Within the 1,743 square foot volleyball court at Heritage High School, the Lady Hawks continue to develop their bumping and setting skills. Normally, after bumping and setting comes spiking, but these girls the final ingredient of their on-court trifecta is enthusiasm. Unbridled enthusiasm to be exact. Plain, yet simple, and highly effective for making high school memories.
“We are just trying our best to be locked in during practice and in games. For me, I think being positive and focusing on the good things is an important, maybe the most important, part of life, not just sports,” explained Lady Hawks co-captain Lilly Jefferson. “You can see how its impacted our team, too, because regardless of the score we are doing our chants, cheering for one another, and actually enjoying the moments we get to celebrate.
“Being able to be loud and scream out of joy and excitement if my favorite part of sports,” continued the high school junior. “As the season went along, the more and more of my teammates started to join along and now almost the whole team cheers and lets out good emotion when something good happens or someone puts full effort on the court, like diving or really hustling to try and make a play. These are moments are worth celebrating, or in my case, screaming for.”
While doing their best to maximize enthusiasm during their team as volleyballers, the Lady Hawks have unlocked a truly refreshing perspective for those who witness them play. They are making the best kind of memories, built from a united mission to have fun regardless of what the scoreboard reads. This was evident at girls’ latest home game when they hosted Shoreline Christian on October 2.
After dropping a quick first set, 10-25, the girls played a back and forth second set that saw them trailing by only two points, 18-20, at one point. If it’s possible to will a team to victory simply through enthusiasm, then co-captains Lilly and Raylee Fryberg nearly did just that. They were the driving force that made sure they team came together after every point, win or lose, to clap it up, express positive platitudes, or let out a cheer-filled scream.
The super competitive second set ended up going Shoreline Christian’s way, but that didn’t stop the Lady Hawks from boiling over with that unbridled enthusiasm. Not even close. Before the start of the third set, senior Elizabel Herrera huddled up her team and mimicked the legendary “Whose got my back?!” chant made famous by the Seattle Seahawks vaunted Legion of Boom.
Those vibes carried over to the start of their third set. The Lady Hawks managed to jump out to a 9-8 lead and were still in the think of things while trailing 15-20. Ultimately, they dropped the third set and lost the match 0-3. Don’t tell them they lost though because they aren’t interested in the wins and losses; they are interested in making memories and building friendships.
“This is my first year playing volleyball,” admitted 17-year-old Elizabel post-game. “I’m so thankful for Lilly and Raylee for bringing me up and talking me into playing. I feel like I mess up so much and am still learning where I need to be and when, but they act like I don’t and that makes me want to keep on playing and getting better.
“This whole experience playing volleyball and being a Lady Hawk are good memories that I’ll be thankful later for. Really, I just want to smile and make others smile because high school is only four years and, me being a senior, I only have a few months left. So I want to smile as much as I can and make as many memories as I can before it’s over.”
The 2024 volleyball season is quickly coming to an end. Catch one last glimpse of bump, set, and enthusiasm when Heritage celebrates Senior Night on October 15. The Lady Hawks will be hosting Evangel Classical School in their final home game of the season.
Bureau of Indian Affairs assistant secretary Bryan Newland, Lummi Nation secretary Lisa Wilson, executive director of Columbia River inter-tribal fish commission Aja DeCoteau, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional administrator Jennifer Quan visit Tulalip’s salmon hatchery.
By Micheal Rios in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries
Coast Salish leadership from Metlakatla to Yakama Nation, and many tribes in between, gathered with federal and state leaders at the Tulalip Reservation on October 3 to celebrate $240 million in federal funding for tribal hatcheries. This Inflation Reduction Act investment offers much-needed financial assistance to 27 tribes from Northern California to Southeast Alaska meet urgent maintenance and modernization needs of their on-reservation salmon hatchery programs.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries partnered with the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to disperse the funds. Initial payments of $2 million are currently being distributed to each of the 27 tribes. The remaining $186 million will be allocated by competitive grants in 2025.
“I want to thank NOAA for listening to us. We, as tribal governments, go back and forth a lot with Washington D.C. and Olympia. Sometimes we are met with closed ears, and we can not get the work done unless our elected leaders on the state and federal levels are willing to listen to what we have to say,” explained Tulalip Vice Chairwoman Misty Napeahi. “As tribes, we’ve had to learn to embrace western science because it gives us the data we need to get our points across.
“We are trying to teach a nation how to see the Earth through an Indigenous lens. That we are not here to conquer it nor extract all it’s resources, but to live in harmony as one with nature,” continued Misty. “This is our science given to us by the Creator and passed down through our ancestors. We know we have to use our science to save our lands, to save our oceans, and to save our way of life for our future generations. But we can’t do this without people being willing to listen. I raise my hands to NOAA for not only listening to us, but being willing to invest in our Indigenous knowledge and science.”
Treaties with the U.S. government in the 1850s, such as our Point Elliot Treaty, promised many tribes hunting and fishing rights. However, the decline of salmon in Pacific Northwest rivers has place great burden on hatcheries to provide the bulk of fish necessary to sustain tribal fisheries. The commitment of funding by the Biden-Harris Administration is a step toward delivering on the treaty promises that tribes have fish to catch.
“In the course of 3 months, from starting conversations, I started getting letters from 22 tribes with an agreed path forward,” said Jennifer Quan, West Coast Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, to the crowd of people gathered within the TRC’s Orca Ballroom. “Thank you to all the tribes who rolled up their sleeves and got to an agreement very fast. It’s helping us get this program on the ground quickly. I think this is the fastest the tribes and the federal government have ever moved together.”
Many Leaders Attend Celebration
A Tulalip Veterans color guard and group of pint-sized culture bearers from Quil Ceda Elementary kicked off the celebratory event, which Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin opened with a prayer passed down from her father, Stan Jones. Vice Chair Misty Napeahi emceed a panel of speakers that included Governor Jay Inslee, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, and Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the Department of the Interior.
“I’m so excited for today’s announcement that a quarter of a billion dollars is going to tribal fish hatcheries to help restore salmon populations,” said Assistant Secretary Newland (Ojibwe). “Equally as important is what this investment represents; its an investment in tribal-led management and caretaking of our salmon relatives. We know that when tribes were managing these ecosystems and our relationships with our relatives on land and in both the air and sea, that was an era of abundance. We need tribes leading the efforts to restore salmon, leading partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies to restore critical habitat, if we are to restore balance to our relationship framework with our natural environment. That’s what is necessary for us to return to an era of abundance.”
Tribal leaders and elder representation from many of the 27 tribes attended the celebration located on the shores of the Salish Sea. Tribal representation from across the Pacific Northwest included the Metlakatla of Southeast Alaska, Quileute, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lummi Nation, Stillaguamish, Quinault, Yakama Nation, Warm Springs, Suquamish, Sauk-Suiattle and Nez Peirce.
The event continued from the Resort Casino with visits to Tulalip hatchery facilities. The lower pond of Tulalip Creek teemed with Coho salmon returning to their release site, as tribal fishing boats dotted the expanse of Tulalip Bay. “Ninety-five percent of Chinook and Coho salmon harvested by Tulalip fisherman come from our local hatcheries,” informed Jason Gobin, Executive Director of Natural Resources.
“While our local hatchery is still productive, funding will help address deferred maintenance and update hatchery operations to the latest technology. Decades-old hatchery infrastructure needs upgrades to release salmon smolts and the collection of brood stock with more efficiency and targeted timing,” Jason added.
Hatchery Requires Updates
Several members of Tulalip’s Natural Resources department presented initial plans for modernizing the Tribe’s Bernie ‘Kai-Kai’ Gobin Salmon Hatchery. While the Tribe has already set aside funds for renovations, federal resources will kick-start the improvements. Most other eligible tribes, including the Nez Perce Tribe and the Lummi Nation, have identified specific plans for hatchery upgrades.
“This is a much-needed injection into the infrastructure that supports all these hatcheries,” Jason told media members during the hatcheries tour.
Tribal salmon hatcheries help the U.S. government fulfill its treaty obligations, while also removing fishing pressure on wild stocks. Some tribal hatchery programs have also led to the rebound of wild salmon. For example, the Nez Perce efforts have revitalized Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon; the Lummi Nation’s hatchery program has restored spring-run Chinook in the Nooksack River.
Beyond treaty promises and conservation goals, tribal hatcheries help drive on-reservation employment, salmon nutrition for specific ceremonies, and the preservation of cultural traditions. The approximate 11.5 million juvenile salmon raised and released each year contribute to the tens of millions of salmon produced annually by tribal hatcheries in Washington State alone.
“I know how hard the tribes have worked to keep these tribal hatcheries going, because they are so important to their culture and way of life,” reflected Jennifer, NOAA Regional Administrator. “I am proud that we have been able to provide such substantial new funding for the hatcheries. It tells me that the nation recognizes these hatcheries’ crucial role in delivering on the treaty promises that the government made to many tribes so long ago.”
“We have to be able to grieve. We have to be able to process loss,” said Nola Jeffrey. “And there’s many ways that we could do that – you can go to therapy and talk to someone, and that does help. But I’d rather do ceremony, I’d rather go to the water, I’d rather go into a sweat lodge, I’d rather sit in a circle with our people and talk to them. Because what you’ll find is that we share things in common, and in that, it gives us strength.”
A sage bundle burned atop an abalone shell at the entrance of the Gathering Hall. As people arrived, they took a moment to ground themselves, guiding the fragrant vapors from head to toe, cleansing their bodies and spirit before stepping into the Hall on the evening of October 7.
At the start of September, the Tulalip Tribes introduced an initiative to the community dubbed the Season of Healing. Since then, the Tribe has organized a number of gatherings aimed at healing the mind, body, spirit, and heart of its membership, and also of the citizens who work for the Tribe or live on the reservation. Through TED-Talk-esque panels and traditional art projects, the people have been absorbing the knowledge and teachings shared at these events with the intention of applying it to their own healing journey.
Tulalip Board of Director, Theresa Sheldon, explained, “The Season of Healing came about to the BOD, really from the community saying that they want to address trauma. We put together eight Mondays of speakers, eight Saturdays of art to talk about hard issues and work through them at the same time. Having speakers come from outside the community to talk about things that impact you, in a safe environment, is really the intent and purpose of us doing that. And then working on art projects so we can then get it out. Art takes a different piece of your brain and a concentration of peace and balance that we don’t use when we’re in fight or flight. It was an intentional combination to have speakers and art together.”
The latest installment of the Season of Healing focused on dealing with grief and loss. According to a recent study by the CDC, American Indian and Alaskan Native males had the highest death rate in 2022 with 1,444 deaths per 100,000 population. And AI/AN females were not far behind with a total of 1,063 deaths. These statistics are staggering considering that most other races had a death rate below 900 per 100,000 people. That is 40% higher than the white population, 17% higher than the black community, and 98% higher than Hispanics.
Delving a bit further, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health reported that the life expectancy for Natives is an average age of 71.8 years, compared to an average of 78.8 years for whites, 74.8 years for black people, and 81.9 years for Hispanic individuals. But even without knowing any of those stats, many Native people could relate this to you simply from experience, by recalling upon the names and memories of all the loved ones we’ve laid to rest.
“I think that as Native people, we do funerals really well,” Theresa stated as tears began to well up in her eyes. “And I think after the funeral, we don’t know what to do. I think we don’t talk about it enough. We don’t talk about the foreverness that we carry as long as we’re still here. That loss we have, we’re just expected to know how to deal with it.”
After receiving an event t-shirt that read, ‘reclaiming joy, love, and laughter’, attendees shared a meal together before the panel began. Taking their seats at the head of the Gathering Hall, the people participated in some mindful mediation and breathing exercises, led by Tulalip community member and LMP, Glendy Morrison.
On the main stage, three chairs were occupied by Tribal member and event emcee, Kali Joseph, moderator and Tulalip BOD Debra Posey, and guest speaker Nola Jeffries (Tsimshian/Coast Salish). Nola is well known amongst tribal communities, and she has leant her voice and efforts to the health and betterment of Indigenous people at gatherings such as the Tribal Canoe Journey and at various National Day of Truth and Reconciliation events across Indian country.
During this intimate gathering of about 50-60 Tulalip community members, Nola spoke from the heart. She shared her personal experience with grief and how she was able to cope and withstand the lowest point of her life, the loss of her daughter Megan, who aged just 20 months before her untimely passing.
“My daughter died in a car accident that I was very much a part of,” she stated. “Having this beautiful little girl who was so full life, full of love, full of energy, and full of promise, to be gone – my whole life changed in a second. As a mother, I thought it was my responsibility to keep all my children safe and that day I didn’t succeed. I blamed myself. Sometimes, you can turn your anger onto somebody, but I drew that anger inward. I didn’t feel I deserved to be a mother, a wife. I didn’t feel like I deserved to even grieve for her because I caused this to happen.
“It’s hard for us to grieve. What grief can do is stop us dead in our tracks and I think that’s what happened to me. I had a really hard time staying here. It was my own mother who probably helped me stay here. She called me and told me she was worried about me, and that if anything happened to me it would kill her. And a little lightbulb went on in my brain. I would purposely cause my mother this pain. I would purposely make her suffer. I thought to myself I can’t do that; I have to somehow live through this. There were times I couldn’t look ahead, because the pain was so deep. And what I would do is stuff it down. Of course you can’t stuff all that pain down. For me, it felt like I had a manhole over that pain, and it would get so full, it would be like a geyser. It would start coming up until I’d get control of it again and push it back down. I lived my life like that for a long time. I’d pretend I was happy, people thought I was happy, but I wasn’t. I was struggling. There were lots of beliefs I held that just weren’t true, because I really wasn’t responsible for my daughter’s death. I was part of it. One day I woke up and thought, Nola, you’re not the creator. You can’t make all these things happen. You’re not in control of any of this.”
Nola went on to explain that she officially set off on her healing journey 11 years after her daughters passing. Upon accepting a position at a substance use and trauma treatment center named the Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, she was introduced to new forms of therapy which helped her through that pain and gave her a new perspective on grief, in addition to traditional work.
She said, “I believe that things are supposed to happen the way that they happen. We have a time to be born, and we have a time to go. Sometimes it’s really hard to accept some of the things that have happened. I used to think that if I accepted it, then I agreed with it – I realized I was just fighting myself. I couldn’t change what had happened. I still have grief, but the way I live with my grief is different. I didn’t think I had the right to cry, and today I absolutely know that my tears are welcome. Even though she is on the other side, she’s still my daughter. That love never dies. I still talk to her. She’s still a part of my life, I still love her so much. And she has taught me so much. What I didn’t know before she came and left was how incredibly strong I am. But I’m going to be honest with you, 35 years have passed and sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. I still miss her.”
Many tears were shed in the Gathering Hall that evening. When hearing Nola recount her story, nearly everyone in attendance could be seen nodding in understanding and relating to those feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and despair. And as she continued to detail her experience with loss, they acquired new ways and ideas on how to work through their grief and how to allow themselves to let go.
Following her TED-Talk, Nola opened the floor for questions. Among the two people who came forward was Tribal member, Deborah Parker.
Said Deborah, “I lost a loved one on September 26th – three years ago. It’s really difficult. I get confused with letting go and remembering. They say to let go, but then also to remember your loved ones. I don’t quite know what to do and how to live without that loved one. What did you do to relieve yourself from that confusion in your mind? Because I know that grief and feeling of loss will be forever, in a sense. But I too want to live a more meaningful life because grief has really hit myself and it’s impacted my children, my family, and friends.”
In response, Nola replied, “You said people talk about letting go, and I think what they’re talking about is to start releasing the pain, because that trauma and grief gets stuck in our bodies. That’s what you need to let go of, that’s what you need to release. But the memories of them? Absolutely not. The love of them? Absolutely not. You hold on to that and you allow it flourish and grow.”
Prior to a youth-led closing song and a raffle drawing, that included $50 gas cards and gift bag prizes, BOD Posey concluded the panel with a few insightful remarks, “When you lose someone who you love, and you get to that point where you can start really remembering the best times, when you can focus on those wonderful moments in time, you can ask yourself what would that person want for you? But you have to be really true and honest about it. Would they want you to be isolated and be in grief? And if the situation were reversed, and you were the one that is gone, what would you want for them? And if you know what you would want for them, that’s what they want for you. To live a full life, to find joy, to find happiness, to live the best life you possibly can.”
The Season of Healing will continue throughout the rest of October. The next art project scheduled is a dentalium earring workshop instructed by Tribal member Santana Shopbell-Proehl. It will be held on Saturday October 12, at the Hibulb Cultural Center from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. To sign-up for the class, be sure to call (360) 716-2600 or e-mail info@hibulbculturalcenter.org. There will also be an Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at the Gathering Hall on Monday October 14, beginning at 5:00 p.m., which will feature Noelani Lokepa-Guerrero as the guest speaker.
If you are a Tulalip tribal member, you can follow the speaker series via livestream on IAmTulalip.com. On this site, you can also find a video recording of all the Season of Healing TED-Talk panels if you were unable to catch the event in real time.
The Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association (NNABA) selected Tulalip as the host for its 27th annual gathering, held at the Gathering Hall. The two-day event on October 4 and 5 saw over 600 registered guests and 38 teachers, marking the largest gathering in the organization’s history. The NNABA continues to provide a space for Indigenous peoples of the Northwest to share and learn cultural and artistic skills, including creating native regalia and various styles of basketry.
The gathering offered guests various weaving classes to choose from, where they learned techniques using materials like cedar, sweetgrass, wool, and yarn. Participants had seven hours each day to work on their projects, with classes filling up on a first-come, first-served basis. Each teacher provided the necessary materials for their craft, with fees for both lessons and supplies varying depending on the craft and instructor.
Tulalip tribal member Hiedi Zackuse expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “This is super cool.” Another attendee, Jack McCloud from Nisqually, reflected on the significance of the gathering: “I didn’t grow up with much tradition. My grandparents spoke our language fluently but weren’t allowed to teach us about our culture. Being part of this year’s gathering makes me proud. It feels like our culture has come back stronger than ever. Seeing the imagination of all the artists here is incredible.”
During the event, each completed item was announced by teachers, who would stand up to share what had been created and by whom. Applause filled the room as participants proudly raised their finished projects for all to see, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere.
Tulalip tribal member and teacher Toni Jo Gobin flew in from Hawaii to share her unique basketry techniques. Reflecting on her experience, Gobin said, “It was awesome teaching at the Gathering Hall. It was a lot of fun meeting everyone. This was my first time teaching and attending a NNABA event, and while it was super busy, it was nice.” She also expressed her gratitude to the Tulalip staff, adding, “I want to give a huge thanks to the staff at Tulalip. They ensured all the elders and guests had everything they needed and kept things running smoothly.”
NNABA representative Ramona Townrae, a Yakama Nation member and resident of Black Diamond, praised the event’s success. “Every year, the NNABA selects a host by advertising proposals, allowing us to connect with people from all over the Northwest, including Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana,” she explained. “This year’s gathering was one of the largest we’ve ever held. When we first started back in 1996, we barely had 100 attendees. Now, we’ve brought in over 600 people. Seeing individuals who saved their nickels and dimes to attend and participate warms my heart.”
Reflecting on the venue, Ramona shared, “This is a fantastic place—not only is it beautiful, but it truly maintains our culture and traditions. The staff and tribal members have been working hard for months, ensuring everyone felt welcome. I always ask, ‘What would you do if someone came to your home?’ That’s the approach Tulalip took. It’s not just a conference; it’s a gathering, and that distinction is so important.”
Ramona also highlighted the event’s growing significance within the community. “Our mission is to promote, perpetuate, and preserve Native American basketry, and a key part of that is involving the youth. We run a program for kids; whether we have hundreds or just a handful, those kids are the ‘promote’ part of our mission. They’re the ones who will carry our traditions forward. I always tell them, ‘You are our future. You will be the cultural bearers.’ It’s heartwarming to see their little hands weaving—knowing they’re the ones who will keep this alive.”
The 27th annual NNABA gathering at Tulalip celebrated basket weaving and the strength of Indigenous culture and community. Bringing together elders and youth, the event ensures that these traditions will continue to thrive and be passed down for generations.
If you want to know more about the NNABA or their next gathering, you can find out on the website at http://www.nnaba.net
On Saturday, September 28, culture bearer Tillie Jones taught a second wool headband weaving class at the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center as part of the Season of Healing. A small group attended the event, which provided a warm and welcoming environment. It was a beautiful day characterized by focus and a peaceful atmosphere.
Tillie expressed her appreciation for the class, noting how much she enjoyed witnessing the bonding experience between families. “It was a great class,” she said. “I loved seeing mothers and daughters learning side by side.”
Attending the weaving class with her daughter was a meaningful experience for Tulalip tribal member Stephanie Fryberg. She shared her enthusiasm for the session, saying, “I loved the class. I’ve always wanted to try weaving, and doing it with my daughter was great. It was easy to do, and I liked being able to focus on the task. It helped me imagine my ancestors doing this, making me feel connected.”
Stephanie also spoke about the more significant impact of the Season of Healing, saying, “I think it’s been great. Our community needs to think about how we push back against settler colonialism. Colonialism taught us to be mean to one another and not to love ourselves or each other. This focus on bringing love back and weaving it into our everyday lives is the first step toward truly finding healing in our community.”
As the wool headband class ended, the room buzzed with laughter and pride as participants admired their creations. With fall just beginning, the cozy spirit of the Season of Healing felt more like the start of a new tradition—one that wrapped everyone in warmth and connection, just like the wool headbands they’d made.
The Season of Healing continues through October, and there is more to look forward to. Up next is Dentalium earrings with Santana Shopbell-Proehl on Saturday, October 12, followed by a painting session with Monie Ordonia to wrap up the month on Saturday, October 26. To save your spot and get pricing details, call the Hibulb Cultural Center at (360) 716-2600 or email info@hibulbculturalcenter.org.
“We were banned from having gatherings just like this one,” said Tulalip Youth Council member, Ariel Valencia. “My grandma on my mother’s side went to a boarding school located in Canada where she was beat almost hourly. She was stabbed in the chest with a knitting needle and got left with no medical help. She still has a scar to this day. That not only shows that we have generational trauma, but we still have memories of these schools, and not good ones either. And now, we are not going to hide our culture, our languages, our songs and dances, our voices. We’re going to thrive as Indigenous People and decolonize as much as we can because that’s what our ancestors would’ve wanted.”
It was a heavy night of raw emotions as the Tulalip community took time to address a hurt that many Natives carry with us. A heartbreak that was unintentionally passed down from our family members who attended boarding schools as kids. A suffering that boarding school survivors still live with today.
September 30 has widely become known as Orange Shirt Day for tribal communities in both the U.S. and Canada. This initiative, officially the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, raises awareness about the damage that residential schools inflicted on Native children throughout the assimilation era.
During this time, the government enacted the Civilization Fund Act and the Peace Policy in attempt to assimilate our people into white society. According to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, nearly 83% of Native children were attending boarding schools by the year 1926, which equates to over 60,000 kids.
Ariel’s sister and fellow Youth Council member, Faith Valencia, explained, “Various denominations of the Christian churches adopted an Indian boarding school policy to ‘kill the Indian, save the man’. These children were forcibly removed from their families, communities, and culture and kept at residential schools where they were expected to cut their hair, abandon their traditional clothing, give up their names for English names.
“And they were penalized for speaking their languages and practicing their cultural ways. Children were separated from their families for long periods. In addition to cultural genocide, residential schools are also the sites of the horrific physical, sexual, and emotional abuse perpetrated against these children. Through all of it – the violence and abuse, our culture is still here and very strong.”
Over the past several years, Tulalip has participated in Orange Shirt Day and helped open up discussion on a difficult subject matter. Though local boarding school survivors are exposing scars that they’ve attempted to keep hidden for decades, these yearly gatherings have become a safe space where they can talk about those dark times. And consequentially, they get to see a glimpse of their own resiliency and that the culture is alive and well in the 21st century. This work ultimately leads to a path of healing as the community embraces them and provides that good medicine through song and dance.
Tribal member and rez ball legend, Dale Jones, is known throughout the community for his sense of humor and his confident demeanor. During this gathering, he allowed himself to be vulnerable and share his experience with the people.
In a shaky voice, Dale shared, “I was about ten years old when they took me and three of my brothers and sent us down to Chemawa. It was a very hard life. They cut your hair, took away everything you had, and threw that white stuff on you to get rid of the lice. That was their excuse for doing that. And you could hear our brothers and sisters crying at night. It was very hard being ten years old and wondering if you’re ever going to go home. I buried myself in alcohol for years – because you bury that hurt deep within you. I gave it up about thirty years ago, cigarettes the same time.”
Upon arrival, the attendees received an orange t-shirt designed by Tulalip Artist, Walter Moses. Everywhere you looked, there was orange. It was beautiful to see so many people show up for the survivors. And also, for the children who were buried on residential school grounds across the country.
Said Ariel, “We call it Orange Shirt Day because of the story from Phyllis Webstad, a six-year-old girl who received a gift from her grandma. A brand-new orange shirt, which was then taken away on her first day at a boarding school. She stated that seeing the color orange would bring back memories. She went a long time without wearing orange. The boarding school gave her so much PTSD that seeing the color made her scared. We’re not only fighting for justice for her, but for the thousands who suffered their childhood at these so-called schools.”
A slideshow made by Tulalip historian, Lita Sheldon, played on a loop throughout the night, which recognized all the youth who were sent to the Tulalip Indian Boarding School. Josh Fryberg was the emcee and as people trickled in, he helped get things started by calling upon Natosha Gobin for a prayer and introducing a music video dedicated to boarding school students, composed by Antone George (Lummi).
After the people shared a delicious dinner together, the drummers and singers were called to the front of the Gathering Hall. The event kicked off with the sduhubš Welcome Song.
Tulalip Chairwoman, Teri Gobin, shared a few opening remarks, noting that the sduhubš Welcome Song is a testament to the government’s failed efforts at erasing the culture. During the reclamation of the Salmon Ceremony, the song was revived by boarding school survivor and Tulalip ancestor, Harriette Shelton-Dover. And ever since, the song has been a staple in modern day practices, serving as the opening song at many Tulalip gatherings.
In addition to the Valencia sisters and Dale, speakers for the gathering also included boarding school survivors Mel Williams Sr. and Matthew Warbonnet Jr. Both of these gentlemen spoke with heavy hearts as they recounted their years spent at boarding schools. All of the boarding school survivors were called to the floor and were seated at the center of the Gathering Hall. A number of seats were left unoccupied, in honor of the kids who never made it back to their families.
Mel shared, “I can still remember my first day when I went to residential school, after being taken away from my mom and our home. I remember getting there and one of the first things that they did, they put us on this chair, and they cut that long hair off. They told us we looked like savages with long hair like that. I remember getting dressed in different clothes that weren’t mine. And I looked around at the other boys and we were all dressed the same. I remember that evening, we had to shower. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. ‘You go and have that shower, and you clean yourself, you dirty Indian’. After the shower, we had to be inspected, and they inspected every part of our body. I didn’t like that fondling, and I showed it right away. So that person left me alone, only to prey on someone that was weaker than myself. Much of that went on in these residential schools, not with just the boys but the girls too.”
Chief Executive Officer of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, Deborah Parker, also shared some words. She stated, “I want to acknowledge the speakers before me who attended the residential boarding schools. When you tell your stories, it helps us to heal. When you share your truth, it helps tell a nation what you’ve been through. And we are all here for you. The children, the mothers, the aunties, the uncles, we’re here for you. We’re here for those names who didn’t come forward, for those children who never made it home. Nights like this, for remembrance, are critically important for those sitting in the chairs tonight and those who weren’t able to make it to these chairs.”
In a powerful moment, Josh asked everyone in the Hall to stand directly behind the survivors. He then instructed them to raise their hands in the air to send strength and love to the survivors. Tribal member, Tony Hatch then stepped to the front of the room and called the drummers and dancers to the floor once more. As Tony led them in a song, candles were passed out and lit. Tiny flames danced while the people raised their candles in remembrance of the young Native men and women who died at the hands of boarding school officials.
After a moment of silence and prayer, the first half of the event concluded. The coastal jam immediately followed and hundreds of community members, comprised mostly of Tribal youth, hit the floor to continue the night’s theme of ‘Healing Together’. The jam extended late into the evening and through traditional song and dance, the community spread medicine to the survivors, their descendants, and everyone affected by the trauma of residential boarding schools.
Deborah expressed, “When we see the children dance, remember there was a time when our children could not dance. And there was a time, even in my generation, where it was just the adults, and only a few children were on the dancefloor. And now, our children are leading the way. And someday those little children will be grandmothers and grandfathers, and they may not remember the pain, or the hurt, or the suffering that our relatives went through, but they’ll remember the joy and the happiness in these moments.”
Elida Lee Parks was born on August 3, 1944 in Mount Vernon, WA to Sarah Stella Percival and Raymond Leal. Elida went to be with the lord and to be reunited with the love of her life on September 27, 2024 in Seattle, WA.
Lee grew up in Tulalip and was a strong, beautiful, and remarkable woman. Lee was a kind, loving, and fierce soul who loved her family so much. Lee enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, playing bingo, and spending nights out at the casino.
Lee married her soul mate, Mr. G, on July 25th, 1970 and from there they grew a large blended family. Glen and Lee had 12 children, 46 grandchildren, 96 great grandchildren, 24 great-great grandchildren, and 1 great-great-great grandchild. Glen and Lee took care of many children over their lifetime and their home was shared by all.
Glen and Lee had a life full of love and excitement. Lee was a strong fisherwoman who worked right alongside her husband, running the Lot-A-Wampum or logging and running the skidder. Lee also worked as a Cage Manager at the Tulalip Casino. She was proud to have served 15 years building up and mentoring many of her employees. She was loved by her team members. She is survived by her children, Teresa, Les (Tracy), Lori, Roman (DeeAnna), Bernie, Angela (Don), Lora, DeeDee, Port (Melinda), and Dennis (Christina), 167 grandchildren; brother, Paulano Leal; and many special nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Glen Parks Jr.; and children, Rocky, Charmaine, George and many loved ones.
A celebration of life will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Tulalip Gathering Hall with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
After their 56-8 crushing of the Muckleshoot Kings the week prior, the unbeaten Tulalip Hawks entered week four of the regular season with a shocking #10 next to their name. In a super cool development, Tulalip’s early season success and torrid touchdown pace reached influencers within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). In their weekly updated Top 10 rankings, the WIAA ranked Tulalip Heritage #10 in the entire state for 1B football.
“It feels amazing to be putting Tulalip on the map and letting the whole state know who we are,” declared starting cornerback and Heritage High senior Javohn Henry. “Our [football program] hasn’t been known in too long, but now we’re getting our name out there for all to see. Not just as footballers, but as proud Natives.”
The undefeated and #10 ranked Heritage Hawks hosted the Lummi Nation Blackhawks in another inter-tribal battle by the bay on Friday, September 27. It was expected to be a battle of contrasting styles, too, because unlike the razzle dazzle Hawks offense, Lummi’s primary strength is run-run-run with little to no passing in between.
In the first quarter, offense was a major struggle for both teams. Whether it was the frigid 50-degree temperature or just the nervousness from longtime rivals meeting for the first and only time this season on the Tulalip gridiron, or a combination of both, is difficult to know. What we do know is after one whole quarter of play the game was tied 0 to 0.
Early in the 2nd quarter, Tulalip’s defense came up big with a 4th down stop that gave the ball back to their offense. Inserted into the game for the first time was quarterback J.J. Gray. He immediately ignited the Hawks offense with a 45-yard completion to wide-receiver Ziggy Myles-Gilford. Four plays later, J.J. found his other wide-receiver Tokala Black Tomahawk in the back of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Two-point conversion was good to give the home team an 8-0 lead.
Heritage’s offense was running on all high-powered cylinders again. Best encapsulated by an 80-yard catch and run from Ziggy later in the 2nd quarter that got Tulalip’s home crowd on their feet and cheering enthusiastically at a team that has the talent to score on any given possession. That highlight was soon followed by another as J.J. used his agility and evasiveness to carve up the Lummi defense for a 50-yard QB scramble to the endzone. Midway through the 3rd quarter, Tulalip led 24-6.
Taking a reprieve from play-calling duties, while Tulalip’s defense was on the field, offensive coordinator Willy Enick shared, “J.J. just really unlocks our offense. His ability to keep a play alive with his feet, his vision to keep his head up and look for his receivers, and his excellent ball placement gives our guys so much confidence to take their games to the next level. The first quarter being a bit of a struggle for us to move the ball and it being a 0-0 game was actually a gift for us coaches. It gave us an opportunity to remind the boys that being ranked doesn’t mean anything if you can’t continue to execute and perform like we know we can.”
The two sophomore sensations, J.J. and Ziggy, continued to execute their onfield connection as they wreaked havoc on would-be Lummi tacklers early in the 4th quarter. On the cusp of the red zone, J.J. evaded multiple defenseman, actually managing to split two Lummi lineman who tackled one another instead of the Tulalip quarterback, and then lofted a perfect spiral to a wide-open Ziggy for a touchdown. Up 30-8 now, the chants of “Tulalip power!” started to ring out from the fans who knew the W was all but secured.
The Hawks defense continued to swarm tackle the larger Lummi ballcarriers and managed to force several turnovers via 4th down stops.
“Our defense did good adjusting to the run-heavy play style,” reflected Heritage defensive coordinator, Deyamonta Diaz post-game. “We adjusted to a 4-man front and were still able to rally to the ball quickly. For us, that’s been a game changer because the 4th down stops give our offense the ability to find rhythm. We also had different starters this week, so guys were able to get reps and be ready for when we have to go into our depth chart.”
Ultimately, the Hawks relied on their depth and high-octane offense to win another season-boosting rivalry game. The 36-16 victory over Lummi will assuredly keep Tulalip in the ranks of the top 10.
Next up, the boys will travel to Tacoma on Saturday, October 6, to take on the Charles Wright Tarriers. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00pm.
