Category: Arts & Entertainment

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

With Tulalip Bay serving as a scenic backdrop, the Kenny Moses Building pulsed with energy and laughter this past week as 60 elementary-aged boys and girls gathered for the 28^th annual Lushootseed Camp. The vibrant, week-long immersive experience was dedicated to preserving Tulalip’s ancestral language and cultural traditions.

Hosted by the devoted Language Warriors, plus the assistance of 23 summer youth workers, the camp offered a fun summer diversion for students only a few weeks into their school-free season. For many families, this opportunity provided crucial cultural learning during hot summer days when children might otherwise be at home, disconnected from community and spending zero time outside.

“It’s really exciting to think about the history and all the success that our Lushootseed children’s circle, better known as Lushootseed Camp, has achieved over the past 30 years. During that entire time, we only missed two summers because of the pandemic,” reflected department director, lead instructor and lifelong Language Warrior, Natosha Gobin. “In week one we had 60 kids participate. I just want to say thank you to all the parents and guardians who continue to trust us with their kids, and for encouraging them to be a part of keeping our language and culture alive.”

Each day, from June 7 to June 11, the Kenny Moses Building and its surrounding grounds were transformed into a learning village. Campers rotated through a variety of stations, each uniquely designed to bring the Lushootseed language and Tulalip traditions to life in fun, creative ways.

Inside the woodworking station, instructors Michelle and Thomas guided children in crafting miniature chipmunk houses, which was an engaging nod to the week’s culminating play performance. Campers also created wind chimes from Devil’s Club, a plant traditionally used for medicine and tools. 

“The kids learn Lushootseed words for the materials, but also how important these plants, like Devil’s Club, were and still are to our people,” said Thomas.

At the weaving station, instructor Melissa introduced campers to traditional wool work. Children learned how to wash wool and even wove whimsical designs and yarn berry baskets. The kids fine finger skills were carefully honed as Melissa taught the Lushootseed names for each step.

In the traditional teachings station, Jasmyne guided campers through Lushootseed flashcards covering animals, nature, and everyday words, connecting vocabulary to everyday cultural practices. Campers also made fresh berry jam, learning Lushootseed terms for berries, cooking tools, and ingredients. 

Assisting Jasmyne, Melissa, and any other camp instructor who required extra assistance was the recent college graduate Jacynta Myles. She recalled spending nearly every summer at Lushootseed camp both as a participant, then as a group leader, so it only made sense that she volunteer as an assistant.

“It’s such a different light being able to witness today’s kids go through the same experience I did as a kid,” shared Jacynta. “Knowing I’m an adult in the room now and have a responsibility to help the kids learn and realize these are the steps to keep our culture alive, it’s empowering. Helping them learn Lushootseed is practice for me, too, and makes us all better as a collective. That’s what we should be striving towards as a Tribe, making everyone better.”

Outside, in the summer sun and the occasional bay breeze, instructor Lois kept the kids active with a mix of games and cultural play. Children pretended to fish, practiced building whale shelters, and raced each other in lively games of tag.

The language station, led by John and Angel, turned familiar games into linguistic adventures. Children played Connect 4 and Plinko, calling out colors, numbers, and directions entirely in Lushootseed. Games like these can make language fun and build confidence.

Technology also played a powerful role in the week-long camp. Dave and Brian transformed tablet devices into modern Lushootseed learning tools that the kids could navigate all too well. Campers used the devices to learn traditional songs, practice lines for the upcoming play, watch Lushootseed storytelling videos, and play interactive language games.

“Technology is a big part of the kids’ lives nowadays. There’s just no getting around that,” said Dave. “So instead of resisting technology and modern-day software, we’re using it to keep Lushootseed relevant and exciting for the kids. It makes me quite happy to watch and listen when a returning camp kid teaches a first-timer how to use his or her tablet. That, to me, shows how much they learned and how excited they get to pass on what they learned.”

In the art station, Nikki and Kylee guided children through making story bracelets and puppets as they read aloud two traditional stories, “How Chipmunk Got Its Stripes” and “Owl & Chipmunk”. Each bead color on the bracelets represented a key element of the story or a camper’s emotions as they recalled lessons learned from the adventurous chipmunks. Campers also created puppets for retelling stories of the Lushootseed legend at home. 

All week, campers also spent time with Natosha, learning the songs and practicing lines for the big performance. Under her guidance, they mastered the berry picking song and siyaway, a popular song amongst Tulalip families that celebrates community spirit.

The culmination of the week came on Friday afternoon, when families and community members gathered in the Kenny Moses Building for the youth performance of “How Chipmunk Got Its Stripes” and “Owl & Chipmunk”. The campers made their mock big stage debut and acted out the two stories entirely in Lushootseed. The tales, rich with humor and life lessons, explain how Chipmunk’s daring words to Owl and Basket Lady led to the stripes along its back.

As the children delivered their lines and songs with an understandable mix of nervousness, excitement and pride, the audience responded with laughter, applause and visible emotion. For many parents and elders, the performance was an afternoon entertainment rich with reminders that the language of their ancestors continues to live on.

“Instead of being home telling me they are bored and what to do something, my kids came here every day excited to learn,” shared momma bear Michelle Martin of her three boys attending week one of camp. “They’d get home wanting to teach me and their dad the Lushootseed words they learned. They’d even quiz us on the words to make sure we were listening.”

When the Friday play ended, the campers departed the Kenny Moses Building clutching their handmade crafts, some still singing Lushootseed songs, and waving to new friends. Several children expressed their already great anticipation for next year’s camp.

“It was so much fun!” said 9-year-old Anthony Martin Jr., who was joined at camp by his two younger brothers. “I thought it would be not that fun with my brothers here, but it was. We got to make jam, windchimes, went to the beach and football field, played tag every day. Next year, I think I want to have a speaking role in the play. That would be cool.”

Added 11-year-old Deion Edge, who had a speaking role in this year’s play, “It is cool to have a speaking role. Two years ago, I had an acting role but didn’t get to say anything. I enjoyed being a part of the play and wanted to keep getting bigger parts. This year, I got a speaking role and showed my family and friends who came to watch how well I can speak Lushootseed. Now that the play is over, I feel amazing and hope everyone continues using and learning Lushootseed.” 

If young Anthony and Deion words ring true, then the 28^th annual Lushootseed Camp proves that even summer break can be a time of communal learning and memorable fun. Their energy, their spirits, and their hunger for more language is the fuel that keeps the cultural fires burning. 

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

Under the gleaming summer sun on July 6, the Tulalip Resort Casino Amphitheatre roared to life with candy-colored lowriders, smiling families, and the steady beat of DJ Sugar Bear spinning tracks that lifted spirits as much as the custom hydraulics on display.

The second annual HOPE Fest, short for Helping Our People Evolve, brought together culture, community, and compassion in one powerfully vibrant celebration. From car enthusiasts to families in need, everyone found something meaningful in the day’s offerings.

Neaners Garcia, executive director and founder of HOPE for Homies, is the driving force behind the event. With the mission of bringing healing and resources directly to marginalized communities, he shared how vital this work is to him.

“This event is based on serving our community,” he said. “A lot of the bigger cities get all the resources, but communities like Tulalip, Marysville, Camano, and Arlington often get overlooked, especially the brown community. That’s why we’re focusing on bringing support where it’s needed most.”

Born out of lived experience and personal transformation, Neaner’s passion is rooted in trauma-informed care and gang prevention. HOPE for Homies works year-round to offer healing, dignity, and hope for those who often fall through the cracks. “Many of us are taught to stay quiet, to hold everything inside. For people to trust us with their stories, it’s powerful. That relationship is everlasting,” he reflected.

And HOPE Fest isn’t just a one-day event. Neaners emphasized the importance of consistency and long-term support: “We don’t want to be something that just pops up and disappears. That’s why we’re working to host these events every six months, to keep the momentum and support alive.”

Throughout the day, visitors were greeted by a lineup of sleek lowriders, muscle cars, and classics, all customized with bold paint, chrome accents, and a sense of community pride. But the heart of the event pulsed from the rows of booths offering tangible help, including free backpacks stuffed with school supplies, free food and drinks, haircuts, access to healthcare, and even vaccines.

Organizations such as NW Plus Credit Union, Tulalip Tribes, Mother Nation, and the Snohomish County Health Department, among others, partnered to offer vital resources.

HOPE for Homies also provided banking assistance to youth without family support and enrolled participants in a program that delivers food boxes to their homes. The goal was clear: meet people where they are, and uplift them with care, compassion, and community.

Teak Pocinwong, a member of the car club Ruthless Ryderz and a longtime supporter of the nonprofit, explained why events like this matter, especially for young people. “We try to give back to at-risk youth through supplies, presents, and teaching life skills, like how to break down a car or learn a trade. It’s about building confidence.”

Teak knows firsthand how powerful that shift can be. “Growing up, I was told that if you don’t have a college degree, you’re a bum. But that’s not true. We need welders, mechanics, and people who can work with their hands. Not every kid is meant for college, but that doesn’t mean they’re not smart. They need the opportunity to find what they’re good at.”

That message resonated with many, including eventgoer Elizabeth Edelman, who called the event “awesome” and praised its positive impact on local youth. “There’s not much of this that goes on out here. It’s exposing our youth to a lot of diverse cultures and possibilities.”

As the day ended with the traditional Aztec dance called Mashika, and a crowd energized by both music and meaning, one thing was undeniable: HOPE Fest isn’t just a car show, it’s a movement—a celebration of resilience, unity, and transformation that rolls forward on chrome and compassion.

If you’d like to support the mission, donations can be made at hopeforhomies.org.

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News 

A red handprint—bold, defiant, and highly symbolic—has become a clear cry for justice in Indigenous communities across North America. What began as a young girl’s silent protest at a track meet quickly grew into a powerful emblem of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) movement. Today, the red handprint represents the pain of lives lost, voices silenced, and families left with unanswered questions. It has become a call to remember, to speak out, and to demand change.

Portraits in Red, the powerful traveling art exhibit by Nayana LaFond, is now on display at the Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip. This installation marks its final stop in the Pacific Northwest, after previously touring through Oregon and Idaho. The exhibit opened on Thursday, June 26, and will remain available for viewing through August, though an exact closing date has not been announced. LaFond’s acrylic-on-canvas portraits depict MMIP victims and advocates with raw emotion and reverence. Many subjects are painted with a red handprint across their mouths, a striking symbol of silenced voices and the ongoing fight for justice.

The exhibit invites not just observation but participation. A reflection station set in the middle of the gallery allows visitors to write messages of strength, love, and prayer on ribbons, creating a visual tapestry of solidarity. A nearby earring display invites attendees to hang a single earring on a wire, each one representing a missing or murdered loved one. These additions provide visitors with a way to connect personally with the movement and honor those who are still unaccounted for.

Surrounding the room are portraits of Indigenous individuals who were murdered, disappeared, or rose to prominence as advocates within the MMIP movement. Some are accompanied by short narrative stories of final sightings, painful memories, or lifelong activism. In one corner of the room, a section is dedicated to Tulalip tribal members who have become victims of the MMIP crisis, adding local resonance to the national issue.

Tulalip tribal member Neil Hamilton attended the exhibit with his daughters and reflected on the importance of sharing this history with the next generation. “I think the exhibit was informative, insightful, and brings more awareness for our community to be doing more for ourselves,” he said. “I brought my children so they could see what the red hand movement is all about.”

Artist Nayana LaFond, an enrolled member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, began the series in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 5, recognized as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, she attended a virtual powwow where people shared selfies marked with red handprints. Rather than post her image, LaFond found herself reading the stories behind the photos, resonating deeply due to her own experience as a domestic violence survivor. “You don’t realize how much you connect to something until you read other people’s stories,” she said.

The first portrait she created was of Lauraina Bear from Saskatchewan. “I thought this would be the only thing I do,” she recalled. But after posting it, the response was overwhelming. She offered to paint more portraits for free, expecting a few requests, and received over 25 in one day. “I realized I couldn’t pick and choose,” LaFond said. “I had to paint them all.” Since then, she has completed more than 100 portraits, most of which were created during the first two years of the pandemic.

Each portrait is made in close collaboration with families or individuals, respecting their cultural beliefs and wishes. “It needed to be about each family,” she emphasized. “Not everybody wants the same thing. Some don’t want a name or likeness shared. So I always try to honor what feels right to them.”

While the project has been artistically transformative, it has also come at a deep emotional cost. “At first it was very cathartic,” LaFond said. “But after a couple of years, it started to feel like retraumatization.” The emotional toll, coupled with unauthorized uses of her artwork, led LaFond to begin winding down the project and returning completed portraits to families. “To do no harm,” she said, “I realized it was time to send them home.”

Despite these challenges, the exhibit has had a measurable impact. One painting helped bring new attention to a missing person case, leading to their recovery. The exhibit has also been used in official reports to the Canadian and Mexican governments, and was made mandatory viewing for Child Protective Services staff in Oregon. “That was huge for me,” she said. “I was grateful for that.”

Still, LaFond sees herself as one voice among many. “There are a lot of artists talking about this now, which is great,” she said. “We’re all speaking the same visual language—black and white portraits, red handprints, symbols of remembrance. It’s that collective voice that’s making real change.”

For more information, visit hibulbculturalcenter.org.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

It’s officially summertime! And it’s time to sit back and unwind with a good book while you catch some rays. With an eventful summer planned at Tulalip, we highly recommend scooping up at least one of these books to check out during your downtime. 

This selection is comprised of ten books that range from beautifully written poems, heartbreaking memoirs, romance novels, to thrillers. But no matter the genre, within in the pages of these stories, you will find the authors baring their souls, while sharing their languages and their heritage, as they open up about difficult topics such as generational trauma and navigating today’s colonized society as Native People.

  Many of these books were released within the past few weeks, with the exception of the last three, which are set to launch this summer. We have included the book jacket summary for each, so you can get a feel for the story before purchasing. And we are pleased and honored to kick-off this Rez Reads segment with Tulalip’s own, SummerLee Blankenship. Happy reading!

The Greatest Teacher of All by SummerLee Blankenship (Tulalip)

What if your rock bottom was actually the beginning of your rebirth?
In The Greatest Teacher of All, SummerLee Blankenship shares her raw and powerful true story—from addiction, trauma, and deep loss to awakening, healing, and spiritual transformation. As a Native American woman carrying generational pain, she walks the long road home to herself through plant medicine, ceremony, and divine guidance.
This isn’t just a memoir—it’s a testimony of survival, soul reclamation, and the sacred wisdom found in life’s darkest moments. With brutal honesty and poetic grace, SummerLee invites readers into the depths of her journey and shows us that even in our most broken state, we are never beyond redemption.
For anyone who has felt lost, alone, or unloved—this book is your mirror, your medicine, and your reminder that healing is possible.

Blue Corn Tongue: Poems in the Mouth of the Desert by Amber McCray

In a voice that is jubilant, irreverent, sometimes scouring, sometimes heartfelt, and always unmistakably her own, Amber McCrary remaps the deserts of Arizona through the blue corn story of a young Diné woman figuring out love and life with an O’odham man. Reflecting experiences of Indigenous joy, pain, and family, these shapeshifting poems celebrate the love between two Native partners, a love that flourishes alongside the traumas they face in the present and the past. From her ethereal connection with her saguaro muse, Hosh, to the intricate tapestry of her relationships with Diné relatives and her awakening to the complex world of toxic masculinity, McCrary brings together DIY zine aesthetics, life forms of juniper and mountains, and the beauty of Diné Bizaad to tell of the enduring bonds between people and place.
Journeying from the Colorado Plateau to the Sonoran Desert and back again, Blue Corn Tongue invokes the places, plants, and people of Diné Bikéyah and O’odham jeweled in a deeply honest exploration of love, memory, and intimacy confronting the legacy of land violence in these desert homelands

We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon

You can never go home…
Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared overnight.

Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.

Bones of a Giant by Brian Thomas Isaac

From the award-winning, bestselling author of All the Quiet Places, comes Brian Thomas Isaac’s highly anticipated, haunting and tender return to the Okanagan Indian Reser.ve and a teenager’s struggle to become a man in a world of racism and hardship.

Summer, 1968. For the first time since his big brother, Eddie, disappeared two years earlier—either a runaway or dead by his own hand—sixteen-year-old Lewis Toma has shaken off some of his grief. His mother, Grace, and her friend Isabel have gone south to the United States to pick fruit to earn the cash Grace needs to put a bathroom and running water into the three-room shack they share on the reserve, leaving Lewis to spend the summer with his cousins, his Uncle Ned and his Aunt Jean in the new house they’ve built on their farm along the Salmon River. Their warm family life is almost enough to counter the pressures he feels as a boy trying to become a man in a place where responsible adult men like his uncle are largely absent, broken by residential school and racism. Everywhere he looks, women are left to carry the load, sometimes with kindness, but often with the bitterness, anger and ferocity of his own mother, who kicked Lewis’s lowlife father, Jimmy, to the curb long ago.

Lewis has vowed never to be like his father—but an encounter with a predatory older woman tests him and he suffers the consequences. Worse, his dad is back in town and scheming on how to use the Indian Act to steal the land Lewis and his mom have been living on. And then, at summer’s end, more shocking revelations shake the family, unleashing a deadly force of anger and frustration.
With so many traps laid around him, how will Lewis find a path to a different future?

Remember, You Are Indigenous: Memories of a Native Childhood by Evelyn Bellanger

A respected elder shares stories. and insights from growing up on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota

With unflinching honesty, Evelyn Bellanger tells a vivid account of her childhood in Pine Point, Minnesota, and relates her experiences to the networked histories of marginalization and oppression faced by Indigenous people in the United States. As Bellanger connects her later activist work to her early memories, Remember, You Are Indigenous emphasizes the implications of intergenerational trauma as well as the strength of community.
Grounding her narrative in the pre-colonization history of the Anishinaabeg and the environmental damages wrought by land developers, lumber companies, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bellanger invites readers into her family’s history, weaving stories of her mother, father, and grandmother into her own. She pays careful attention to the seasonality of life and the natural world as she remembers harvesting wild rice by canoe with her family, and she observes social inequities while recalling her time at the Minnesota Home School for Girls state juvenile facility.
Through stories tragic and humorous, Evelyn Bellanger’s voice shines. Her impressionistic style offers authenticity and intimacy as she describes the early experiences that have shaped her work as a leader and activist.

Old School Indian: A Novel by Aaron John Curtis

A coming-of-middle-age novel about an Ahkwesáhsne man’s reluctant return home and what it takes to heal.
Abe Jacobs is Kanien’kehá:ka from Ahkwesáhsne , as white people say, a Mohawk Indian from the Saint Regis Tribe. At eighteen, Abe left the reservation where he was raised and never looked back. 
Now forty-three, Abe is suffering from a rare disease – one his doctors in Miami believe will kill him. Running from his diagnosis and a failing marriage, Abe returns to the Rez, where he’s persuaded to undergo a healing at the hands of his Great Uncle Budge. But Budge – a wry, recovered alcoholic prone to wearing punk T-shirts – isn’t all that convincing. And Abe’s time off the Rez has made him a thorough skeptic. 
To heal, Abe will undertake a revelatory journey, confronting the parts of himself he’s hidden ever since he left home and learning to cultivate hope, even at his darkest hour. 
Delivered with crackling wit, Old School Indian is a striking exploration of the power and secrets of family, the capacity for healing and catharsis, and the ripple effects of history and culture.

Soft as Bones: A Memoir by Chyana Marie Sage

A poetic memoir as intricately woven as a dreamcatcher about overcoming the pain of generational trauma with the power of traditional healing. In her deeply affecting memoir, Soft as Bones, Chyana Marie Sage shares the pain of growing up with her father: a crack dealer who went to prison for molesting her older sister. She details the shame and guilt she carried for years after her family’s trauma as she went from one dysfunctional relationship to another, from one illegal drug to another. In revisiting her family’s history and weaving in the perspectives of her mother and sisters, Chyana examines the legacy of generational abuse, which began with her father’s father, who was forcibly removed from his family by the residential schools and Sixties Scoops programs. 

Yet hers is also a story of hope, as it was the traditions of her people that saved her life. In candid, incisive, and delicate prose, Chyana braids personal narrative with Cree stories and ceremonies, all as a means of healing one small piece of the mosaic that makes up the dark past of colonialism shared by Indigenous people throughout Turtle Island.

Nothing More of this Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity by Joseph Lee Release Date: July 15

From award-winning journalist Joseph Lee, a sweeping, personal exploration of Indigenous identity and the challenges facing Indigenous people around the world.
Before Martha’s Vineyard became one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the country, it was home to the Wampanoag people. Today, as tourists flock to the idyllic beaches, the island has become increasingly unaffordable for tribal members, with nearly three-quarters now living off-island. Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, journalist Joseph Lee grappled with what this situation meant for his tribe, how the community can continue to grow, and more broadly, what it means to be Indigenous. 
In Nothing More of This Land, Lee weaves his own story and that of his family into a panoramic narrative of Indigenous life around the world. He takes us from the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the icy Alaskan tundra, the smoky forests of Northern California to the halls of the United Nations, and beyond. Along the way he meets activists fighting to protect their land, families clashing with their own tribal leaders, and communities working to reclaim tradition. 
Together, these stories reject stereotypes to show the diversity of Indigenous people today and chart a way past the stubborn legacy of colonialism.

Love is a War Song by Danica Nava

Release Date July 22

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, USA Today bestselling author of The Truth According to Ember.
Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.
Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.
It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a deal: Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?

Legendary Frybread Drive-In: InterTribal Stories by Various Authors

Release Date: August 26

Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world’s best frybread.

The road to Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In slips through every rez and alongside every urban Native hangout. The menu offers a rotating feast, including traditional eats and tasty snacks. But Sandy June’s serves up more than food: it hosts live music, movie nights, unexpected family reunions, love long lost, and love found again.

That big green-and-gold neon sign beckons to teens of every tribal Nation, often when they need it most.

Featuring stories and poems by: Kaua Mahoe Adams, Marcella Bell, Angeline Boulley, K. A. Cobell, A. J. Eversole, Jen Ferguson, Eric Gansworth, Byron Graves, Kate Hart, Christine Hartman Derr, Karina Iceberg, Cheryl Isaacs, Darcie Little Badger, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Brian Young.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

 In traditional times, the ancestors of the Snohomish people would mark the time of the year by the moon. Tulalip culture bearer, Sarah Miller, held a lecture in 2024 that detailed the 13 moons which the people lived by pre-contact. And through this practice, they would know exactly what, when, where, and how to harvest various plants, medicines, and food throughout the course of the year. According to Sarah’s research, we are currently in the pədč̓aʔəb phase, or the time for digging up roots. At this time of year, Tulalip’s ancestors would harvest camas, cattail, nettles, and horsetail. In the summertime the moons cycles included pədstəgʷad , the time of the salmonberries, pədgʷədbixʷ, the time of the blackberries, and pədt̕aqa, the time of the salal berries.

 These practices are very much alive, and many Tulalip families still participate in these traditions. Though in modern times, we have the added benefit of keeping track of time by the Gregorian Calendar, Tulalip still plans outings and gatherings based on the season including the Salmon Ceremony and several harvesting ventures. If you live on the reservation, you might notice these events start to pick up during the moon cycle of pədč̓aʔəb. This time of year, the Tribe and families begin to immerse themselves in their ancestral way of life, celebrating their heritage, connecting to those teachings, and flexing their sovereignty through the harvest of salmon, berries, and cedar.

 Last fall, the Tribe dubbed the months of September through November as the Season of Healing with many community get togethers focused on the people’s mental health and well-being. Now, as we embark on a fun-filled spring/summer, Tulalip News would like to unofficially mark this time of year as the Season of Gatherings. So be sure to jot these events down on your calendar because you do not want to miss out!

War Canoe Races

Happening this weekend! (5/15-5/18) 

If you just received the See-Yaht-Sub in your mailbox and are reading this, head on down to the Bay for a fantastic and thrilling event! Every year, multiple Salish tribes take part in the War Canoe Races. The races are held all season long at different reservations throughout the region. The Tulalip stop on the circuit is a fan favorite and many racers love pulling through the local waters at fierce speeds for a chance at taking home the coveted first place trophy. Designed with swiftness in mind, the war canoes are sleek and narrower than the traditional cedar dugout canoes that most are accustomed to seeing on Canoe Journey. This year there will be single, double, six-man, and eleven-man competitions, as well as a number of races for the youth as well! The war canoe races will occur all day long throughout the entire weekend.

Culture Night

Every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

Get your craft on at Culture Night! This event will be held at the Gathering Hall over the next few months in anticipation for the 2025 Canoe Journey. The gatherings are focused on creating regalia, including shawls and vests, as well as putting together gifts that the canoe family will distribute to various tribes along the journey. There is also an education component for the little ones, as the Rediscovery Program partnered with the Tulalip Lushootseed department to teach kids words, stories, and songs at each Culture Night gathering.  

Canoe Practice 

Every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

If you are planning on attending this year’s Paddle to Elwha, the Rediscovery Program invites you to participate in their weekly Canoe Practice gatherings at the Tulalip Marina. Not only does the practice build up your strength and endurance on the canoe, it also provides a chance for you to reconnect with the waters, the three tribal canoes, and your traditional way of life. During each practice, participants practice pulling together as they venture out onto the bay and navigate the ancestral waters together to prepare for long distance travel this summer. 

Salmon Ceremony Practice

Every Thursday at 5:00 p.m.

Come on out to the Gathering Hall to learn more about the Salmon Ceremony and its revival that occurred in the seventies. During this time, Tribal leaders and elders pass down traditional knowledge that was nearly lost in the assimilation era. At each practice, attendees rehearse close to a dozen different songs and dances, with an emphasis on precision and execution, in order to welcome the first king salmon to the waters of Tulalip Bay in a proper manner, as well as bless the fisherman for a safe and plentiful harvest this year. 

Memorial Day

Monday, 5/26

Every Memorial Day, Tulalip honors their veterans and gold star mothers who have transitioned to the next life. The Tribe holds two services in observation of the national holiday, the first at 10:00 a.m. at the Priest Point Cemetery and the second at 11:00 a.m. at the Mission Beach Cemetery. Both of these gatherings are special to witness as the Tulalip Honor Guard leads the way and pays tribute to those fallen soldiers by performing both a 21-gun salute and a roll call at each cemetery. 

Tulalip’s Annual Stick Games Tournament  

All Day 5/30 – 6/1

The Tulalip Amphitheater is sure to be hopping during this event! Every year, hundreds of Natives travel to sduhubš territory to take part in a traditional game that has been passed down for generations. The weekend long tourney will feature a grand prize of $25,000 for the first-place team in the main bracket on Saturday, as well as numerous other cash prizes for second, third, and fourth place. There will also be a single elimination three-man tournament on Sunday. Another major highlight of the Stick Games Tournament is the vendors who will be selling the likes of Indian tacos, snow cones, smoked salmon, kettle corn, and Native-designed clothing, blankets, and jewelry. 

Salmon Ceremony

Saturday, 6/21

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Tulalip Longhouse, the Salmon Ceremony is an important event for Tulalip as its membership gathers to honor big chief yubəč, the king salmon. Since time immemorial, the salmon has provided nourishment for the people of Tulalip and their ancestors. As a sign of respect, the Tribe welcomes the first salmon scout to their shores and offers a number of songs and dances before the people collectively enjoy a salmon meal together. The scout’s remains are sent back to the Salish Sea, so that yubəč can return to its village and tell the salmon people how well he was treated by the community. And in turn, the salmon will continue to run through the local waterways and serve as sustenance for the Tribe throughout the summer. 

Boom City 

Mid-June

Bing-bap-boom-boom-boom-bop-bam, these type of fireworks will be sold at all the stands! The season of firecrackers, bottle rockets, and roman candles is right around the corner and the Northwest pyrotechnic mecca will officially be open for a two-week period leading up to the Fourth of July. Tulalip entrepreneurs will set up their creative and vibrant stands at the gravel lot located behind the Tulalip Resort Casino. Several food vendors are sure to be stationed at Boom City as well, serving up treats such as Hawaiian shaved ice, frybread, and tacos. 

Lushootseed Language Camp 

Early/Mid July

Typically occurring during the second and third week of July, the Lushootseed Language Camp helps bring traditional knowledge to the youngins of the Tribe. The camp tends to fill up quick, and is limited to 50 kids per week, so be sure to keep an eye out for the registration announcement. The five-day camp is open to Tribal youth between the ages of five through twelve, and is aimed at teaching the attendees several aspects of the culture including weaving, smudging, beading necklaces, and harvesting local native plants like devil’s club for medicine and ceremonial art. Throughout the entire camp, the new crop of language warriors will be fully immersed in their ancestral language, as well as the Tribe’s traditional stories and songs, through a combination of interactive lessons.

Leah’s Dream Foundation 11^th Annual Golf Tournament 

Saturday,  7/12

Over the years, this annual golf tournament has grown significantly, helping raise funds for the local special needs community. Leah’s Dream Foundation is a non-profit that was established in 2015 by Tribal member Deanna Sheldon, whose daughter, Leah Stacy, is diagnosed with apraxia. Throughout each year, the non-profit organizes a number of get-togethers for kids and young adults living with autism and disabilities, providing them a safe space to simply be themselves and build friendships through fun activities. The golf tournament, held at the Battle Creek course, is their sole fundraising event and every dollar collected goes towards their events and projects such as karaoke nights, holiday gatherings, and school supplies. Leah looks forward to the annual tournament and is always quick to lend a hand by posting sponsor signs all throughout the 18-hole golf course. To sign up for this year’s tournament, please visit, www.LeahsDream.org for more details.

Spee-Bi-Dah 

Saturday, 7/19

Connecting multiple generations, this summertime potlatch celebrates the lifeways of the Tulalip people with a cookout on the beach. Held on a yearly basis, on the water, sands, and pebbles of the spee-bi-dah beach, the gathering provides Tribal members a chance to socialize with friends and family while also harvesting and grubbing on the foods of their ancestral diet, including salmon, clams, and crab. A main attraction of the day is when the community ‘pulls together’ by using the traditional method of seining to capture fresh shellfish for the traditional clambake. 

Canoe Journey Landing at Tulalip 

Late July, official date TBD

A beloved summertime event, the Canoe Journey is a great way to not only engage in the traditions of our people, but it also serves as a means to pass on those ancestral teachings to the next generation. While en route to this year’s final destination at Lower Elwha, dozens of tribal canoe families will make a pit stop for a night at Tulalip to rest, refuel with traditional foods, and offer a number of their tribe’s songs and dances before returning to the Salish Sea and proceeding on the journey. As mentioned earlier, Tulalip is currently making preparations for this year’s paddle with their weekly Culture Night and Canoe Practice gatherings, so if you’re interested in participating, be sure to check out those events! 

Tulalip Health Clinic Annual Health Fair 

Friday, 8/15

Promoting overall health and wellness, the Karen I. Fryberg Health Clinic is once again hosting their annual Health Fair gathering in August. During this event, community members can visit a number of informational booths and learn about the importance of prioritizing one’s health while also picking up new tips on how to manage their medical diagnoses and concerns. In addition to helpful resources, the community can also receive free screenings and donate blood. This year’s event will take place at the Tulalip Gathering Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for the announcements of the dates, times, and locations for the following events:

• Tulalip Recovery Camp Out at Lopez Island
• Tulalip Police Department’s National Night Out
• Tulalip Elders Luncheon
• Annual Pride Everyday Gathering
• Tulalip Foundation’s Annual Salmon Bake Fundraiser
• Tulalip Education Division summer activities
• Tulalip Boys and Girls Club summer activities
• Cedar harvest outings
• Mountain huckleberry harvest outings

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Last issue, we detailed in great length how Gathering of Nations, the largest powwow in North America, is a cultural celebration of shared indigenous identity. A thriving hub of triumph showcasing tradition, Gathering calls to thousands of proud culture bearers every year. 

Of course, there is a constant emission of celebration vibes as so many journey from across Turtle Island to gather in New Mexico. Together they witness the highest echelon of powwow performances. There are thunderous drum circles that fill the air with song while dancers captivate the imagination with their powerful and elegant motion. From tiny tot to golden age, representatives from across the four directions descend upon Tingley Coliseum to share teachings via song and dance like their forebearers. 

From fancy shawl and jingle dress to northern and southern traditional, from grass and Kiowa gourd to the always captivating fancy feather, 2,000+ dancers radiated generations’ worth of resistance to colonial assimilation over the three-day Gathering of Nations held in April.

Beyond center stage and the competitive dancing, Gathering has become a rite of passage for some. A rite that demonstrates commitment to carrying on family tradition and ensuring legacy lives on. Such is the case with Makli BrownEagle (Spokane) who, while representing her fourth powwow crown, was invited to participate in the horse parade. As if that wasn’t cool enough, she was also celebrating her 17^th birthday.

“I turned 17 yesterday. There’s no place I’d rather be celebrating than here at Gathering of Nations,” said Makli aka Miss Spokane. “Being here to represent the Spokane crown means so much. I was specifically invited because it’s the first time the Northwest is coordinating the horse parade. All the horses are from the Northwest and all their riders are Northwest powwow royalty. We brought down my great-great-grandpa’s horse regalia, which is well over 100 years old, for the horse I’ll be riding.

“My powwow style is Northern Traditional. It was my mom’s style and her mom’s mom style,” she added. “This is the only life I’ve known. I attended my first powwow four days after being born. I’ve been in powwow outfits and regalia since before I could walk, and I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember.”

Makli’s mom beamed with pride as her daughter shared her story. “We’re so proud of her and how much she has accomplished on the powwow trail. Anywhere she goes, she proudly represents her family and her tribe.”

The rite of passage could even extend to those a long way away from their traditional homelands, but after hearing the call, found themselves forged by powwow purpose. Enter one 66-year-old Percy Warcloud Edwards (Colville). In 1985, he left Colville for California in pursuit of a better life and more opportunities. He recalls dancing as a small child, but never pursued it until 40 years later.

“I was the CEO of a couple companies. I did pretty good for myself and was able to take care of my parents when they were old and needed care,” reflected Percy. “Everything changed when my older brother had me work with eagle feathers for his regalia. That night I began to dream of dancing with the Old Ones. Something about the eagle and the feathers unlocked something inside of me. Since then, I’ve pursued a passion for dancing and attending as many powwows as I can.”

Percy’s passion led him to making one powwow outfit, then another, then another. He does his own sewing and his own beadwork, which allows him to not just craft his vision for extravagant powwow fits but craft a unique connection with those he dreams of. One such dream was of participating in a buffalo hunt wherein a legendary white buffalo appeared. What does real word Percy do? Craft white buffalo regalia of course.

“I believe in their power and their spirit,” said Percy. “Buffalo were nearly wiped to extinction, like our people during colonization, but they and we persisted. Today, I love visiting with and meeting new people, hearing stories from other reservations and territories. The best part of this whole experience has to be inspiring others that its never too late to learn and embrace the culture.”

Stories like Percy’s may resonate with many who either live far away from their tribe’s traditional homelands or grew up without elders and cultural teachers. The feelings from loss of connection can deter one from seeking out cultural celebrations or attending annual gatherings for fear of being othered. But as Percy eloquently explained, its never too late to learn and embrace culture. Gathering of Nations is a revered space because individuals are free to express their culture however they wish, while being embraced by the collective notion of indigeneity.

For indigenous youth, Gathering also serves as a teaching space. From interacting with other children from across Turtle Island to witnessing and absorbing the full spectrum of powwow performances at the highest level, there is endless opportunity to learn. As they learn, the youth can also teach. In fact, they may be the greatest teacher when it comes to inspiring and motivating others to embrace their traditional roots. 

Three-year-old powwow dancer Okhis Homma Begay (Navajo/Choctaw) is proof of concept as he offers a reminder to parents and guardians of young Native children that there is no such thing as too young to participate. Tiny in stature but immense in power, young Okhis carries on the culture and traditions passed down by his father Angelo. 

“He’s been dancing long before he could walk,” beamed proud papa Angelo as he watched his son take to the arena floor. “He was around 10 months old when he first started butt scooting and moving his arms around while watching me dance. He’s been to a powwow maybe every weekend since he was born. All that time he was watching and learning and now he dances to a beat all his own.”

It’s often said that the youth are our future, but they are the present, too. The youngest generation is full of leaders who lead in unique ways. Often it may be so unique and so subtle that their offerings may be overlooked and underheard by those not paying special attention. Such is the case with remarkable 11-year-old Tristan Brown (Northern Arapaho). 

Tristan was born 24 weeks premature and lives with severe speaking and hearing impairment. However, his disabilities have not prevented him from being immersed in the powwow circuit since the womb. Both his parents are acclaimed dancers and singers who viewed their lifeway as medicine for their son. 

Now, Tristan is proving just how able he is on the arena’s dance floor and, most incredibly, within a drum circle. Lack of speech hasn’t stopped Tristan from learning to make a high-pitched audible sound, similar to an eagle’s scream, that comes in handy when he’s performing with his father’s drum circle, The Horses.

“He’s able to hit the highs on our songs. Proving he can sing within a powwow circle like everyone else,” said Tristan’s father, Kenny Brown Sr. “Being born so premature the doctor said he wouldn’t make it past 2 years. He’s 11 now.

“It’s time to bring awareness to kids living with disabilities throughout the world, the United States and all the tribes,” he continued. “Far too many times he’s been mistreated because of his disability because people don’t understand him. We have to be their voice. I have to be my son’s voice. But, you know, sometimes in our life we go through a big struggle. Our son goes through them every day. He teaches us how to be strong and what true strength really is.”

The sentiments expressed above by Kenny, Angelo, Percy and Makli offer just a glimpse into the crucial role Gathering of Nations plays in the lives of so many. From unity and community that transcends tribes and borders to the open sharing of the many nuances of Native American culture, there is an endless supply of inspiration created. That’s not even mentioning the elite level of powwow dance, music, and regalia on constant display to be oohed and awed over.

Gathering of Nations. A hub of triumph. An intersection where the traditional meets the contemporary and showcases that our culture isn’t just alive, it’s evolving, it’s thriving, and it remains as vibrant as the photographs accompanying this article.