By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News Our lands are sacred. Protecting our community and the surrounding environment is essential for restoring the land and creating a healthier future—not just for the people who call this place home but also for the plants and animals that depend on these lands. They don’t have a voice in how their environment is shaped, making our role as caretakers even more vital.
Natural Resources Environmental and Education Outreach Coordinator Melissa Gobin, reminds us that every day should be treated as Earth Day. She emphasizes the importance of being stewards of the land and inspiring others to embrace this responsibility. With this spirit in mind, the Natural Resource department is reaching out to gather ideas and support for this year’s Earth Day initiatives, which will take place on April 22 and the days leading up to it.
Last year’s events brought the community together for meaningful activities, including a plant walk that educated participants about native species and invasive plants, clean-up efforts at local rain gardens and public spaces, and salmon habitat restoration at Quil Ceda Creek. Multiple organizations collaborated to plant trees, create shade, and support the creek’s ecosystem. These events showcased the power of teamwork and community action, leaving a lasting impact.
Building on last year’s successes, the aim is to create an even more significant impact this year, focusing on trash removal, invasive species management, and maintaining public gardens. Community clean-up efforts will target areas such as 27th Avenue on the Rez, Tulalip beaches, and other local spaces.
This year’s initiatives include creating a seed bank and food-sharing program, encouraging community members to donate seeds, grow their gardens, and share homegrown produce to promote food security. Volunteers will clean and repair gardens across multiple Tulalip buildings and plant native vegetation to enhance green spaces.
Natural Resources will also be collaborating with local and national organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sound Solutions, the Marysville School District, and various tribal entities such as beda?chelh.
This is a community-driven initiative, and it needs your input to succeed. Share ideas for new activities or locations that need attention, volunteer at clean-up events, plant walks, or educational booths, or donate seeds, gardening tools, or financial contributions to support restoration projects. These initiatives are focused on Tulalip but are open to everyone—not just tribal members, to create a better future for all living beings who depend on these sacred lands.
Melissa Gobin emphasizes, “Raising awareness about our community’s health, the environment, and sustainability efforts is crucial. Let’s inspire everyone to love Mother Earth.”
Please get in touch with Melissa Gobin at mgobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to share your ideas, volunteer, or donate. Let’s make this year’s Earth Day a celebration of our shared commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring a thriving future for all.
As the legend goes, in 2003 John McCoy and his wife Jeannie attended a Boys & Girls Club Auction where they enthusiastically bid on, and ultimately won, a one-of-a-kind quilt. That quilt was so precious to John that he took it with him to Olympia where it remained a fixture for 17 years while he served in the Washington State Legislature.
Senator McCoy (deceased) served in the Washington State Legislature for 17 years, where he was one of the state’s longest-serving Native American lawmakers.
While he served more than 10 years in the Washington House of Representatives, the quilt hung on his office wall. When he transitioned to the State Senate and proudly represented the 38th Legislative District for another 7 years, the quilt remained with him, still affixed to his office wall.
John retired from public service in 2020 and passed away in 2023, just a few months shy of his 80th birthday. Following his passing, Chairwoman Teri Gobin said, “John had a national recognition for being an innovative and visionary leader. He brought legislation forward not only for the Tribes but for the State of Washington and so many communities throughout Indian Country. He promoted bills on environment protection, health care, Native voting rights and education. Today, our children are benefiting from what John worked tireless to implement on the State, County, and Tribal levels.”
Recently, Jeannie McCoy was doing some reorganizing at her home and came across a particular quilt that had been folded and boxed up with this office things. As quickly as she recognized which quilt it was, she also recognized the need for it to be gifted to a new home.
“The entire time he was in Olympia, he had this practice of hanging up quilts and Pendleton blankets in his office. That Boys & Girls Club quilt was the very first one he ever hung up. It was a constant reminder that he was always working to make things better for the kids,” explained Jeannie, John’s wife of an astounding 58 years. “I wasn’t sure if the Boys & Girls Club would even want it, but I thought it was important to reach out and ask them. The Club staff were happy to have it and I was thrilled for it to have a new home.”
When Jeannie and her daughter Sheila arrived at the Club with the quilt, they were met by staff who were eager to accept the heartwarming gift. One of those staff members was Diane Prouty, who the kids affectionately call ‘grandma Diane’.
John’s daughter Sheila, Tulalip Club office manager Diane Prouty, John’s wife Jeannie, Tulalip Club director Shawn Sanchey, and B&GC Club of Snohomish County executive director Bill Tsoukalas. (photo courtesy Shawn Sanchey)
“It was a literal blast from the past. When I saw the quilt, it brought me to goosebumps and tears because I remembered making it with two other wonderful ladies, Mona Vallo and Marie Davis, who are both deceased,” shared Diane. The quilt not only found a home, it had found one of its original makers.
“Within the quilt are hundreds of little hearts. Those hearts represent the hundreds of kids our Club serves every day,” she added. “And the hands that form the border, those represent the staff, mentors and coaches who protect the kids and want to help create the brightest, happiest memories for every kid who walks through our doors.”
John and Jeannie McCoy’s grandchildren and great-children are among the countless number of Tulalip youth who’ve found sanctuary at the reservation’s Club. A safe place where kids can just be kids and rely on the consistency of warm meals and warm-hearted staff members. Plans are in the works to have the quilt hung on one of the walls in the gym. Where it can serve as a reminder to make things better for the kids, like it meant to John for all those years.
“The development of the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club and all the partnerships it’s been able to establish that have really made not just the kids’ lives better, but the Tribe better, too, is something John was always proud of,” said Jeannie. “I can’t think of a better place for the quilt to be.”
The Marysville Getchell High School gymnasium was nearly filled to capacity for Friday night hoops on January 24. The pep band and full cheer squad added to the ambiance, as well as dozens of students who donned their MGHS green and white colors, showcasing school spirit while they cheered on their team.
The band played tunes such as The Final Countdown, We Will Rock You, and the Time Warp to help amp up the players on the floor while they hit a few warmup shots. And though some of the players were all business, with their game faces on, most couldn’t help but hide the smiles from their faces as they took in the moment.
This is the very first year that Getchell implemented a new extracurricular activities program known as Unified Sports. This program promotes inclusion by bringing students with and without special needs together on the same floor as teammates, helping build friendships and providing students with intellectual disabilities the chance to experience the excitement of high school sports. Something that they are often excluded from.
As the opening buzzer sounded, the players hit the court to take on their opponents hailing from Burlington-Edison High. Just a few possessions into the game, Tulalip tribal member Xavier Jones got the ball on a fast break. As he hit the jets and drove the ball down the court, zigzagging between the opposing team members, he spotted fellow Tribal member, Sean “Optimus” Mace ahead of the pack near the low block and immediately passed him the rock.
Optimus let one player zoom by and shook off another with a pump fake before going up strong and putting two points on the board for the home team. When his shot went through the net, the entire place erupted. And on his way back on defense he hit Xavier with the famous basketball nod and point of acknowledgment for the assist before blowing multiple kisses to the fans in attendance.
Unified Sports was developed by the Special Olympics and is consistently growing across the nation with nearly 9,000 schools participating in the program today. MGHS is the first Unified Sports Champion School in the Marysville School District. And though she is quick to give credit to school faculty and leadership who supported her effort, the program was ultimately brought to the school by MGHS Special Education Native Liaison and Tulalip tribal member, Amy Sheldon.
Amy shared, “A few years ago, I actually got invited to watch a Unified Champion Sports Game at Arlington High School and I was moved to tears to see how amazing it was and to see everyone playing together. I knew this was something I wanted to create for our school. We’re the only Unified Champion School in the district. We’re trying to make it grow and bring it to other schools like MP, but it’s a lot of buy in and a lot of work. It wasn’t easy. Without my friends, coworkers, our Native American Friends Club that shows up and helps us out, I wouldn’t have been able to do it by myself.”
Members of the MGHS Native American Friends Club were both in the stands supporting the team and also on the court, helping facilitate the game by distributing the ball to their teammates, ensuring that each person got the chance to score some points and show off their skills. What makes this story even more heartwarming is the fact that both the MGHS boys and girls varsity teams had games the very same night in Stanwood, which means everybody in attendance chose to show up for the Unified Sports team and root them on during their second game of the season.
The unified team has numerous players on the roster, so much so that there were enough participants for three different rotations, all of whom wore the biggest grins as they made their way up and down the floor throughout the evening. The game was split into two 14-minutes halves and helped raise funds for the program by taking in donations for admission.
Altogether, there were four representatives of Tulalip on the court, including Xavier, Optimus, and Leah Stacy, along with Sammy Reyes who is a partner of a tribal member. As the final seconds of the game ticked down, MGHS was down just a few points. The team collectively made sure the final possession went to the namesake of the local non-profit Leah’s Dream. And just before the closing buzzer sounded, Leah scored a layup to bring the game to an end. Leah jumped up and down in triumph after getting her bucket and was quickly joined by her entire team in her excitement.
No one was more excited for her than her grandpa, Ray Sheldon Jr., who was watching from the bleachers and threw his arms in the air when she hit her shot. Said Ray, “That was really fun! I enjoyed that a lot. She’s getting better and we can see the progression. Every week she’s gaining more confidence. I think that’s what we’re trying to do here, build confidence in these kids so that they can do many, many good things in life. My grandson Sammy was able to play a little bit too. And this is a great way for them all to get some physical activity out of it. It’s exciting to see all these kids – to be able to play where they usually wouldn’t have the opportunity to play. It’s good that they all get this experience and learn how to work together.”
Following the game, Tulalip News caught up with Xavier Jones. Xavier expressed, “I had a lot of fun. We just learned how to play basketball and even though this is new, we all try our best. My favorite part is just playing more basketball with everyone and being the best player I can be.”
Amy shared that the team is currently in the process of getting in contact with other schools with a Unified Sports program and scheduling more games this season. They are also gearing up for soccer this Spring, something that all the kids are looking forward to.
“They’re amazing kids,” Amy stated. “This is important because it promotes inclusion and acceptance. We’re just starting off small and doing the best we can. I’ve always wanted this inclusion, and to see this happen is like the biggest blessing. For all the funding, I’m working on grants through the Special Olympics and Tulalip Special Olympics to help build unity. This is our first season and it’s so great to see how happy this makes people – the students, administrators, families. And I’m so proud that there are so many Tulalip students on the team, it’s amazing!”
To fully appreciate the depths Mikail Montez has dug to maximize her lifetime of muscle memory meticulously tuned for the game of basketball and to capitalize on every second of collegiate court time, you have to know her journey. You have to know how opportunity can present itself in the face of unprecedented global upheaval, only to be struck down with devastating injury, and then present itself again in the form of a geoduck. Why a geoduck? Because they dig deep, of course.
Let us begin. It’s early 2019 and 18-year-old Mikail is not just a three-sport athlete and leading scorer for her high school basketball team, but she’s also the reigning Marysville Getchell senior class president. Her future is boundless. She’s full of anticipation and excitement to begin her next stage of student-athlete life at Arizona State University.
Then 2020 happens. A global pandemic sends us spiraling into social isolation, full on lockdowns in parts of the country, and a genuine fear of what could be next. Mikail is not immune from any of these 1,500 miles away from her reservation while still adjusting to life as a college freshman. So she makes the logical decision to return home.
“COVID happened during my winter quarter at Arizona State. After discussion with my parents, we agreed it was best for me to come back home,” recalled Mikail. “Eventually, all the fear and unknown started to fadeaway and the coach at Everett Community College reached out to me. Because of the pandemic and athletes returning home, they had lost like half their team and needed players. I jumped at the opportunity.
“Everett was a great experience. I was there for three years, but that first year, 2021, was probably the most memorable because it was a COVID season. The scheduling and whole dynamic about it was weird, but as a collective we came together for the love of the game and our love for each other. With everything happening in the world at that time and so many hurting from losing loved ones, that 2021 team found sanctuary on the basketball court. We were all we had. We went through a pandemic together and somehow managed to win our league championship.”
In 2022, Mikail’s on-court production reaches new heights as she begins to unlock all facets of her game. Now a fixture of Everett C.C.’s basketball program, she’s featured on both sides of the ball as both a bucket getter and lockdown defender. She starts in all 23 games that year, averages a double-double, and is awarded Everett’s Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Year.
Expectations are through the roof as the 2023 season is about to begin. When, suddenly, tragedy strikes.
“We’re up in Skagit playing in a tournament. I’m embracing being an upper classman now and a true leader of the team. I was ballin’…the game had slowed down for me, I was seeing the game in a whole new way, and just felt like I could get us 20 points every night. Then pop!” described the Tulalip hooper like only a hooper can. That pop was the sound of her Achilles tendon tearing. “I was going for a rebound when it happened and knew instantly what it was. I was absolutely heartbroken.”
Heartbroken, yes. Spirit broken, no. Having the game you love literally ripped from you is a career ender for many an athlete. Not this one. Mikail went through a grueling nine months of physical therapy. The then-21-year-old powered through a rigorous schedule of seemingly unless stretching, workouts, and more stretching necessary to render her Achilles to pre-injury form with one thought in mind – “I was determined to get back to that place of playing the best ball of my career. I knew my playing days weren’t over. My mantra for that time was Progress matters, not Pace.”
As her fortune would have it, the coaching staff of Evergreen State College had scouted Mikail during her peak at Everett C.C. and were well aware of the all-around skill set she possessed. It was a skill set they were willing to set aside a spot for on their women’s basketball team in the hopes she’d make a full recovery and continue her collegiate career in Olympia.
“Full transparency, I reached out to other colleges, too, seeing what my options were. I knew I could finish my degree anywhere, but I wanted to prove I could still hoop while doing it. Of all the colleges I reached out to, only Evergreen got back to me,” admitted Mikail. “I took that as a sign and opted to play where I was wanted for a coaching staff who knew what I was capable of.”
She returned to the court during Evergreen’s 2023-2024 season where she saw action in 20 games, including one start. With her minutes limited and role relegated to a bench player as she learned a new system, she averaged just shy of 3 points and 3 rebounds a game. A far cry from the double-double machine she was at Marysville Getchell High School and Everett Community College.
This is where the geoduck comes into play. For the uninformed, the geoduck (pronounced gooey-duck) is the world’s largest burrowing clam, has an average lifespan of 140 years, is most commonly found in Coast Salish waters, and is Evergreen College’s official mascot. Oh, and the word geoduck comes from the English language’s attempt to pronounce γʷιδəθ, which is Lushootseed for “dig deep”. Because that’s what geoduck do, they dig deep.
Mikail embraced the geoduck as her defacto spirit animal for the 2024-2025 season and, in doing so, summons every ounce of strength in her five-foot-eleven-inch frame to dig deep every game, every quarter, and every minute she gets on the hardwood. She’s a fifth-year college senior set to graduate in June with her Bachelor’s Degree. There is no next season.
Digging deep, the Evergreen forward/center has regained her status as full-time starter and perennial bucket getter. She’s rebounded from last year’s statistically down season by averaging nearly 10 points and 5 rebounds per game. Most importantly, her body is healed completely from the Achilles injury, which has allowed her to regain her confidence to battle with other bigs in the post. Something the Evergreen coaching staff were quick to implement into their offensive game plan.
“Mikail is dedicated to her craft in a way that coaches of any level would love to have an opportunity to coach,” explained Evergreen College head coach Derrick Pringle. “She’s methodical, hardworking, and, best of all, she loves the game. We offer optional Saturday practices and she’s always there, busting her butt for two hours and going home soaking wet with a smile on her face.
“When I first got here, I thought she was a wing player. But I learned quick after she told me ‘Coach, I can play the wing, but I like to bang a little bit’. Mikail’s ability to score inside from the post and outside with her 3-point touch is what makes her different as a player. Everyone wants to shoot the 3 ball and, if you look around, almost everyone does these days. But not everyone can score in the post. In fact, it’s probably the rarest of skills these days for a player to possess the patience, footwork, and physicality necessary to score so effortlessly in the post like she does.”
Her full arsenal of back-to-the-basket moves and sweet shooting touch were on full display in a mid-January matchup with the College of Idaho. A back and forth game full of all the excitement one could ask for from a basketball game, Mikail was a fixture of reliability for her fellow Evergreen teammates. In the game’s most pressure-filled moments, Mikail stayed cool, calm, and confident in her ability to score on one end and come up with a defensive stop on the other.
In a thrilling 55-52 victory, Mikail amassed a stat line of 21-points (a season high), 8 rebounds (a season high), and 3 assists. She shot 9-13 from the field and was 2-3 on 3-pointers. “That stats are cool, but even better is the win,” said Mikail post-victory. “I felt like I was my best self out there tonight. Having the trust of teammates and coaches to have the ball in my hands with the game on the line is every basketball player dream. I’ve visualized and practiced those moments thousands of times…what I’d do to get to my spots, my footwork, my form on the shots.”
In her final season as a collegiate athlete, the now 23-year-old has regained her final form as a basketball player that the Achilles injury attempted to take from her. She’s also found the home away from home community at Evergreen College that COVID once denied her from finding at Arizona State. It’s because of those challenges and setbacks that her family so eagerly make the drive from Tulalip to the Olympia-based campus to watch their favorite baller get buckets.
“It’s great to see a tribal kid flourish off the reservation while doing her thing on the Division III level. Mikail is proud of her roots and always putting on for Tulalip wherever she goes,” shared Nathan Williams, one of Mikail’s older brothers, who regularly attends games with his 2-year-old son Winter. “Legacy and tradition are the most important things to our family, which is why it’s a priority to have my son here so he can experience the environment while his aunt is on the court getting buckets.
“The confidence in her skill is what sets her apart,” he added. “She put in a lot of time, countless early mornings and late nights, to reach that level of confidence. Plus, she had three older brothers who played and a former pro player in our household that was able to show her elite level footwork and shooting form. Mikail took the skill and athleticism our family is known for and carved out her own basketball journey. Among us siblings, she took her love for the game the furthest. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Mikail’s journey in basketball is more than just personal triumph. Her journey is one of balancing cultural heritage, academics, and athletics that all Tulalip youth should hear about or read about. Because her story is their story. To learn from, to be inspired by, and to serve as a reminder, whenever needed, that there are going to be times when the odds are long and the whole world seems like its against you. In order to persevere, you gotta dig deep.
Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman Teri Gobin and Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Umair Shah
By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News
January 9 marked a historic event and a win for tribal sovereignty. The Tulalip Board of Directors were joined by members of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Tribe’s data sovereignty service committee who worked together over the past two years to outline, define, and build upon an agreement in regard to tribal data in the state’s healthcare system.
This data sharing agreement allows Tulalip the ability to oversee the collection of data of its membership and determine how it is utilized to better inform the community in instances such as the spread of diseases, viruses, or any public health related issues occurring both on the reservation or throughout the region. It also provides an opportunity for the Tribe to address ongoing medical conditions within the community. And through the agreement, the Tribe will be notified when outside parties are looking to obtain the data of Tulalip tribal members and decide whether or not they give consent to the request.
Summer Hammons, Legislative Policy Analyst for Tulalip’s Treaty Rights & Government Affairs Office, shared, “It was a natural way to really try to understand sovereignty when outside agencies try to infiltrate tribal data. There was consultation going on with the Department of Health and tribes, but they also have tribal orgs that own epidemiology centers (TECs). And so, you have all these centers in Washington state that have access to our data, and we weren’t sure who was accessing our data at the state and federal level. We have data that’s stored in the tribal health clinic that could go to the national warehouse, so it’s more federal through an agreement that we have with IHS. On the state side, tribal members can go into Providence, or any hospital anywhere; all that data is stored in Washington State, especially contact tracing – Covid, sexually transmitted diseases. All that goes into the system for tracing. We didn’t know who’s accessing that specific data and we didn’t have access to that data.”
She continued, “It’s a way of protecting our data and for us to be at the table to look at that data and see what they’re doing. We also wanted to have a mechanism where we’re not blocking other people of data, because it’s really important for TECs to accumulate what’s going on with tribes. And we wanted to create a mechanism where the state can’t just give out our data without our permission or our informed consent.”
Summer went on to explain that though this specific agreement only affects the data protection and sharing of the Tulalip membership, it creates an opportunity for other tribes to formulate their own agreement with the DOH. With that in mind, they created a tribal data sovereignty committee where they collectively set out to define seven principals as a guideline, which includes the authority to manage tribal data, the right to give informed consent, and also equitable access to that data.
Said Summer, “We want to be able to tell our story and be able to access that data and tell the state if that’s not the story we want to send out. It’s important that there’s Tulalip data, but then it becomes aggregated, it becomes AI/AN (American Indian/Alaskan Native). Your tribal affiliation is removed on the report, and it becomes a statistic aggregated with all tribes. So, tribes need to know what you are doing with that aggregated data. That’s why we built the data sovereignty group, so that we know that before the DOH shares a campaign on something, that the tribes have consultation on it as well.”
On the morning of the momentous signing, the DOH Chief of Policy, Kristin Peterson expressed, “Thank you for inviting us to celebrate and honor this historic moment. Signing this agreement represents our commitment to our government-to-government relationship. Entering this agreement not only enhances Tulalip’s access to our data but upholds the DOH responsible for how we disclose and utilize Tulalip’s data. We are really excited about the signing and the work to come. And we are committed to making sure that once this is signed, the work is not over. We will hold ourselves accountable to implementing it.”
“This is not just a formal agreement,” added DOH Secretary, Dr. Umair Shah. “This is a journey we believe in so strongly. Why? Because when you share and provide data, when you give people access to their own data, that raises the visibility of health issues – the challenges and solutions that must be made. I cannot thank you enough for taking this journey with us. We could not have taken these steps without you, your leaders, your teams coming together to help us both understand the challenges and understand the concerns. We listened and we worked together through those challenges in order to come here today. And I’m so proud of the fact that we are here today.”
Following the signing of the agreement, the BOD blanketed Dr. Shah, thanking him for his years of service with the DOH. Each board member then shared a few words before the gathering concluded.
Secretary Theresa Sheldon, stated, “When we have these type of meetings where we’re signing MOUs, these are about lives. We are talking about lives and real issues, and the ability to address them in a timely manner, the ability to access care, and the ability to access resources that many times, we didn’t have. I’m really grateful for that. Our responsibility is the wellness of our people. That responsibility that we carry is much bigger than those in this room, because we are constantly looking out for the next seven generations, and the responsibility for their health and their wellbeing. Sometimes, Washington State is only friendly to us once we sue and win, because the law is on our side. Acknowledging that sovereignty and that authority is a constant battle. When we don’t have to do that and we’re able to work with employees who recognize that this is the right thing to do, it’s really appreciated.”
The Marysville Pilchuck (MP) wrestling team continues to shine through an undefeated season. With seven tribal members on the team, they proudly represent their heritage and connection to the community. On Tuesday, January 14, they secured a commanding victory over the Monroe Bearcats 64-15 in front of an energized home crowd. Two days later, they crushed their northern neighbors, Lakewood, with a 66-9 win, further solidifying their dominance and improving to an impressive 13-0 in dual meets.
Head Coach Tony Hatch, a former MP wrestler from the 1980s, has led the team’s success this season. Under his guidance, the boys from Marysville and Tulalip have shown relentless drive and determination. Following the match against Monroe, Coach Hatch expressed pride in his wrestlers, saying, “They did what we expected—pretty good. We’re good friends with the Monroe coaches, and we know their program is still building. But we’re on a whole different level this year. We aim to go undefeated in dual meets; we’re currently 12-0. The kids are working hard, stepping up when needed, and you can’t ask for more than that.”
For senior Joseph Davis, a tribal member and a competitor in the 165-pound weight class, the match against Monroe was a highlight of his decade-long wrestling career. Davis achieved an impressive victory, pinning his opponent in just 43 seconds, demonstrating his skill and determination. Despite dealing with injuries from football, including a shoulder problem, Davis remains committed to making his final wrestling season successful.
“This is my tenth-year wrestling. Overall, the season has been going well, “said Davis. “I’ve had some injuries, but I’ve managed to push through. The keys to success begin in the offseason, and my main goal this year is to win the state championship. After that, I’d love to travel the world.”
Two more MP wrestlers achieved decisive victories in the match against Monroe. Their precision and strength in pinning opponents further showcased the team’s superiority.
Aiden Eagle, a junior in the 215-pound weight class and a tribal member, is in his third year of wrestling and is equally determined to make an impact this season. “The season’s going well. I’m focused on staying motivated and keeping my weight in check. Wrestling is a mentally tough sport—you must keep pushing. My goal this year is to make it to state and hopefully place,” Eagle explained.
Motivation is a driving force for the team, and tribal member Garrett Reeves is no exception. The support from Coach Hatch and the friendly rivalry with his twin brother, Dylan Reeves, who is also on the wrestling team, have pushed him to improve every day. Together, these elements, along with a team culture that emphasizes hard work and encouragement, inspire Reeves to become the best version of himself both on and off the mat.
As a junior competing in the 120-pound weight class, Reeves has achieved an impressive record of 26 wins and 5 losses this season. Reflecting on his performance, he stated, “This year has been pretty good for me. I’ve placed in a few significant tournaments, and I aim to break the all-time win record here at MP. My goal is to finish in the top five at state.”
As the season progresses, the Marysville Pilchuck wrestling team remains determined to maintain their undefeated streak and secure a historic year for the program. The team is laser-focused on finishing strong, with only four matches left in the season. They’d love it if the community came out to support them at their last match of the season—the Berry Brawl—on January 30 at Marysville Getchell High School. Bring your energy, cheer them on, and be part of this exciting end to their remarkable season.
To keep this momentum going and ensure future success, the Marysville Pilchuck Wrestling program is seeking donations to support its continued growth. Contributions are crucial in providing the team with essential resources and opportunities. If you would like to help these dedicated athletes, please contact Cassidy M. with the MP Booster Club at (425) 212-7488, and be sure to reference the wrestling team when reaching out. Your generosity can help sustain this exceptional program for seasons to come.
Even through the sound of constant traffic, the familiar melodic piano chords of ‘Still D.R.E.’ could be heard blasting in the parking lot of the now defunct Walmart on Highway 99. It was a fitting and perfect moment, when S-N-double O-P’s voice came on during the chorus, a group of volunteers posed in front of a sign that read Big House of Doggs, spelled in the style of uncle Snoop himself: D-O-double G. And ooooweee, the delicious smell of glizzys filled the air.
“My name is Tyler, but everyone calls me Big House,” exclaimed a very tall and burly gentleman with a warm friendly smile. As the rest of the crew nodded their heads to the beat and carried on with preparations, Big House was joined by his wife and Tulalip tribal member, Celia Dockendorff to discuss their new business venture.
According to the couple, the idea of Big House of Doggs came organically during a scroll through social media. “It was just one of those things,” Tyler explained. “I was on Facebook Marketplace, and I saw that there was a hot dog cart for sale. And I asked Celia what do you think about us selling hot dogs? She is always down for anything I come up with and she was like, ‘Yeah, sure. Why not?’.”
Celia added, “My mom drove us down to Portland, and we got it. It was just a $1600 little cart. And we’ve been doing this for over a year now. The Stick Games Tournament was our first gig, and it just took off from there.”
From humble beginnings to an instant crowd favorite, the Dockendorff’s hot dog stand has served locals at many tribal events throughout the past year, including the Lights and Ice festival at the Tulalip Amphitheater. The passion for culinary arts must’ve been passed down to the next generation because Celia’s aunt is none other than Lynette Jimicum, owner of the iconic TeePee Creepers, which was the very first Native American food stand at the Bite of Seattle in 2023. And this year, another Native American owned food stand will be added to the list as Big House of Doggs prepares for their debut at the summertime event.
Picking up knowledge and the ins-and-outs of the local food truck game from TeePee Creepers, Tyler and Celia know branding is everything. That must be the reason why Big House of Doggs boasts a fun and unique logo that features their very own Boston terrier in a doghouse, holding a pair of tongs in one paw and a hot dog with all the fixings in the other. Which of course makes for a fun anecdote to share with their customers.
Said Big House, “We don’t have kids. We have tons of nieces and nephews and family, but it’s just us and our dog. So, we based the theme around our dog.”
To passersby and hungry customers, this may just look like a whimsical themed hot dog stand, but it is so much more when considering the owners and how big their hearts are. When interacting with the duo, it’s sweet to see how much love they have for each other. And of course, through our teachings we learn that when working with good hearts and a positive mindset, your art will have a terrific outcome. And that’s no exception here. At the top of the article, we talked about how one could hear hip hop classics bumping through their speakers, but what we have yet to mention is how awesome it was to hear the group of volunteers laughing, joking, and sharing stories while they worked. It was good vibes all around and a testament to the type of environment Celia and Big House create while on the job.
That brings us to the afternoon of January 14, and the reason Big House of Doggs was stationed alongside the highway. In this particular area of Everett, there seems to be a large population of folk who fell on hard times and are braving the cold winter without shelter. Many of whom are also experiencing bouts of hunger pangs. As we mentioned before, the Dockendorff’s have big hearts. And after their first successful year in business, they decided to look out for those individuals struggling to get by on a day-to-day basis.
“We are so grateful that the Tribe was able to put together Lights and Ice and put us in a position to have a good end to the year,” shared Tyler. “Because we were super successful, we thought it was important to give back and make sure the community knows that we appreciate them. We were supported by the Tribe and so we wanted to give back as much as we could and support other people.”
“My grandma always gave back,” Celia stated. “She always made sure that after I went through all my clothes, or if I had like an extra sweater that I didn’t need, we would go to Seattle and my grandma would give it out. She was huge on that. And me, my mom, and my sisters would make sandwiches to pass out in Seattle when I was younger. So, it’s been awhile but this is really good for the soul.”
In addition to bringing Big House of Doggs to the people, Celia and Big House also invited others to join in on the give back effort. Not only did people receive hot dogs and chips free of charge, but they also walked away with warm clothes, blankets, hot chocolate and/or cider, and a BBQ plate.
After posting up for several hours, and providing food to over 300 people in need, the night ended on somewhat of a sour note as the security of the strip mall took issue with their presence in the area. But even after they were not-so-kindly asked to leave, that didn’t dampen their spirits.
“Sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness, because we were still able to accomplish our goal today,” Big House reflected. “We will definitely be doing this again, but hopefully with approval.”
You can catch Big House of Doggs throughout the year at local gatherings or during their occasional pop ups on the reservation. They are already slated to appear at Boom City, TRC’s Employee Day, and the Bite of Seattle in 2025. Updates can be found on either Tyler’s personal Facebook wall or on their Big House of Boom Fireworks page. You can also scan the QR code with your phone’s camera or follow this link, https://lisi.menu/6722cfc7d987e to check out their menu.
By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News; photos from Tulalip Bay Fire Department Facebook
One of the most challenging fires in California’s history has engulfed the city of Los Angeles, destroying over 10,000 houses and consuming more than 23,700 acres in Palisades County. The fire began on January 7 and spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. Additionally, 14,100 acres burned in Eaton, 800 in Hurst, 1,052 in Kenneth, and 43 in Sunset. As of Tuesday, January 14, this tragedy has left 23 lives lost and damages exceeding $100 billion. Thousands of individuals have lost everything they owned and now face unimaginable hardships.
Yet, in the face of adversity, hope prevails. Brave crews from Washington have rallied to the cause, embodying the spirit of unity and resilience. Fire departments, such as the Tulalip Bay Fire Department, have joined forces with others in the area, demonstrating unwavering determination to help control the fires in Los Angeles.
On Friday, January 10, after an exhausting 18-hour drive into Los Angeles, the Tulalip Bay Fire Department crew faced a grueling 20-hour shift, totaling 38 hours without rest before their first break. Upon reaching Zuma Beach, the command post for their operations, the crew prioritized inspecting vehicles and gear to ensure readiness for combating the fires.
“When Mother Nature calls, our firefighters are ready to respond,” the Tulalip Fire Department said on their Facebook page.
Their first shift occurred on Sunset Boulevard, where they protected residential areas overnight as the fire approached. “In the morning, the fire was bumping up against the neighborhood, and we had to put in handlines, lay hoses connecting off hydrants, and work with air tech when the fire started getting going again,” Captain James Shockley explained.
The firefighters are part of North Strike Team 1, alongside other teams from Washington State. Seven states, along with Canada and Mexico, have joined the fight to end the Palisades fire. Initially, California funded these efforts, but with worsening weather conditions, the Federal Government has stepped in to ensure resources are available.
Captain Shockley described the weather’s challenges. “The biggest issue is the wind. It ripped through a big stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway when the fire first started. All the homes built on the ocean side were destroyed. It ran through those homes like nothing could stop it. To see chimneys left standing and Sunset Boulevard in ruins was just next-level devastation. It has been wild to see.”
Despite the damage, the crews’ support has been exceptional. “Everyone here has been great,” Captain Shockley noted. The ground support for our team and rigs has been excellent. With long drives out to our work sites and back, each shift takes about 32-34 hours. So, being diligent about getting a good night’s sleep is essential to handling the workload.”
The Tulalip team along with crews from South County, Camano Island and Snohomish are actively working in the Ventura and Balboa neighborhoods. They are clearing areas to prepare for potential fires that may occur due to the expected winds in the coming days and weeks.
Due to the current weather conditions, the Tulalip Bay Fire Department will be stationed in Los Angeles for the next two weeks as they continue their efforts to combat the fire.
If you or someone you know would like to help, you can donate to the California Fire Foundation Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund at lahsa.org. Your support can make a significant difference in helping those affected rebuild their lives.
By Kalvin Valdillez; photos courtesy of Ilivia Hatch
“Amazing asf.” “Sooo good!” “Fire fr.” “Definitely a must!” “Bussin’” “100/10.” “Girl Ur chamoy SMACC!” “You did your thang on these.” “Obsessed!”
Those direct quotes are just a handful of reviews that can be found in the highlight section of an Instagram page named Munchiezznsweetzz. Also here, there are dozens of live reaction videos that are wholesome and worth the watch to see everyone’s faces, from kids to elders, light up as they take their first bite into a tasty treat made by Tulalip tribal member, Ilivia Hatch.
Though her sugary concoctions have garnered her fans all throughout the region, her biggest supporters appear to be the young adults from the reservation. Which is wonderful to see. Among the glowing reviews of heart-eyes, fire flames, and 5-star emojis, one word seems to sum up Munchiezznsweetzz perfectly – bomb – which of course is one of the highest compliments among both gen z and millennials alike.
So, with that in mind, we understand if you’d like to take a moment to find her page, check out her grid, and place an order before you continue you reading. (And she created a special promo code exclusively for the readers of the SeeYahtSub and Tulalip News, just enter code: ‘Tulalip’ for an extra 10% off of your order.) Alright, now that you’re back and you checked out her snacks… IKR? Every dish looks incredible. It definitely makes you want to order one of everything on the menu.
If her food photos blew your mind, you’re in store for another big surprise. But before that’s unveiled, we invite you to take a closer look at her page. A fun logo of lollipops and candy canes serves as the profile pic for the business page. In the bio area, she has her store hours set and a link to her personal bakesy page, where you can place your order and find out any necessary details about your payment and pickup options. The last thing we’d like to point out is her interactions with her followers. Not only does she regularly hold giveaways and asks her clients for input/requests, but she often offers daily, weekly, and monthly specials as well. She also adds a personal touch to each order, including instructions on how to store the treats properly and a variety of whimsical stickers too.
In today’s society, over half the battle with creating a business is having a legit, inviting, responsive, and awesome social media team. Success often lies in online engagement, which is why many people hire marketing companies to boost their brand to help get their name out there. Looking at all the details that went into her page, from her logo to her policies, you’d think she had professional help setting it up, but Ilivia has done absolutely everything by herself. She is 100% self-made. From the ground up, she has built a great following online. Just a year and some change in the game and she has over 1,000 people checking on her page daily for the latest details and creations, which is a number she hopes to grow even more, as she has a personal goal of reaching 10,000 followers.
After taking all of that information in and considering all the work it takes to start a business, what makes this all the more impressive is the moment you find out that Ilivia is only 21 years of age. Munchiezznsweetzz is turning two this April, which means that at just 19 years young, Ilivia created a successful business model which has been thriving since that first review came in.
Take a moment to read over this short Q&A to get to know the mastermind behind Munchiezznsweetzz.
Why don’t we start out with a little bit about who you are?
I’m Ilivia Hatch. My mom is Priscilla Sconawah, she’s from Yakima tribe. My father is Ezra Hatch III from Tulalip. My grandparents are Donald J. Charles and Carmen Sohappy, and then Rosemary Alexander. Growing up, I lived with my grandparents at Tulalip my whole life.
When did you start your business?
I started my business around two years ago, in April 2023. I did move out of my grandparent’s house for a while – like three ago. I was living in an apartment when my business started, so it originated from west Everett.
How did you come up with the idea for Munchiezznsweetzz?
When I first started doing it, I never thought I would get this far. It was just me and my sisters in a room, and we would always joke about starting our own little businesses. And eventually, I came up with the idea for Munchiezznsweetzz because I used to smoke a lot, and that’s where the idea came from. I’m completely sober now, like five months sober, but that’s how it started.
How did you get into making these treats? Have you always had an interest in cooking or creating desserts?
Yeah, it really started with my mom. She used to make these special cakes and I kind of just took over for her and started baking them myself. And then I came across these viral grapes. That’s what my business is mainly about, candied grapes. They went viral on TikTok and I thought, maybe I could make these. And then I did. But at first, they were so bad, it was a rough start. It took me like a whole year to actually get my recipe down and everything looking good. I would always say that I was going to quit and give up on everything, but my mom pushed me to do better. And then in April 2023, I moved back to my grandma’s house, and I’ve been doing it here ever since. I’m very grateful they let me do it out of their home.
What are candied grapes?
Candied grapes are grapes dipped into candy. I make my own candy out of Carroll’s sugar, water, food coloring, and flavoring. It’s called tanghulu and originated from Asia. But I put my own spin on it and make it with different flavors. It’s basically a hard shell of candy, kind of like a Jolly Rancher, around the grape. And when eating it, you have a nice crunch to it and with the grapes, it’s like all the flavors come together for the perfect combination.
So, candied grapes are your staple, and you do those in different varieties?
Yeah, I do candied grapes, candied pineapples, candied strawberries. I would say the fan favorite is the crack grapes. That’s Jolly Rancher coated, or Jolly Ranchers blended up and coated over the grapes. I dip the grapes into liquid candy that’s hot and then dip it into the Jolly Rancher mix. And I call it crack grapes because it’s so addicting, to the point that everyone wants that in their orders.
You mentioned that you picked this up from your mom. How does your family feel seeing you have a successful business and find that passion in the kitchen?
My grandparents and my mother, I think, are my number one supporters. Because, like I said, there were times where I would feel like giving up, but they kept me motivated. I would get really discouraged when I had to deal with hate comments or when I would mess up. I’m so grateful for them looking back at it now. Yesterday, my mom called me and was crying because she was so excited for me and was saying that I came a long way. From how messy I was at first, and how good I’m doing now and how successful I’ve been.
My grandparents are so proud of me. They always ask me every day about the order I’m working on. They’re there to push me on those days when I don’t want to get up. They’re always like ‘just get up and do your order, you’ll feel better about yourself’.
That’s so cool. And from your end, how does it feel to get that love and support from your family?
It feels amazing, honestly, I can’t thank them enough. I know that it’s all me and I’m the one doing it, but I feel like if I didn’t have that backup motivation there, I would have given up a long time ago, because it is stressful. It’s not an easy job. Especially when I have big orders over $100, because I am doing it all by myself. But it makes it easier when I have their positive words. Or when I’m having a stressful day, they’re like, ‘just take a step out of the kitchen. Take a breath.’ I was always taught that you’re not supposed to be in the kitchen when you’re mad because it can get really bad. What I’ve learned to do is calm myself down and use their motivational words, so my work is not getting messed up. I feel like it’s always just been something that I love – to have them there on my side.
And I get a lot of support from our community. I’ve had a lot of people from Tulalip order from me. That makes me feel really happy that I can be the one to make these special and unique treats, that no one else really can make for them.
Do you have any words for those people who haven’t been fortunate enough to try your treats yet and are interested in putting an order in?
They’re always welcome to come and try something new. Feel free to check out my reviews and see if there’s something on there you want to try. All my reviews are on my highlights. I’ve always had amazing reviews, and only a couple down reviews which I worked to fix on my end. But personally, I love the watermelon crack grapes, they’re really good. And everyone loves the blue razz too!
I know people can place orders through your website, do you ever do orders for special occasions or themed birthdays?
I do take pre-orders, and I do require a 100% deposit. Just because, when I first started, I would let people place an order and I would make it for them, and sometimes they wouldn’t show up. I don’t deal with that anymore. I do have that website, it’s linked in my bio, and a lot of people place their orders through it. They can find pictures of everything I’ve already made there. And there’s a specific form for custom orders – like for custom candied grapes. But I don’t just make candied grapes, I also make cakes, cookies, Mexican treats, I make drinks as well. Another fan favorite is the dulces enchilados, it’s chamoy covered gushers with tajin. It’s one of my best sellers along with the crack grapes.
When I started out in Everett, my chamoy products were my number one. But when I came back home to Tulalip, no one knew what it was. I mean, everyone knew what chamoy was, but they weren’t familiar with it. When people try my chamoy, it’s the best, because personally, I feel like I make the best chamoy in town because I make it homemade. So when they try my chamoy, they become obsessed with it and end up ordering it a lot because of how much they enjoy it.
Can you remind our readers of your age and what it means to you to find success and your passion so early in life?
I’m 21 years old. And honestly, I wish I found my passion earlier because it is a good feeling. I’ve never had help from no one. Maybe from my mom here and there, but everything for my business came out of my own pockets. I started out so small, just seeing my business grow and grow and grow, and being able to buy trays, supplies, and all my gushers (6 boxes) all at once, it makes me feel happy. I’m at the point where I get so much income now, that I’m able to support myself and my business. It makes me feel good that I have over 100 customers who I consider as my regulars. Like, most of them come back all the time. It feels good to make those connections with my people as well. I try not to call them customers, supporters, or clients, because they’re basically like family. I call them my besties because they’ve been with me since day one, through my trial-and-error stages. It’s just so great to have loyal people and to share my success with them as well.
And there was one month where I was dedicated just to my business and was consistent, and I brought in $4,000 that month just from my business. And because I work alone, that felt like a big accomplishment for me.
Why is it important for other young tribal entrepreneurs to see your grind and the business do so well?
I feel like if another tribal member sees this, and sees someone so young doing it, they might feel inspired to start their own business. And my advice would be to start early, like right now. Because who knows what will happen. When I first started, I only had like 200 followers for a whole year, and then my business just boosted up out of nowhere. I feel it’s important to never give up on yourself and to believe in yourself over anyone. Don’t pay attention to what other people say, because at the end of the day, people will be there to support and assist you. So, I feel like if you are wanting to start a business, you should just go for it.
What’s the next step for you and Munchiezznsweetzz?
I’m really trying to reach 10,000 followers. I know that’s a lot but that’s my biggest goal. If I could reach 1,000, then I can definitely reach 10,000. I don’t feel like I need to be higher than that, but if I do get more that’s cool. That’s the biggest step for me. I don’t know if I actually want to own a store or do a truck yet. I feel like I’m getting a new house soon though and if I just work from my own house that would be better for right now. And I am looking into hiring people, not at the moment, not until I get my own things settled down first.
Munchiezznsweetzz operates between the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily. Currently, she has a Valentines Day giveaway going with the grand prizes of strawberry crunch cookies and strawberry crunch tres leches cake. Be sure to visit the Munchiezznsweetzz Instagram page to see more of her specials and to place your order.
Embracing the spirit of the holiday season, Youth Services shuttled several dozen excited kids to Seattle for the unveiling of WildLanterns – a brand new experience at Woodland Park Zoo that is illuminated by large-scale animal and nature scape lanterns.
“We were particularly excited for this event because we know the holidays can be a financial strain for families, and by providing dinner, transportation, and zoo tickets we were doing what we could to create a memorable holiday experience,” explained Sarah Murphy, Youth Enrichment Manager. “In the days leading up to this trip, you could hear kids in the Youth Services building talking about it and asking their friends and cousins if they were going to go. Now that we’re here, you can definitely see the excitement on their faces. And for me, that’s the best part is witnessing their excitement and knowing they can have fun on and off the reservation.”
The youth, along with their chaperones, traversed through the zoo’s Mystical Forest where stunning creatures gleamed brightly. They then embarked on a journey through the bright Desert Highway to see desert flora and fauna. Imagination took flight in the Birds of Paradise Zone, where magnificent peacocks flaunted their flamboyant plumes and birds of a feather perched above on enchanted branches.
Izzy Wolftail enjoyed everything WildLanterns had to offer while being both an event chaperone and proud father to his children in attendance. “The kids are just loving all the lights and attractions, especially the interactive jump pads,” shared Izzy what walking along the Mystical Forest with the kids. “I have a 7 and 9-year-old here, too, and they keep saying they want to see everything, and we better not be missing any cool displays.
“As a tribal member and a father, I’m so grateful the Tribe gives my kids and, really, all our kids opportunities like this,” he continued. “Shoot, I’m enjoying being here and soaking in all the excitement, too. This experience is making good memories for my family to look back on one day.”
During Izzy’s interview, his 7-year-old daughter Marilyn gleefully exclaimed, “It’s so much fun! Have you seen the monkeys? If not, you better check them out!”
If you have yet to experience Woodland Park’s WildLanterns, there is still plenty of time. The illuminated zoo attraction is running from 4:00pm to 9:00pm now through January 19, 2025. Tickets can be purchased online at www.zoo.org/wildlanterns
At the behest of young Marilyn Wolftail, be sure to check out them monkeys.
