Tulalip Chief Judge Meredith Drent and U.S. District Judge Diane Humetawa.
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
In a historic visit, federal judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Committee on Tribal and Native Relations recently visited Tulalip Tribal Court. The purpose of their visit was to inquire about and observe firsthand how holistic justice is practiced within a tribal legal system. This rare and significant event highlighted the growing recognition of tribal justice systems and their potential impact on broader judicial practices.
“The Ninth Circuit has by far the largest populations of Indigenous peoples and Indian nations as compared to other circuits in the nation,” said Judge Diane Humetewa, Chair of the Tribal and Native Relations Committee. Judge Humetewa (Hopi) made history in 2014 when she became the first Native American woman to ever serve as a federal judge. “Eighty percent of Indian Nations’ tribal population is within the 15 districts of the Ninth Circuit. As one of the objectives in the Committee’s charter states, we seek to better understand the common concerns related to judicial functions and open communication.”
Tribal Court executive director Tate London with Tlingit & Haida Supreme Court judge Cheryl Demmert Fairbanks.
The well-respected judicial visitors were welcomed by Chairwoman Teri Gobin, special projects manager Patti Gobin, Tribal Court executive director Tate London, and Tulalip’s current presiding judges, the honorable Meredith Drent, Christine Frausto, Peter Boome, Mark Pouley and Thomas Miller..
Spanning the morning of March 28, the visit took place at Tulalip Tribal Court, a courthouse within the jurisdiction of the Tribe’s 22,000-acre reservation that is governed by its own laws and justice system. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals plays a crucial role in legal matters affecting tribal communities. By engaging directly with Indigenous legal practitioners, the Ninth Circuit judges sought to better understand the nuances of tribal justice systems and how they differ from the conventional colonial model.
Honorable Chief Judge Drent conversing with 9th Circuit Committee member Lloyd Miller.
Unlike the traditional U.S. court system, which often prioritizes punishment and incarceration, many tribal courts emphasize restorative justice – an approach that seeks to heal relationships, rehabilitate offenders, and restore balance within the community. The visiting judges learned of Tulalip Court’s procedures that incorporate mediation, community involvement, and cultural traditions, such as talking circles and elder guidance.
“Restorative justice is about addressing harm, not just punishing crime,” explained Chief Judge Meredith Drent of the tribal court. “Tulalip Court’s services to the community include Healing to Wellness, Mental Wellness, and Family Wellness Court, Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid (TOCLA), Probation, and Tribal Court Elders Panel. These services are dependent upon judges, case managers, and service providers who are well-versed in cultural sensitivity and are driven to collaborate and partner with other necessary programs in order to heal the individual and mitigate future harm.”
Tulalip elder Patti Gobin welcomes the federal judges and magistrates by offering up a song created by ancestor Martha Lamont.
For the Ninth Circuit committee members, the experience provided valuable insight into a justice system that is both effective and culturally grounded. In many Tulalip Court cases, holistic practices have led to lower recidivism rates and stronger community ties, outcomes that have drawn increasing interest from legal scholars and policymakers.
With increasing discussions on criminal justice reform, restorative justice models, such as those seen in tribal courts, are attracting national attention. Some advocates argue that restorative justice principles could be integrated into the U.S. legal system to address issues like mass incarceration, youth rehabilitation, and community healing.
As the Ninth Circuit’s visit concluded, both tribal and federal judges expressed optimism about future collaboration and dialogue. “We’re hopeful for the opportunity to develop a collaboration with the Federal District Court for Western Washington,” said Tulalip Chief Judge Drent. “A collaboration where we can share resources and knowledge, but also develop methods so that when people interact with the federal system, they have ways to come home and put their best foot forward if there is an opportunity to do so.”
The honorable Judge Humetawa added, “Meeting with the Tulalip Chief Judge, Tribal Judges and court staff provided a rare opportunity for federal judges in the Western District Court of Washington and members of the Ninth Circuits Committee on Tribal and Native Relations. Identifying areas of mutual concern in adjudicating cases that arise from tribal communities, such as Tulalip, can only happen when we meet in this way.”
This past winter sports season, spanning from December to March, dozens of Tulalip youth showcased their athletic prowess on the highest stages of amateur competition. Marysville Pilchuck wrestling and Tulalip Heritage basketball both garnered state-wide recognition enroute to making school history, while other Tulalip high schoolers and middle schoolers showed out in their respective sports and postseason tournaments.
To honor all those athletes who contributed to making the winter campaign unforgettable, the Youth Enrichment division hosted a stirring event at the Youth Center on March 28.
“We had a bunch of local athletes make it to the State level in their sport and thought we would come together to make that good medicine by hosting an honoring and coastal jam,” explained outreach advocate Odessa Flores. “It’s important we, as a community, take the time to hold space for these athletes and their accomplishments.”
Churning out accomplished athletes is something the Reservation has no difficulty doing. It seems like every family has that legendary uncle or auntie who embellishes only slightly when recounting their on-court or on-field domination. You know the ones. They aren’t bashful and will take as much credit as they can for teaching the current crop of players everything they know.
How much impact those old heads have actually had on the amazing athletes of 2025 is somewhere between incalculable and immeasurable. Past generations crawled and walked so the current generation could run. No longer forced to play just on the Reservation, proud Tulalip culture bearers now are fixtures on school teams all around Snohomish County.
Whether attending home school, public school or private school, our Tulalip athletes are excelling in the classroom and keeping themselves eligible to play sports in the fall, winter and spring seasons. More opportunity equals increased exposure and more playing time for youth who dream of playing on the college level.
During the Youth Enrichment event, each attending athlete was wrapped in a blanket before taking to center court. Then the mic came out. One by one, the athletes stated their name, age, and sports played. As they bashfully introduced themselves in front of the large audience, the sentiment was not lost that among them could be the next RaeQuan Battle (men’s college hooper turned pro), Mikail Montez (women’s college hooper), Zues Echevarria (college footballer) or Milo Jones (college wrestler).
Often times, what separates the dreamers from the believers is simple support. Thankfully, the Youth Enrichment division is full of devoted staff members who are committed to supporting Tulalip’s youth and helping turn dreams into reality.
“It makes my heart so full to witness the results of all the hard work our kids put in to better themselves and better their families,” said Odessa. “We created a gratitude tree just for this event so each athlete could add their own leaf that states what they are grateful for. It really represents the deep-rooted impact each of us has on the larger community.”
Our beloved dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle and friend, Charles Comenote Sr., was born in Everett, WA to George and Pauline Comenote. He was a lifelong resident of Tulalip. He was a simple, humble man who believed in the lord, loved his children and his family, and would give you the shirt off his back. He was always helping his people when he could, he tried walking this life with no enemies, if he was wrong, he would try and make it right. He worked for The Tulalip Tribes logging crew, he was a lifelong fisherman, crabber and diver. He leaves behind a loving family, friends, fishing buddies, and community who will miss him dearly. He is welcomed by many ancestors who traveled before him.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 10 AM with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
Last November, the Tribe’s legal department added a new facet to their civil legal aid program. This service aims at helping Tribal children with disabilities and special needs, ensuring that they have an opportunity to thrive and succeed within the state’s education system. During their search in finding someone to represent Tulalip students, they were introduced to Alexis DeLaCruz, whose passion in education and disability rights has made a big impact in Native America, specifically for Southwest tribal nations.
That passion is fueled by her personal background, having a father with a disability and mother who dedicated her life to public school education. Among her many accolades and list of important work that she’s conducted thus far, Alexis was instrumental in the Steven C Vs. the Bureau of Indian Education, which resulted in a big win for Native students nationwide.
Alexis is looking to bring that knowledge and experience to her new position as TOCLA’s Education Attorney to help parents/guardians understand the rights that their children are legally entitled to. She plans on doing so by providing education and resources to the community at large. And when necessary, she is ready to step into the legal battlefield if an institution or school district is violating those rights.
Tulalip News recently sat down for a one-on-one with Alexis on the morning of March 20, just hours before President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. Which is why it is extremely important for Tribal families to understand what this means for their students and how it will affect students with disabilities going forward.
Below, you’ll find an in-depth Q&A with Alexis. Please take a moment to read about Alexis’ new role and how she intends to uphold the Tribe’s educational values and protect the rights of its future generations.
Why don’t we start with a little bit about your background?
I am biracial. I am half Mexican American and half Anglo. I grew up in a trailer park in Denver, Colorado. I was the first in my family to go to school, to receive any type of education; the first in my family to go to law school. My first career was actually in journalism. I worked at a small daily in northwest Colorado called the Steamboat Pilot in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I was their cops and courts reporter.
What led you to your current work?
There was an incident in my personal life. My dad was involved in a single vehicle rollover accident, and that left him a quadriplegic. It really changed the way that I viewed the world, that my family viewed the world. And just seeing the discrimination and hardship that people with disabilities face was very eye-opening to me. And at that point in my life, I was complaining a lot to my sister about the injustices that people with disabilities face every day. And she said, you either need to do something about it or stop complaining to me. And I said, ‘Okay, I’ll go to law school’. And so, I left the newspaper and started applying to law schools. I was looking for programs that had a strong commitment to social justice and public service, and that’s what led me to Seattle University School of Law. I was very myopic in my approach and what I wanted to do – a Disability Justice lawyer. I wanted to focus on disability rights work, and I was very fortunate to get connected to Disability Rights Washington, which is a statewide nonprofit that protects the rights of all Washingtonians with disabilities, including folks who live in Indian Country.
I interned for them for two years. And then my path led me to the Southwest. When I was in law school, I had not taken federal Indian law or was not necessarily connected that way. So, I’m very unique in what I do, because I’m at the intersection of disability rights work and representing Indigenous folks. And it has been the greatest gift of my life – to be invited into these spaces and to try to help kids the best I can, and their families.
Can you touch on some of your work in the Southwest?
I was in the four corners of the Southwest, working for a program called the Native American Disability Law Center, and was serving predominantly the Navajo Nation and Hopi communities, as well as the Pueblos in New Mexico. We also represented and served the reservations in southwest Colorado, parts of Utah and Arizona. I feel very strongly about my services, and so wanted to make sure it was the right change, and being able to join this strong team of incredible attorneys and advocates was the right thing. Before I started here in Tulalip, I brought a federal lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Education called Steven C vs BIE (Bureau of Indian Education).
Do you mind expanding on the that lawsuit?
It was the first time anyone had ever held the Feds responsible for Indian education. It is one of the most important, if not the most important, education case that has ever been brought in Indian Country. And I was one of the co-architects of that lawsuit. That case was brought on behalf of individual members of the Havasupai community. They’re the tribe that lives at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. And those students only had one option to go to school. It was a BIE operated school, and it is K-6. And so, it was really important for that community to address the long-standing concerns that they had about the types of education that their students were getting.
At the time we got involved, in early 2014, students were only receiving math and English. And even only learning those two subjects, 0% of the students were proficient in either. So, our team of attorneys started looking into those issues and realized that it was more than just an individual concern, that it was really a system-wide issue that was impacting all of the students. We brought together a dream team of attorneys from a number of organizations and filed a lawsuit in January 2017 in Arizona Federal Court. That case went all the way to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and ended in two landmark, historic settlement agreements after the judge found that we had proven much of what we were alleging was wrong at that school. It was an important outcome for Indigenous kids in this country, particularly those who attend BIE schools.
That’s amazing. Can you speak to how that affects Tulalip students?
Here at Tulalip, there’s not an operating BIE school. There was one. Historically, there was a boarding school here. And I think many of the experiences that I’ve heard those students and families talk about sound a lot like the types of stories that this community has about how the boarding school has impacted them and how the boarding school era had impacted them. So, it’s all related. The practices that the states or the federal government can have on Indigenous students at school, it’s really a big deal. And as an education lawyer, it’s a particularly concerning time because of what’s happening at the federal level. We expect that President Trump will be signing an executive order today dismantling the Department of Ed, and I think it’s going to throw the state systems into even more chaos. And for this community, it’s been really important for me to start figuring out what Washington State’s plan is to protect not only all students, but students with disabilities, tribal students, students who have been impacted by historical trauma, students who are in foster care, students who might be involved in the juvenile justice system. Those are all core components of my work and things that I’m hoping to contribute to ensuring that Tulalip’s kids are getting not only a legally sufficient education, but one that feels holistic, afe and healthy.
Can you talk about TOCLA and your role in the department?
TOCLA is the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid. We are a legal aid law firm that provides free civil legal services to the Tulalip community. I am the first-ever education attorney in this role. It’s really exciting because my understanding is this role was created in response to the community organizing and coming together and saying, ‘We need somebody who can help address the educational concerns of the community.’ It’s really, in my experience, rare and unique for a tribal legal aid program to have a position specifically earmarked to represent the educational needs of its young people. It’s so thrilling to me to be here, and I’m so honored and humbled and privileged to be in this community and working with these students and families because education is everything. If students don’t receive good quality, legally sufficient education, it impacts their outcomes later on. All of the data and the research tells us that if young people are not reading well by the third grade, it is very difficult to make that that time up. And then you add concerns about disability status. If students with disabilities are not having a free, appropriate public education provided to them, they fall behind.
When I think about my work, and approaching it with humility, I always say children are a community’s most precious resource. And I know Tulalip is incredibly committed to its children. When I was learning more about the community and just immersing myself in the traditions and the customs of the community, it was very clear to me that education is a value. It’s a priority.
Now that you’re here, what does it feels like? What are your first impressions about the community?
I have been welcomed with open arms. It has been a really beautiful experience to be invited into this community, and I think anytime a non-native person is invited in, it’s not something to take lightly. I always approach not just my individual clients, but everybody with respect. I am learning a lot, and I appreciate deeply the community trusting me with their stories and their experiences. Because it is not easy to talk about when things have not gone well at school, or when I am hearing elders talk about the impact of their time at the boarding school. We know that those experiences get passed down generationally. You might have a grandma or a grandpa who were forcibly removed from their community and sent to a boarding school and forced to assimilate into dominant culture. And then that passes to the next generation, and then that passes to the next generation.
I think approaching the work with a trauma-informed lens, and knowing that, particularly for Indigenous students, who have been very impacted by destructive, harmful federal policies and practices, and seeing that again here in 2025 is concerning. It’s also something that drives my work, like when I think about what is yet to come, there’s so much we don’t know, but I do know that when people stand shoulder to shoulder together and say, ‘We are not going to accept this, we’re going to fight for our children, we’re not going to be afraid, we’re not going to take it,’ that’s when true social change happens. And particularly in the education context. When you see successful models of education reform, it’s when students and families stand up and say, what’s happened here is not right. And again, very humbly, I am excited to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder and build on the already good work that the community has been doing to move the needle forward.
You just touched on it, but can you talk a little more about why it’s important for parents to know their rights and to know they have this support?
As I’ve been learning more about the concerns, I’ve heard stories about longstanding mistrust within Marysville School District and families – not knowing where to go or whom to turn to. A part of holding a school system accountable is knowing what your rights are. Because when people have that education, knowledge is power. When individuals can say, this is actually my right, and I’m going to stand up and do it, that is when you see students getting what they need, what they are legally entitled to. It’s when you see people taking concerns more seriously. One of the reasons I love being an education civil rights lawyer is forcing systems to do things they maybe don’t want to do or wouldn’t do otherwise, even though these rights have always existed.
For Tulalip students and families – without having access to those rights or really knowing where to go. Where do you turn? Do you go to the school’s website? Do you go to the State’s website? Who talks about this? I know, before I came on, there were a number of attorneys here doing community education presentations. And so, it’s like we’re sort of building momentum of what’s happening. When we see systems change and social movements, it’s because people have said, I know my rights and I’m going to stand up and enforce them. And this community particularly has a strong history of doing that, particularly around natural resources, like the Bolt Decision and so many other cases where this community has enforced its treaty rights. Education is also something that is included in the Point Elliot treaty. So that’s another area where folks can start harnessing some power around treaty rights.
With the looming executive order and the mistrust between Tribes and school systems, can you speak about some of those rights in regard to special needs students and examples of areas you can help with?
These laws have been on the books for 30, 40, 50 years, and so it really is about letting people know there’s a better way. It doesn’t have to be this one way. Something I tell families all the time, you might not know what your right is or what the law says, but you know when something’s wrong in your gut. Every parent, every guardian, every grandma, every auntie, every uncle that I have ever talked to, when they’ve said something felt wrong, they’ve always been correct. I always tell people, just trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. And come and talk with me and my team. Start educating yourself about what is supposed to happen so you can educate yourself first, as your child’s first advocate and sometimes only advocate, so that you can make sure that your student or your child is getting the absolute best education that he or she can get.
With all of these rights we’ve been talking about, there are ways that you can make a complaint when things don’t go right. I’m going to take a very specific example. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or the IDEA, is the primary federal law that protects students with disabilities. That law contains a set of what are called procedural safeguards that tells families what they can do to address concerns. And there are options, from what I call informal advocacy all the way to something that can look like filing a lawsuit or something that’s more formal. I can help with all of that. I have been able to help families at IEP meetings, those are Individual Education Program meetings, and that’s the place where you can come together and talk about a student’s concerns with the school. The IEP meetings are meant to be collaborative, where the student and families voice is heard, and folks talk about what a student needs – What are the parents’ concerns? What needs to happen? And maybe it’s not working for this particular student. It can be just going to meetings and supporting families that way. And then it can be looking into concerns and investigating what has happened for a student and then advising families of what those legal options are.
There’s a state complaint system. They’re called Community complaints that families can file with the state OSPI, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. There’s a state complaint mechanism that you can say, I have concerns that the school has done something wrong to my student with a disability, and file that. And then you can go all the way to what’s called a due process complaint, and that’s the most formal complaint you can file under the IDEA. We do advise that folks either consult with or talk with an attorney if you’re considering that level of advocacy, because it can result in a hearing that looks like a trial, where the school will have an attorney. There will be folks testifying, and witness documents will be exchanged, and so I can do all of those.
Why is this work important to you?
The work is important to me, personally and professionally. I’m the child of a public-school teacher. My mom was an AP calculus teacher. She strongly believes in public education and ensuring that all students have equal access to good education. I am the product of a public school system. I did not go to private school. I didn’t have money growing up, and my education was my key out of poverty. Having an education literally changed my life, and I recognize the privilege that I have. And to quote Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility. So, it’s personally important to me to protect the rights of all kids to get a good, strong public education.
Professionally, it’s important to me to do this work in Indian Country, because not many people do it. It is important because the outcomes for Indigenous students are among some of the worst in the country. When you look at the many factors that affect education, it’s poverty, it’s where you live, it’s who your family was. Are you Brown? Are you a boy? Do you have a disability? When you’re looking at children who are most impacted, it’s typically young, brown and black men with a disability who have very poor education. Native kids, just across the scope have poorer outcomes than their nonnative, non-disabled peers. For me, it is important to continue to address the systemic issues that impact these outcomes. To continue to ensure that all kids, including Native kids, have access to education. I love what I do, and I get to work and talk to kids all day long, and when the time comes and they need someone to stand up, I will do that too. I believe that with tenacity and hope, and a heavy dose of optimism, that we will continue to move the needle forward for our community, for Tulalip.
I saw that you are gearing up for your first community gathering tonight?
Yeah! We are planning, with the Tribe’s Education Division and Positive Youth Development, to host an event every month through the rest of the year. Folks should definitely pay attention to emails, or wherever they get information, about these events. They’re going to be held once a month at 5:00 p.m. at the Admin building. We’ll be talking about a variety of things. Tonight, we’re talking about school discipline. We’ll also be talking about special education advocacy, what’s changing at the federal level, and how it might impact students, helping parents become good advocates for their children.
And I want to mention, that it does not take a lawyer to advocate for a student. It takes a parent or a guardian or a caregiver who knows a little bit about what their rights are, to stand up and say this isn’t right. Part of my role is to build capacity in the community for folks to say, I can do this. And that’s what my hope and my dream is, that individuals are able to take what they’re learning through either the materials, or meeting or working directly with me, to say I can do this. It’s just about knowing that you can ask for what your student needs and what to do if something goes wrong.
There’s going to be a big back-to-school event probably in August, and I invite people to come out and ask me questions. I’m always open to talking to anybody who wants information about education, civil rights, my door is open.
What is one thing you want parents or families to know through reading this article?
Don’t give up. There are people who are here to help. And if you have concerns about education, just come and talk with us, and let’s see what we can do together. And I really want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the community for trusting me with their stories and their hopes for their young people. I truly believe education reform starts at the community level. The Tribe, as well as individual members of the Tribe, they have the answers. They know what their community needs, what children need. And I see the law as one tool in moving that forward and effectuating that. I’m really excited about what is to come.
For more information, please contact Alexis at (360) 716-4166.
On the morning of Monday, March 24, an astounding 601 years of lived experience and accumulated wisdom convened in courtroom #3 of Tulalip Tribal Court. The 601 years representing the combined ages of Hank Williams, 94, Bernard Topash, 87, Marie Zackuse, 76, Ray Fryberg, 74, Andy James, 69, Audrey Charles, 69, Judy Joseph, 69, and Denise Hatch-Anderson, 63, who were sworn-in as members of our newest Elders Panel.
The Elders Panel program originally launched in 2006 after development by a joint effort from Tribal Court judge Gary Bass, prosecutor Tom Russell, and respected elder Donald “Penoke” Hatch. The three collaborated to create the Elders Panel to address the effects of criminal justice involvement among the youth. They thought elders could help court-involved youth by teaching them about their Tribe, present-day cultural practices, and their individual family history.
Since its ’06 inception, the Panel served hundreds of participants and yielded a near 90% success rate. However, its momentum came to an abrupt halt thanks to a global pandemic. Out of an abundance of caution to protect our community’s wisdom keepers, who were most vulnerable to Covid, the program was paused.
Now, after taken their oaths of office in the presence of Tribal Court Chief Judge Meredith Drent, the eight-person Elders Panel is restored and ready to change lives once again.
Among the new Elders Panel members is Denise Hatch-Anderson. She’s the daughter of Penoke who not only co-created the Panel, but was himself a sitting member of the Panel for over a decade. She understands its rather large shoes to fill, replacing her dad, but she’s excited at the prospects of engaging with youth, earning their trust, and helping them find a good way.
“I was honored my dad asked me to step into his seat because I’ve worked with the youth my whole life, retired as an educator, and know many of the families out here,” shared young elder Denise, the first 2nd generation Elders Panel member. “Many in our community have seen me in action over the last 10 years or so helping families and helping kids better themselves by getting into necessary programs. Much of the root cause is unrecognized and unhealed trauma.
“A lot of times, our youth don’t trust people, and in order to talk about their trauma, really talk about it, they need someone they trust in order to open up and start the healing process,” she continued. “With me, I’m not only a familiar face, but there’s a good chance I’ve worked with their family or even themselves individually in the past. That gives me a foundation of familiarity and trust that can really help to create open and honest conversation not just about their past, but also their future. I’m invested in their future, too, because their future is our future.”
Elders Panel is scheduled to convene the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. They will meet with non-violent, first-time offenders, typically in the age range of 18-25, who have been charged with minor criminal offenses. Examples include possession of alcohol, possession of marijuana, and criminal mischief. Instead of prosecuting such offenders in Tribal Court, they are given an alternative route to have their offenses dismissed by participating in Elders Panel.
Tribal Court is actively identifying new ways to incorporate Elders Panel into additional services beyond first-time offenders. “We recognize the value and wisdom the elders bring to our justice system. [Accordingly,] the Court is seeking to build increased partnerships between the Elders Panel and other court programs, such as the Wellness Courts and Probation,” elaborated Interim Court Director Jehrad Kimble.
Elders Panel requires its participants to actively engage in their community and culture. This way, under the guidance of their esteemed elders, the individual learns the impact their actions has not just on their life, but the lives of their family and ensuing ripples created within the community as well.
Requirements may include regular appearances before the Panel, writing letters of apology, community service, mental health evaluations, and no new violations. Cultural participation can include conducting family research to create a detailed family tree and traditional activities, such as Canoe Journey, a Lushootseed class, or learning to harvest cedar.
When the defendant has completed all tasks asked of them by their Elders Panel, their case is then referred back to Tribal Court for dismissal.
“It’s a privilege for our family to be asked to work with the youth. I use the word youth because to me that’s what anyone under the age of 30 is,” said Elders Panel chairman Bernard Topash. His brother Bill served on a past Panel. “In many ways, what we are trying to do is act as grandparents.
“As an elder, I’ll tell you it’s gratifying work to help a young person find their way,” he continued. “Those who appeared before us in the past found employment, got their driver’s license and car insurance, and, without exception, learned more about their family and made a stronger connection to their Tribe.”
Enrollment in the Elders Panel program is voluntary. Those who are referred and opt-in have the opportunity to change their life trajectory. Defendants receive deferred prosecutions on their criminal charges for the length of their enrollment in the program, up to one year. Upon successful completion of the program, their charges are dismissed.
For first-time offenders, participation in a culturally-inclusive diversion program guided by elders isn’t just a chance at a fresh start. It’s a chance to reclaim a connection to their culture and find purpose within a shared community.
By Wade Sheldon; photos courtesy of Bibianna Ancheta
Time is ticking away as the 2025 Annual General Counsel meeting approaches at the Tulalip Resort Casino on April 12. Doors open at 7:00 am, and those who arrive early will enjoy delicious treats and fabulous art from six of Tulalip’s small businesses. Cool gift boxes featuring the 1855 treaty inside are provided to read while you explore the wonderful gifts selected by the BOD for 1,200 lucky tribal members.
Jams, smoked salmon, cedar clappers, sugar scrub, whale paintings, and handmade chapstick symbolize a life of sovereignty. The tribe works toward these goals: enabling tribal members to expand their livelihoods by crafting and shaping the lives they wish to lead. By flourishing through creativity, these artists showcase their unique crafts. You can experience the blessings of these small businesses by arriving early and casting your vote.
In our final segment on the GC gifts, we present Bibianna Ancheta and her rejuvenating chapstick. From a young age, Bibianna learned to use traditional and medicinal herbs to create healing salves and chapsticks. She has since dedicated herself to using this knowledge to produce natural, unique products that reflect her cultural teachings.
“Part of my teachings led me to more traditional herbs that are unique to our people, like Devil’s Club and nettles,” said Bibianna, an herbal science student at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. “Devil’s Club and nettles are only ethically harvested by native herbalists.”
“For the last two years, I have been trying to explain to people the great benefits of medicinal herbs,” she shared. “I’ve provided products that aren’t available anywhere else.”
Reflecting on receiving the GC gift order, Bibianna admitted, “I submitted my bid and didn’t think I would be chosen. It was a challenge. I had to use skills I don’t normally use, like math, to scale up my operation. It was a good experience to know I could accomplish such a big order, but I want to be more of an intimate herbalist who works closely with my people. Filling the order was challenging because I am a full-time student.”
Despite the difficulty, the experience was gratifying. “I am honored to get this opportunity. It’s like a reintroduction into my community with my education. It’s a different level of fulfilling.”
Looking ahead, Bibianna dreams of continuing her work within her community. “My dream is to return to my people through the Tulalip Health Clinic, get integrated through the wellness center, and hopefully make products for my people.”
When asked what she enjoys about creating chapsticks and other herbal products, Bibianna replied, “It’s so uniquely diverse and adaptable.” She finds joy in formulating different products and expresses, “It gives me a great sense of purpose, feeling like I am stepping into the medicine teachings that I have been receiving my whole life.”
Bibianna concluded, “I am grateful and humbled by this opportunity, and I look forward to returning to the community with all the knowledge I have picked up. I look forward to gathering our medicine for the people. It’s important to protect our medicine and help the people so we don’t have to rely on Western medicine or outside sources.”
If you want to buy some of Bibianna’s medicinal salves, chapstick, and other products, you can contact her on her Facebook at Bibianna Ancheta.
Michael E. Taylor, 81, of Camano Island, WA, passed away on February 17th, 2025, in Stanwood, WA. Born on January 14th, 1944, to Edwin and Ruth Ella Taylor in Sacramento, CA, Michael’s early years were shaped by the military lifestyle as his family moved from base to base across the country, although he spent the majority of his youth in Sacramento.
Michael met his beloved wife, Doris, during their high school years in Carlisle, PA, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. Their enduring love blossomed through letters exchanged nearly every day for seven years before they married in 1969. Together, they created a life filled with adventure, celebrating 64 years of marriage last June. They lived in various homes, including a floating residence on Lake Union in Seattle, an adobe house in Santa Fe, NM, and a cedar log house in rural Okanogan, WA, before settling in their waterfront home on Camano Island. Doris, who passed away in October 2024, was Michael’s steadfast partner throughout their journey. He is survived by their daughter Meghan and grandson Desmond, as well as the eight foreign exchange students they welcomed into their lives, who became part of their extended family.
After graduating high school, Michael pursued his passion for philosophy and earned a law degree from the University of California at Davis Law School as part of its inaugural graduating class. He entered the legal profession during a pivotal time, becoming one of the early advocates for tribal governments as an in-house attorney. For over 50 years, Michael applied his exceptional legal skills in support of the rights and sovereignty of Indian Nations and Tribes.
In his illustrious career, he represented the Quinault Nation in the landmark case, United States v. Washington (The Boldt Decision), successfully affirming and defending the treaty fishing rights of the tribe and establishing a precedent for tribal self-governance. His dedication led him to work with Pueblo Legal Services in New Mexico and later as General Counsel for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, where he played a significant role inprotecting tribal sovereign rights and managing critical litigation concerning reservation lands.
Moving across the Cascades, he served as General Counsel for the Tulalip Tribes, where he spearheaded economic development initiatives, including the creation of Quil Ceda Village, a vibrant commercial center that serves the Tulalip community. Even after retiring from his role as a Tribal attorney, Michael continued to share his wisdom and experience as a Tribal Court and Appellate Court judge.
Throughout his career, Michael was a champion for tribal members, tirelessly working to empower them to take leadership roles in the legal field. His legacy includes mentoring many who now serve as attorneys for tribes across Indian Country. Among many awards he received, was the Goldmark Award in 1993, recognizing his exceptional leadership in the quest for equal justice in Washington State.
Michael E. Taylor was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose impact on the legal rights of Native American people and the strength of tribal governance will be felt for generations. He held a lifelong enthusiasm for stringed instruments, particularly the banjo, spent much of his time hiking through the mountains, rollerblading on freshly laid pavement, and diligently contributed to his much prized woodpile. The collections of bottles, stamps, license plates, coins, and mismatched gloves rescued from the side of the road give a glimpse into his quirky personality. He now rests peacefully alongside his life partner, Doris, knowing that together they made the world a better place through their love and dedication to others.
A powerful and highly regarded traveling exhibit will make its final stop at the Hibulb Cultural Center gallery this summer. Touring for the past couple years, Portraits in RED has brought attention to the ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Persons (MMIWP) crisis happening in America by featuring the paintings of Métis Nation artist, Nayana LaFond, at several museums across the nation.
Portraits in RED was initially set for its last viewing at a museum in Oregon, but after hearing how close LaFond’s works were to Tulalip, HCC reached out in hopes of bringing the exhibit here. LaFond started this project in 2020 during the pandemic and has painted close to 50 portraits of Indigenous women and men who were murdered or are still missing, their families and friends, as well as athletes, actors, and activists who have raised awareness for the cause.
Her artwork is a strong visual representation of the MMIWP movement and showcases each subject in black and white. The sole color on each canvas is red, which highlights a handprint painted across their face, which has become the national symbol for the movement and signifies that people are taking a stand for those who were silenced by the epidemic.
Over recent years, the movement has gained a bit of momentum throughout the country which resulted in May 5th becoming the National MMIWP Awareness Day. However, even with this progress, the epidemic continues to affect Tribal nations at an alarming rate. Currently, Indian Country is standing with the Apache Nation after news broke out of the murder and dismemberment of Emily Pike, a teenager whose body was found in trash bags last month. Not surprisingly, the coverage and reporting of this story has been minimal and the case has not received major headlines or garnered much support and outrage of Americans, like in similar cases of white females who have gone missing, such as Gabby Petito.
The epidemic has hit Tulalip hard as well. At the 2024 MMIWP gathering, it was revealed that 12 of the Tribes’ membership fell victim to this crisis: Cecil Lacy Jr., Anthony Kitsap Sam, Bridgette Simpson, Nina Mae Dell, Kyle Van Jones-Tran, Sophia Solomon, Hayleigh Jo McGhie, Jessica Christian Jones, Andrew M.L. Fryberg, Gina Blatchford, Jolene Leanne Flores, and Mary Davis Johnson. Last summer, a documentary titled Missing from Fire Trail Road was featured at film festivals across the country. The documentary was about the sudden disappearance of Mary Davis Johnson and her family’s quest for answers. If you have yet to see Missing from Fire Trail Road, it is currently streaming on Hulu.
HCC is planning to debut Portraits in RED at the end of June and will feature the exhibit through August. If you are reading this and your family has been impacted by the MMIWP crisis, the cultural center is asking that you take part in this exhibit and share your story to help raise awareness about your loved one’s case. As always, the HCC will incorporate local history and interactive displays. Those who visit the exhibit will get the chance to write a personal message to MMIWP victims on a dedicated wall of the gallery.
Said HCC Senior Curator, Emilie Miller, “I think with the documentary coming out, it started that conversation and put it on the forefront of a lot of people’s minds. With the exhibit being so close in Oregon, I think it all coincided and worked out really well to bring it here and bring even more awareness to it. We’ve seen more cases that have come out in the United States just recently. It’s still an ongoing problem. It’s still something that hasn’t been dealt with, and who knows what’s going to happen with the current administration, and so we just want to keep it on the forefront of people’s minds.”
Read more about Portraits in RED in the following HCC official press release. To share your story or for more information, please contact the museum at (360) 716-2600.
Hibulb Cultural Center Media Release
“Portraits in RED” by Nayana LaFond is a deeply personal and impactful art project that sheds light on the ongoing epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). This crisis disproportionately affects Indigenous communities across North America, with Indigenous women and girls being particularly vulnerable. Indigenous people are more than twice as likely to experience violent crime compared to non-Indigenous people, and Indigenous women and girls are especially at risk, being murdered or going missing at much higher rates than women from other demographics. For example, in the U.S., the National Crime Information Center reported over 5,700 cases of missing Indigenous women in 2016, though the actual number is believed to be much higher due to unreported or misclassified cases. The epidemic continues to be a significant issue, with ongoing calls for systemic change in how law enforcement and government agencies address the crisis.
Through a series of painted portraits, LaFond commemorates the lives of Indigenous individuals and families affected by this violence, offering a medium for remembrance, healing, and advocacy. The project, which has never profited from the artwork, focuses on returning the portraits to families in its final phase, allowing them to choose whether the artwork is kept, donated to institutions, or sold to raise funds for the families or a related charity.
“Portraits in RED” serves not only as a memorial but also as a call to action, drawing attention to the systemic violence and erasure faced by Indigenous communities while creating space for healing and solidarity. Through LaFond’s work, the exhibit offers a profound reminder of the resilience and importance of those whose stories have too often been overlooked.
