Category: Arts & Entertainment

Tulalip Lions Club Presents Awards to Peace Poster Contest Winners

Levi DeGraves, Nevitta Miller and Naughdia Lugo Hatch

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

For the past thirty-one years, the Lions Club has held an international art contest for kids across the globe between the ages of eleven and thirteen, known as the Peace Poster Contest. Kids submit water-colored posters, displaying what peace means to them, to their local Lions Club who then collectively choose a winner among the local submissions. The first place posters are sent to the next level of judges and can potentially win the international prize of five-thousand US dollars. The Tulalip Lions Club partnered with the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club to help spread the word about the contest and garner more poster submissions.

“The contest has actually been going on annually since 1988 from Lions Club International,” explains Linda Tolbert, Tulalip Lions Club Community Services Chairman. “There’s over 60,000 kids who enter each year from over seventy-five countries. We have been doing it here for the last six years because we wanted to get our youth’s artwork out there for other people to see.”

The Lions Club partnered with the art department of the Boys and Girls Club to provide a place for the kids to work on their posters with limited distractions. As an added bonus, the young artists receive guidance and artistic direction from the Tulalip Boys and Girl Club Art Specialist, Astrid Holt-Marshall, while working on their submissions.

“Each year there’s a different theme,” states Astrid. “Last year it was the Future of Peace, this year it’s Kindness Matters. I sit the kids down and have them close their eyes and visualize what kindness looks like to them – are they with a friend? Are they doing something fun? Are they helping someone out? And then I ask them how will their vision help achieve peace? How would you show that on a big piece of paper to other people? Once they’ve had the chance to sketch out their ideas and know what colors they want to use, we proceed to the big poster paper. I think this contest is important because it teaches art expression which helps teach tolerance, self-expression and also boosts their self-esteem. It’s all about building them up.”

On March 15, the Tulalip Lions Club awarded the 2017 Peace Poster contest winners with certificates and cash prizes at the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club. Naughdia Lugo Hatch took home the first place prize for her poster of a mesmerizing dreamcatcher. Runner up prizes were also awarded to Levi DeGraves, Bricia Sanchez, Dorothy Guss and Nevitta Miller.

The Tulalip Lions Club are currently accepting posters for the 2018 Peace Poster Contest up until October 1, with the winner to be announced shortly after. In addition to the contest, Tulalip Lions also does a lot of work within the Tulalip community, such as taking lost and found clothing items from the Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip Bingo and Quil Ceda Creek Casino and donating them to Tulalip Elders, homeless shelters and local missions. The Club is also providing a few cash prizes for the upcoming Native American Student Art Festival hosted by Tulalip Youth Services as well as planning their annual Cystic Fibrosis Walk at the Tulalip Amphitheatre in July.

Bricia Sanchez won a runner-up prize for her artwork.

“The Peace Poster Contest gives the youth a new outlet,” says Linda. “It’s not just their friends and relatives seeing their art anymore. The winner of our contest went to our district and was judged by all the presidents within our zone. One kid didn’t want to submit hers because she didn’t feel it was good enough and lo and behold, she took first place. So, it’s about building confidence and giving them something to look forward to. I really wish they could all be winners because they were all really good.”

Artist Dorothy Guss received a runner-up prize for her artwork.

For additional details about the Peace Poster Contest please contact the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club at (360) 716-3400 or visit the Tulalip Lions Club website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/Tulalip.

Broadway Dreams, Starring Bella Fryberg

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

It was a near sold-out show at Arlington High School as the Drama Club prepared for the opening night of Seussical the Musical on March 2. The play’s inspiration draws from the great imagination of Dr. Seuss and features a number of his famous characters, such as the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Horton the Elephant. The cast of young high schoolers awed the audience with their amazing talents, belting out a number of tunes accompanied by the school band. One of the standout performances of the play is Arlington High School sophomore and Tulalip tribal member, Izabella ‘Bella’ Fryberg, who plays a feature role as Mayzie LaBird from the book Horton Hatches an Egg.

“I sing at home a lot. I started acting my freshman year but I’ve been singing since fifth grade,” expressed Bella minutes before the start of the show.

Bella is no stranger to the spotlight. At the young age of fifteen, she’s been in Tae Kwon Do competitions and ballet recitals, as well as jazz dance performances. In the addition to Seussical the Musical, Bella is preparing to sing in a cabaret this April with her choir who meets every day before school to rehearse. It was during her freshman year that she was cast in the school’s rendition of Guys and Dolls: The Musical and fell in love with the performing arts.

“This is important to me because it’s a great way to express and show my creativity and honestly it’s a lot of fun,” she says. “It’s a good way to get out your creative juices. It’s great hanging out and getting to know everyone, you get so close because you go through rehearsal, makeup and the stress together. I want to go to a performing school in New York. While I’m there, I want to pursue a degree in music, but also be auditioning for shows because I want to be on Broadway – that’s my main goal.”

“Bella is like a ball of energy,” says Drama Director Scott Moberly. “She’s got an incredible voice and stage presence you can’t really teach. I think it’s her greatest attribute because she is so natural and comfortable on stage. If it’s a matter of raw talent, at this age, she’s solid. She is naturally gifted. What will make a difference is the training she will get. The natural talent will get you so far and the training will get her a little bit further. My guess for Bella is that she’ll make her break, she’ll create that for herself. She has a way of just drawing people to her and that is really special.”

Just before show time, Bella’s father and Tulalip tribal member Georgie Fryberg shared his excitement as the crowd began to take their seats.

“I’m totally nervous for her,” he exclaimed. “But, she’s been in the spotlight all of her life and done a lot of stage work before, so she’s ready for it. This is the start of her career, she wants to do this for the rest of her life. She’s still got a couple years in high school to work hard at it and I’m excited to see what she’s going to do.”

From the moment the curtains rose, to curtain call, the audience was completely engaged and thoroughly entertained, many surprised by the singing talents of the young students. Bella sang a number of solos, which blew the crowd away, including Amayzing Mayzie, How Lucky You Are, Mayzie in Palm Beach and Amayzing Horton. At the end of the play as she approached the stage to curtsy before the crowd, she was met with enormous applause from the audience.

“Wow, she was phenomenal wasn’t she? Such a great voice,” stated Arlington community member and theater lover Sharon Richardson who brought her mother, a huge Dr. Seuss fan, out to the show.

Bella with family at the Arlington High School Drama Club’s
opening night performance of Seussical the Musical.

“She was so good,” expressed Karen Fryberg, Tulalip tribal member and Bella’s grandmother. “I can’t believe that she would get up there in front of so many people, she’s always been like that though. She wants to study theater after she graduates. She did an amazing job tonight, I’m so proud of her. It’s neat that she’s got these goals and is actively working towards them. She’s a great student and I’m excited for her future.”

“You just got to shoot for it,” stresses Bella. “People will tell you that your dreams are too big – they’re never too big. Just go for it and work towards it. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s always worth it.”

You can catch Bella in Suessical the Musical on March 9 and 10 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, located at Arlington High School. There will also be a special matinee performance on March 10 starting at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.ByrnesPerformingArts.org.

All That Glitters

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

Imagine having your own personal galaxy that you can escape to when the world is too much to handle. Or when you’ve reached your boiling point and are on your last nerve, envision getting lost in colorful sparkles that slowly dissolve away the anger and stress after a meltdown. As a parent, imagine having a tool that helps calm your child and subconsciously focuses their breathing during a temper tantrum. Imagine having a portable device that helps reduce the anxieties of a child with autism or sensory processing difficulties, who feels over stimulated and upset in social settings. Now imagine that you’re able to easily craft your own galaxy that even the kids can assist with. Sounds like a fun project, right?

Tulalip Family Haven has been implementing this fun do-it-yourself craft, known as calming jars, at the end of their eleven-session parenting classes. They have been so popular during the parenting classes that the program wants to share the secrets of the jars with the community.

“After ten sessions of our parenting classes, our eleventh is our final review. We do a final talk and then make calming jars,” explains Family Voices Coordinator, Sasha Smith. “We give our families the tools to make a calming jar, which are plastic or glass jars that are filled with water, glue and glitter.  And when you shake it up, you’re supposed to take deep breaths and watch the jar for a minute or so. It helps the child calm down and even us as adults too. Instead of putting your child into timeout or sending them to their room, you can give them a calming jar when they’re upset.”

Calming jars are visually appealing and often unique to their makers, varying in different colors, shapes and glitter. The jars are extremely popular amongst parents on Pinterest, where there are many different techniques and ‘recipes’ you can tryout during your next family craft night, including Disney and Lego themed bottles.

Family Haven recommends using plastic water bottles for kids, especially babies, as well as hot-gluing the lids shut so kids don’t accidentally take a drink from the bottles. The mesmerizing calming jars are also great for adults and ought to come in handy when kept at your office desk.

“Calming jars are great and fun to make,” says Sasha. “They help children with sensory issues and help relieve some of that stress when a kid is overwhelmed. It’s a tool that we teach our parents and want to share with our community.”

Family Haven encourages crafters to watch “Just Breathe” by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman on YouTube and have fun crafting.

For more information, please contact Family Haven at (360) 716-4402.

Young artists paint new spirit into Youth Center

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

In preparation for the C.R.E.A.T.E. Space (Calm Room & Expressive Art to Empower) grand opening event scheduled for Friday, February 9th from 11:30a.m. – 5:00p.m. at the Tulalip Youth Center, an art competition was held to determine which creative minds would paint new spirit into the blank canvas walls of the Youth Center’s second floor.

Over forty aspiring muralists from the Marysville School District submitted entries into the competition. The eight deserving winners were selected based on their best representations of local culture, wildlife, waterways, forests, mountains and daily life in our area. The eight artists were contacted and given the opportunity to paint their own ‘window scene’ that showcases a view from the Tulalip/Marysville area onto the walls that will house the C.R.E.A.T.E. Space.

“What we loved best about the submissions we received was the eclectic mix of styles and perspectives each child represented,” explained Monica Holmes, C.R.E.A.T.E. Space designer and Parapro for the M.S.P.I. Grant (Methamphetamine Suicide Prevention Initiative) through Behavioral Health and Youth Services

Each muralist used their original artwork as a jumping off point for their wall art or canvas. Prior to painting, Monica led a discussion about art mediums, like the various kinds of art materials and supplies used in artistic creation. Essentially, it’s whatever they wanted to use in order to make a mark upon a surface, such as ink, sharpies, colored pencil, pastels, watercolor, chalk or even crayon.

Under the guidance of Monica, the ambitious, young artists also looked at the types of paint brushes and discussed the merits of fan brushes and finer brushes versus large sponge brushes and the best applications for each. Like a scene from The Joy of Painting, the half-hour instructional TV show hosted by afro-sporting painter Bob Ross, the young artists in residence were allowed to let their imaginations run wild with creative inspiration.

After a short tutorial and healthy snack provided by the M.S.P.I. Grant and Youth Services, the eager youth selected their color palettes, artist tools, and set off to sketch their artwork on panels. For those who chose to do a window scene, pre-painted window grids were ready and waiting on the walls of the C.R.E.A.T.E. Space for the fledgling artists to fill with their creative images.

While some students chose a more traditional window scene, others typified a more abstract art style. One young man, J.J. Collins a 5th grader at Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, created a scene that took on a unique interpretation of a flowering branch viewed from outside his bedroom window. Rather than a conventional sketch of a tree branch with well-defined flower petals, he turned it into an almost batik styled painting called “The Battle of Light and Dark.”

“By utilizing the pure elements of form, color, line, texture, pattern, composition and process, abstract artwork allows artists flexibility and freedom in expressing their world views and inner realities. J.J.’s art definitely struck a chord in our judges and I’m sure his art will do the same for all those who view it,” remarked Monica Holmes.

Alongside J.J., several classmates from Ms. Mejia’s 5th grade class at Quil Ceda also won the contest. Amos Carpenter, Kane Hatch, KayDee Wilson, Levi Degreave, and Emma B. also turned in stunning samples. KayDee, Kane and Amos drew wildlife in the traditional Salish style, while Levi, Emma, Noelani Cultee (4th grader at Pinewood Elementary) and Dylan Jones-Moses (5th grader at Sunnyside Elementary) created beautiful samples of everyday life and nature.

Dylan, grandson of Don Jones, and a member of the Suquamish tribe, accompanied by several members of his family who rooted him on while he painted, delivered a sweeping panoramic view of Mt. Pilchuck. “I like being outdoors and love animals. This view is of Mt. Pilchuck from my cabin nearby.” His mother, overjoyed to find out her son Dylan had won the art contest, said, “We were over the moon and super proud of Dylan for this accomplishment. The picture he drew has a lot of meaning to him. He’s an eagle chaser. He loves watching them and has spotted 50 so far.”

Nadine Foster, grandmother of Amos Carpenter, and Tulalip tribal member, was grateful for the opportunity for her grandchild to show off his artwork. “Many members of our family are artists; his grandpa, my daughter, and various grandchildren. They sit around my dining room table sometimes just creating art.” Amos, for his part, was excited to be chosen because, as he stated, “My family is really proud of me. My art has a lot of meaning about the Salish culture and people from here.”

Kane, also a Tulalip tribal member, said his art represents “the strength of my Grandma Molly. Even though she was a hummingbird, I drew her as wolf. My family always mentions her and how she would want me to do my art.”

KayDee said her “art makes her feel calm when [she’s] drawing it and looking at it.”

Emma B., a Kainai tribal member from South Dakota, explained her art panels “are the meaning of wild; fire, water, flowers blooming, rain. Fire can be angry, water calming, rain refreshing and the flowers, see how they are growing and spreading out? I’m glad I made my mark here, for others to see.”

Tulalip tribal member, Noelani Cultee, reminisced about her artwork being a memory of “what I saw on the beach when I was little. I drew the canoes rowing in an ‘S’ shape because my mom and dad told me stories about them.”

When asked what the symbols in his artwork represented, Levi said that the eagle “shows that Nature is strong. The drummers and people listening in the longhouse have their music go upwards, the background shows the cedar forests and snow in the mountains.” Levi would like the caption for his panel to read: “We Are All Together In One Place.”

“I couldn’t agree more with Levi’s caption, which is the purpose and beauty of the C.R.E.A.T.E. Space,” added Monica Holmes. “It’s a place where youth can be together, creating art to heal, to express what’s inside of them, to grow and to learn positive ways to be peaceful within themselves and among others.”

The children’s murals will be on permanent display at the C.R.E.A.T.E. Space, offering inspiration and a meditation outlet for any in need. The C.R.E.A.T.E. Space’s grand opening is on Friday, February 9th from 11:30a.m. – 5:00p.m., located on the 2nd floor of the Tulalip Youth Center. It’ll be open house style for the entire community. All are welcome to attend.

Christmas Powwow brings families together during the holidays

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

Over eight hundred people gathered at the Francis J. Sheldon Gymnasium on the evening of Saturday December 16, for the fourth Annual Tulalip Tribes and Marysville School District Indian Education Christmas Powwow. Dressed in their fanciest regalia, dancers from as far as Canada hit the floor to celebrate the holiday season in traditional fashion. Drumbeats from several circles echoed throughout the gymnasium; the crowd favorite, however, was a drum circle comprised of young indigenous men who proudly sang throughout the evening.

Many multi-generational families were in attendance that took the opportunity to spend time with each other by dancing, singing and even posing for holiday family portraits with Santa Clause. Every child in attendance received a present of their choice donated by Toys for Tots.

“On behalf of the powwow committee, we would like to thank all of you for coming out,” stated Marysville School District Native Liaison, Matt Remle on the event’s Facebook page. “We’d like to thank all the cooks, volunteers, Toys for Tots, vendors, drummers, singers, dancers, families, elders, vets, water protectors and our Indian Ed and Tulalip Ed staffs. Enjoy the holidays and we will see you in the spring for our Hibulb powwow.”

First-of-its-kind NW Coastal art exhibit at South Seattle College

 

Tulalip tribal member Ty Juvinel.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The art gallery located at South Seattle College is currently home to a one-of-a-kind art exhibit showcasing an opportunity for learning, sharing, and cultural teachings. Drawing the attention of both Native and non-Native art enthusiasts, the exhibit titled Revealing Today’s Northwest Coastal Peoples: Native Cultural Gatherings offers works representing traditional and modern design takes of over thirteen tribal styles and mediums.

Native art exhibits have become common place in the greater Seattle area in recent years thanks to a new level of appreciation and respect to the indigenous communities who have connections to the Coast Salish lands going back long before the terms ‘United States’ and ‘Washington’ ever existed.

When done the right way, art exhibits and galleries featuring Native culture help to celebrate indigenous resiliency. Such exhibits provide an experience that casts light on the often romanticized themes overshadowing a modern people. Revealing Today’s Northwest Coastal Peoples is such an exhibit.

“This exhibit came together with intentional inclusiveness, inter-generational representation, and a balance of men and women to offer a sharing opportunity for many Coast Salish and Coastal tribal artists in one exhibition space,” reflected exhibit curator and Indigenouz PlaceMakerz Director, Kim Camara. “This process contributed to an interweaving of similarities and differences to create something new. With a tie-in of today’s cultural practices and artistic expression, the blending of age, style, and mediums came together in a circle of beautifully empowered pieces!”

As invitations were extended to established Native artists, like Al Charles and Micah McCarty, feedback was given and recommendations made about inclusion of younger artists they work with and mentor. This led to three up and coming artists being included, one of which was Tulalip tribal member Ty Juvinel.

“It’s great to have my work represented in this exhibit,” expressed Ty. “As a native artist, I use a lot of cultural and ancestral inspiration, but to say I did it all on my own would be misleading. I am here because of my mentors like Joe Gobin, James Madison, Al Charles, Frank Madison Jr, Steven Madison, Mike Gobin, and many more. I listen to them; they guided me, and showed me how to get where I want to be.

“Anyone can achieve their goals if people would surround themselves with mentors. Mentors know the ins and outs, they know the short cuts. So when I’m asked how it feels to have my art represented anywhere, I have to be humble because I’m representing Tulalip, my mentors, and my family everywhere I go.”

On Thursday, November 30, an artist recognition event took place at South Seattle College for all the tribal artists to gather and celebrate the exhibit’s offering. A group of college students were in attendance to learn and ask questions during an artist panel presentation. Following the panel, there was dedicated time for artist demonstrations before an honoring ceremony brought the event to a close.

Some of the artists roamed the exhibit offering responses to any questions visitors or students may have had about their showcased art.

“Coast Salish art and many other forms of tribal art is passed down through our blood. Our art represents nature, and as tribal members we have a deep rooted connection to nature,” responded Ty when asked about his art form being passed down for generations. “Like my mentor Joe Gobin, he can read the water when he’s fishing. I’ve heard stories where he can just look out over the water and see where the schools of salmon are. For me, a lot of my designs I find them in the wood, so really I just find the design and borrow them from nature.”

From carvings, paintings, and regalia making, to print work and contemporary pieces inspired by poetry, Revealing Today’s Northwest Coastal Peoples shows how Native artists combine the traditional with the modern across a spectrum of mediums. The exhibit is open to public audience Monday-Thursday from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. and will be on display until January 26, 2018.

An artist panel presentation featured representatives from Makah, Muckleshoot, and Lummi sharing cultural insights into their creative process and inspiration.

“With college campuses like South Seattle College being places of learning and education, it is vital to outreach to younger people about our Native cultures, ways of life, languages, and expressions,” stated curator Kim Camara about the exhibit’s impact for creating change. “Without the opportunity to experience Native ways of life and elements representing these ways, understanding and relationships to build collaborations and our future will remain as is – under-represented and under-served. We will remain invisible. An exhibit as this one ebbs away, in stunningly powerful ways, the invisibility of our Northwest Coastal peoples!”

TELA students perform holiday hits at silent auction

By Kalvin Valdillez

The future leaders of Tulalip sang their little hearts out at the Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy Silent Auction and Preschool Concert on the evening of December 7.

During the event, the preschoolers helped spread Christmas joy by performing a few classic holiday hits such as Frosty the Snowman, Feliz Navidad and Jingle Bells. The students even switched up some of the lyrics and incorporated the traditional Lushootseed language into the songs.

“Montessori had been doing the Christmas program for twenty-three years,” explains Montessori Manager, Tami Burdett. “When we moved into the Academy, we stopped offering the program. But last year, the parent committee wanted to have an auction and said they really missed the Christmas program, so they asked if we could coordinate both of them because everybody loves watching their children sing. The kids get to practice singing the songs at school and they love it.”

The silent auction was planned by the Early Learning parent committee and was a huge success. Community members bid on a variety of items including holiday gift baskets, an original James Madison painting as well as Seahawks memorabilia and tickets. All funds raised during the event will be used for the upcoming annual preschool spring dance.

Dinesha Kane Chases Big Dreams with Dreamcatchers

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

According to the traditional Ojibwe legend, dreamcatchers first originated when members of their nation began to disperse throughout North America. The Ojibwe believed in a spiritual protector named Asibikaashi, or Spider Woman, who took care of the younger generations. As her people left the land, she had a difficult time reaching all of the children of the Ojibwe Nation and keeping watch over them. For this reason, she taught the mothers, sisters, aunties and grandmothers how to make sacred hoops, with webbing similar to hers, to protect the children while sleeping. When placed near the child’s bedside, the hoops catch all of the dreams, good and bad, passing through the night air and allow the good dreams to enter the child’s thoughts, while trapping the bad dreams in the webs. The bad dreams are burned away once daylight reaches the webbing. Since then, dreamcatchers have become popular keepsakes and many people, including non-natives, still believe the sacred hoop’s power of filtering dreams and nightmares.

Tulalip tribal member Dinesha Kane’s journey to creating dreamcatchers began when she lost her mother to an overdose. After enduring months of heartache, Dinesha gathered the will to attend a beading class taught by Winona Shopbell-Fryberg and Cyrus ‘Bubba’ Fryberg which ultimately led to the start of her new company, Coast Salish Concepts.

“I actually find art very therapeutic; I’ve liked art my whole life. After I lost my mom, it was really difficult, so I turned to art,” Dinesha expresses. “I started beading with Winona and Bubba, I went to their class and fell in love with it. From there I wanted to learn more. I wanted to learn weaving so I took a class. I couldn’t find any dreamcatcher classes, so I figured out how to do it on my own. I looked at enough dreamcatchers and figured how to deconstruct a couple, and from there I just went nuts.”

The majority of today’s dreamcatchers are manufactured by non-Indigenous companies, while all of Dinesha’s products are authentic Native American dreamcatchers that are often customized to the client’s wants, needs and aura. Dinesha’s unique creations also promote healing, as each dreamcatcher contains raw crystals. During her first year as a business, she has made numerous dreamcatchers of various sizes, colors and designs, including chakra sets.

“The chakra, we all have it within us. All our colors represent different parts of body from head to the ground,” she explains. “I got into healing and chakra through reiki, the crystals came with yoga. Because of my diagnosis, fibromyalgia, the medicine wasn’t working so I went the holistic route. From there, with my teas and my new home garden, came the crystals and chakras. I’m able to hold the crystals over whatever plexus I’m hurting or feeling on. I think it ties into our culture because we are a natural people. We eat off our land, only take what we need, we give back, we share and we heal through nature. I think that’s how I found my roots and my healing. I give you my food that will help you heal, my tea that I dried out myself, or my dreamcatchers with the crystals”

While working on a dreamcatcher for her sister, Dinesha stumbled across an idea that may very well make Coast Salish Concepts a household name in the near future.

“I was working on my sister’s dreamcatcher and happened to be sitting with it [horizontally] and something dropped. That’s when I thought that it would be kind of cool and unique to make the dreamcatcher horizontally instead of vertically. From there I started stringing it down, piece by piece and low and behold here comes this wonderfully made baby mobile and everybody loved it.”

Dinesha has already made a few customized dream-catching baby mobiles, including Harry Potter and mermaid themes. And although she is sure to see success with her dreamcatchers, Dinesha maintains that her sole focus is assisting the people of her community.

“I’m not in this to make a million dollars or to be the next great artist,” she states. “I just want to help people. Most of us come from very troubled backgrounds and a lot of us make it through, some of us don’t. I’d like to be able to help kids heal their own pain through learning how to make art. Winona really did that for me, sitting and talking in that circle, learning how to bead and learning our own tradition. That feeling, how well I felt after the classes, I want to be able to do that for others because I know people hurt like I do. Whether it’s past trauma, or the loss of a mom or a grandma from cancer, I’ve seen death from all different ways. I’ve never found better strength than going back to my own roots.”

Dinesha’s future plans for Coast Salish Concepts include a storefront where she can sell her dreamcatchers, tea and artwork, which also doubles as yoga studio to promote all around healing. For more information about the dreamcatchers and Coast Salish Concepts please contact Dinesha and JT Kane at (425) 876-8788. And to view more designs, please be sure to visit the Coast Salish Concepts Facebook and Instagram pages.

Tulalip Day: Embracing Heritage, Celebrating Culture

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The morning of November 22nd was a truly joyous occasion, as the Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary gymnasium was packed wall-to-wall with students and community members who gathered for an early celebration of Tulalip Day. Students were encouraged to wear traditional regalia according to their tribal cultures.

“Welcome everyone to Tulalip Day,” greeted Principal Douglas Shook to the jam-packed gymnasium audience. “We thank our tribal elders who are in attendance, our guests from Heritage High School and 10th Street, as well as all our family, friends, and community members for being here today. I am honored to be part of this day with you all.”

Tulalip pride was on full display with many students wearing traditional Coast Salish garb featuring cedar weaves, abalone shells, and woven wool. Other students shined bright in their colorful and stunning powwow regalia. Many hand-made, uniquely painted drums were seen carried by youth and audience members who came to drum united under a common heritage.

“It’s significant we are here today, being in a public school dressed in our traditional regalia, showing pride for our Native culture…that’s healing,” proclaimed cultural specialist Chelsea Craig. “During the boarding school era, lots of hard times happened for our people. One of the biggest things was our people weren’t allowed to speak their language. They weren’t allowed to sing their songs. If they did, they were beaten and thrown in jail.

“We started this morning assembly to try to heal what was done in education, and the fact we filled this auditorium with our kids, their families, and community members is humbling. So we are going to celebrate today, not just because it’s Native American Heritage Month, but because we are proud to be Native American every single day.”

The floor was opened to anyone in the audience who wanted to share a song, encouraging words to the youth, or a story. Native Liaisons for the Marysville School District, Matt Remle and Terrance Sabbas each took their turn greeting the admiring students and shared songs.

Ray Fryberg then brought up the Tulalip Canoe Family so their singers and drummers could fill the air with their enchanting, traditional sound. As they performed several songs, children and their families adorned in tribal regalia danced in the middle of the gym.

Watching her daughter and other students dance from the audience, proud mother Roselle Fryberg shared she felt overcome with joy because “the youth give me hope.”

Next up, the eager and energetic powwow dancers took center stage while Terrance Sabbas provided them with the necessary powwow music according to each style of dance; traditional, grass, fancy, and jingle.

Led by Natosha Gobin, the Tulalip Language Warriors closed out the near 60-minute assembly dedicated to embracing Native culture. The Language Warriors shared Martha Lamont’s berry picking song, a song many of the students have learned while participating in the annual Language Camp.

“What a beautiful Tulalip Day at Quil Ceda Elementary School this morning!” stated Board of Director, Theresa Sheldon, following the assembly. “Our kids sang their hearts out and danced with such joy. Anytime we can gather with our students in a good way makes for an excellent day.”