Category: Health

DV is not our tradition

Tulalip Legacy of Healing rallies support for DV survivors at 2nd annual Coastal Jam and Dinner

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“I remember gasping for air, feeling his grip tighten behind me. When he finally let me go, I could see the blank expression on his face. Once I finally caught my breath, he walked away. I called the police, which led me to the Legacy of Healing. Their support has been a lifeline for me.”

Tears were visibly streaming down faces while domestic violence (DV) survivor, Andres Thornock, opened up about their experience in a three-year intimate partner DV relationship. By sharing their story, Andres wanted to reassure others that they are not alone, and that help is available at the Tulalip Legacy of Healing. 

Andres continued, “Throughout our time together, I faced verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, and ultimately physical harm. My now ex-fiancé struggled with alcoholism and bipolar schizoaffective disorder. His emotions would swing wildly – one moment he’d be shouting, the next he’d be in tears. It felt like a relentless rollercoaster. Eventually, I couldn’t sleep at night; I’d wait until he left for work in the morning just to find some rest. He wouldn’t let me work or pursue anything meaningful, often sabotaging my attempts. Living in a constant state of hyper-vigilance for so long made me believe that anxiety and fear were my new normal. I also fell into a deep depression, isolated from everyone I loved. I felt profoundly alone for far too long. This was my reality for three exhausting years.”

Although Andres was only one of two to share their terrifying and heart wrenching truth on the night of October 25, there were scores of people listening who could relate. They say there’s strength in numbers, and that strength could be felt as over 150 people attended the second annual DV Awareness Month Coastal Jam and Dinner. An impressive turnout considering there were several other community gatherings occurring at the same time. That was important for survivors to see that support, feel that love, hear those stories of resiliency, and help raise awareness about DV, something that happens far too often in Native America.

The yearly coastal jam and dinner is organized by the Legacy of Healing, a program that is designed to support local victims and survivors of DV in several capacities. Whether it’s educating the community about DV, providing resources to survivors, standing in your corner throughout the court process, or even designing a safety plan with you for when you’re ready to leave an abusive relationship, the Legacy of Healing is available 24/7 to help in any way that they can. The program has a strict confidentiality policy and does not pass judgement on anybody who needs to utilize their services. So, if you need information for a friend, family member, or yourself, your concerns and conversations shared will remain between you and the advocacy team.

“You don’t need to live with violence in your home,” urged Marisa Chavez, the Legacy of Healing’s Lead Advocate. “The Legacy of Healing is here for you to utilize for help. Once you speak to an advocate, you will be provided with information to learn the next steps on your healing journey to living a DV free life. It may be tedious, but you will find that you have the inner strength and support to make that happen. You don’t need to walk this journey alone to healing. We are here for you.”

For the better half of the past decade, the Legacy of Healing has participated in a nationwide initiative known as DV Awareness Month. Every October, the program dedicates all of their efforts to educating the community about what DV is and what it looks like, so survivors can identify those red flags and recognize when they are in a dangerous relationship. And through this work, they are able to reach more people and provide support and resources to those in need of their services. During DV Awareness Month, the Legacy of Healing team also partners with the Tulalip Foundation and holds a raffle throughout October, in which all proceeds go directly to helping survivors of DV. 

“A lot of times victims experience DV outside of public view and it happens in secret in their own homes,” explained Legacy of Healing Coordinator, Kaley Wickham. “October is a time for us to raise awareness for DV. Most, if not all, of the survivors we work with have also witnessed DV when they were children, or they know other family members or friends who have also experienced it. It’s a very normalized part of their life and yet people aren’t able to recognize it or talk about it.”  

In years past, the Legacy of Healing put on a number of trainings, activities, and movie screenings during the awareness month to bring attention to DV occurring at Tulalip and on reservations across the country. Last year, however, the program pivoted to one culturally centered gathering, which was a huge success. As Natives, we know that there is healing in our traditions. Drum and dance are our tradition. Community and cultural gatherings are our tradition. The ancestral language and songs are our tradition. Sharing story and meals together are our tradition. Wrapping each other with love and healing through the culture is our tradition. The Legacy of Healing took each of those aspects of the culture and enveloped it into one night of awareness and healing – the coastal jam and dinner. 

Fittingly, the tagline of this year’s gathering was ‘DV is not our tradition’. Unfortunately, in today’s society, more than four in five Native American men and women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime – more than 3 million people according to the National Institute of Justice. Through that study, the NIJ also reported that tribal communities experience DV at higher rates than any other race or ethnicity throughout the U.S. 

On the night of the coastal jam and dinner, Executive Director of the Tulalip Family Advocacy Division, Jade Carela, elaborated on the statistics. “Tonight, I stand before you not only as an advocate of this work, but also a daughter of our community, which has faced immeasurable pain and loss. This issue touches each of us personally. We have DV in our community happen every day. The statistics we discuss are not just numbers; they represent our family members – they are our sisters, brothers, our mothers, fathers, our daughters, sons, our grandmothers, and grandfathers. Each name, each survivor, is a vital thread in the fabric of our community. These aren’t abstract victims; they are us.”

Following the testimonials, bravely shared by Andres and former Tulalip Board of Director Pat Contraro, the dinner concluded with a moment of silence and a prayer song by Antone George (Lummi) and the Westshore Canoe Family. With their swag bags in-hand and donning their new ‘DV is not our tradition’ event t-shirts, the crowd migrated from the Teen Center to the Greg Williams Court for the coastal jam. 

As the survivors and their families filed into the bleachers on either side of the court, the healing work began to take place along the sidelines. Throughout the night, three drum groups shared the floor. Their booming voices and steady drumbeats in dedication to all the DV survivors, both inside of the gym and across the reservation. And also, in memory of those who are no longer with us due to DV. Equally as important, dozens of dancers spread that good Indigenous medicine as they occupied the dancefloor for nearly the entire three-hour jam. Many survivors immersed themselves into the songs and dances, experiencing that traditional work first-hand and incorporating their ancestral ways into their healing journey. 

“Why does this matter?” asked Jade, “Because the fabric of our community is integral to the entire tapestry of society. The violence that affects us reflects deeper systemic issues that we have faced for generations. Standing up for the rights and safety of Indigenous people strengthens our collective human dignity. Tonight is not just for reflection, but for collective awareness. We must arm ourselves with knowledge and the tools to dismantle the cycle of violence against our community. Violence is against our traditions, our values, and our culture. Together, let’s turn our shared trauma into our collective strength. Stand united, as our ancestors did, and ensure our community does not merely survive but flourishes.”

If you or anybody you know is experiencing an abusive relationship, please do not hesitate to call the Legacy of Healing at (360) 716-4100 for assistance. And if you are in a crisis or an emergency situation, the Legacy of Healing provided a list of three additional hotline numbers that you can utilize during your time of need: 

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
  • Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
  • Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County 425-25-ABUSE (22873)

Reflecting on another successful coastal jam and dinner, Jade expressed, “Let us honor the memory of those we’ve lost and those who are still experiencing DV by committing to an unwavering dedication to end violence in our communities. Thank you for standing with us – for our people, for our future. I am grateful that so many of our community members came to support the cause. I’m also thankful for my staff and their dedication to our community. We owe it our ancestors, our current families, and the many generations yet to come to fight for a community where every one of us is safe, respected, and cherished.”

New beginYINS are on the way for Tribal families with troubled youth

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

A new program will soon be available for Tulalip families who are weathering those years of adolescent growing pains and teenage rebellion. A collaboration between Tulalip Family Haven and the Tribal Court, the program focuses on bringing the family unit together to address some of their teen’s actions and misbehaviors, and help right the ship before those real consequences start to kick in. 

“When this idea came to the floor at General Council, it was by the parents,” explained Family Haven Manager, Alison Bowen. “They felt that there were a lot of supports for families when things got really bad, but not for families that were trying to resolve issues before it came to the point of being unchangeable. And so, this program is for youth, who are still in the care of their parents or guardians, who are trying to solve a problem and not enter into beda?chelh or the juvenile court system.”

The program is called Youth in Need of Services, or YINS for short. It is open to Tribal families with troubled youth between the ages of 13-17. The youth must be experiencing one of the following issues: has been absent from home for at least 72 hours without consent of parents or guardians, has substance abuse problems with no pending criminal charges related to substance abuse, has excessive unexcused absences or is excessively late to school, is not participating in their education, are beyond the management of their parents/guardians, or their behavior is endangering their own health, safety, or welfare or others around them.

Getting to know the YINS Case Manager.
“I am Andrea Coberly. I’m a Quileute tribal member and a Tulalip descendant. I was previously a home liaison at the Quileute tribal school and worked with kids from kindergarten to 12th grade. I have dealt with the juvenile court system and worked on truancy cases and with youth at risk. And I have experience in helping guide the parents and the kids through this process because it can be hard to understand at times. I’m excited to be working here, because in La Push we didn’t have anything like this, and just because of the amount of resources that this Tribe and area can provide for the parents and the kids.”

From their mission statement, Family Haven states, ‘The goal is to not punish youth or their families, but rather to reconcile and work together for the family.’ Alison likened the new program to the successful Family Wellness Court, which is a program where tribal parents follow a personalized plan to regain custody of their children. Upon acceptance into YINS, the family will also follow a plan tailored to their needs and services required. The individualized plans will be developed by the YINS Case Manager, Andrea Coberly, along with courthouse officials. And similar to Family Wellness Court and the Healing to Wellness Court, cultural and community engagement from the family will more than likely be implemented into their plan, depending on the case. 

“I can help the parents find resources like therapy, I think that’s a very big one, and the other big one is medical,” Andrea stated. “And we have other resources and other departments and locations that we can refer them to. I will be the mediator, so the parents and kids aren’t going at each other’s necks. And I can help the parents communicate that they just want their kid to do good and succeed. And help the kids realize that what they are doing isn’t okay and it can lead to criminal charges or juvie, and how that can affect their future.”

After Family Haven receives a referral form for the family, they will reach out to them within three business days to schedule an intake meeting. At the initial meeting, Andrea will have the families fill out an intake form, give a complete overview of YINS, schedule a follow-up meeting, and determine if the family meets the qualifications for enrollment into YINS. Andrea also notes that the intake meeting is parent-led, but the kids will have an opportunity to say their piece as well.

Said Andrea, “If we decide it needs to go to the court, then we would file the first petition, which I will be helping the parents through because it is kind of lengthy, and then send it over to the court to get put on the docket. The first [court appearance] is not considered a hearing, it’s more of a conference with the court to develop the plan.”

Alison added, “And then following that, the court will set a date to review the progress of the plan. Did the youth do their part? Did the parents do their part? Were there any barriers? And if so, what can we do to work around those barriers? It’s really to facilitate the process and also try to reduce or shorten the timelines of barriers for the families that are in crisis.” 

The team laid out a timeline as they start to roll out the new program to Tulalip’s membership. YINS will officially start meeting with parents and guardians on November 18. On December 2, they will begin the filing process, to get any potential cases on the docket. And the first YINS court hearing will be held on December 5. 

For more information, or to refer a Tribal family, you can reach out to Andrea directly at either her desk phone, (360) 716-4342, or her cell phone (360) 913-7357. She can also be contacted through e-mail at ACoberly@TulalipTribes-nsn.gov.

“A big aspect of Native American culture is family,” expressed Andrea. “And separating us ties into that generational trauma of not being able to be with your family.  We want to keep the families together and prevent the youth from ending up in beda?chelh, where there might be placement problems and shortages, and they might have to be sent to a different state. It’s important to keep the tribal kids together with their families and connected to their Tribe’s awesome traditions.”

Reclaiming your joy, love, and laughter

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“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.

 And please remember to RSVP to each of the remaining events at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ce6877abd9f44c969fcfb6cbbb0719aa

Legacy of Healing honors, supports DV survivors

“More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults (83 percent) have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. That’s almost 3 million people who have experienced psychological aggression or physical violence by intimate partners, stalking, or sexual violence.”

-National Institute of Justice

By Kalvin Valdillez

Nearly one year ago, the Legacy of Healing brought Tulalip together for the first annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Coastal Jam Dinner. It was both an emotional and powerful night where many survivors of domestic violence (DV) bravely shared their story and stood together in solidarity. Through the traditional medicines of drumming and singing, the cultural gathering marked a moment in time that survivors can look back upon and recognize as the start of their healing journey. 

To help raise awareness, show support, educate community, and provide resources to DV survivors, the Legacy of Healing participates in a national initiative known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Every October, for the past several years, the department has been active in the community and facilitated a number of events, trainings, and cultural activities to help bring a better understanding of what DV is and how it affects us as Native people. 

“A lot of times victims experience DV outside of public view and it happens in secret in their own homes,” explained Legacy of Healing Coordinator, Kaley Wickham. “October is a time for us to raise awareness for DV. Most, if not all, of the survivors we work with have also witnessed DV when they were children, or they know other family members or friends who have also experienced it. So, it’s a very normalized part of their life and yet people aren’t able to recognize it or talk about it.”   

The National Institute of Justice reports that tribal communities experience DV at a much higher rate than any other race or ethnicity throughout the country. Through their study, they evaluated that more than 1.5 million women, and 1.4 million men (A/I and Alaskan Native) have experienced violence in their lifetime. And because some are either stuck in the cycle of DV, have a fear of coming forward, or are unable to recognize their abuse as DV, those numbers may very well be underreported.

Joan Smith, Legacy of Healing Victim Advocate, shared, “Speaking out against it is difficult. First you have to recognize it, and that’s a difficult task. So that’s one of our big points of the awareness month. DV affects everyone around you, not just you and your partner. It affects your children, friends, and other family members. It’s not just physical. It’s intimidation and power over a person, and there are a lot of different ways to do that.” 

To help identify DV, the Legacy of Healing compiled a list of examples that reads as follows:

What Abuse Can Look Like

  • Hitting, pinching
  • Kicking
  • Burning
  • Pulling hair
  • Pushing
  • Strangulation
  • Physical intimidation
  • Use of weapons
  • Forcing the use of substance
  • Throwing items
  • Punching walls
  • Kicking in doors
  • Requesting your login info
  • Monitoring your social media
  • IPV sexual abuse
  • Forcing any sexual acts
  • Uses children against you
  • Lies about your mental health
  • Financial control
  • Name calling
  • Jealousy
  • Shaming or humiliating you
  • Blaming you for their actions
  • Controlling where you go
  • Gaslighting
  • Love bombing
  • Stalking

If you are experiencing any forms of abuse listed above, please reach out to the Legacy of Healing. The program has a strict confidentiality policy and can answer any of your questions, whether you are looking to obtain information for yourself or a loved one. Additionally, the Legacy of Healing is careful not to pass judgement and allows their clients grace and understanding, because from a statistical standpoint, it could take a survivor multiple attempts to leave an abusive partnership for good. 

When you’re ready to take that next step, the Legacy of Healing can help design a safety plan with you and is prepared to be with you every step along the way.

Angelica Trinidad is a new edition to the Legacy of Healing team and serves as the program’s General Crime Victims Advocate. During a conversation about identifying DV within our community, she stressed an important message to those who may be worried about reporting their abuse and seeking aid, “Confidentiality means confidentiality when it comes to the Legacy of Healing. I think it’s important for people to understand that.” 

When asked about the types of support that the Legacy of Healing can provide to a survivor, Interim Lead Advocate, Marisa Chavez, said, “It’s case by case and depends on the needs of survivors and where they need empowerment in that situation. We’re their silent cheerleaders, giving them the empowerment that they need to keep moving forward.”


The Legacy of Healing will have a raffle throughout the entire awareness month. Tickets can be purchased at $5 a ticket or $20 for 5 tickets. Prizes have yet to be unveiled, so keep an eye out for that announcement. If the prizes are anything like last year’s items, then we’re in store for some top tier and highly desirable winnings. But most importantly, in regard to the raffle, all proceeds will help support local survivors of DV throughout the year. 

To purchase a raffle ticket, you can catch the Legacy of Healing team at the following dates/events/times:

Tuesday 10/1 – Admin building (2nd floor), 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday 10/19 – Semi Annual General Council, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Friday 10/25 – DV Awareness Coastal Jam, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday 10/31 – Tulalip Employee Halloween Party, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Although this article is focused on DV Awareness Month, we thought it was crucial to share this bit of information about the recent evolution of the Legacy of Healing and the clients they can take on. 

Kaley announced, “We recently expanded our services, so now we serve adult victims of any and all crimes. Before it was intimate partner domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. Now we serve all crimes including family violence, burglary, theft, arson, elder abuse.” 

The Legacy of Healing is asking you to show your support to survivors of DV throughout the month of October. You can do so by purchasing a raffle ticket, wearing the color purple on October 17, and attending the coastal jam. 

The DV Awareness Month Coastal Jam Dinner is set for October 25, and will take place at the Teen Center’s gymnasiums from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. So be sure to tell all your friends, and any jammers you know, to join in on an evening of healing and help amplify the voices of all the local survivors. 

Said Kaley, “We’re not just talking about this issue during DV Awareness Month; we also want to promote healing, because our program is here to support survivors through their healing. So being able to do a coastal jam and incorporate the culture into that can show survivors in attendance a path forward, and that their community does support them.”

If you or a loved one is experiencing an abusive relationship, please do not hesitate to call the Legacy of Healing  at (360) 716-4100 for assistance. 

“You don’t need to live with violence in your home,” urged Marisa. “The Legacy of Healing is here for you to utilize for help. Once you speak to an advocate, you will be provided with information to learn the next steps on your healing journey to living a domestic violence free life. It may be tedious,  but you will find that you have the inner strength and support to make that happen. You don’t need to walk this journey alone to healing.  We are here for you.”

If you are in a crisis or an emergency situation, the Legacy of Healing provided a list of three additional hotline numbers that you can utilize during your time of need: 

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
  • Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
  • Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County 425-25-ABUSE (22873)

A message of self-care

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

A powerful message of self-belief and resilience lies at the heart of Sheldon Smith’s talks. A Native youth advocate and motivational speaker from the Navajo Nation, Smith inspires individuals to think critically, speak purposefully, move with intention, and rise to life’s challenges. Central to his message is the importance of self-awareness and discovering inner strength to overcome adversity, making his lessons both introspective and empowering.


On Monday, September 23, Smith brought his message to the Northwest as part of Tulalip’s Season of Healing campaign. He visited Marysville Pilchuck, Heritage, and Getchell high schools before concluding his day with a workshop at the Tulalip Gathering Hall. Throughout the day, Smith reached both the youth and broader members of the Tulalip community with his inspiring lessons.

At Heritage High School, Smith gathered the students in a large circle and spoke from the center. He encouraged them to energize themselves, acknowledging the usual Monday sluggishness. Smith inspired the students, getting them to shout out the day’s mantra: “I am powerful.”

Reflecting on the experience, student Dalton Levine shared, “I enjoyed the speaker. He said some good words. I liked what he said about perseverance—believe in yourself, and everything will be alright.”


The Season of Healing continued at the Gathering Hall, where Smith addressed the community. Before beginning his speech, Smith blessed the audience, both those present and those tuning in virtually, with a song from his flute.

Following this, he delivered a powerful talk on mental and social development, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
Smith admitted he was nervous, but it quickly became a rewarding experience. “I thought the event went great. I was a bit nervous initially, but that’s normal for me—I always want to do my best,” Smith explained. 

The feedback from participants made an impact on him. “Hearing everyone’s words at the end made me feel perfect. Teaching the youth is important because they are our future, and life differs from ten years ago. Everything is sped up with everyone holding a phone and technology advancing so quickly. That’s why sharing these messages with them at a younger age is crucial—to help them find balance and take the next step.”

Smith also shared insights into his journey into motivational speaking. “I grew into this field,” he said, crediting the influence of his family. “I had family members who were medicine people and leaders.” For Smith, visiting the Gathering Hall was a memorable experience. “Thank you,” he said with sincerity. “Coming into the Gathering Hall was probably the highlight of my year.”

Smith’s visit to the Northwest, offering guidance and inspiration, underscores the importance of events like the Season of Healing. Smith imparted wisdom and fostered a more profound sense of unity and purpose, encouraging everyone to continue their journey toward personal growth and healing. As the Season of Healing progresses, his message will remain a cornerstone of the ongoing dialogue about resilience and self-discovery within the community.
The Season of Healing continues throughout October, and Tribal members can watch the events on iamtulalip.com 

Our traditional foods are powerful

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The sharing of a meal may be the simplest, yet most effective, aspect of promoting community. That could explain why Tulalip prioritizes hosting so many annual events and holiday celebrations, all either beginning with or ending with a meal. It’s the act of sharing a meal with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of fellow Tulalip community members that cultivates the shared sense of identity that is routinely projected out to the rest of the world.

But what if that shared sense of identity could be taken to new level by incorporating traditional foods into those meals? What if ancestral connections to land, air, and sea were strengthened simply by establishing a space for traditional foods into your diet? What if generational, historical, and ongoing systemic traumas could be healed by intentionally eating what are ancestors ate?

HUGE questions, we know, but ones that were at the forefront of the Tribes’ latest Season of Healing installment hosted at the Gathering Hall on September 16. Labeled ‘Our traditional foods are powerful’, an estimated 130 gathered in community to share a taste bud expanding meal crafted with an assortment of traditional foods and locally sourced, unfiltered love.

“We served roasted bison and chicken with some traditional seasonings, a bison meatball soup, mac salad and green salad with native ingredients sprinkled in, sweetgrass frybread with homemade huckleberry jam, elderberry and sweetgrass lemonade, and a fireweed and blackberry low sugar juice. Putting all that love into every bite,” detailed Indigenous educator Linzie Crofoot (Tlingit).

Linzie and her fellow Naa káani Native Program member Martin Napeahi (Tulalip) helped prepare a meal that brought their local community out in droves. More than that, the meal was a means of introducing certain traditional foods to those who never had them before and reminding others just how delicious traditional foods can be.

Community members of all ages were witnessed filling their bellies through savory bites and insatiable mouthfuls of scrumptious deliciousness. Ample nutrition was received by the body while the spirit was replenished with ancestral medicine.

“What is the power of traditional food? And why do we need it? We could discuss the diabetes and heart disease rampant in our community. The lower life expectancy and whole host of other ailments, chronic diseases, and opioid crisis our people disproportionately affect by. But that kind of discussion just doesn’t feel right because we’ve all heard that data, over and over again,” said Linzie from the Season of Healing podium. “More than that, we can feel the data. We can feel it in our hearts, in our families, and in our community. 

“Being shown more data on a flyer or some presentation isn’t going to inspire change. And that’s what we need to see most in our community, systemic change in our community health. This starts with the people, with us, with individuals like you and me choosing to change the way we eat and choosing to reconnect to our traditional ways through food,” she continued. 

The Ted Talk style portion of the evening featured Linzie, Martin, elder Monie Ordonia and board of director Hazen Shopbell sharing their personal journeys grounding themselves in culture via food, medicine, Treaty Right protected practices (hunting, fishing, gathering, harvesting). They offered all kinds of advice for those looking to become part of the change our community so desperately needs.

“The truth is we have generations of trauma and it will take generations to heal,” declared Linzie. “My prayers are for you to become the foundation for inspirational change in your family. It has to start somewhere, so why can’t it be you? You have the power to be the one who changes the story for your kids and their kids’ kids.

“I know the thought of eating traditional foods can seem overwhelming and for some they don’t even know where to begin,” she added. “The idea of reconnecting with our traditional foods seems very big and we seem very small compared to the past. So start small. One ingredient once a week. Learn about one plant and how you can use incorporate it in your cooking. You don’t have to know everything right away. Start with one, just one. Then add another one. Until its normalized. That’s how we, as individuals and as a community, make the change to embrace our traditional foods for the inherent power they have. Our ancestors did. So can we.”

If you want to be part of the change and incorporate traditional foods into your weekly routine there is an easily accessible resource to help. Our Plant Relatives is a year-round guide to gathering and processing Native plant foods and medicines from around the Salish Sea area. This guide is meant to serve as a place for getting started with learning and becoming familiar with gathering foods and medicines throughout the seasons. Best of all, it was created by Linzie and her former student Tayna Greene (Tulalip) and available for free.

To access Our Plant Relatives and all the harvesting knowledge therein, please visit https://archive.org/details/our-plant-relatives.-lcrofoot.-tgreene/mode/2up

Season of Healing: Weaving love back into our lives

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

As fall arrives, the Tulalip community has launched an exciting new project, The Season of Healing. This initiative offers events, including Ted Talk-style lectures, coastal jams, and hands-on crafting workshops, all aimed at fostering healing, connection, and growth. On Monday, September 9, the first talk of the series took place at the Gathering Hall, where tribal members gathered for dinner and an evening of reflection led by several guest speakers.


The event was hosted by Alicia Horne, executive assistant for the National Native American Boarding School Coalition. She was joined by prominent voices in the healing movement, including Tribal Chairwoman Teri Gobin, Deborah Parker, CEO of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and special guest, Clinical Addiction and Mental Health Therapist Serene Thin Elk from South Dakota. The theme for the evening was “Weaving Love Back into Our Lives,” and the speakers focused on addressing the traumas that often disrupt daily life while emphasizing the importance of self-love and community support.


Parker set the tone for the evening by reflecting on the seasonal transition and how it relates to personal introspection. “You can really feel the summer was carefree, and now you can feel the clouds roll in. The weather is changing. It’s such a special time for us in the Northwest. We start to go into that meditation state as we go into the winter,” she said, highlighting the opportunity for healing and growth during this quieter season.


Gobin addressed the historical traumas deeply rooted in the Tulalip community, specifically the impact of the boarding schools that operated for 75 years. “As a board, we’ve assembled a series of meetings for the next eight Mondays to address multiple concerns and issues. Many of us may not recognize how the Tulalip boarding schools have impacted us as a people. These talks are meant to encourage open, honest dialogue—without judgment—so we can begin to envision what a healthier, safer community looks like.”


Serene Thin Elk, the evening’s guest speaker, brought her expertise in trauma therapy to the conversation. She shared insights on how personal trauma can manifest in everyday life, often leading individuals to downplay their struggles or minimize the pain they’ve endured. “There might be times in someone’s life when they minimize something hard that they just can’t let go of or cannot go through. They make it seem less important,” Serene said. She emphasized that healing from trauma begins with acknowledgment and the belief that one’s strength and resilience will ultimately prevail. “If you ever doubt your power or strength, remember everything will be okay.”


For Serene, the opportunity to speak at Tulalip was motivating. “It means so much to come to another tribe and see how you do things here. It’s very inspiring. I think that sometimes, when we are in our communities, we don’t see our strengths. I see many of the programs and things that your community is doing, and it gives me ideas to bring back to my community,” she noted.


As the evening ended, attendees left with a sense of purpose, carrying the messages of healing and self-love into their lives. This first event set the stage for the Season of Healing series, which will continue to address various aspects of personal and collective trauma over the next eight weeks. The project aims to foster a deeper understanding of how historical pain shapes modern challenges while offering a path toward resilience and renewal.


Tulalip tribal members can watch this event and others on iamtulalip.com.

Headband weaving kicks off Season of Healing

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes

On Saturday, September 7, Tulalip artist Tillie Jones led a headband-weaving class at the Hibulb Museum, kicking off the Season of Healing. The class attracted seven participants who came together to weave wool headbands, share laughter, and connect through the art of weaving.

Tillie Jones, along with tribal members Michelle Myles and her son Syrille Jones, guided the students through the process. Participants could use a loom, select their wool colors, and begin weaving. As the intricate process unfolded, the room grew focused, with everyone giving their full attention to the detailed work ahead.

Tillie offered some wisdom during the class, emphasizing the deeper connection between the weaver and their creation. “What you put into your weaving becomes a part of it,” she explained. Weaving with intention, whether strength, love, or positive energy, allows those qualities to be embedded in the piece, making the final product more meaningful.

Tillie also shared practical advice, linking the skill of weaving to mathematics. “If you’re good at math, it helps,” she remarked, gesturing toward her son Syrille. “That’s why he’s so good at weaving.” She explained that a strong understanding of math helps weavers plan their patterns and maintain the structure and balance of the weave, ensuring the design comes together as intended.

Syrille also helped instruct the class and expressed his appreciation for the experience. “Weaving is a good stress relief to get your mind off everything around you,” he shared. Reflecting on the creative aspects of the craft, he added, “I like the different patterns people make, learning from the elders, and getting to experiment and make your patterns. It was good teaching, and I heard people laugh and enjoy their time.”

For many, the class was more than just a lesson in weaving; it was an opportunity to reconnect with tradition and find personal healing. Tulalip tribal member Wilma Gloria spoke about the therapeutic aspect of the practice, saying, “It is about keeping your hands busy and learning something new and traditional. I enjoyed the day; I had my ancestors with me, and they gave me strength.”

When asked about the significance of the headband, Wilma explained, “Traditionally, the headband was used to represent the tribe you were from.”

The event provided a creative outlet and offered participants a moment to bond with their heritage and each other. Through the craft of weaving, both tradition and healing were honored in a meaningful way.

The headband-weaving class is just the beginning of a series of workshops promoting healing through traditional crafts. Other weaving courses are being held every Saturday through September, offering participants the chance to learn various skills, connect with their culture, and continue the journey of personal and collective healing.

85 community members celebrate sobriety during 3rd Annual Recovery Campout

 

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News; photos courtesy of Kali Joseph

“Culture is the answer,” expressed Kali Joseph, Tulalip Resource Center’s Program Coordinator. “It’s what we’ve been doing since time immemorial. There are research studies, like the Healing Power of the Canoe, that I learned when I was in grad school. Basically, the study found that those who participated in a certain cultural activity, it was associated with reduced risk of suicide, depression, or substance use disorder. However, our people have known that it’s the answer since time immemorial, before empirical evidence and research studies existed, we’ve known it in our hearts and in our blood. It’s our medicine.”

On the early morning of August 22, dozens of Tulalip tribal and community members met at the Tribal courthouse to embark on adventure across the Salish Sea. Filled with anticipation and excitement, the people piled into a bus headed toward Anacortes to catch the morning ferry to Lopez Island.

For the third consecutive year, the Tulalip Resource Center organized an event that keeps growing in popularity and celebrates the sobriety of the local recovery community. During a weeklong camping trip, at the third largest island of the San Juans, attendees can participate in numerous group activities, while also taking the time to reflect on their healing journey. Together, they continue to build upon that work with others who are also striving to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle. And furthermore, they are provided the space to learn and converse about why and how they acquired an addiction. 

Said Kali, “It’s important because they get to be a part of collective healing and work at reversing the harm that was done to us. In substance abuse disorder there’s a lot of theories and philosophies on why it’s a thing. Is it a personal choice or a moral failing? Is it just because drugs exist and they’re tempting? Is it risky behavior? But really, we know as Native people, with all the trauma and adversity faced in our past, it’s a coping mechanism. It’s something that devastates tribal communities at higher rates than non-Native communities. It feels like we’re reversing some of that harm.”

To back up Kali’s statement, let’s take a look at some local statistics. The Snohomish County Opioid Overdose and Prevention Data and Dashboard reports that there were 188 overdose deaths in our county alone last year. And according to the Washington State Department of Health’s Opioid and Drug Use Data Dashboard, there was a state average of about 30 overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 for all other races and ethnicities. And high above those charted stats, the number for Alaskan Natives/American Indians clocks in at a staggering 120 deaths per 100,000 population – that’s a death rate four times higher than non-Native people statewide. 

With that shocking disparity, locally and nationally, it’s easy to get bogged down in those statistics and focus on the damage the opioid epidemic is bringing to our tribal nations and families.This can leave many with a feeling of helplessness and despair when thinking about all the lives lost.

But on the flipside, those stats don’t speak on the resiliency of those individuals who are able to break away from the grasp of addiction. Which is no easy feat. But with the right support system, cultural gatherings, and a desire to understand and overcome their addiction, tribal members are taking back control of their lives, one step at a time. 

This is why it’s important to celebrate their achievement of getting clean whenever possible. Because in turn, those success stories help raise awareness about substance abuse disorder and inspires others to break out of that cycle.

Over the years, as the opioid epidemic spread, the Tulalip Tribes has worked to create spaces for their membership to start their journey on the road to recovery. This includes the implementation of the Healing to Wellness Court, the establishment of the Healing Lodge, and a concentrated effort by the Tulalip Police Department to get drugs off the rez. 

Additionally, the Recovery Resource Center continues to be a safe space for those struggling with addiction. By hosting events such as Narcan distributions and weekly NA meetings, as well as developing a recovery softball team, people are able to make connections with each other and build community while working toward the same goals. 

The annual Recovery Campout is the perfect example of how celebrating those in recovery can inspire others to do the same. And it’s easy to see this taking place in real time by looking at the number of participants each year. At the first campout, there were 35 attendees. That doubled the second year as 72 community members took part in the campout. This year, the attendance rate rose again by 13, bringing the total to 85. 

But it doesn’t stop there. The news about the Recovery Campout, and all the good work and fun that is had during the event, reached the ears of several tribes throughout the state. Three other tribes joined Tulalip for the third annual trip to Lopez including Nez Pierce, Port Gamble S’Klallam, and Puyallup. The nations of Makah and Quileute recently began hosting Recovery Campouts of their own within their respective territories. And after making the trip to Lopez this year, the Port Gamble S’Klallam tribe was inspired to host an indoors recovery campout this November. 

“I’d like to think we set the precedents for recovery campouts,” shared Kali, half-jokingly. “I was reminded on the campout, by one of our participants who has gone every year, that it’s really what helped her get on the right path. She just had a relapse. She got out of jail and immediately got ready go to the campout. And she always says it’s what helped save her life. It’s moments like that when people keep showing up for each other. And it’s important to show that you can do all kinds of awesome, fun, exciting things in recovery without substances.”

Throughout the week, the campers take part in numerous activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, and paddleboarding. What makes this trip all the more special for Tribal members is the fact that the location has strong ancestral ties to the Tulalip people. 

Long before colonization, the Tribe frequented Lopez Island during the summer months to harvest from both the land and sea, as well as cultivate camas. Today, the island falls under the Tribe’s usual and accustomed areas, and many Tulalip families visit Lopez to exercise their treaty rights and campout beneath the stars, and thus experience summertime like their ancestors before them. 

In addition to recreational fun in the sun, there are multiple cultural activities that take place during their stay at the campout. This year, to bring everything full circle, the Recovery Resource Center enlisted members who are currently in recovery to lead workshops such as drum making, medicine pouch making, weaving, and beading. 

Kali explained that one of the key aspects of the trip is to get everyone talking, so they can hear other people’s stories and relate it to their own experiences. This helps them work through their addiction and build support within the recovery community. So, every night they spend on the island, they gather together for either NA meetings, talking circles, or wellbriety circles. Traditional songs and prayers are often shared during the meetings around a fire pit.

Campers are encouraged to bring their family members along with them. The kids are afforded the opportunity to not only bond with their parents, but they also get to see their transformation take place in front of their very eyes. 

“On the first year I was able to take my youngest daughter, she was just one year old. I just came back from a relapse, the day I had her was the last day that I used,” shared Tribal member, Loris Fryberg.  “And then I relapsed the next year and lost all my children. But this year, I got to actually reunite with my children and bring them to the Lopez campout. 

“We all had so much fun singing, drumming, circling up. We were really grateful to be engaged in everything and in our culture.  It was very uplifting to spread our stories with every single person and to the other tribes, so they know they’re not alone. We’re all doing this one day at a time. And as long as we can share our story with other people who are stuck in addiction, this [recovery movement] is only going to get bigger. For me, I have 14 months clean, and I got my family back together, what more could I ask for?”

After four nights and five days on the island, the recovery community packed up from the Tulalip property surrounding Watmough bay and prepared for the trek back to the reservation. The retreat continues to be something the recovery community looks forward to every year. Next year, the Resource Center is planning on holding the campout during the early months of summer to avoid the rainy and windy days that this year’s participants weathered throughout their stay. 

When asked about the ever-growing popularity of the event, and what that says about the local recovery community, Kali stated, “It says that one, the recovery community is growing, more people are recovering. And two, it’s raising awareness and destigmatizing recovery, and people can celebrate it more openly. It is becoming more amplified. This is just a campout where Tulalip community members in recovery, and their loved ones, can camp together and celebrate recovery, and that is so awesome to see.”

Be sure to follow the Tulalip Recovery Community page on Facebook to stay current on any news or events planned by the Recovery Resource Center. You can also reach out to (360) 716-4773 for more information and assistance.

U-picking a bounty of fruits and vegetables

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Tulalip citizens, their families, patients of the Tulalip Health Clinic and employees of Tulalip Tribes flocked to Garden Treasures Nursery & Local Farm on Thursday, September 5. While there, they excitedly wandered the six-acre organic farm and were offered ample opportunity to harvest from a delicious medley of in-season fruits and vegetables.

Our local award-winning Diabetes Care and Prevention team have regularly partnered with the Arlington-located Garden Treasures to offer the Tulalip community such well-regarded ‘u-pick days’. These days are typically well attended by multi-generational families because of the intrinsic access to traditional foods, engagement in gentle outdoor exercise, and ability to embrace with community through family-friendly activities. 

“My favorite moments are inspired by those who have never attended before, true first timers, and they come out, try something new, and enjoy the offerings of fresh foods,” shared Veronica Leahy. She’s been serving the Tulalip Health System as a Diabetes Care and Prevention Coordinator for sixteen years now. “This specific u-pick day, we had additional offerings like a delicious lunch provided by our Ti Kupihali staff and a couple craft activities. 

“I love watching and listening to the newcomers share their u-pick experiences. This makes all the effort it takes to plan and coordinate these days so worth it,” continued Roni. “I love seeing our regular supporters for these events, too, since they are the foundation of building our healthy foods and prevention program. With their support over the years, these newcomers have had the experience of picking and connecting with their food in a more traditional way.”

An estimated 130 community members took advantage of the u-pick day. In what may be the last blast of summer heat, with temperatures near 90 degrees, toddlers to elders strolled the paths of Garden Treasurers naturally grown farm and bountiful green houses. 

For their efforts, they were greeted by leafy greens (kale, chard and collard greens), herbs (parsley, basil, mint, and lemon balm), classic vegetables (broccoli, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes) and a sweet selection of berries (strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries). 

“Garden Treasures is such a wonderful place for families to come in general, but the days the Diabetes Program is here with their knowledgeable and supportive staff, you can typically see Tulalip tribal members and other Natives of all different ages enjoy everything this place has to offer,” said community health director Verna Hill. “Seeing grandparents with their children and grandchildren come out and enjoy the gardens and pick their favorite fruits and vegetables is so wonderful. There’s so much joy created here. Something as simple as watching faces and seeing our people become inspired after trying a new fruit or vegetable is really a wonder to behold.”  

That sense of wonderment carried over into the community lunch, where Roni and her team could be seen assisting with the making of flower bouquets and wreaths to be taken home as a colorful reminder of what Garden Treasurers has to offer. 

Among those in attendance was a special guest visitor all the way from Macedonia (a country in the Mediterranean, north of Greece). Natasha Coumou, a restoration ecologist for the Tribes’ Natural Resources department, brought her mother Marija, who is visiting from Macedonia, to the u-pick day in search of stew-ready tomatoes.

“It’s beautiful. This entire event is just awesome; from the people I’ve met to the opportunity to pick from all the vegetables and fruit. I thank those who organized this,” said Macedonian citizen Marija Krstova. “I picked broccoli, peppers, eggplant and of course tomatoes to make a stew for my daughters that will remind them of our village back in Macedonia. There’s a lot more sun where I came from. We have vegetables growing everywhere, so to be here and see this outdoor garden and everything it has to offer, I must say the gardeners have done an exceptional job.”

Eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. By making fruits and vegetables a larger part of your diet, you can enjoy the benefits of increased energy, better digestion, and a stronger immune system, while significantly lowering the risk of developing serious health conditions. As we officially enter the Tribes’ season of healing, it’s time to make plant-based foods a priority in our daily lives.