Elida Rose Reeves passed away on July 24, 2026 at the age of 32 in Tulalip, WA. She was born December 1, 1993 in Everett, WA to parents Roman Conrad Reeves and Renee Marie Aguilar. Elida adored her children. She enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and especially her mate. She loved doing hair, and she received her cosmetology license for hair. She was also a talented artist. She always had music playing. She loved playing stick games. Elida is preceded in death by her mother Renee Marie Aguilar, grandmothers Beverly Tom and Elida Parks, and grandfather George Reeves Sr. She is survived by her mate Joe Myers Jr., her children Isadora and James, her father Roman Conrad Reeves, and her siblings Ramona, Nicholas, Sarah, Tiffany, Noah, Khrystal, Angelique, Gary, James, Joshua, Jeremiah, and Diana. A funeral service will be held for Elida at the Tulalip Gathering Hall on Thursday, July 30 at 9:00 am. Afterward, she will be buried next to her mother at Mission Beach Cemetery, with a reception to follow at the Tulalip Gathering Hall.
From knocking on neighbors’ doors looking for odd jobs as a child to building one of Washington state’s largest janitorial companies, Tulalip tribal member Alan Alexander, owner of AAA SuperClean Inc., has spent a lifetime turning hard work into opportunity.
Today, his business provides commercial, residential, and property maintenance services serving Washington State. The company specializes in general janitorial services, restaurant hood and exhaust cleaning, pressure washing, carpet and upholstery cleaning.
Reflecting on where he started and the moment he knew his dream was worth pursuing, he said, “At the age of seven, I would go door to door asking for odd jobs to earn 50 cents. Most people would give me money without having me do any work. Sometimes I’d come home with $50, then go to Shakey’s Pizza or buy my sister school clothes”.
That entrepreneurial spirit followed Alan into adulthood when he entered the janitorial industry. After receiving advanced janitorial and custodial training, he would take that knowledge back to Tulalip, where he trained the Tulalip custodial department. He would later turn what he learned into a business.
At first, he had difficulty securing financing for new equipment for his business. Alan said, “I took the money that I made from selling fireworks and bought a used carpet cleaning machine. I began servicing apartments, restaurants, and the old Tulalip Bingo parlor. 30 years later, I’m still servicing some of those same accounts.”
While working for Mortenson Construction on construction site cleanup for the Tulalip Casino before its June 2003 opening, Alan was approached with an opportunity that would change his business. “I was asked by Chuck James (then COO) if it was possible to supply thirty workers per shift for janitorial work to help the Tulalip Casino open on time,” said Alan. This work would help Alan to grow his business and begin supplying employees to companies as a temporary work agency. This continued until operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Over the decades, that willingness to start small helped build a company that employed over 200 people at its peak and generated millions of dollars in annual revenue. Alan believes that discipline separates dreams from results and credits his success to the consistency of sticking to his daily agenda: “That’s what built my business,” he said.
For Alan, building a successful business has always been about more than cleaning buildings; it’s about investing in people. Alan believes that leadership is defined by the people you choose to surround yourself with and that hiring the right people is one of the keys to success. “If you hire low-energy, low-motivation people, you’re going to have a low-energy, low-motivation company,” explained Alan. Also known for his compassion for his employees and for giving second chances, he understands the human element of succeeding.
Today, Alan hasn’t just built a successful business; he also has the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Enjoying time spent with his son, Kyle Alexander, and their shared hobby of building cars, Alan hopes to share the knowledge and what he’s built with his son.
The tide was low. The sun was high. And the shores of Tulalip Bay were exactly where hundreds of tribal members wanted to be on a beautiful summer Saturday.
Children raced barefoot across warm sand, leaving tiny footprints that disappeared with each incoming wave. Elders settled into folding chairs with front-row views of the bay, sharing stories that drifted as easily as the salty breeze. Families stretched beneath canopies, babies took their first beach naps, and friends who had not seen each other in months picked up conversations as though no time had passed.
Meanwhile, a familiar aroma floated across the shoreline. Smoked salmon. Steamed clams. Fresh shrimp. Sweet crab. It was the unmistakable scent of Spee-Bi-Dah.
“My role now is to remind the grandchildren and great-grandchildren how things were back in the ‘50s. Here, today, I’m reminded of all fun and simple joys we had as little kids. Back when we could roam and play freely on our beaches,” reflected 77-year-old Cy Fryberg Sr. as he cooked a batch of salmon filets. “I remember being a 7 or 8 and being here on this same stretch of sand as my grandfather, Andrew Fryberg, and Lawerence Williams beach seined. When the net was pulled in and we saw caught salmon tails splashing, oh boy, let me tell you, there was no better feeling.”
One of Tulalip’s most treasured summertime traditions once again transformed the community beach into a place where culture is shared freely. While the annual gathering is known for its incredible seafood feast, the day’s true nourishment stems from the opportunity to reconnect with one another and with the waters that have sustained the Tulalip people since time immemorial.
For generations, the Salish Sea has provided food, identity, livelihood, and teachings to protect what has always provided for the people. Spee-Bi-Dah is an open invitation to every generation to celebrate the abundance of the sea while honoring the ancestors whose knowledge continues to guide Tulalip today.
“I can remember camping out here in the ‘50s,” shared 90-year-old Tulalip elder Dean Ledford. “Back then, none of these fancy houses were here. It was just the beach, the ocean, and little campgrounds that different families used when it was time to fish. My uncle was the big fisherman of the family. He’d bring the teenagers out here with him and teach them to fish year-round. I’ll tell you what, there’s nothing like pulling in a frozen net in the winter. Was it difficult? Sure, it was, but we did it together.”
That relationship and example of team work came into focus as community members gathered along the shoreline to witness a traditional beach seine. Working together with practiced precision, participants carefully pulled the net toward shore, demonstrating a harvesting practice once common throughout Coast Salish territory.
Children watched intently, asking questions while elders and experienced fishermen explained each step along the way. For many young tribal members, it was their first opportunity to witness the technique firsthand, not through photographs or stories, but on the very beaches where their ancestors practiced the same harvest for countless generations.
There were no classroom walls, no textbooks, and no lesson plans. The beach itself became the classroom. Every cast of the net, every shared explanation, every curious question represented another lesson passed from one generation to the next. These are the most meaningful catches at Spee-Bi-Dah.
“Growing up, I didn’t get to come out here like this. That’s why it’s so important to me now, as a mom, to bring my daughters and have them connect with other tribal members as one big family,” shared momma bear Udora Ceja. “My girls are out here having fun with other kids their ages, running around the beach, flipping rocks looking for crabs, just having fun and enjoying a beautiful day. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Udora’s 11-year-old daughter, also named Udora, echoed her mom’s sentiments. “I love it out here. I get to play with my cousins, play in the water, and eat so much good food.” When the young tribal member was asked what her favorite seafood is, without hesitation, she answered, “Crab. It’s the best!”
Steps away from Udora feasting on her beloved crab, another tradition was bringing everyone together. Long lines quickly formed at the food serving station as volunteers prepared plate after plate of traditional seafood. Community members waited their turn before carrying away generous portions of smoked salmon, steamed clams, shrimp, crab generously gifted from the sea.
There was no rush to finish. Families lingered around picnic tables, swapping stories between bites while youngsters wandered from table to table, welcomed by aunties, uncles and grandparents wherever they landed. Conversations flowed as naturally as the tide, weaving together memories of Spee-Bi-Dahs from years gone by with excitement over the upcoming Canoe Journey or the next family gathering.
Everywhere you looked, another memory was unfolding. Children searched for shells and skipped rocks into the bay. Parents watched little ones discover the shoreline with the same wonder they themselves experienced decades earlier. Elders smiled knowingly, recognizing that while faces may change with each passing generation, the spirit of Spee-Bi-Dah remains beautifully unchanged.
“I can remember being out here at 11-years-old and helping pull the net in. That was a long time ago. It’s pretty neat to see the young ones get a glimpse of what our life used to be like,” shared Lenny James, an 83-year-old Tulalip elder. “There used to be a lot of prejudice against us back then, too. Most of that is gone now. You can tell by looking around and seeing how many others (non-Tulalips, non-Natives) are joining in. Our community really has grown a lot.”
As the afternoon sun slowly settled toward the western horizon, families folded chairs, packed coolers and gathered sleepy children whose sandy feet hinted at a day well spent. Yet many lingered just a little longer, reluctant to leave a place where time seemed to slow and life’s most important priorities came back into focus.
“To see so many be a part of this day, it really shows what being Tulalip is all about. Community, culture, and real desire to participate,” described Clayton Horne. “The helpers are getting younger and younger every year. There were some that could barely stand in the water while pulling the net in, but they gave it all they got. And they did it with a smile on their face because, at that moment, they knew they belonged. To me, it shows we still have fishermen in the making.”
Spee-Bi-Dah has never been just about seafood, even though there is a bountiful feast that is enjoyed to the fullest. It’s about remembering who we are. It’s about honoring the waters that continue to sustain us and the responsibility each generation carries to ensure these traditions remain vibrant for those still to come.
The steady heartbeat of the drums echoed across Discovery Park as vibrant regalia filled the dance arena during the 37th annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. Held July 17-19 in Seattle, this year’s celebration was the largest in the event’s 37-year history, drawing hundreds of dancers and drummers and more than 20,000 attendees to celebrate culture, community and tradition.
Families gathered while drum groups kept the arena alive with songs that carried dancers through every session. Friends reunited, children played between dance sessions, and visitors explored Native-owned vendor booths featuring artwork, beadwork, clothing and traditional foods. Throughout the weekend, the atmosphere reflected the powwow’s enduring role as a place where generations gather to celebrate Native identity while strengthening connections across tribal communities.
Dance competitions remained a highlight of the weekend as participants of all ages entered the arena in Men’s Traditional, Grass, Fancy and Chicken Dance categories, while Women’s Traditional, Jingle Dress and Fancy Shawl dancers showcased their own unique styles. Teen, Junior, Tiny Tot and Golden Age dancers also competed throughout the weekend, with intertribal and special dances inviting everyone into the circle.
Whether competing for prize money or dancing during intertribal songs, every participant contributed to the celebration. Eagle bustles, jingles, brightly colored shawls and intricate beadwork reflected countless hours of craftsmanship while honoring traditions passed from one generation to the next.
For many families, the Seafair Indian Days Powwow is about much more than dancing, serving as an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, make new friends and celebrate culture together year after year.
Yakima’s Dolly Heemsah knows that feeling well. Having danced since infancy and attended the Seafair Indian Days Powwow for many years, she has watched generations of families gather beneath the arbor. After beginning as a jingle dancer and later dancing Fancy, she eventually found her place in Women’s Traditional.
Spending the weekend alongside her family, Heemsah said the greatest joy comes from seeing both familiar and new faces. “With family and meeting new friends, new dancers, the new infants and everything, it’s nice,” she said.
Encouraging first-time visitors to experience everything the celebration has to offer, Heemsah added, “Have fun, look at the vendors, and meet people. Dance and have fun.”
While Heemsah’s story reflects a lifetime spent in the dance circle, John L. Archuleta of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes from the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho represents a newer generation of dancers discovering what the powwow trail can offer. After dancing for the first time in 2022 in his hometown of Fort Hall, Archuleta traveled 17 hours by bus to attend this year’s Seafair Indian Days Powwow, where he reunited with friends and was gifted a new shirt and apron before stepping into the arena.
“I just had this red outfit, the shirt and apron, gifted to me today,” Archuleta said. “I wasn’t going to waste any time, so I hurried and got everything switched over. It was great.”
A Northern Contemporary Traditional dancer, Archuleta said the powwow has quickly become much more than a place to dance. During a difficult period in his life, he said the powwow trail has become a source of healing, helping him cope while strengthening his commitment to sobriety.
“Powwowing for me is a de-stressor, and it’s also coping for me,” he said. “It’s helping me keep my sobriety. Without the powwow trail, without being able to dance in moccasins, do my face paint and wear my beadwork, I honestly wouldn’t be here. It’s medicine, and it helps me out a lot.”
Archuleta said his face paint is not intended to draw attention to himself but instead honors his family, his powwow family and the warrior traditions that inspire his dancing.
“I’m not out there for myself,” he said. “I’m out there for my mom, my family and my powwow family that’s here. Warriors went out to battle in face paint, so I’ve got to represent my people too.”
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Archuleta said. “People get to come here, hang out and see our way of life. I would motivate non-Natives to come because every sunrise, every sunset and every person we meet matters. Come experience a powwow.”
As the final songs echoed through the arena Sunday afternoon, dancers embraced, families packed away their chairs and vendors began closing their booths, bringing another successful Seafair Indian Days Powwow to a close. For lifelong dancers like Heemsah and newer dancers like Archuleta, the gathering continues to demonstrate that the powwow is more than a competition. It is a place where culture is celebrated, friendships are strengthened, healing is found, and traditions continue to thrive for generations to come.
For generations of Tulalip citizens, learning how to strip cedar bark, gather traditional medicines, prepare for Canoe Journey, or carry themselves in a culturally respectful way often began with one person, Inez Bill.
On the afternoon of July 17, that lifetime of service was celebrated as family, friends, co-workers, and tribal leaders gathered outside the Hibulb Cultural Center to honor the beloved wisdom keeper on her retirement after decades leading Tulalip’s Rediscovery Program. The venue, long considered a second home to Inez, overflowed with laughter, stories, and heartfelt gratitude for a woman whose quiet leadership helped shape the cultural resurgence that continues to flourish throughout the Reservation today.
Inez dedicated herself to ensuring that traditional Tulalip knowledge was remembered and practiced in a good way. Whether teaching sustainable harvesting methods, sharing cedar weaving techniques, making traditional medicines, preparing families for Canoe Journey protocol, or mentoring countless community members, she embodied the belief that culture grows stronger when knowledge is freely shared.
Her lifelong commitment to raising up her Tribe was fondly spoken of over and over again throughout the celebration.
Tulalip Board of Director Deborah Parker reflected on the early years of Canoe Journey revival, recalling the many evenings she spent learning alongside Inez and her late husband, Hank.
“They taught Canoe Journey Protocol 101 before many of us even understood how important those teachings would become,” Deb shared. “Because of them, our people were prepared to represent Tulalip with confidence and pride wherever we traveled.”
Board member Ryan Miller spoke about his first experiences working in the Cultural Resources Department, remembering Inez and Hank patiently teaching him how to sustainably harvest and properly process cedar.
“Those weren’t just lessons about cedar,” Ryan reflected. “They were lessons about responsibility, respect, and taking care of what our ancestors entrusted to us. Those principles guided me as my time as Treaty Rights Director and continue with me today, in my role on Tribal Council.”
With emotion evident in her voice, Board member Malory Simpson described the lasting influence Inez has had on both her own cultural journey and that of her daughters. Whether gathering cedar, working with wool, or harvesting traditional foods as a family, Malory explained that many of those moments were made possible because Inez generously opened the door for others to learn.
That theme of generosity continued as Jason Gobin and Andrew Gobin spoke about Inez’s influence on today’s Treaty Rights Department. Both credited her willingness to share her vast knowledge without hesitation, saying her teachings continue guiding the decisions they make in protecting Tulalip’s treaty resources and cultural future.
Even as departments evolve and new generations step into leadership roles, they said, Inez’s voice remains present in the work they do every day.
A highlight of the event was a series of meaningful gifts for the longtime cultural leader. Deb and Malory lovingly wrapped Inez in a Chief Joseph Pendleton blanket as family members looked on. Jason Gobin then presented her with a handcrafted paddle created at Tulalip’s Art Shed, symbolizing a lifetime spent helping others navigate their cultural journeys. Finally, Melissa Gobin placed one of her beautifully woven cedar hats upon Inez’s head.
Over the two-hour retirement celebration, it became evident that Inez Bill’s greatest accomplishment wasn’t the countless cultural classes she led with Rediscovery. Her true legacy lives in the people.
Every lesson she shared was a seed of knowledge planted in the hearts of those willing to learn. Today, those seeds have taken root across Tulalip, growing into teachers, harvesters, cedar weavers, canoe pullers, and cultural leaders who now proudly pass those same teachings to the next generation.
Each summer, the Kenny Moses Building transforms into something extraordinary. It’s filled with the voices of Tulalip youth as they greet one another, ask questions, and practice speaking dxʷləšucid. During the 29th annual Lushootseed Language Camp’s second week, more than 70 children immersed themselves in five days dedicated to strengthening their connection to culture and community through the guidance of Tulalip’s devoted Language Warriors.
Rather than sitting behind desks memorizing vocabulary, campers spent each day rotating through seven interactive stations, each carefully designed to teach not only dxʷləšucid, but the values and traditions that accompany it.
Outside the K.M.B., Kylee Sohappy transformed familiar playground games into opportunities for language learning. The timeless children’s game Red Light, Green Light became an exercise in listening and responding to Lushootseed commands, while another favorite exchanged rock, paper, scissors for three characters from this year’s featured story, Loon & Deer.
The children quickly discovered that learning vocabulary doesn’t always require flashcards. Sometimes it happens while running across a field, laughing with friends, and trying not to get tagged. The outdoor station remained filled with energy throughout the week, proving that language retention often comes easiest when children are simply having fun.
“We incorporated Lushootseed into games the kids were familiar with to build up their confidence with the vocabulary and certain concepts from the Friday play,” shared Kylee. “It’s so much fun to watch as they learn while playing. Some of them don’t even realize they’ve learned until I ask them what this word or that word means, then suddenly their hand goes sky high because they are so eager to share what the translation is. It’s amazing to witness and I’m just so thankful I got to run the games station this year.”
Next to the Kenny Moses Building, under a shade-creating tarp, John Waters blended generations of innovation into a single classroom. One moment campers gathered around an oversized interactive touch-screen monitor, tracing vocabulary words, identifying images, and participating in digital learning activities. The next, they shifted their attention to one of humanity’s oldest technologies, a carved stone mortar and pestle, learning how earlier generations processed food and medicines long before electricity or electronics existed.
“Technology usually takes the form of a tablet, where we have the kids interactive with our apps we have available, but this year we did more hands-on learning,” explained John. “They showed a lot of enthusiasm for the mortar and pestle. They learned and demonstrated how our people made medicines and prepared certain foods by crushing, grinding, and mixing.”
By placing traditional tools beside modern technology, John demonstrated that preserving culture doesn’t require rejecting the future. Instead, today’s technology can become another pathway toward protecting yesterday’s teachings.
Language itself remained the centerpiece of camp inside Nikki St. Onge’s classroom. Through vocabulary lessons, illustrated coloring books, storytelling, and conversation, campers continued building confidence with Lushootseed words and pronunciation. Rather than treating the language as something reserved for ceremonies or classrooms, Nikki encouraged students to see it as something alive. Something that belongs in everyday conversations, games, songs, and family life.
Each new word represented another thread connecting today’s youth with generations who once spoke the language fluently throughout the region.
“It does surprise me every time a kid picks up the vocabulary words with such ease. After all these years, I don’t really know why I’m still surprised, but I am. It also makes me feel a sense of accomplishment, too, because I’m playing a part in them reconnecting with a language that was always theirs,” reflected Nikki. “Something as simple as a coloring book can really make an impact because its therapeutic to sit, be calm, and color. As they are coloring page by page they are seeing the Lushootseed words that go along with the picture they are coloring, and it helps them recall what the words mean.”
Across the hall, Melissa Young’s weaving station offered perhaps the most tangible reminder that every child has a role in the community.
Working together, each camper spent time weaving wool into pieces that will become a ceremonial skirt and sash for this year’s two witnesses during Friday’s culminating play. While no individual child completed the garments alone, every set of hands contributed to their creation.
That lesson in collective responsibility continued as campers learned basic cedar weaving techniques while crafting bracelets to take home. It was the first weaving project for many, and another opportunity to connect with one of the Coast Salish people’s most treasured materials.
“We decided to add cedar bracelet making this year because we had so many kids ask to work with cedar,” explained Melissa. “Cedar bracelets are relatively simple and easy to make, but for the kids, especially the ones who never worked with cedar before, the bracelets become a priceless treasure. I’m always impressed with how quickly they pick up on the technique and weaving patterns. To me, it just shows that they have these traditional talents within them, they just need something or someone to teach them what they are capable of.”
History also found its place during Angel Paquin’s traditional teachings station. Throughout the week, campers learned about respected Tulalip ancestors, including Chief William Shelton and his daughter Harriet Shelton Dover, whose efforts to preserve Coast Salish traditions continue inspiring future generations.
Their stories reminded campers that language revitalization did not begin with them. Instead, they are continuing work begun by ancestors who understood the importance of protecting culture long before today’s revitalization movement gained momentum.
“A lot of our older people still have this angst or feelings of hesitation over learning Lushootseed, and they don’t know where it comes from. Well, it’s pretty clear with the knowledge we have today about generational trauma that it stems from their parents or grandparents being in the boarding schools and having their traditional language beaten out of them,” explained Angel. “By teaching the kids the stories of Williams Shelton and his daughter, I’m hoping to explain how the language was nearly lost, but we’ve found our way back to it.
“Our ancestors were disempowered, they were hurt and had violence inflected upon them, for using the language at the boarding schools. Now, today, through all the revitalization efforts of so many, we are actively empowering ourselves and the next generation by using Lushootseed and teaching it to the children. That’s healing in action, if you ask me,” she added.
Again, outside the K.M.B., Thomas Williams turned Tulalip Bay into an extension of the classroom. A lifelong fisherman, Thomas divided each of his sessions between drumming and singing before leading campers down to the shoreline. There, children explored tide pools, collected clam and oyster shells, searched for crabs, and asked endless questions about the marine life surrounding them.
One of the week’s biggest discoveries came when several campers learned that barnacles are, in fact, living creatures. Simple moments like these became lessons about stewardship, encouraging children to understand that every shell, every tide pool, and every living organism plays an important role within the shared ecosystem that has sustained Coast Salish people since time immemorial.
“The kids are constant reminders that we need to stay interested in nature, so that when they get excited and ask questions, we are able to guide their curiosity,” said Thomas. “Everything has a spirit, from the salmon to the barnacles to the sea itself. When we understand this then it empowers us with a responsibility to take care of our shared environment. This may sound like a big concept to most kids, but doing what we can to teach them early can inspire the next generation to grow up and take ownership of that responsibility.”
Creativity rounded out the daily rotations inside Michelle Myles’ art station. Using locally harvested Devil’s Club, campers created handcrafted wind chimes while also learning that the plant serves purposes beyond artwork. Michelle explained how its bark has traditionally been used in medicinal preparations, with additional handcrafted salves being prepared as giveaways following Friday’s presentation.
By the end of the week, dozens of children had visited each station several times, unknowingly weaving together lessons in language, ecology, history, art, technology, and community into one larger understanding of what it means to be Tulalip. And for 29 summers now, that’s been the heart of Lushootseed Language Camp.
Laughter, music, and culture were at the heart of Tulalip’s ‘United in Love’ Pride celebration. Held with the intention of uplifting our 2SLGBTQ+ community, the July 12 event offered a safe space filled with acceptance, education and support.
Upon entering the Gathering Hall, attendees were offered a sage cleansing. While inside the hall, the party atmosphere took over. Amid a rainbow of colorful décor and party favors, DJ Monie Ordonia set the mood with an energetic set as event organizers distributed Pride shirts, bags, and food tickets for the tantalizing treats from food trucks outside the venue.
Monie, an avid supporter of the 2SLGBTQ+ movement, described the event as open and friendly. “You know, not every person here is gay, but there are family members who are allies that support other family members who may be.”
Attendees, many dressed in festive outfits and glittery makeup, browsed a variety of crafts, merchandise, and health and safety tips, with some even taking part in a virtual sobriety test. Members of the Tulalip Police Department managed the test, which uses a VR headset to evaluate motor skills and reaction time.
Numerous groups and organizations were also on hand, offering resources available within the Tribe and greater Snohomish County. These included information on homelessness, domestic abuse, addiction recovery, and more.
Games and prizes, including a ribbon skirt and shirt fashion show, were also part of the festivities. But the day’s dual highlight came from the guest entertainers: performer Holli B. Sinclair (Navajo) and comedian Janelle Niles (Mi’kmaw).
Sinclair, an Indigenous drag queen based in Seattle, graced the stage as the event MC. Her bright personality and flair matched the afternoon celebrations as she mingled with the crowd and posed for photos.
“I am grateful to be here today surrounded by other Indigenous people and to celebrate people of all different intersectionalities,” said Sinclair. When asked why she decided to attend this year’s event, she jokingly said, “because I’m getting paid,” but then followed it up by saying, “it seemed like a fabulous opportunity to be involved with people in my Native Culture.”
Serving as the featured speaker with an added dose of humor, Niles a two-spirit comedian and TV personality from Canada, found the experience to be unforgettable. “The atmosphere here is electric; this is an event you don’t want to miss.”
The celebration continued into the evening with a Coastal Jam. The Lummi drum group “Blue Lightning” filled the Gathering Hall with songs, as young warriors danced, circled by their sisters as they all moved to the rhythm of the drums.
For Tulalip tribal member Carlee Jimicum, this was her first time participating in a Coastal Jam. “It was fun to dance and everyone made me feel nice,” said Carlee.
Near the end of the Coastal Jam, laughter erupted as dancers prepared for the switch dance. This is a dance where partners switch both their roles and their regalia – skirts are given to the male partners and straps (male regalia) are given to the female partner. As they challenged each other to keep the rhythm in these reversed roles, serious faces gave way to smiles and laughter.
What started as a golf tournament that struggled to fill teams has grown into an annual tradition that golfers now eagerly wait to put on their calendars.
The 12th annual Leah’s Dream Foundation Golf Tournament returned to Battle Creek Golf Course on Saturday, July 11, bringing 36 teams together and raising $60,000 to support activities and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Deanna Sheldon, Leah’s mom and host of the tournament, has watched the excitement surrounding the event continue to build. “I think that’s one of the best things, as someone who puts on any type of fundraiser, to see the excitement build and anticipation of new teams or teams who have been there from the very beginning,” she said. “At the end of the day, everybody knows where the money is going to, and they’re all just so happy to give and partake in all the contests that we have.”
Organizers capped the tournament at 36 teams this year to help maintain a faster pace of play, but interest in joining the field remained high. “There were four teams ready to go, and the day of the tournament, they’re like, ‘Let us know if someone drops out at the last minute. We will be there,’” Sheldon said. “For sure, next year we’ll probably add in that 37th team.”
Tulalip tribal member William McLean III has participated in the tournament for nearly six years and said this year’s event stood out for how smoothly the day moved. “I think as far as scrambles go, the pace of play was awesome this year,” he said. “There wasn’t too much sitting around and waiting. It was mostly get up there, get straight to golfing, so it was nice.”
McLean said his team worked well together throughout the round. “We did pretty well. For the most part, we ham and egged it pretty good to where everyone kind of covered every level we needed to, so it was a good day.”
His shot of the day came on hole 13 after purchasing the cannon shot for the round, but he decided to hit his driver anyway. “I cleared the ravine, probably got to about 100 yards out,” McLean said. “It did pretty dang good for me. That’s probably the shot of the day for me, even though it didn’t matter for nothing.”
For McLean, the tournament offers more than a round of golf. “It’s a great way to get out. It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I think there’s just enough interaction with other people and sponsors, taking chances and stuff out there, and it makes the day go by really smoothly.”
The $60,000 raised will help continue expanding Leah’s Dream Activity Club and its growing list of activities, including open mic nights, bingo, a walking club, and bowling outings at Strawberry Lanes. “When we do our open mics, we always pay for the pizzas and the Capri Suns that we give out so families can come,” Sheldon said. “Anyone can come. They sing, and if they don’t want to sing, they don’t.”
Some of the foundation’s largest events are held during Halloween and Christmas, with additional funds going toward making the holidays special for families. “For Christmas, we do spend more because we try to make it extra special,” Sheldon said. “We have a Santa come, and then we purchase little things for people to bring home.”
The foundation also supports new teachers in resource rooms and developmental learning programs in Marysville, while helping to meet additional needs in other programs. Sheldon remembers a time when simply filling out the golf tournament took considerable effort. “When we first started, we could barely get anyone to sign up. We would ask everybody we knew,” she said. “Our very first tournament, we asked everyone in our family, everybody in our friend group, just come out. That was a lot of work. I never thought we were ever really going to get off the ground.”
The tournament’s growth has followed Leah’s own journey. Now 16 years old and preparing to enter her junior year, she has grown up alongside the foundation created in her name. “Every year, everyone gets to see her grow up into who she is becoming, a beautiful young lady,” Sheldon said. “When we first started doing the tournament, she was just a little five-year-old. She couldn’t even go to the golf tournament. Now she just rides in the cart with my sister. And so it’s pretty remarkable.”
Sheldon still pictures Leah as the little girl seen on the foundation’s website, looking up from hole seven at Battle Creek Golf Course. “When she was little, after a long day of therapy, we’d have her just go up and run the course to get tired so she could go to bed because she was horrible at sleeping,” Sheldon said. “Battle Creek has always just been so good to us.”
As the foundation approaches its 13th year, Sheldon said the next step is to continue building Leah’s Dream Activity Club and expand events into neighboring school districts. The foundation’s Unified Prom now brings in young adults from Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, and Arlington. “We’re kind of starting to get a name for ourselves, branching out to other teachers or directors from other school districts,” Sheldon said. “I do feel like there is a need.”
Families also regularly approach Sheldon after a child receives a diagnosis, and they are unsure where to turn. “There are a lot of families that do currently come up to us and basically tell me, ‘Hey, my grandson just got diagnosed. We don’t know where to go,’” she said. “I always tell them to reach out to me. I feel like it would be good to have a coffee chat or start something like that.”
Looking back, Sheldon’s perspective on Leah’s autism has changed since the early years of therapies, diagnoses, and trying to understand what the future would look like. “I can’t honestly believe what autism has meant for us,” Sheldon said. “I feel like in so many ways, God gave us a gift. And yes, it was hard at first, but if we didn’t have autism, we wouldn’t have had this tournament.”
Sheldon hopes families understand that Leah’s Dream Foundation events are open and inclusive, regardless of diagnosis. “Your child doesn’t have to have autism to come and participate,” Sheldon said. “We try to make it as inclusive as possible, where everyone can just feel like they belong. That’s really big for us.”
