Category: News

Commemorating the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

The scenic town of Mukilteo is home to the new Washington State ferry terminal and whether rain or shine, the views of Possession Sound, which the ferries travel, are quite captivating. During a quick walk around the ferry terminal, one can take in all the beautiful artwork, traditional language, and rich history of the original people of this land. As the signage indicates, that particular area of the Washington State ferry terminal is where close to 5,000 Salish People met with US government officials to negotiate the terms of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. 

“This land is so important to us,” expressed Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin while at a recent gathering at Mukilteo. “It’s where our ancestors had longhouses. We signed the Point Elliott Treaty here. All of our tribes used these waterways like our freeways to go from one place to another, and we have many relatives at all these different tribes. Our people met here together, and all agreed to sign the treaty. By ceding that land, from the water to the mountains, they guaranteed us our treaty rights for future generations. I’m so glad that our ancestors thought about that when they did that, because they were trying to protect our tribes.”

On January 21st, many tribal members from across the Puget Sound region, including Tulalip, Swinomish, and Lummi, will be taking time to commemorate the signing of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott in an annual tradition known as Treaty Days. This year marks 168 years since the treaty was signed and 111 years since William Shelton organized the first potlatch under the guise of celebrating the treaty. 

Through Treaty Days, William Shelton preserved his culture during the era of boarding schools and assimilation efforts. Following the burning of longhouses and the relocation of tribes, William convinced the Tulalip Superintendent and the U.S. Secretary of Interior to allow the construction of a longhouse on the shore of Tulalip Bay, where the descendants of the signatories of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott could gather and celebrate the treaty once a year.

“It’s spiritual healing,” explained Tribal member, Celum Hatch. “When I go, it’s because of the strength of everybody’s songs. The strength within those four walls gets me through the next couple of months. When I go in there I go with a good head, because I know what I’m going in with, I’m not walking out with. I go for healing, and I go to help everyone else and support them.”

Treaty Days is an event that tribal members across the region look forward to attending every year. Although the original longhouse, which William Shelton convinced the government to build, was replaced in the sixties, people continue to meet at the historical location every January for the commemoration of the treaty. Within the walls of the longhouse, innumerable teachings of the culture and traditions are passed along and kept alive. Many of those songs, dances, spiritual practices, and stories made it through the passage of time and are still practiced 111 years later.

“Treaty Days is really important to me because all of us, as sduhubš people, come from that longhouse way of life. That’s just who we are,” expressed Tribal member, Roselle Fryberg. “That’s the way our ancestors prayed, that was their healing, that’s how they protected their families. And it was also a way for our people to celebrate our treaty at a time when practicing our culture was outlawed, and we were thrown in jail for singing and dancing.”

For a little historical background, the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott was signed by those tribal leaders with their future generations in mind. Altogether, the tribes ceded upwards of 5 million acres of their ancestral lands to the United States government for white settlement. That vast amount of land presently makes up Washington State’s King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. 

The treaty established current day reservations including the Tulalip, Port Madison, Swinomish and Lummi reservations. Through the signing of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, the US government acknowledged each tribe as a sovereign nation. And in exchange for ceding such large portions of their ancestral homelands, the tribes reserved the right to fish at usual and accustomed grounds and stations, as well as the right to hunt and gather on open and unclaimed lands.

Said Tulalip Elder, Virginia Carpenter, “The treaty is important to me because it gives us a permanent place to live and because it gives us all of our rights. If we didn’t have the treaty, we really wouldn’t have anything, they would’ve kicked us off of our land. It’s an umbrella for us to live safely and the way we want to live.”

Ever since the treaties were signed in the late 1800’s, tribal nations across America have worked diligently to protect and defend their treaty rights when the US government attempted to ignore or defy the supreme law of the land for its own agenda. Because of those rights that the tribal ancestors fought to include in the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, each Tribe has grown and persevered over the years, with the ability to govern their own affairs while also continuing their traditional way of life. 

If you wish to view the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott in its entirety, a  copy is currently on display at the Hibulb Cultural Center as a part of their The Power of Words: A History of Tulalip Literacy exhibit. For further details including pricing and hours of operation, please contact the museum at (360) 716-2600 or visit their website, www.HibulbCulturalCenter.org.

This year’s Treaty Days Potlatch will be held at the Tulalip Longhouse on January 21st. This event is intended for tribal members only. For more information, please refer to your tribal leadership or, if available, check out your Tribe’s tribal member-only Facebook group. 

“Our treaties are everything as Native American people,” stated Tribal member, Josh Fryberg. “We need to protect our treaties as much as possible and thank our ancestors for fighting for what we have today. Without everything they suffered for, we wouldn’t have a lot of things we have today as far as our fishing and hunting rights, and also being Native American in general – to be able to sing our songs, carry our culture and preserve that for our future generations.”

Strengthening Tulalip sovereignty and building relationships in D.C.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The White House is pleased to announce the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of the Interion in Washington, D.C.

Building on the 2021 Summit and the progress made to strengthen our Nation-to-Nation relationships and invest record levels of resources in Tribal communities, we look forward to hosting a robust and meaningful engagement with Tribal leaders on important issues facing Tribal communities. The Summit will feature new Administration announcements and efforts to implement key policy initiatives supporting Tribal communities.

The Biden-Harris Administration is deeply committed to honoring its trust and treaty responsibilities to federally recognized Tribes, and this Summit provides an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with officials in the highest levels of the Administration.

The preceding paragraphs were the opening sentiments expressed in a letter written on behalf of the White House to Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin, inviting her to the Tribal Nations Summit held on November 30th and December 1st, 2022. She accepted the invitation, of course, and journeyed to the nation’s capital to represent her Tulalip people as best she could.

Much excitement came with this summit as it was the second one held by the Biden Administration, but, even more notably, it was the first one held in-person in six years. The exclusive guest list was reserved for one government representative per Tribe, which resulted in a truly once-in-a-life-time White House visit for the Tribal leaders who travelled from all across Indian Country to convene as sovereigns with the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden.

“To all the Tribal leaders: Thank you. Thank you for being here and for your partnership,” remarked President Biden during the summit’s opening session. “I made a commitment when I ran for President…that my administration would prioritize and respect nation-to-nation relationships. And I’m going to make sure that happens.

Deborah Parker, Chairwoman Gobin and senior attorney Lisa Koop in the nation’s capital. 

“I hope our work in the past two years has demonstrated that we’re meeting that commitment. That’s why I re-launched this convening and elevated an event into a White House Tribal Nations Summit after the previous administration failed to convene any events, anything on this scale. On my watch, we’re ushering in a new era for the federal government to work with Tribal nations.  And it starts by appointing Native Americans to lead the frontlines of my administration.

“Starting with Secretary Haaland, we’ve followed dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials, over 60 Native American appointees all across my administration, including in the federal court,” continued President Biden. “I restored the White House Council on Native American Affairs to improve interagency coordination and decision-making. Together, I emphasize the word together, my entire administration is advancing the economic agenda and making historic investments in Indian Country that are long overdue.”

The particular summit provided opportunities for Tribal leaders to engage with members of the Biden Administration in robust and meaningful discussions that are foundational to strengthening nation-to-nation relationships. By being able to convene in-person once again, the conversations were even more meaningful when issues facing Tribal communities were brought up, which they routinely were.

Chairwoman Gobin presented Secretary Deb Haaland with a beaded staff made by Tulalip artist Richard “2 Dogs” Muir.

This year’s summit included presentations from President Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Secretary Deb Haaland. It also included panel discussions with representatives from the Department of Education, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, the White House Climate Policy Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.

A definite highlight of Chairwoman Gobin’s summit was when she got to sit front and center on a panel dedicated to discussing Tribal strategies and priorities on the hot button issues of public safety and justice. Her fellow panelists were Chairman Peter Yucupicio (Pascua Yaqui Tribe), associate attorney general Vanita Gupta (United States), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (Dept. of Homeland Security) and Secretary Deb Haaland (Dept. of Interior).

Specifically, Chairwoman Gobin was asked to speak on the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and how it impacts her home reservation. “Tulalip was one of the first Tribal courts to exercise the special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction under VAWA 2013…we made 15 arrests in that first year. However, one of the things we noticed was that half of the incidents involving the non-Natives included crimes against our children, which weren’t covered by VAWA 2013,” she explained. 

“We used this data and other data we had to show why it was so important to extend protections to Native American victims of sexual violence, stalking, trafficking, and child abuse,” added Chairwoman Gobin. “The VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022 was a huge win for public safety in our community, especially for our women and children. VAWA 2022 was a necessary second step. Now, we are looking to build upon that momentum and do more.”

Within Tribal communities, it is well known that public safety and justice are entangled in a complex web of Treaties, federal acts, state laws, and lots of Supreme Court decisions that conflict with each other. This entanglement creates an incredibly complex situation when it comes to Tribes protecting their own people from violence, and pursuing justice for their people who’ve been victimized by non-Native offenders.

However, recent mainstream spotlight and federal focus on these Native American social issues, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and the atrocities committed during the Boarding School Era, have amplified attention to the high rates of violence experienced over multiple generations. In these times, it’s become imperative for the movers and shakers of Washington, D.C. to actually engage with Tribal leaders in order to ask questions and seek valuable insight on realistic strategies that can foster long-term improvements to public safety. 

In that regards, the White House Tribal Nations Summit was a huge success. Elected leadership and officials from Tribes from all across Indian Country were at the decision-making table, while D.C. lawmakers listened and learned. In that sovereignty affirming space, Tulalip’s voice was heard and its knowledge valued through the heartfelt messaged conveyed by Tulalip’s own Chairwoman.

The rise in Tribal grandparent guardianship

By Shaelyn Smead, Tulalip News

Family issues surrounding chemical dependency, domestic violence, and homelessness have created a continued upward trend of Native grandparents obtaining guardianship over their grandchildren.

Traditionally speaking, the concept isn’t too far off from how our ancestors raised their kids. For centuries before us, Native people thrived through communal operations. Rather than families only being responsible for their ‘own,’ families worked together, raised children together, and depended on one another frequently. 

Historically Native grandparents helped raise children in their community out of choice and tradition. However, with certain struggles that today’s world brings, grandparent guardianship has become more about necessity and intervention. Native grandparents have become the glue for many Native households trying to keep their families together. 

Family Haven manager Alison Bowen recognized that grandparent guardianship is nothing new to Tulalip. Still, she has witnessed the increase in the trend as well, “We mostly see grandparents offer to help and take over guardianship. It says a lot about their love for their family and keeping the kids close, safe, and surrounded by their community. Beda?chelh has also taken great strides at approving kinship care and allowing that to happen, which is wonderful,” she said.

Other than some of the obvious struggles that derive from family distress, grandparents, in particular, have their own set of adjusting and obstacles to overcome. A big hurdle is the difference in generations. Many have raised their children in a completely different era and environment than they are now in.

“Understanding concepts around bullying, social media, drugs, and technology are all new to them. Fifty years ago, they might have had a version of these struggles, but as time has progressed, so have these parental stresses. They are being exposed to these new situations and have to adapt quickly,” Alison said. 

The success of these grandparents weighs heavily on the amount of support that they have. A 2019 Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology studied Montana’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project’s stressors, resources, and resiliency of rural Native and European American custodial grandparents. In short, the research found that 33% of the Native grandparents suffered from economic distress and were ill-prepared to financially accommodate the needs of childrearing. They also found that living on reservations or small communities brought shame, guilt, and fear of gossip that challenged the uptake of services when eligible.

It was argued that due to Native Americans’ history of traumas from colonialism, cultural genocide, forced relocation to reservations, and residential boarding schools, Native American grandparents suffered a higher level of depressive symptoms. On the other hand, because of these historical events, it forced Native Americans to adapt, and the grandparents scored a higher level of resiliency than their European American counterparts. 

Alison spoke about her admiration for Tulalip grandparents taking on this new role, “To settle down and retire, and then to choose to repeat the childrearing chapter of their lives, is so amazing. You can feel the love that they have for their grandchildren. And whenever kids can stay in their family or community, they feel more connected and like they belong. That’s what any child wants,” she said. 

An anonymous tribal grandparent shared their story, similar to many other grandparents holding guardianship. They obtained guardianship over their four great nieces and nephews in 2020 due to parental mental health and addiction-related issues. Raising four kids under eight years old, lack of energy, exposure to new technology, and adapting to new parenting styles were all obstacles the grandparents had to overcome. But they look at this time in their life to better themselves and have a second shot at parenthood.

The anonymous grandparent spoke about not having parents and how they didn’t want these kids to experience that same trauma, “It was not a question at all when we took them in. We love them, and we had to keep our family together. We wanted their parents to be sober and care for their kids because they were once awesome parents. But it’s just not what happened. We struggled at first in our transition because this wasn’t what we had planned for our life, but we shifted our thoughts and started saying- ‘this is our life,’” they said.

The grandparent also shared their gratitude for how their family has come together and helped them with raising the kids. They expressed how TANF and Beda?chelh have been substantial resources for them.

“The biggest thing I could say to other grandparents experiencing this transition is to enjoy the moment, enjoy the children, and find your support system. Kids are a blessing and can motivate you in ways you haven’t thought of before,” they said. 

Many resources are available for Tulalip families in distress, including Family Advocacy’s programs like Beda?chelh, funding through TANF, Child Advocacy, and Legacy of Healing. Child Youth and Family (CYF) Mental Wellness also provides individual and family therapy, transportation services, and referrals to various psychological services. Additionally, Family Haven provides Teen Outreach Program, Tulalip Peer Support Program, MOMs Group, parenting classes, Family Spirit Home Visiting Program, and the Family Preservation Program.

If you or someone you know needs services, please contact Beda?chelh and Family Haven at 3607163284, Family Advocacy at 3607164320, or CYF Mental Wellness at 3607164224.

After 16 years of leading the Tulalip Gaming Organization, Ken Kettler retires

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Ken Kettler came to Tulalip in 2006 with over three decades of gaming leadership experience. He served in a variety of executive and managerial positions with Harrah’s Entertainment for twenty-seven years, before spending the next five years as the General Manager of the Agua Caliente Casino in California. Then, from 2006 – 2022, Ken ushered in an era of financial prosperity that resulted in Tulalip’s gaming enterprise growing from infant to powerhouse.

As long-time, former Board of Director Glen Gobin recalled, the decision to bring Ken on as President of the Tulalip Gaming Organization came in an auspicious time; when Tulalip leadership was struggling to find a unified vision for its fledgling Tulalip Casino. 

“At that time in 2006, prior to Ken, we were a floundering organization going through managers left and right. There were a number of growing pains from trying to develop a business that was brand new to us, and going through 13 managers in about as many years was a huge concern. I happened to be on Tribal Council when we interviewed Ken and it was apparent right away that he shared our dream to make Tulalip a true resort complex.

“Our surrounding competition was getting better and we knew we had to elevate ourselves in order to stay at the forefront,” Glen continued. “After hiring Ken, we quickly started down on the path to making Tulalip a resort destination. With Ken’s expertise and gaming experience, we built a hotel and in doing so created a place where people wanted to come and spend a night or two. We’ve only continued to grow since then, and I for one don’t think we’d be enjoying the financial prosperity we are today if it wasn’t for Ken’s leadership.”

Showered with well wishes and heartwarming memories, the most successful and longest tenured President of the Tulalip Gaming Operation was celebrated with a retirement ceremony in late December. There was no setting more fitting that the Resort Casino’s Orca Ballroom. Attendees formed an intimate gathering of friends, family and business colleagues that brought tears to the Kettler family as they were overjoyed to see how their father was embraced by leadership and elders.

The ceremony started with traditional songs offered by Tulalip youth, led by their cultural liaisons Deyamonta Diaz and Tony Hatch.

“We’re honored to be here today to honor Ken with a couple songs,” said former Board of Director Tony Hatch. “We thank him for all his years of dedication to our people. What better way to show the impact of all the work he’s done than to have your youngest generation share a song in their traditional language? Because Ken’s legacy reaches far beyond the casinos. All he’s created for us is certainly going to positively impact and benefit these kids for years to come. It’s only right then that they and us show our appreciation in a traditional way, with a song.”

For the last sixteen years, Ken was responsible for overseeing the operations of all three properties that make up the Tulalip Gaming Organization: Tulalip Resort Casino, Quil Ceda Creek Casino and Tulalip Bingo. Their overwhelming success during his tenure is also noted as resulting in an unprecedented cash infusion to the Tulalip citizenship, from gradually increasing per capita payments to larger and larger bonuses given out prior to the holidays. Not to mention all the infrastructure, services, and programs that have been developed over that time span that have benefitted multiple generations of Tulalip families. 

“I’ve been the manager/director of Bingo for twenty-five years, the last sixteen of which were under Ken’s leadership,” explained Tammy Taylor. “Ken always told us that ‘we’re better together’, and we are. Every one of us are better together. I’m honored for my children, my grandchildren, and all the children of our Tulalip community and generations to come because they are going to have so many things that benefit their life, things that we can’t even imagine, that are a direct result of what Ken helped create here. That is Ken’s legacy. All my grandchildren know his name and how important he is. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Ken for making us all better.”

While he presided over the Tribe’s gaming enterprise, Ken also served as an active member of the Tulalip Marysville Chamber of Commerce, the Snohomish YMCA Board of Trustees, and the Tulalip Lions Club. He’s also noted as an integral part of building the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club Auction into the annual fundraising juggernaut it is today. 

For all his tireless dedication to Tulalip, Ken was also honored with a family necklace by Glen Gobin and wrapped in a Pendleton blanket by Marci Fryberg and April Brisbois.

“We are so, so grateful for having Ken’s leadership for sixteen years. With him in charge, our revenue has grown so much and allows our community to be positively impacted for generations,” said Tulalip Vice-Chairwoman Misty Napeahi. “We were an infant organization when he came to us, muddling along and doing our best but not getting the results we wanted. Then Ken pulled us together, unified our vision, and made us into the powerhouse we are today. On behalf of Tulalip, my hands go up to you.”

As Ken walks into the green pastures of retirement, he is succeeded as TGO President by Tulalip tribal member Marci Fryberg. 

Ryan’s REZ-ipes named King 5 ‘Best Food Truck 2022’

By Kalvin Valdillez; photos courtesy of Ryan Gobin. 

It was nothing but love in the comment section of Ryan’s REZ-ipes’ most recent Facebook posts. While some fondly recollected about Ryan Gobin’s early beginnings inside the blue concession trailer in front of Tulalip Bay CrossFit gym, others listed their favorite dishes by one of the most in-demand food trucks and catering services in the Pacific Northwest. “I need me a shrimp n’ steak rice bowl,” said Magdelina Spencer. Jim and Rhenee Florian commented, “We were just there and had your nacho cheese smash burgers, kalbi burrito, fries and cinnamon sugary frybread. SO Good!”. And Melissa Peacock simply shared, “Those smash burgers… heaven!”

Among the hundreds of congratulatory comments, perhaps the most heartfelt came from some of Ryan’s fellow Tulalip community members who beamed with pride about his rise to fame in the food industry. Samantha Rose stated, “So great watching your growth! Great job Ryan!”. “Congratulations! It’s a blessing watching your journey. Keep growing your dreams,” encouraged Sunshine Jess. Elena Wilson, who also cooks on the 2022 Best Food Truck, shared, “Congratulations for all your hard work and dedication to loving the food you serve. [It] means a lot to everyone who shows up to the truck. You earned it, you the best.”

After years of service to his community as a Tulalip Police Officer, Ryan made the courageous decision to follow his lifetime passion in 2016 – a passion that was developed in his adolescent years and inspired by all the cooks within his very own family. After soaking up all the knowledge his family could offer in the art of cuisine, he began experimenting and creating his own recipes. Today, Ryan has thousands of devoted followers hailing from all across the country who love his unique and tasty dishes. 

“I am forever grateful and deeply appreciative for all the support I’ve been given by my family and friends from our Tulalip community for supporting me in my food truck journey,” Ryan shared. “I was recently nominated by King 5 Evening News as the number one food truck in Western Washington. It’s a huge achievement for me, because I’ve worked very hard over the past five years to get where I am today, and I never let anything stop me.”

Now don’t get it twisted, Ryan’s food could easily speak for itself – it is that delicious. However, he has worked his ass off ever since he decided to start his culinary endeavor, not only in the kitchen but on the business end as well. Over the years he went from a local trailer to an upgraded sleek blue food truck that travels around western Washington serving up the likes of frybread, truffle fries, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, the ever-popular smash burgers, shrimp bowls and a variety of weekly specials and experimental dishes. In addition to investing in a new truck and cultivating a strong following, Ryan has also expanded his services to include catering for large parties to enjoy his food. He has also worked numerous corporate events, baby showers, weddings, and other gatherings. 

Said Ryan, “There have been many hurdles, failures, and lots of sacrifices over the years, but I kept pushing forward in a good way with passion and drive to show my kids and others that you can really do anything you put your mind to. The way I see it is this – if you give up because it gets difficult, it’ll never be a success. Never give up!”

The Tulalip chef and entrepreneur serves as an inspiration to many, and he is quick to share his success and guidance with those on the same career path. He humbly expressed, “To me, other food trucks or other food vendors are not my competition. We are all attempting to achieve the same goals – creating amazing foods and making others happy when they eat it, and also supporting our families at the same time. We should all support and help one another. Recently, I had the food truck at the Tulalip Amphitheater for the Lights and Ice Festival, that was such a beautifully set up event full of Tulalip tribal food vendors and everyone supported one another as a big family. That’s what it’s all about! It was all love and warmth together.”

To get an idea of how amazing it is to receive recognition from King 5’s Best in Western Washington Awards, Ryan joins the likes of PNW heavy hitters such as the best taco award winner, Taco Time, and the best burger award winner Dick’s Drive-In. If you have yet to experience the mouth-watering food at Ryan’s REZ-ipes, be sure to follow his Facebook and Instagram pages for the most up-to-date menu items and all the locations that they plan to visit.  

After winning the Best Food Truck of 2022 award, Ryan took to Facebook and shared, “This just goes to show how far you can get when you have an amazing support system at home, have a great team through the years, and never give up! Cheers to many more years of progress and expansions!”

Congratulations to Ryan and the entire Ryan’s REZ-ipes crew. We are excited to see what’s next up on the menu for his tribal member-owned business.

A future for unhoused tribal members

By Shaelyn Smead, Tulalip News

On December 19, Tulalip Tribes hosted the ribbon cutting and blessing for the newly built extension of Village of Hope. The intimate community consists of 17 one- and two-bedroom tiny homes created as permanent residences for unhoused tribal members. Of the 17 tiny houses, seven residents moved in before Christmas, and the other ten are moving in this new year. 

The Village of Hope’s extension project was created in 2018 and overseen by the Executive Director of tribal Services, Teri Nelson. It is the first permanent housing available for unhoused tribal members. Compared to the temporary transitional housing that Tulalip has, tenants can stay for as long as they need if they follow the community requirements and their case manager’s expectations.

Teri said, “I’ve been to many conferences and serve on Snohomish County Partnership to End Homelessness as the tribal government board member. Permanent housing has been proven to be more successful than transitional housing. They [residents] don’t have the stressor of the ticking clock, counting down to the moment when they have to move out. Whatever barriers they face, like credit issues, claiming an address, seeking employment, obtaining a driver’s license, etc., they have as much time as they need to accomplish it and better focus on their goals.” 

The project was submitted to the Board of Directors in 2019, where they quickly approved the concept.  The initiative was shaped more definitively after a stakeholder survey was sent out to community members in 2020. After seeing the high demand for shelters and concerns about chemical dependency, an examination of Snohomish County’s statistics for unhoused people was also taken into consideration. All these helped assess the number of homes needed and the specific needs the Village would strive to provide. 

The parcel for the Village was chosen based on its proximity to Behavioral Health, medical care, child care, and other support services that the residents would utilize later on. After seeing the progress with tiny homes and pallet shelters for unhoused communities in various rural areas, it was decided that this would be the route for Village of Hope. 

For a project initiated in 2018, the Village of Hope had obstacles to overcome. Due to various landscaping and covid-related complications, the project took much longer than anticipated. Tulalip’s primary source of income from the casinos took a hit during the pandemic, making the project’s financial status questionable. Inflation was starting to affect supply costs, and the demand for help increased. Ultimately after putting out bids in 2021, native-owned Reece Construction won and began to build. To help finance this project, the Village of Hope received funding from the Tulalip Foundation, the state Department of Commerce, and tribal government.  

Covid-19 regulations during that time also affected the design and structure of the homes. The initial goal was to have a kitchen within the community building for tenants to use, but with extremely limited gatherings allowed, the plan no longer seemed feasible. The designs for the homes were quickly changed to include kitchenettes for each home.

In the hopes of Covid-19 lifting, the Village of Hope built a community building where tenants can gather, do their laundry, utilize the computer work center, partake in cultural practices, and break bread.

In addition, the Village of Hope wanted its tenants to start on the right foot. The units were set to be fully furnished and include household items like pots, pans, bedding, dinnerware, etc. Each tenant has access to tribal resources, such as medical care, behavioral health care, employment training, counseling services, cultural services, education, vocational training, and more.

The Village had approximately 27 applicants, but the 17 residents chosen were based on the severity of their situations. Each tenant was also designated a case manager to help them set and achieve their goals, ensure they’re following community guidelines, and set them up for success. As each tenant’s case is unique, so are specific requirements.

Teri said that the potential tenants worked closely with tribal staff to help create the community guidelines. “We wanted to create a sense of agency. They’re the ones that are going to have to work at it every day, and if they don’t feel like they have a voice in it, then it might make accomplishing their goals more difficult. We wanted to empower them to build their community and support each other,” She said.

Overall, to apply for the Village’s permanent housing and maintain their residency, they must obey the curfew, the tenants must remain sober, they must meet a specific financial status, have an enrolled tribal member living within the unit, and have zero history of sexual crimes/offenses.

With an understanding of the demand to help tribal homelessness, plans are already being set to build additional housing and accommodate tribal members struggling. 

Board Secretary Debra Posey was at the ribbon cutting and spoke fondly about the efforts made toward the Village. “This is what a tribe does. A tribe is about its people and the well-being of its members, and I’m grateful that our people have this opportunity to get out of the cold and start something new. My hands go up to the people who made this possible and the people moving in and beginning their journey. May they finally have some comfort,” Deborah said. 

As the moving day came for some tenants, they were overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotion, with some even comparing the experience to the television show Extreme Makeover. Teri noted, “The world is changing so quickly, and some people could be only two paychecks away from losing their home. And that is exactly what happened to some of these people. Homelessness isn’t an identity, it’s people that are experiencing homelessness.”

If you or someone you know require tribal transitional housing, don’t hesitate to get in touch with dparks@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to see if you qualify. 

Tulalip Bay Fire brings holiday cheer while raising donations

By Shaelyn Smead, Tulalip News

On December 9-10, the Tulalip Bay Fire Department hosted its annual Santa Run. The department helped spread holiday cheer while collecting non-perishable foods and monetary donations to support the food bank at the Tulalip Church of God.

All around Tulalip, people could hear a mix of sirens, Christmas music, and a jolly, “Ho Ho Ho” from honorary guest, Santa! A firetruck covered in lights and candy canes led the Fire Department parade, as five more trucks and engines followed shortly behind. Families rushed from their houses and stood anxiously by the edge of the road, anticipating their arrival. Children grinned from ear to ear as they ran up to Santa and announced their Christmas wishes. Ole Saint Nick was spotted running up to doors, handing out candy canes, yelling “Merry Christmas,” and asking people of all ages whether they are on the naughty or nice list this year. 

A Santa tracker was available again for this year’s event on the Tulalip Bay Fire Department’s Facebook page, where community members could follow Santa’s GPS location and see which neighborhood he was visiting in real-time. 

Some of the Tulalip areas visited were: 

  • Madison Estates 
  • Tulare
  • Spee-Bi-Dah
  • Tulalip Shores 
  • 83rd Pl Nw
  • Hermosa
  • 43rd St NW
  • Potlach 
  • 56th St NW to 62nd St NW
  • Y-Site
  • Mission Ave 
  • Battle Creek
  • Walter Moses Jr Dr/28th Dr. NW
  • Ezra Hatch RD/ Larry Price Loop Rd
  • Mission Highlands
  • Silver Village

Tulalip Firefighter and Paramedic Lindsay Ross, who has participated in the Santa Run for the past six years said, “This is our community that we take care of daily. We love being able to do this every year, to give back and share these memories with them. We love hanging out with the kids, but we also love visiting the elders. I know they’re a big part of the population and an important part of this community, so visiting and bringing them that Christmas spirit is important to us.”

An abundance of households were prepared to help those less fortunate as firefighters rounded up their canned goods, non-perishables, and monetary donations. 

On December 12, several Tulalip firefighters drove to the Tulalip Church of God to make a special delivery. With hundreds of pounds of food and a $904 check, the Tulalip Church of God was overwhelmingly thankful for everything that was donated by the community. 

“We are so blessed to be partnered with the Tulalip Bay Fire Department and to have such a good relationship with the Tulalip community. Everyone has been so good to us and has made it possible for us to continue helping others. I think this was our biggest Santa Run donation yet!” said the Food Bank Manager Charolette Petrie. 

The food bank is available to community members and is open every Tuesday throughout the year. Contributions from events like the Santa Run help the food bank tremendously and allow more families to get the food they need. Much like the Thanksgiving baskets distributed earlier this year, Christmas baskets will also be given out to anyone in need. If you would like to donate to the Tulalip Church of God, please visit the church at 1330 Marine Dr. NE, Tulalip, WA, or contact them at (360) 653-7876.

TPD Officers and their families celebrate with Santa and Mrs. Claus

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The mission of the Tulalip Police Department is solely based on service to Tulalip’s 2,700 or so citizens who live on the Reservation and the even higher number of non-Tulalips who make up the greater on-Reservation community. The office of the Chief of Police and his many supporting staff considers it their duty and privilege to protect all citizens living within the 22,000-acre sovereign nation that is Tulalip from crime, but also to protect and defend the rights guaranteed under the Tulalip Tribes Constitution.

For all that they do for Tulalip, the entire police department was invited to partake in a special holiday celebration with their families on December 6th in the Orca Ballroom.  

“A huge thank for all the work you do on behalf of this Tribe,” said Chairwoman Teri Gobin. “You each play a critical role in keeping our people safe. We’ve come a long way over the past few decades. As our membership has grown, our business ventures have grown, and our police force has grown. I want to let each and every one of you know that you are valued and appreciated.”

“Like Madam Chair said, I want to thank all of you for being here tonight and allowing us to celebrate you,” added Vice-Chairwoman Misty Napeahi. “We know how much your families have to sacrifice because of your commitment to keep our community safe. This means working the weekends and holidays, missing your children’s game days and award ceremonies, and other special family moments so that you can fulfill your duty to protect and serve Tulalip. My hands go up to every single family member in this room because its through your support that our officers can truly thrive.”

For the officers and support staff who brought their kids along, they were greeted by guest appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children screeched with glee to chat, hug, and take a keepsake photo with their Christmas icons. 

While filling their bellies with an assortment of eats from the 4-Diamond catered buffet, officers enjoyed a rare night off to relax with their families and speak casually with Board of Directors Teri, Misty, and Mel Sheldon as they made their rounds to each table. 

As the evening celebration concluded, Chief Sutter reflected, “This was really a great night for all our unsung heroes. They were able to enjoy the moment with their families. For me, seeing officers laugh and smile with their kids while taking picture with Santa and Mrs. Clause was so cool. Our professional often keeps us from having the time to create these special moments, so it really was amazing to see the simple joys of family and friends having light-hearted fun together.” 

Santa and his reindeer visit Tulalip

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

It was a full house at the Don Hatch Youth Center on the evening of December 12th as families gathered for some Christmastime fun during the Tulalip Education Division’s Holiday Celebration. Loaded with fun holiday-themed activities, the youth beamed with excitement and joy as they visited the many stations at the celebration. And to help set the yuletide vibe, DJ Monie kept the crowd amped throughout the night by playing all the Christmas classics and some new mixes as well.  

“We went with a little bit of a variety,” said Danielle Fryberg, Tulalip Education Division Executive Assistant and lead organizer of the Holiday Celebration. “We had cookie decorating, ornament making, stocking coloring; there was a hot cocoa station and everyone really loved that. I think it’s important to have holiday events for the kids. This is a fun time for us to come together as a community and see each other and be with our friends and family.”

A beautiful Christmas dinner was served at the Greg Williams Court. And while attendees enjoyed their meal, they were treated to the beloved Christmas flick, Elf, on an extra-large projection screen. And because the celebration was a three-hour event, Elf was followed by another holiday comedy, Christmas Vacation.

“It’s really important to bring people together to spread holiday cheer, be one as a community, and do fun activities together, and enjoy each other’s time and company,” expressed Jessica Bustad, Executive Director of the Tulalip Education Division.

On the grassy area between the Greg Williams Court and the teen center, Santa Clause parked two of his reindeer before he went inside to take photos with all the families for the evening. Kids of all ages were astounded to see the reindeer adorned with sleigh bells, and they quickly formed a line to meet, pet, and feed the reindeer. Many of the youngins made multiple trips to check on the magical mammals, perhaps to make sure they didn’t fly off to the North Pole without jolly old St. Nicholas. And speaking of Santa, he had quite the busy trip to Tulalip this year as close to one-hundred boys and girls shared a conversation with him before posing for a photo in his sleigh.

The Education Division also hosted a book fair during the Holiday Celebration, and everyone in attendance had the opportunity to select a book to take home and read over the upcoming winter break.

“Anytime the bookfair is here, I get super excited to watch all the kids pick out books,” Jessica stated. “We love books. We’re the education division; we love learning, and we feel it’s important for every child to have books in their homes. Winter break is coming up and our hope is that they’ll have some books at home during the break that they can read. Reading is fun and we need the parents and adults of the community to help the children feel that.”

Everybody who was in attendance of the Holiday Celebration dressed in festive attire; some wore Christmas PJs, others wore Santa hats, but nearly everyone wore an ugly Christmas sweater. At the midway point of the party, DJ Monie announced the start of an ugly Christmas sweater contest. Split into three categories; kids, teens, and adults, the contest helped showcase the creativity and humor of the contestants. Some of the contestants took the time to personalize their sweaters by adding additional decorations, and others simply wore a sweater featuring their favorite characters such as the Grinch, Stitch, and Buddy the elf.  

“That was fun and exciting,” said Ugly Sweater Contest participant, Sandy Pitchforth. “It was great to see all the kids who participated. The highlight of the night for me was all the crafts that were available for the children, and just being able to do things together. It was fun and we’re looking forward to the next events to happen.”

The evening ended with a raffle giveaway and each winner walked away with the gift of their choosing ranging from toys and fishing poles, to air fryers and Bluetooth speaker systems. The Tulalip Education Division’s mission to spread holiday cheer was a great success as the kids left with gifts in their hands, smiles on their faces, and memories to last a lifetime. 

“I won a raffle prize and chose a speaker because I love music,” young Sophia Williams excitedly shared. “We love playing Christmas music loud and I’m really excited to use it for that. My little cousin also won and picked a volleyball for some reason. My favorite part tonight was making a stocking, hanging out with my friend, and just having a good time. This [Holiday Celebration] helps make the community a better place for us all.”

The Education Division has plenty more Christmas joy to spread and have a number of events coming up including the Tulalip Youth Council’s Winter Break Kick-Off and the Holiday Powwow. They also have a Christmas Break schedule for those youth (grades 6th-12th) who wish to take part in a movie outing on 12/19, Ice Skating on 12/20, a Christmas Party on 12/21, and Christmas Bingo on 12/22. For more details, please contact the teen center at (360) 716- 4909.

Said Jessica, “The Tulalip Education Division wants to send love and prayers out to our community. We hope everyone has a safe and fun winter break. And we encourage you to keep learning, keep growing your brains, and have fun doing it.”

Festival of Trees raises a record $1.6 million for Providence Children’s Services

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Extravagantly festive Christmas trees and wreaths adorned the Orca Ballroom at the Tulalip Resort Casino during the 37th annual Festival of Trees. The multi-day holiday fundraiser kicked off November 3rd with a free community day and teddy bear celebration. Opportunities to give generously via an online auction accompanied the much anticipated, excitement-filled Holiday Gala and Live Auction held in-person on December 2nd. 

Each year, thousands of community members take part in the Festival of Trees – including volunteers, sponsors, and attendees – to raise funds for Children’s Services at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. For more than three decades, Providence Children’s Center has been providing comprehensive, family-oriented care and highly specialized therapies; such as physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapy for children with a wide variety of special needs.

“Knowing this is one of the largest charitable events for Snohomish County, it is appropriate for us to host and participate with good will and sharing the opportunity to help all children in need,” explained Marilyn Sheldon, manager of Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, on the importance of hosting the Festival and being the presenting sponsor. “We recognize that over 50% of Tulalip’s population is 0-24 years of age and Providence is our local hospital for care most tribal members use for emergency situations and other needs. Also, this event brings many people to our facilities for the week and encourages them to come back and host their own business/charity event at our venue.”

A highlight of the holiday season, the Festival of Trees provides opportunities for local families and organizations to make a significant contribution to benefit their community neighbors. Not to mention the festive, memory making opportunities for those seeking a post-Covid experience in a heart-warming atmosphere. Whether it’s a decadent black-tie gala or afternoon with cookies and Santa, the Festival’s variety of events offer holiday cheer for all.

The tremendously decorated Christmas trees won’t soon be forgotten as their specialized themes like ‘Gnomes for the Holidays’ and ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’ to ‘Baby’s First Christmas’ and ‘Reindeer Games’ capture the imagination.

During an elegant gala, the dazzling Christmas trees and wreaths were sold to the highest bidders during a frenetic live auction that saw auctioneer Mark Schenfeld’s contagious energy get table after table to lift bidding paddles. Of course, all proceeds raised at Festival of Trees goes directly to Providence to aid, invest in, and expand programs and infrastructure related to Children’s Services. 

The Children’s Services Fund is designed to provide a full spectrum of support for services that benefit children at Providence. Funding supports programs and services such as Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Center, Boyden Family Autism Center, and Camp Prov, a summer camp for children with special needs. Several of the trees lining the Orca Ballroom were reserved to be put on display throughout the Children’s Center as a special treat for hospitalized kids this holiday season.

“For nearly four decades, funds raised from this annual event have touched countless lives and spanned generations,” stated Festival Chairs, Tom and Kiersti Lane. “Tonight, while we are all celebrating and reigniting Festival traditions, let us pause to reflect and remember the reason we are all here. Your gift tonight will help provide health, hope and happiness for the babies and children in our community who need it most.”

Because of the great generosity of various donors, sponsors and an estimated 530 gala attendees, this year’s Festival of Trees raised a record-breaking $1.6 million. This enormous amount of financial support allows Providence to continue growing and expanding specialized therapies, equipment and educational classes that make miracles happen for children and families every day.

In attendance at the history making fundraiser were two first time Tulalip attendees, Vanessa Flores and Amaya Hernandez. 

  “It was nice to dress up and wear my fancy Air Force Ones,” shared 14-year-old Amaya. “I had a lot of fun being here and listening to all the conversations. I think it’s important for us to host events like this because our Resort is really nice and it’s good for people not from here to see just how nice it is.”

“It’s so important for Tulalip Tribes to give back to the greater community and local charities,” added Vanessa, Quil Ceda Village operations manager. “Providence could host their Festival anywhere, but they choose Tulalip because it’s centrally located in Snohomish County and guarantees a great, friendly staffed event that everyone can feel safe at. Everyone was so kind and giving for a cause close to all our hearts. This is probably the best event I’ve ever attended at our Resort.”

For two decades now, Tulalip has been an important partner to Providence in the Northwest Washington Region by helping provide critical funding and support needed to care for the health of our growing community. Contributions made by Tulalip to Providence General Foundation since 2002 have totaled close to one million dollars. For their dedication to the Festival of Trees, the Tulalip Tribes were honored with the Spirit of Festival Award during 2018’s Festival.

“The lives of thousands of children, that includes Tulalip tribal children, will be helped thanks to the generosity received from the Festival of Trees fundraising efforts,” said Board of Director Mel Sheldon, seventeen-year member of the Providence General Foundation. “We are very fortunate to have a relationship with Providence Medical Center and to support such an amazing opportunity that really looks at the bigger picture. We all want to do our part to create a sustainable and healthy community.”

One of Snohomish County’s largest and most well attended holiday events, the Festival of Trees has been a beloved community tradition for 37 years. The annual outpouring of community spirit, combined with such a magical setting, delivers a wonderful event that unites so many during the holiday season.