 10 percent of each check,” explained McLean.
A financial plan that includes allocating money to savings sets you up for success later on in life.
“Start at 10 percent,” said McLean. “Ideally it should be more than that, but it’s specific to each budget. When you want to buy a house, the down payment is typically 5 percent of the total cost of the house. Your savings should be enough to cover that. Continue saving money and grow your nest egg. The money you put away should see you through your retirement, in addition to any retirement plan or pension you may have.
“Credit is another aspect of fiscal responsibility. Financial planning will assist you in paying off large dividends, like a car payment, and monthly bills, all of which build your credit. How much money you save plays into that as well.
“Credit cards are great at establishing credit early on, but should be used carefully. Be sure to eliminate your incurred debt as soon as possible. The best plan is to pay off your credit card each month, both building your credit score while sticking to your budget.”
Not everyone has the necessary skills to budget effectively. McLean mentions that there are numerous budgeting classes offered at community colleges, churches, and even suggests budgeting manuals that can be found at the library.
Mclean said, “Nobody has an excuse not to pay more attention to budgeting. It is an important skill that will help everyone later in life.”
By Ana Rodriguez | arodriguez@al.com
November 18, 2013 AL.com
MCCALLA, Alabama — McAdory High School has issued a public apology for a “Trail of Tears” banner that was held up during a weekend football game versus the Pinson Valley Indians.
The sign, which originally began making the internet rounds through a Tumblr blog post, reads:
“Hey Indians, get ready to leave in a Trial of Tears part 2”
On the McAdory High School website, Principal Tod Humphries said he accepts ” full responsibility that arrangements were not made to have the signs pre-approved before the ballgame.”
The person who is usually in charge of approving such signs, he said, is currently out on maternity leave.
The sign, said Humphries, “was not condoned by the school administration, the Jefferson County Board of Education or the community.”
Humphries then goes on to offer “sincere apologies to the Native American people and to anyone who was offended by the reference to an event that is a ‘stain’ on our nation’s past forever.”
Click here to read the full apology.
The Trail of Tears refers to the U.S. Government’s forcible removal of
Indians from areas in the Southeast to what is now Oklahoma. The move came during the 1830s as part of a push to remove all tribes east of the Mississippi to the west. The Trail encompassed the relocation of the Seminole, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek and Choctaw nations.
About 1,070 Indians were transported from Ross’ Landing in Chattanooga to what is now Waterloo. Much of the 230-mile journey followed what is now U.S. 72.
From 1838 to 1839, as many as 20,000 Cherokee marched or rode in wagons or boats to Arkansas and Oklahoma. The route is known as the Trail of Tears because about 4,000 died on the trip.
Earlier today, BuzzFeed posted a story about the controversial banner on its website.
The banner and its message have also sparked conversation on Twitter:
Photo: Last night, this sign went up at a McAdory High School football game. I am absolutely disgusted that… http://t.co/4v6alGkeGt
— sunny b (@sunnybeezy_) November 18, 201
So the forced removal and deaths of thousands is ok to joke about now? Mcadory High School in Mcalla, Alabama. http://t.co/JKkgKZxc40
— IdleNoMoreSoNV (@IdleNoMoreSoNV) November 18, 2013
http://t.co/iOAZ4JtJdr very inappropriate reference to trail of tears at McAdory High School #backchannel #earlyrisers
— John (@JohnNavarra) November 18, 2013
Public Apology issued by McAdory High School
Monday, November 18, 2013
To Whom It May Concern:
On 11/15/2013 at a football game at McAdory High School, a sign was displayed that made reference to the “Trail of Tears” in which Native Americans were subjected to horrific atrocities. This was not condoned by the school administration, the Jefferson County Board of Education or the community. The person who would normally be responsible for approving such signs is out on maternity leave, and I take full responsibility that arrangements were not made to have the signs pre-approved before the ballgame. Please accept our sincere apologies to the Native American people and to anyone who was offended by the reference to an event that is a stain on our nation’s past forever.
In response to the “bust thru” sign used by McAdory High School during the Round 2 State Play-Off game versus Pinson Valley High School, all social studies and history teachers will re-teach and/or review units concerning Native American displacement following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Sincerely,
Tod Humphries
Photos by Monica Brown
TULALIP Wash. – Fridays are usually reserved for Seahawks Blue Friday but this Friday, Tulalip Admin employees decided to sport their Husky or Cougar attire instead.
Click photos to view larger image.
Nov 13, 2013 Marysville Globe
MARYSVILLE — A full closure is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 15-17 for the railroad crossing at 88th Street NE, west of State Avenue, so that Burlington Northern Santa Fe can install improvements to address poor railway and road conditions.
The closure will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, and extend into Sunday, Nov. 17, until the work is completed.
Detour routes and variable message board signs will be placed along Interstate 5, advising motorists to use the State Route 528 (Fourth Street) or 116th Street freeway interchanges as alternate routes.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe will perform a full rehabilitation of the at-grade railroad crossing, according to city of Marysville Community Information Officer Doug Buell. The work will involve removing existing ties and track sections across 88th Street NE, and adding new pavement to create a more drivable surface.
During the closure, the westside crosswalk on State Avenue will be closed, but the other three will remain open. However, a railroad flagger will be present to direct pedestrians, when necessary, across the tracks on the south side of 88th Street NE, through a designated pedestrian detour route.
