Tulalip’s neighboring city to the south, Everett, is the seventh-largest city in all of Washington State by population, and it’s by far the largest city in Snohomish County. Established in 1890, the city of Everett is situated on a peninsula. Its city boundaries are designated by the Snohomish River to the east and the Salish Sea to the west.
In precolonial times, long before imaginary map borders, the land Everett was built upon was home to our Tulalip ancestors. As a sustenance people who lived off the land and natural environment, they flourished in the ideal fishing location. But that was then. And this is now.
To live in the now is to recognize and embrace the many ways modern Tulalip people have adapted while continuing to flourish well into the 21st century. One such way is evident through our boundary-redefining, limit-pushing artists who refuse to placate a binary system that deems their work traditional or non-traditional. Instead, they embrace challenges to create visionary works of art as they routinely use the latest technologies available in order to manifest their inspired visions via a multitude of mediums.
The latest example comes from a truly vibrant collaborative effort between the city of Everett and Tulalip master carver, James Madison. The Everett Mayor’s office desired an artist’s touch to remake the outside of the Everett Municipal Building, located at the intersection of Wetmore Avenue and Wall Street. After a call went out for artists, James was rewarded with the job.
His vision for the project, titled Save Our Salish Sea, was unveiled in late October. Taken together, this enormous metal fabrication installation made up of bold red, yellow, and black colors is impossible to miss for pedestrians and commuters alike. But forged into the durable aluminum and medicine wheel colored pallet is a traditional teaching that has been passed down from one Tulalip generation to the next.
“With this project, I wanted to pay respect to our culture as this region’s first people,” explained James. “I tried to showcase our culture and who our people are, while paying respect to the Salish Sea through the blackfish, salmon, and our stories that have been passed on for generations.
“The salmon run that wraps around the building represents Sockeye,” he continued. “They used to be so abundant in our local waters, but now their runs are really short and even desolate in some places. It’s important that we continue to raise awareness of the dwindling salmon runs because their well-being is interconnected with the well-being of both blackfish and human populations. My grandpa always told me that it’s up to us to keep the blackfish and salmon alive because if they go away, then humans will go away as well.”
At the heart of this latest collaboration between a local city and one of our artists is a respect for the cultural heritage that pre-dates the urban landscapes that have taken over Coast Salish territory.
By adorning municipal buildings, ferry terminals, college campuses, and other widely visited public spaces with Tulalip art embedded with iconic cultural imagery, local municipalitiesare finally moving in a positive direction to help preserve the vibrant traditions, intricate artistry, and spiritual symbolism that define our Native culture.
“When you see the people come together, it’s emotional, it really is,” expressed Veronica ‘Roni’ Leahy, Diabetes Care and Prevention Program Coordinator. “The people were all gathered around talking and the kids were running around. The elders were sharing with each other – the foods they picked, the foods they saw, and talking about recipes. We’re just warmed by each other’s friendship and love. And you can feel that you can feel that sense of community.”
The rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of dozens of Tulalip families who ventured off-rez on the afternoon of October 24, for the last Garden Tour and U-Pick harvesting event for the year. Held throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons, the event allows the community to see food in an entirely new light. The idea is that by seeing the process take place, from planting to harvesting, people can develop not only an understanding of cultivating produce, but also gain a deeper appreciation for fruits and veggies, and all of their benefits.
“I wanted to get out with my friend Marvin today, come get some fresh produce, and see what Roni has going on,” said community member, Jessica Leslie. “Roni is filled with a lot of good information, and they always have healthy snacks. Everything here is fresh, local, and really nice to have. I think it’s a good way to get people out and about.”
Tulalip elder Marvin Jones, who was just happy to ride shotgun with Jessica for the day, exchanged stories with Roni as Jessica gathered an assortment for veggies. Over a cup of hot apple cider, he spoke of the importance of having access to fresh produce, something that was much more difficult for tribal members to attain during his years of adolescence. He also touched on his gardening skillset that he developed over the years, explaining that he can ‘grow my own anytime I want it,’ and identified several harvesting spots on the reservation for the likes of apples, berries, and a variety of plants.
The award-winning Diabetes Care and Prevention program partnered with Garden Treasures Nursery and Local Farm well over a decade ago to host the U-Pick gatherings. Ever since, the six-acre organic farm has been the backdrop for Tulalip members and Tulalip Health Clinic patients to learn and share knowledge about diabetes care, as well as harvest in-season produce and explore new foods that they otherwise wouldn’t have come across on a trip to the supermarket.
By opening their barn and greenhouse doors to the tribal nation, Garden Treasures is fulfilling their community-driven mission FUBU style – for us, by us. As a local Arlingtonite, owner Mark Lovejoy spoke on this mentality and his inspiration for growing crops solely to give back to his hometown, our region, and the community of farmers that sell their produce along the local farmer’s market circuit. Mark has opened a large retail space at the Garden Treasures property, and partnered with local farmers and meat markets to make their goods available for purchase six days out of the week, in addition to his products.
Mark shared, “It feels good, that’s the purpose of the farm. We’re supported by the community, for the community, we’re growing food for people right here. That’s been the mission all along, and the more we do it, the more we get connected. We designed this vertically integrated produce farm in the image of the old truck farmers from the 30s,40s, and 50s that were on the east coast serving the metropolitan areas. We wanted to serve our area with an abundance of food that we can grow in our climate.
“We designed our store to sell our products that we grow here ourselves. At the same time there are very few local farmers in our community who have a retail presence like this or even own land these days. Our farm is set up to be like an everyday farmers market. Anybody can come here any day of the week and have an experience like you would at a farmers’ market. Even though it’s a privately owned family business, it’s using a lot of vendors from the farmer’s markets to fill the shelves. And other people outside of the region that have other products too, like avocados that are from the same type of farmers that we are, but are from Mexico or southern California. We always try to source our products from people who are like us, who are interested in community supported agriculture.”
With multiple greenhouses throughout the property, Garden Treasures Nursery and Local Farm cultivates an array of colorful and nutrient dense vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers throughout the year. Roni is sure to schedule a U-Pick event at least once per season so that the community can enjoy everything from strawberries to winter squash. Now that we are in the midst of autumn, Garden Treasures has orange gourds in every size placed along the entryway to the farm. Each tribal family or THC patient selected a pumpkin before concluding their Garden Treasures adventure.
“It was a pretty good harvest,” exclaimed young Kayden Palmer while holding a box of produce, her day’s bounty, in-hand. “It was wet and cold but still a lot of fun.”
Upon picking out a pumpkin and heaving it up for a photo, Kayden continued, “My family and I enjoy carving these and sometimes we feed the excess of the pumpkins to our sheep. I don’t know what design I’ll carve yet, but I’ll figure it out. [U-Pick gatherings] mean a lot to me, and it’s always nice to come out and see everybody.”
Community member Justine Jones shared, “I’m glad I was able to come here, check it out, and just get out of the house. I really like Halloween now because we have two boys who were born on the same day of October 12. And my little guy loves pumpkins. He calls them pum-an-ah-nos. We’ll carve our pumpkin and possibly enter it in the pumpkin contest at the community Halloween party.”
In addition to knowledge sharing through the act of harvesting, the Diabetes Care and Prevention program brought on professionals from the Puget Sound Kidney Centers, Registered Dietician Grace Scarborough and Medical Social Worker Michelle Rowlett.
“We are really big into community health, so we’re partnering with the Tulalip Tribes to promote healthy living and healthy eating,” Grace explained.
Michelle added, “Diabetes is one of the main causes of kidney disease. We try to talk about ways to keep your kidneys healthy, keep your body healthy, just the whole gamut of everything involving healthy living. We do things like this because if you’re eating fresh foods, fruits and vegetables, cooking with herbs and spices instead of salt, you’re going to have healthy kidneys, a healthier body, a healthier heart – it’s all connected.”
After years of setting aside a small percentage of the Diabetes Care and Prevention program’s funding, Roni feels that the importance of these outings and the experience of harvesting one’s own foods has not been lost on the community. With each event growing in attendance, she believes it’s now time to expand these services and hold U-Pick gatherings more frequently, and at varying times, so that more people get the chance to take freshly grown produce home to their dinner tables.
Said Roni, “When it comes to being with the plants, it’s about that connection that we have to them because the plants give us the nutrients that we need in our bodies. But they also feed us emotionally, because of how you feel when you’re harvesting the plants. And then to be able to talk about the spiritual side of our plant relatives and how we feel about them.
“Those plants live just a short life only to give you health, to give you that medicine. They share that with you and they are grown here for that purpose. So, when you start thinking of your food as a type of medicine, it helps in the sense of a spiritual connection. That has been one our teachings here; feeding our Indian. Feeding who we are and satisfying that. I think the satisfaction comes not just from eating it and keeping within us to nourish our bodies, but it also comes from learning how to plant it, how to care for it, how to harvest it, and then prepare it. It’s this whole process that we do and that’s what we try to show here. These foods are the gift of health. And to see the kids, to see the adults, and the elders enjoy that, because it’s truly a gift.”
The Diabetes Care and Prevention program is gearing up for a series of classes developed by the American Diabetes Association and is tailored to Natives living with diabetes. The classes will begin at 2:00 p.m. every Wednesday in November, at the Karen I. Fryberg Health Clinic. The classes will focus on self-management of the disease and are targeted toward individuals who were diagnosed with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic and have yet to attend a Diabetes Care and Prevention class. For additional details, please contact Roni at (360) 716-5642.
At the heart of Boom City, dozens of vehicles formed a large circle inside of the gravel lot. The owners of the vehicles, which consisted of approximately 30 families or groups, then proceeded to decorate the trunks of their cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Two motorcycle clubs set up shop in their respective areas, as did the Tulalip Police and Fire departments. From the vibrant and pixel world of Super Mario to haunted and spooky graveyards, there were numerous fun, creepy, and lighthearted Halloween-themed trunks this year.
Together We’re Better held their annual Trunk or Treat event on the afternoon of October 14 and brought smiles to over 500 community members from the Tulalip and Marysville area. Over the past decade, Trunk or Treat has become a community favorite event and a fun opportunity for the kids to participate in the trick-or-treat tradition in a safe environment.
Wearing costumes of their favorite characters, superheroes, villains, princesses, or monsters, the kids visited each trunk and received a sugary snack. The Apple Guy was in attendance and gifted each trick-or-treater with fresh fruit, which many of the younger kids received with enthusiasm. Members of the local recovery community got into the Halloween spirit and dressed in costume, as a group, as various characters straight outta Andy’s toy box, from the Pixar classic, Toy Story. Instead of candy, Sandy Pitchforth and family let the children pick a book to take home from a large assortment.
The best interactions were between the kids who were overjoyed anytime they met another kid dressed in a costume from the same universe. Countless Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batmans and Jokers, Marios and Luigis, Buzzs and Woodys, and Spongebobs and Patricks crossed paths on that cloudy October day. Many of the kids used the power of imagination to fully immerse themselves into the world of their characters. And before anyone knew it, damsels were in distress, heroes were chasing villains, goofy goobers were goofy goobering, and turtles were sharing radical fighting techniques amongst each other.
Throughout the years of the pandemic, this was one of the only events that survived a slew of cancellations due to health and safety concerns. Trunk or Treat adapted to the times and altered their event to practice social distancing by changing their gathering to a drive-thru celebration. During this time, the Tribe cancelled their popular community Halloween party, but collaborated with Together We’re Better to keep the ghoul times rolling. The first year, the Tribe donated candy to the event. The second and third year, the Tribe donated buckets and candy, and a number of departments reserved spaces and decorated trunks of their own as well.
Now that the Tribe’s Halloween events are making a comeback, Trunk or Treat returned to its (grass)roots and this year’s event was back to being 100% volunteer-based and community funded. It was a great turnout, good times were had by all, and TWB’s Trunk or Treat entered a new decade with thrilling success. With the holiday just around the corner, this was the perfect way to get everybody into Halloween mode and get their spooky on.
Said Malory Simpson, Together We’re Better Founder, “I love to see all the kids and it’s really exciting to see all the people come together to make it a successful event for our community. And that’s for both Marysville and Tulalip, a part of Together We’re Better has always been about bringing the communities together. And it’s important for me to continue Trunk or Treat because it’s one of my favorite events. I think people really had a lot of fun, as well as the volunteers.”
If you are looking to get more involved with the community, Together We’re Better is always accepting donations, whether that is goods, funds, or your personal volunteered time. For more information, please contact Malory Simpson at (425) 905-9137.
In mid-September, the Seattle Mariners hosted the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series at T-Mobile Park. At the time, the home team Mariners were still in the thick of a heated playoff race, while the Angels, having suffered a litany of season-ending injuries to their star players, were attempting to remain competitive as their calamitous season came to a close.
Hours before the first pitch of their series-opening game on Monday, September 11, a Tulalip tribal member, dawning the red and gray team-issued colors of the Angels, emerged from the Los Angeles dugout, casually walked out to the pitcher’s mound, and got to work. That man is Mike Ashman, #91 on the Angels’ official coaching directory, and a professional batting practice pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Unlike the typical pitchers employed by baseball teams, Ashman’s job isn’t achieved by striking out hitters or getting them to hit in-field popups. Instead, his primary objective is to throw 60-mph pitches at Angel’s franchise player Mike Trout, and others in the lineup, to find their bat-swinging groove pregame as they turn his precisely placed pitches into thunderclap-sounding home runs.
Pitch after pitch, monstrous hit after monstrous hit, Ashman builds the confidence of professional hitters who are paid millions of dollars to hit a 3-inch in-diameter baseball from spring training in March to MLB playoffs in October. The grueling 162-game regular season is a marathon for managers and players alike who enter each season with dreams of winning the World Series.
But for the 63-year-old Tulalip elder, the baseball grind is the only life he’s known. And what some call a grind, he calls living a dream.
“I love this game. It really has been everything to me, and when I take a moment to reflect on all the experiences, all the travel and relationships I’ve made, it’s really been unbelievable,” said Ashman while sitting nonchalantly on the Angels dugout rail. “As a kid, I played all sports but baseball was my best sport. I played from Little League to high school. Then, I continued at San Bernardino Valley College for two years before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona, where I was part of the 1980 Division II national champions.
“After my senior year at Cal Poly, I got drafted by the Oakland A’s and spent five years in their minor league system, making it up to the Triple-A level. Then moved on to the Pittsburgh Pirates for one year playing Double-A and Triple-A ball. After that last year with Pittsburgh, I was 27-years-old and knew I wasn’t good enough to make it to the big leagues. I stepped away from the game and figured it was time to get on with the real world. So, I finished up my business administration degree and got a job with Allstate Insurance.”
The humble elder glossed over just how good his younger self was at hitting, throwing, and catching a baseball. In a detailed accounting, The Poly Post described Ashman as a star player for Bloomington High School, where he was a first-team selection for the San Andreas League twice. In 1975, his team was the California Interscholastic Federation runner-up. Ashman later flourished at Cal Poly where he earned All-America honors and led the Broncos to its 1980 championship title, batting a whopping .365.
Not only did he spend six years playing professionally in the Oakland Athletics’ and Pittsburgh Pirates’ organizations, but he was also a member of the 1980 Collegiate National Team and represented his country while playing in Japan for the U.S. Olympic Team. To recap, in his early 20s, Mike Ashman was an absolute stud. His talents in the batter’s box allowed him to tour the country playing the sport he loved both as a collegiate athlete and professional minor leaguer. His versatile skills on green diamond also gave him the opportunity to travel the globe while representing his country in world champion tournaments.
“Think of it back then as the equivalent of the World Baseball Classic or better yet, the Olympics. I was just a college kid playing against grown men, professionals from Japan, Korea, Cuba, and Italy. We played in all the major league parks in Japan, which was just amazing to me at the time. Our team performed well for a bunch of kids and we brought home a bronze medal,” Ashman said.
Following a short stint in the ‘real world’, where left baseball and worked an actual nine-to-five, he found a new calling for the game he loved. Although this time it wasn’t playing, it was coaching.
Ashman was an assistant coach at Riverside Community College for five years and hitting coach for the University of Nebraska for one season before settling in as head coach of his alma mater Cal Poly in 1996. He’d spend 15 years at the helm, amassing an overall record of 358-419-4. In 2010, the grizzled coach opted to resign in order to answer a new call being offered by the big leagues.
“Coach Ashman has been instrumental in the development of countless young men competing for Cal Poly Pomona, especially on a personal basis,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson in The Poly Post. “He has been a hands-on coach and continues to maintain relationships with student-athletes long after they have left the campus and have become professionals in their chosen profession.”
In 2011, Ashman entered the most recent chapter of his baseball journey. Accepting a full-time position as a batting practice pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. During his tenure, he’s pitched to some of the greatest individual talents the game has ever seen. From 3x National League MVP Albert Pujols to 3x American League MVP Mike Trout, and, who some MLB commentators describe as the greatest player since Babe Ruth, 2021 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani.
“They’ve all lit me up,” Ashman says with a chuckle. “That’s the goal: to have them hitting for consistent power pregame so they can do it when it matters most. There’s nothing like being able to witness true greatness in action. And knowing I’m just a small part of their much larger stories is pretty cool.”
On that mid-September Monday, hours before a matchup with the Mariners, he takes his usual spot on the pitcher’s mound, behind a protective L screen. While he throws to a new up-and-coming crop of Angels hitters, his sister, Caroline, and daughter, Delaney, watch with admiration as their major leaguer throws pitch after pitch.
Following batting practice, Angels hitting coach Marcus Thames said of #91, “He’s coached in college. He’s coached in pro ball, and he’s played in pro ball. He’s a jack of all trades, but most of all he knows the game. When it comes to batting practice, he knows what kind of pitches each hitter likes and where to place them so our guys can build their confidence and get their hits going. Whatever our guys need, he’s there for them. He’s great at what he does.”
With the 2023 season nearing its end and his 64th birthday only weeks away, Ashman is asked how much longer he plans to dedicate his life to the game he loves.
While pondering his answer, the Tulalip baseball pioneer responds with, “It’s funny because I tell people I’ve only worked three years my entire life, the three years I was an Allstate agent. It’s rare for someone to do this as long as I have. It’s something I think about from time to time. But every season brings new players, new challenges with new solutions, and new conversations in the clubhouse.”
Ashman then recalled a conversation with the face of the Angels franchise, Mike Trout. “Back in 2019, when Trout signed his 12-year, $400 million contract extension, he told me, ‘You’re staying until the end of my contract.’ My response to him was ‘Do you realize I’ll be 70 by then?!’ and he just looked at me and smiled. So, to answer your question, I guess I’ll be doing it as long as I can.”
Amidst the crisp air of the Cascade Mountains, a dedicated group of Tulalip community members embarked on a lengthy journey to support their beloved football team, the Tulalip Heritage Hawks. Their destination: Concrete High School Stadium on the chilly night of Thursday, October 12th.
This season has been nothing short of a test for the 8-man Iron football team, with a division record of 2-4 and an overall record of 2-5. Their recent victory over the Crescent Loggers had the Hawks brimming with optimism. However, they encountered a formidable challenge when they faced off against the tough Concrete Lions.
The Lions wasted no time setting the tone for the game, racing to a 28-0 lead during the first half. The Hawks grappled with moving the ball downfield, needing help to secure first downs and find themselves in scoring range.
But halftime proved to be a turning point. A motivating pep talk from the coach and a quarterback change breathed new life into the Hawks. With unwavering determination, they took to the field for the second half. Their defense made crucial stops, which allowed them to capitalize on two possessions, culminating in a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, narrowing the score to 16-28.
However, the day’s standout performance came from Concrete’s quarterback, who seemed unstoppable. His 50-yard touchdown pass and a successful rushing attempt left the Hawks unable to counter. As the game concluded, the scoreboard read Tulalip 16, Concrete 40.
“I think we started slow; it was a rough first quarter; we gave up a couple of touchdowns,” Defensive Coordinator Deyamonta Diaz said. “They had a talented quarterback; we had watched film on him and knew he was good. I told the team if they look fast on film, they are probably faster in person. In the second half, we made a good adjustment, and the guys kicked it in gear, tried to salvage something of it and put a couple of touchdowns on the board. You got to be ready all four quarters, and don’t wait, was our message to the team after the loss.”
Deyamonta continued, “This has been a rebuilding year, and we have had some good things to be proud of. The level of commitment, work ethic, and consistency has risen. The kids are dedicated on and off the field. It shows in their schoolwork and how they hold themselves in the community. We snapped a 3-year losing streak, putting together a couple of wins. The season isn’t over yet, and we look to win the next two and hopefully make the playoffs.”
With just two games remaining in the season, the Hawks are determined to finish on a high note. Their last home game is slated for Saturday, October 21st, and they’ll close out the season on Friday, October 27th, facing Lummi in Bellingham.
In commemoration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Tulalip Tribes hosted a heartfelt dinner and coastal jam on Monday, October 9, at the Gathering Hall. Several hundred individuals gathered to honor and celebrate our Native traditions, fostering a deep spiritual connection that breathes life into our cultural heritage.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day emerged as a profound shift from the previously observed Columbus Day, marking a fundamental change in how we honor and acknowledge the original inhabitants of this land. This transformation represents a collective recognition of the enduring resilience and rich cultural heritage of Native Americans who have called North America home for millennia. It’s a day that seeks to celebrate their unique contributions, honor their enduring traditions, and acknowledge the profound history of Indigenous peoples, emphasizing a more inclusive and accurate narrative of the past.
When asked what Indigenous People’s Day means to you, Tulalip tribal member Faith Valencia said, “What Indigenous Peoples Day means to me is mostly our community coming together for something that’s not sad or another reminder of a sad event. It’s a day to be ourselves. Learn our culture, be able to sing our songs, do our dance, and hang out with our family.”
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day means we are celebrating our ancestors and how they took care of the land, learned how to survive, and helped one another,” Tulalip Tribal Elder Loretta Tom said. “It’s about how strong our native heritage is and the resilience it took to overcome the many atrocities they faced so that we could be here. It’s important to show the young ones how we gather, carry our tradition, and show what being Native is all about. It’s not just a gathering to have fun, but also to teach the young how to carry on when not here.”
“To me, it’s just embracing your culture and being able to welcome everyone into one space and show what we represent and what we are about,” Tulalip tribal member Krislyn Parks said. “We used to have ceremonies like this every day, and we need to bring back those moments and show that we can still do what our ancestors did back in the day. I’m excited that a lot of people are out in their regalia showing out. It’s exciting to see what we have coming for the future.”
Bradley Paul William, dancer, and Tulalip tribal member, had this to say, “What Indigenous Peoples’ Day means to me is all of us gathering around to do our cultural and traditional things. It also means honoring our ancestors, doing what they couldn’t do, and keeping our culture alive.”
A candlelight vigil was held in Marysville on Sunday, October 8, to remember Gina Blatchford, a beloved Tulalip tribal member. Family and friends gathered to show their support and create awareness, hoping someone may have information about the tragic incident.
Gina Blatchford, a member of the Tulalip community, lost her life tragically in a hit-and-run incident. She was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on I-5 near exit 199 in Marysville, Washington, on the morning of Wednesday, October 4.
“Whoever hit her on the freeway just kept going,” Tulalip tribal member Rocio Jack said. “Nobody has come forward with information about what happened or who did it. They just left her on the side of the freeway.”
Rocio continued, “Gina was well known in the community and had four children. She was the sweetest person, and she wouldn’t hurt a fly. We don’t know why she was on the freeway. We want answers. We’re asking people to come forward; it’s a bustling road, especially in the morning. If anyone has seen what happened, please report it to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.”
If you have any information about the incident, please come forward. Your help can make a significant difference in finding justice for Gina and her family. You can contact the Snohomish County Sherriff’s Office at (425)288-2845 or submit an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). There is a $1,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.
For the ninth consecutive year, the Pacific Northwest region and its tens of thousands of proud Native American citizens celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday in October. Replacing the former ill-conceived holiday dedicated to a slave trader and lost Italian navigator, Indigenous Peoples’ Day serves as a commemoration to honor the sacrifice of the past, the resiliency of the present, and the limitless potential of the future for our shared Indigenous culture.
“People may ask, ‘Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day and why not American Indian Day or Native American Day?’ It’s only appropriate that we honor the legacy of work that’s been done,” said educator Matt Remle (Lakota). His efforts, along with other dedicated Native activists, were instrumental in getting a proclamation voted on by the Seattle City Council and signed into law by then-mayor Ed Murray in 2014. “It’s not only honoring legacy, but when we say ‘Indigenous peoples,’ it’s referring to more than just the tribes of the colonized United States. We’re talking about all Indigenous peoples who’ve been impacted by settler colonialism around the world.”
Since its inception into our shared experience, the Indigenous Peoples’ Day movement has spread to hundreds of cities across the nation. It’s been formally adopted by 19 state governments, and even a collection of universities and entire school districts are now including the day to celebrate global Indigenous cultures in their holiday calendars.
The movement has received so much praise, admiration and momentum that it even draws attention from The White House. Imagine that. Just days ago, in the United States capital of Washington, D.C, President Joe Biden from his Oval Office released the following proclamation:
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. They challenge all of us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell the whole truth of our history. And as innovators, educators, engineers, scientists, artists, and leaders in every sector of society, Indigenous peoples contribute to our shared prosperity.
“Their diverse cultures and communities today are a testament to the unshakable and unbreakable commitment of many generations to preserve their cultures, identities, and rights to self-governance. That is why, despite centuries of devastation and turmoil, Tribal Nations continue to thrive and lead in countless ways.
“Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, strength, and perseverance as well as a source of incredible contributions. Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember their heritages, and pass down their histories from generation to generation.”
Thank you, Mr. President! When local Native culture bearers and their allies from around the Pacific Northwest gathered at Westlake Park on Monday, October 9, for a march and rally to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, they were indeed united in culture and honoring a rich heritage. The dedicated early morning group proudly wore cultural garb and traditional regalia while marching with a police escort from Westlake Park to Seattle City Hall.
“I love this moment. Feeling my drum vibrate through my soul, out of my feet into Mother Earth, and back up into my body,” shared Sarah Hart (Tulalip) after marching through Seattle’s urban landscape. “Empowering is an understatement. Being who we are as [Native] people is a way of life, it’s every aspect of who we are and it’s in every fabric of our being. We don’t celebrate the genocide of our people, we celebrate who we are as people. We celebrate together. One heart. One drum. One voice. Together.”
Later that evening, the festivities continued at Daybreak Star Cultural Center with a host of activities intended to celebrate all sovereign nations that comprise Turtle Island. Sponsored by the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, the Daybreak Star gathering included hundreds of urban Natives, culture bearers from various tribal communities, and non-Natives who wanted to share in the memorable event.
A series of high-energy cultural offerings, representing Indigenous communities across the Americas, kept the multi-generational audience engaged well into the night. From diverse song and dance performances to heartfelt words filled with inspiration and positivity to even a lengthy BINGO session, which the elders loved, that awarded the winners prizes of traditional medicines.
Outside Daybreak, a firepit grill was running at full capacity, in order to cook up enough locally caught salmon to feed all those in attendance. Hard at work manning the grill and ensuring all that salmon was cooked to perfection was Gregory Ebona (Tlingit/Haida). In between sets of salmon, he said, “To be able to provide food and feed all these beautiful people here with us is an honor.”
Keeping the outdoor fire going in order to sustain the flame responsible for cooking the food was Deedee Ebona (Tlingit/Haida). She connected her responsibility to keep the fire going with Indigenous peoples’ collective responsibility to keep the culture and our traditional teachings alive. “Being of service to our community is important, as is collaborating with our relatives from other tribes because our ancestors sacrificed so much to ensure their teachings, their culture would live on through us,” she shared.
Daybreak Star’s evening-filled celebration paid tribute to a still thriving, still resilient culture that was once on the brink of extinction as a result of genocide, colonization, and termination acts. The shared sense of pride and glorious Indigenous identity radiated off those in attendance only amplified with each passing song, each inspirational message spoken, and every hug shared by strangers, who in that moment became family.
Therein lies the true beauty of being Indigenous. It makes every day a great day to be Indigenous.
