On the final day of summer, participants gathered at the Hibulb Cultural Center for Tulalip Master Weaver Jamie Sheldon’s cedar basket class. Held on Saturday, September 21, as part of Tulalip’s Season of Healing, the class welcomed 14 eager attendees ready to learn.
Throughout the session, Jamie moved swiftly around the room, guiding each student to stay on track to finish their cedar baskets before the class concluded. The day’s task required a lot of focus. As Tara Polk from Everett noted, “It’s frustrating; you want to be good at it your first time, but it requires so much concentration to perfect it.”
With Tulalip tribal member Wilma Gloria’s help, Jamie Sheldon could provide individual attention to each student, ensuring no one felt left behind.
Reflecting on her experience of making a basket for the first time, Tara added, “Jamie’s patience and ability to help were astounding. The class was great, but it was a difficult process to start. But I stuck with it, and I’m happy I could finish. I would highly recommend taking a class.”
Jamie Sheldon, a traditional weaver with over 20 years of experience, shared that the Hibulb Cultural Center reached out to her because of her extensive background in weaving. She has been teaching at the center for over five years.
Reflecting on the class, Jamie said, “I loved the class. A lot of people finished their basket, and those who didn’t, I feel, got the concept, and that’s fine with me. But if they keep coming back, they will get even better.”
Jamie also emphasized the cultural significance and healing properties of cedar. “Cedar is healing. Cedar has always been a healing part of our culture,” she explained. “When you harvest your cedar, it’s quiet and serene—it’s just you and the cedar. And as long as you keep working with the cedar, it will heal you.”
Upcoming events at the Hibulb Cultural Center in October include Weaving Toddler Wool Skirt with Virginia Jones on Saturday, October 5, Dentalium Earrings with Santana Shopbell-Proehl on Saturday, October 12, and Painting with Monie Ordonia on Saturday, October 26. Be sure to call ahead to register and inquire about class pricing by contacting the Hibulb Cultural Center at (360) 716-2600 or emailing info@hibulbculturalcenter.org.
Tulalip Heritage High School is well-known for its basketball program. With a pension for putting out a plethora of athletic wings and forwards year after year who captivate home crowds and wow opposing audiences, Heritage basketball has been the shining star of our reservation’s athletic program for years now. However, a stellar evolution is currently underway.
“I went through four years of high school sports at Heritage. During that time, our basketball teams were always better than our football teams,” reflected Heritage alum and current Hawks offensive coordinator Willy Enick. “There were a few times we got our butts whipped by other tribal schools, like a Muckleshoot or Lummi, so to be coaching up this next generation and to see them grow in confidence and believe they can get these big wins, it feels amazing.
“As a coaching staff, we want to prove Heritage isn’t only good at basketball. We’re good at football, too. We’re building a program that will be a powerhouse for years to come.”
Speaking of power. The gravitational pull of physically strong and dynamically daunting skillsets condensing on the gridiron by this year’s Heritage footballers has created a protostar on the Tulalip horizon. It first became visible after a 30-18 win over Concrete. Initial observations were confirmed after a 34-4 trouncing of Crescent. Now, that protostar is fully ablaze after decimating a tribal rival, the Muckleshoot Kings, 56-8 in front of the Tulalip faithful.
“We are forcing teams to spread their defense out because we have five skill players who can hit a home run at any time,” explained O.C. Enick. “With a dynamic quarterback, like J.J., he’s able to keep opposing defenses guessing with his feet and arm. He can make all the throws and, if pressured, can make players miss and scramble for big gains. We’re just trying to perfect this offense by spreading teams out and forcing them to play man on man, which benefits our athletes.”
To his point, here is the breakdown of the Hawks six offensive touchdowns:
#15 Ziggy Myles-Gilford scores on a 70-yard pass from J.J. Gray.
#3 J.J. Gray scores on an 18-yard quarterback run.
#7 Nico Pablo scores on a 15-yard pass from J.J. Gray.
#15 Ziggy Myles-Gilford scores on a 10-yard pass from J.J. Gray.
#7 Nico Pablo scores on a 45-yard pass from J.J. Gray.
#15 Ziggy Myles-Gilford scores on a 25-yard touchdown pass from J.J. Gray.
That’s a combination of short yard, intermediate gains, and big play production that will prove difficult to stop when dealing with a collection of athletes who can all break down a defense with speed and agility.
Plus, that’s just on the offensive side of the ball. The boys did damage on the defensive side as well where they routinely pressured Muckleshoot’s quarterback, wreaking havoc in the backfield for sack after sack, and made the most of their few opportunities when Muckleshoot managed to throw the ball. Tulalip Hawk #5 Amare Hatch scored on a 45-yard interception return for touchdown and #15 Ziggy Myles-Gilford scored on a 65-yard interception return for touchdown.
“We practice our safeties being over the top to help combat the ‘home run ball’ attempts that teams like to try when they start getting desperate,” said Hawks defensive coordinator Deyamonta Diaz. “On Amare’s pick, he was in his drop back zone and just read the route and quarterback’s eyes well with good inside alignment from the pre-snap. He couldn’t have baited him, nor read the route any better. That speaks to the focus we’ve been putting in to the defensive side of the ball in practice.”
With the home fans filling in around the fence line and sitting on the hill closest to the junior cheerleaders, they were treated to an amazing 56-0 lead early in the 4th quarter. With such an ample cushion, Hawks coaches were able to get their 2nd and 3rd string players some reps that could pay dividends later in the season.
Following the game, J.J. Gray, the Hawks quarterback responsible for all six of Tulalip’s offensive touchdowns, shared, “The offensive line blocked so well tonight. They gave me time to pass, or run, when need be. I grew up playing basketball and football since I was 4, so that athleticism always been with me. I trust in my quickness whenever I have a defender one on one in the open field, but I’m also not afraid of being hit by a bigger player.”
When asked how it feels to be quarterbacking an undefeated, 3-0 Hawks team, he responded with, “It feels great. Hopefully, we can go 9-0. That’s the dream.”
For their next game, Tulalip will host Lummi at Friday, September 27, in another battle by the bay. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm. It’s already been dubbed a neon glow game.
The high school’s booster club shares the following, “Tulalip Heritage students, families, and fans are invited to a night of unity as they rally behind their team for a big game against Lummi. Wear bright neon colors and glow sticks and bring lots of energy to the stands to create a glowing atmosphere and show unwavering support. Let’s glow out the field in a sea of Tulalip pride!”
The sharing of a meal may be the simplest, yet most effective, aspect of promoting community. That could explain why Tulalip prioritizes hosting so many annual events and holiday celebrations, all either beginning with or ending with a meal. It’s the act of sharing a meal with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of fellow Tulalip community members that cultivates the shared sense of identity that is routinely projected out to the rest of the world.
But what if that shared sense of identity could be taken to new level by incorporating traditional foods into those meals? What if ancestral connections to land, air, and sea were strengthened simply by establishing a space for traditional foods into your diet? What if generational, historical, and ongoing systemic traumas could be healed by intentionally eating what are ancestors ate?
HUGE questions, we know, but ones that were at the forefront of the Tribes’ latest Season of Healing installment hosted at the Gathering Hall on September 16. Labeled ‘Our traditional foods are powerful’, an estimated 130 gathered in community to share a taste bud expanding meal crafted with an assortment of traditional foods and locally sourced, unfiltered love.
“We served roasted bison and chicken with some traditional seasonings, a bison meatball soup, mac salad and green salad with native ingredients sprinkled in, sweetgrass frybread with homemade huckleberry jam, elderberry and sweetgrass lemonade, and a fireweed and blackberry low sugar juice. Putting all that love into every bite,” detailed Indigenous educator Linzie Crofoot (Tlingit).
Linzie and her fellow Naa káani Native Program member Martin Napeahi (Tulalip) helped prepare a meal that brought their local community out in droves. More than that, the meal was a means of introducing certain traditional foods to those who never had them before and reminding others just how delicious traditional foods can be.
Community members of all ages were witnessed filling their bellies through savory bites and insatiable mouthfuls of scrumptious deliciousness. Ample nutrition was received by the body while the spirit was replenished with ancestral medicine.
“What is the power of traditional food? And why do we need it? We could discuss the diabetes and heart disease rampant in our community. The lower life expectancy and whole host of other ailments, chronic diseases, and opioid crisis our people disproportionately affect by. But that kind of discussion just doesn’t feel right because we’ve all heard that data, over and over again,” said Linzie from the Season of Healing podium. “More than that, we can feel the data. We can feel it in our hearts, in our families, and in our community.
“Being shown more data on a flyer or some presentation isn’t going to inspire change. And that’s what we need to see most in our community, systemic change in our community health. This starts with the people, with us, with individuals like you and me choosing to change the way we eat and choosing to reconnect to our traditional ways through food,” she continued.
The Ted Talk style portion of the evening featured Linzie, Martin, elder Monie Ordonia and board of director Hazen Shopbell sharing their personal journeys grounding themselves in culture via food, medicine, Treaty Right protected practices (hunting, fishing, gathering, harvesting). They offered all kinds of advice for those looking to become part of the change our community so desperately needs.
“The truth is we have generations of trauma and it will take generations to heal,” declared Linzie. “My prayers are for you to become the foundation for inspirational change in your family. It has to start somewhere, so why can’t it be you? You have the power to be the one who changes the story for your kids and their kids’ kids.
“I know the thought of eating traditional foods can seem overwhelming and for some they don’t even know where to begin,” she added. “The idea of reconnecting with our traditional foods seems very big and we seem very small compared to the past. So start small. One ingredient once a week. Learn about one plant and how you can use incorporate it in your cooking. You don’t have to know everything right away. Start with one, just one. Then add another one. Until its normalized. That’s how we, as individuals and as a community, make the change to embrace our traditional foods for the inherent power they have. Our ancestors did. So can we.”
If you want to be part of the change and incorporate traditional foods into your weekly routine there is an easily accessible resource to help. Our Plant Relatives is a year-round guide to gathering and processing Native plant foods and medicines from around the Salish Sea area. This guide is meant to serve as a place for getting started with learning and becoming familiar with gathering foods and medicines throughout the seasons. Best of all, it was created by Linzie and her former student Tayna Greene (Tulalip) and available for free.
Tulalip citizens, their families, patients of the Tulalip Health Clinic and employees of Tulalip Tribes flocked to Garden Treasures Nursery & Local Farm on Thursday, September 5. While there, they excitedly wandered the six-acre organic farm and were offered ample opportunity to harvest from a delicious medley of in-season fruits and vegetables.
Our local award-winning Diabetes Care and Prevention team have regularly partnered with the Arlington-located Garden Treasures to offer the Tulalip community such well-regarded ‘u-pick days’. These days are typically well attended by multi-generational families because of the intrinsic access to traditional foods, engagement in gentle outdoor exercise, and ability to embrace with community through family-friendly activities.
“My favorite moments are inspired by those who have never attended before, true first timers, and they come out, try something new, and enjoy the offerings of fresh foods,” shared Veronica Leahy. She’s been serving the Tulalip Health System as a Diabetes Care and Prevention Coordinator for sixteen years now. “This specific u-pick day, we had additional offerings like a delicious lunch provided by our Ti Kupihali staff and a couple craft activities.
“I love watching and listening to the newcomers share their u-pick experiences. This makes all the effort it takes to plan and coordinate these days so worth it,” continued Roni. “I love seeing our regular supporters for these events, too, since they are the foundation of building our healthy foods and prevention program. With their support over the years, these newcomers have had the experience of picking and connecting with their food in a more traditional way.”
An estimated 130 community members took advantage of the u-pick day. In what may be the last blast of summer heat, with temperatures near 90 degrees, toddlers to elders strolled the paths of Garden Treasurers naturally grown farm and bountiful green houses.
For their efforts, they were greeted by leafy greens (kale, chard and collard greens), herbs (parsley, basil, mint, and lemon balm), classic vegetables (broccoli, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes) and a sweet selection of berries (strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries).
“Garden Treasures is such a wonderful place for families to come in general, but the days the Diabetes Program is here with their knowledgeable and supportive staff, you can typically see Tulalip tribal members and other Natives of all different ages enjoy everything this place has to offer,” said community health director Verna Hill. “Seeing grandparents with their children and grandchildren come out and enjoy the gardens and pick their favorite fruits and vegetables is so wonderful. There’s so much joy created here. Something as simple as watching faces and seeing our people become inspired after trying a new fruit or vegetable is really a wonder to behold.”
That sense of wonderment carried over into the community lunch, where Roni and her team could be seen assisting with the making of flower bouquets and wreaths to be taken home as a colorful reminder of what Garden Treasurers has to offer.
Among those in attendance was a special guest visitor all the way from Macedonia (a country in the Mediterranean, north of Greece). Natasha Coumou, a restoration ecologist for the Tribes’ Natural Resources department, brought her mother Marija, who is visiting from Macedonia, to the u-pick day in search of stew-ready tomatoes.
“It’s beautiful. This entire event is just awesome; from the people I’ve met to the opportunity to pick from all the vegetables and fruit. I thank those who organized this,” said Macedonian citizen Marija Krstova. “I picked broccoli, peppers, eggplant and of course tomatoes to make a stew for my daughters that will remind them of our village back in Macedonia. There’s a lot more sun where I came from. We have vegetables growing everywhere, so to be here and see this outdoor garden and everything it has to offer, I must say the gardeners have done an exceptional job.”
Eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. By making fruits and vegetables a larger part of your diet, you can enjoy the benefits of increased energy, better digestion, and a stronger immune system, while significantly lowering the risk of developing serious health conditions. As we officially enter the Tribes’ season of healing, it’s time to make plant-based foods a priority in our daily lives.
By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News When considering Indigenous culture, one of the most iconic representations is the story pole, often called a totem pole. On Wednesday, August 27, Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary proudly reinstated its story pole, after being carefully restored by its creator, Lower Elwha artist Al Charles Jr. and students from Heritage High School. Standing over 15 feet tall, this striking piece serves as the school’s centerpiece, welcoming all who enter with its powerful presence and cultural significance.
Starting early in the spring, representatives of Quil Ceda Tulalip decided to revitalize the story pole, which has been part of the school since its inception. They connected with Foundry 10, an education research organization, and the Tulalip Foundation for help with funding. This collaborative effort underscores the community’s dedication to preserving and honoring its cultural heritage.
“The story pole has always been a significant part of our school,” said Vice Principal Dr. Chelsea Craig. “My child attended here when they were young, and seeing the pole every day as we arrived was incredibly inspiring. It was a daily reminder of our heritage and the stories of our ancestors.”
Dr. Craig emphasized the importance of cultural representation for the students. “Having such a prominent piece of our culture on display is powerful. Our students need to see themselves represented in the place where they learn. It instills pride in their identity and reinforces the value of our traditions.”
She continued, “The story pole means so much to us. It symbolizes who we are and what we stand for as a community. It’s not just a piece of artwork but a testament to our sovereign rights and enduring connection to our history and land.”
The beautifully restored story pole stands as a beacon of unity and resilience. Visitors to Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary can see it proudly standing at the school’s entrance, symbolizing the rich history and values of the Tulalip people.
The video game landscape has undergone quite the evolution. From an overly dramatic, but somehow not that farfetched, idea that video games will rot a kid’s brain, to the culture-shifting news reported in July that e-Sports are set to take the Olympic stage in 2025. Yes, you read that right – video games are going to be an Olympic sport.
An official International Olympic Committee press release from July 12 reads, “A ‘first’ ever Esports Olympic Games are committed to a special event that respects and celebrates the Olympic values while boldly seizing the momentum to drive esports forward with the international platform the sport and its athletes deserve. The world will have an open invitation to join us in 2025 and celebrate this moment together.”
It’s easy to imagine a slew of parents shaking their heads in disbelief and thinking, “Yeah, well, video games can still rot a child’s brain. Olympic sport or not.” The thing is that’s simply not true. In fact, as reported by MedPage Today, a cross-sectional study found kids who played video games showed better cognitive performance than non-gamers. Specifically, those who played video games performed better on response inhibition tasks and working memory versus those who never played.
“Many parents today are concerned about the effects of video games on their children’s health and development,” said Bader Chaarani, Ph.D, a research professor at the University of Vermont. “And as these games continue to proliferate among young people, it is crucial that we better understand the positive impact that such games may have.”
One such positive impact is community building. For those in the know, video games have long since transcended their status as mere entertainment. They’ve become a significant social platform for kids and adults, alike.
In the digital era, people are more connected than ever before, and video games play a crucial role in this connectivity. A prime example of this connectivity and community building playing out in real time with real people was at the 2nd Annual e-Gaming Tournament. Hosted at our local Club, thirty-two teams representing all twelve Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County and twelve local law enforcement agencies teamed up for an epic day of e-gaming.
Teams of three (two club kids and one law enforcement representative) battled it out during a competitive four-hour tournament. Their game of choice? The excitement fueled, arcade-style soccer game, Rocket League.
Competitors filled the Club’s teen center that’s become well-known for its plethora of gamer tech; an impressive internet bandwidth able to support supersized TVs, the latest Xbox gaming systems, high-end desktops with overclocked CPUs and graphics cards the size of small novels. Two of those TVs were dedicated to displaying an updated tournament bracket.
What started with 32 teams was whittled down round by round, through heartbreaking losses and literal jump for joy wins, until only two teams remained for an ultimate showdown. Teams that were eliminated early became spectators eager to see who would be crowned champion.
Prior to competing for the Championship, 22-year-old Lynnwood police cadet Cade Moren reflected on the day’s legendary potential. “The most exciting aspect of this tournament is it really shows how much video games can cultivate such a positive experience with law enforcement. Events like these really shows that collaborating with local police departments is such a worth while investment. How many seeds are being planted here that will grown into fantastic relationships in the future? Relationships that can only improve our shared communities and possibly have life altering benefits; such as kids who may go on to pursue a career in law enforcement because of this experience, or a cop who views a community differently because of a super cool interaction they had playing a video game with kid who reminded them of their younger self.”
Expanding on what police cadet Cade so eloquently stated, video games are well-known conduits that attract players with shared interests. This creates a natural foundation for friendship. Kids and teenagers who might struggle with social interactions in every day, real life may find it easier to connect with others in a digital, online environment, where the focus is on a shared activity. For example, Tulalip youth living on their reservation may find support in gaming communities where they can express themselves more freely and connect with others who share similar experiences.
Twenty-six-year-old Jordan Jira isn’t too far removed from being that kind of Tulalip youth himself. Now, a Tulalip police officer, he still remembers that sense of community that came from unified purpose and simple fun. “I think this has been such an amazing experience for us officers and the kids. It’s something we can all come together, have fun in its purest form, and just make cool memories. The energy and excitement here in this building is kind of unmatched. It reminds me of high school sports and how fun it was to cheer on your favorite team or players. Like it should’ve been back then, it doesn’t really matter who wins or loses, all that matters is having fun.”
Jordan can also attest to just how far video game culture has evolved over such a short period of time. He admitted it feels like only yesterday his dad, TPD Sergeant Jeff Jira, wasn’t all that thrilled with video games, but now his dad actively cheered him on from as he navigating the digital realm all the way into the semi-finals. “He’s always been a real supportive father, so now its good to know he’s even supportive of video games, too. This is good practice for him because he’s going to be a grandfather again soon. Maybe this upcoming grandbaby has an Olympic gold medal in his future thanks to video games. Never know.”
Vying for a Rocket League championship, not a gold medal, ultimately came down to Team Everett vs Team Alderwood. Many oohs and ahs were generated by the crowd of spectators as they were treated to a highly contested match that went into sudden death overtime. Team Everett scored in the first minute of overtime and were crowned champions.
The winning team was comprised of City of Everett police officer Brandon Hoelzel, 14-year-old Aweys Hussein (Somalian) and 12-year-old Hamadi Rashid (Kenyan).
“My heart was pumping so hard every match. I was so nervous because it was my first time ever playing this game and didn’t want to let my team down. Now, that we’ve won it all, I’ll definitely be bragging about this for a while,” admitted Hamadi.
Scoring the championship-winning goal was officer Brandon. He said that not having known either of his younger teammates before it felt like he was playing with his younger brothers. “I enjoy playing video games in my free time. Usually I’m the one being humbled by my younger brothers, so it felt pretty good being the one to carry the team this time,” he joked. “Seriously though, it was a total team effort. After every goal and win, we’d celebrate with a high-five or fist bump. I definitely fed off their excitement.”
The collaborative nature of video games, such as Rocket League, brought together a super diverse field of competitors together. Kids and cops from different cities, neighborhoods, and ethnic backgrounds learned to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and work together to achieve their objectives. Interactions like these, as witnessed over and over again during the tournament, greatly promote a sense of empathy and understanding for others, especially as it relates to youth and the law enforcement officers sworn to protect them. Let us revel in the hope that beyond the thrill of gameplay, true community building took place in a safe space forged by video games.
By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes “It’s time to come home,” Tribal Chairwoman Teri Gobin told then King County Sheriff, Shawn Ledford, at a recent event. Fast forward to today, and the Tulalip people welcomed Ledford to the Tulalip Tribal Police Department. On Tuesday, September 3, Ledford was sworn in as Chief of Police. Ledford, a Tulalip tribal member, is stepping into the role previously held by Acting Chief Christopher Gobin.
Every member of the Board warmly welcomed Chief Ledford back to the community. Chief Ledford reflected on his decision to return: “When Chairwoman Gobin hugged me and said it’s time to come home, I felt something. I knew it was time. I always thought about it in the back of my mind. The timing was right, and hearing those words from someone I respect helped me decide.”
With 35 years of experience, Chief Ledford brings a wealth of law enforcement knowledge to his new role. He began his career as a patrol deputy at the Federal Way Precinct and quickly advanced through the ranks due to his extensive skills. His roles included hostage negotiator, detective in the Special Assault Unit, and then, Chief of Police for the City of Newcastle.
He furthered his career as Captain at the Southwest Precinct in Burien and then as Operations Chief at the North Precinct in Kenmore. In 2012, he was appointed Police Chief in Shoreline, where he served for a decade before being promoted to Division Chief with the King County sheriff’s office.
Marlin Fryberg, Tulalip Board of Director, emphasized the significance of bringing Shawn Ledford back to the community. Reflecting on the guidance from previous leaders, Fryberg shared, “Those leaders who were sitting on the Board then and are now gone, instructed me to watch for Shawn as he grew in law enforcement. They said to keep an eye on that young man, that tribal member of ours, because one day he will come home and help this community.”
Fryberg expressed his pride and optimism for the future, stating, “Ledford is home, and this is a good setting for all of us. When we say coming back home, you are home. You are one of us.”
When asked what it means to return to the Tulalip community and serve, Chief Ledford responded, “It’s a great honor and challenge. I want to ensure I am doing right for our community—protecting and serving it passionately. Our focus will be keeping drugs and gang violence off the reservation.”
As Chief Ledford steps into this pivotal role, the road ahead will undoubtedly present its challenges. However, with his extensive background and deep family ties to the community, there is cautious optimism that his leadership will guide the Tulalip Tribal Police Department through these complexities, focusing on the safety and well-being of the Tulalip people.
The long-abandoned greenhouse at Marysville Pilchuck High School, unused for the past 15 years, is being revitalized for the start of the 2024-25 school year as part of the MPHS Greenhouse Project. It all started when a few teachers, including Biology teacher Kayla Carter and Head of the Science Department Claire Luvera, walked by the neglected lot and thought, “Why is this land just going to waste?” This question inspired Kayla and her colleagues to bring the greenhouse back to life, seeing it as a valuable resource for students and the community.
Kayla and Claire took the issue to the school administration, who approved their plan to clean up the greenhouse. This was no small task, as the greenhouse had been an eyesore on the MP campus for over a decade. Undeterred, they gathered tools, secured funding, and rallied support through community donations. Blackberry bushes had overtaken the buildings, walkways, and even the inside of the greenhouse. The monumental undertaking began at the start of summer, clearing the overgrown foliage, removing debris, digging out walkways, and bringing in an electrician to get the building operational.
Inspired by this potential, Kayla Carter, who was in her first year at Pilchuck, saw an opportunity to transform the space. “From my classroom, I could see this big greenhouse and land,” she said. Motivated by what it could become, Carter started the greenhouse project. “To get it going, we needed a lot of help from the community,” she explained. Initially, it was just her and another teacher working on the project, but the community’s response has been incredibly supportive. According to Carter, they’ve been offered tools, donations of lumber and compost, and a tree company helped trim trees.
The plan is to form a garden club to maintain everything, and involve students in activities like testing water and soil, and growing different plants in various areas. Carter said, “The garden club will sell flowers and, hopefully, tomato starts for the program,”
For Carter, this project is about more than just gardening; it’s about bringing kids outside and connecting them with nature. “Some kids these days don’t go outside enough,” she said. She hopes that by having students grow plants they helped start, they will enjoy getting their hands dirty and seeing nature up close. “One of my dreams is to have students eat what they grew,” Carter shared, emphasizing her desire to have the students experience the entire cycle of growing and enjoying their food.
Luvera expressed enthusiasm for the new project and its potential impact on the curriculum. “We will be able to do so many labs and hands-on activities in all our life sciences,” she said. She explained that the decision to start this initiative was made earlier in the year. “Back in April, we looked around and decided to work on this project,” Luvera recalled. Her excitement for the future is apparent, especially regarding increasing student engagement through practical learning. “I am excited to get more hands-on activities for the kids,” she added. Luvera also shared her hope to revive an agriculture program, which would provide even more opportunities for experiential learning.
Eliza Davis, a member of the Marysville School Board, has been actively involved in supporting positive initiatives within the district. “I reached out to different organizations,” she said, explaining her efforts to find support for the greenhouse project. As someone deeply familiar with the challenges and negativity within the district, Davis wanted to focus on something positive happening in the schools.
“While on a tour, the Principal of MP, Peter Apple, told me about some teachers interested in getting this program going again,” Davis explained. Motivated by this opportunity, she connected with a few organizations and the non-profit Best Schools Marysville, which is dedicated to restoring schools in the community. The organization was eager to help and donated money to support the program.
Davis recalls that the program was once award-winning, with students making wreaths for Christmas and growing flowers for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. “There are lots of opportunity for students to learn about business and practical, real-world skills,” she said. She is enthusiastic about seeing passionate young teachers. “It’s nice to see young teachers come in and want to change the culture and rebuild the program,” Davis added, reflecting on the potential for growth in the district.
The greenhouse project will continue throughout the school year, with plans to turn the greenhouse back into a functioning classroom. The district will decide later in the year whether to reopen the class. In the meantime, Carter and her team are hopeful for ongoing community support and involvement. For more information and updates, visit their Facebook page, MPHS greenhouse project.
By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News; photos courtesy of Nicole Sieminski, Stephanie Cultee and Tessa Campbell
A record breaking $70,000 was raised during the Tulalip Foundation’s Annual Salmon Bake Fundraiser benefiting the Hibulb Cultural Center. It was the hot ticket event of the summer and sold out during the week leading up to the gathering. Close to 250 people were dressed to the nines on the evening of August 17, as they convened at the cultural center’s terrace where they were greeted by the welcoming aroma of traditional baked salmon.
“Our ultimate goal is to support the cultural center and to feature it’s work and all the good work that it’s doing,” expressed Nicole Sieminski, the Tulalip Foundation’s Executive Director. “It is gratifying to see people’s support and that they keep showing up for us. And we’re grateful that we keep getting new supporters as well. My goal is to keep growing, which we did by a lot. We raised $52,000 last year, which was big because it was the first time we broke $50. And this year we raised $70,000!”
Since its establishment, the Hibulb Cultural Center has imparted a vast amount of knowledge about the Tribe’s history and ancestral teachings to the wider community. With historical artifacts, photos, and documents, the center has provided insight and a tribal perspective on issues such as colonialism and assimilation while simultaneously celebrating the ancestral teachings, values, beliefs, and stories of the Tulalip people.
Many of the cultural center’s gatherings, exhibits, and workshops are possible due in large part to the Tulalip Foundation’s annual salmon bake fundraiser. This is an all-hands-on deck event and is organized not only by the Foundation, but also the team from the cultural center.
The Tulalip Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports tribal programs and projects based on five support areas – culture and natural resources, education and workforce, law and justice, community and development, and health and social. The Foundation has made a great impact on the tribal community and has become well-known throughout the region. Many local companies and nationwide corporations have donated thousands of dollars for the betterment of both Tulalip’s governmental programs, as well as community-led and focused projects.
Making their sixth consecutive return to the event, the Taylor Family once again prepared the salmon over fire. What makes this special is that the people get to see this traditional method of cooking in real time. Attendees witnessed an act of passing knowledge to the next generation, as Lance Taylor guided his grandson Jared throughout the entire process.
Ryan’s Rez-ipes, renowned for their delicious eats, was the official caterer for the event. And there were 22 sponsorships in total this year. Nicole shared that there were a few new sponsors, who have active contracts with the Tribe, that showed their support to the community including Korsmo Construction, KPFF Engineers, and the Wenaha Group.
While the food was being prepared, the guests were invited to tour the cultural center’s exhibits and gift shop. This was also the time to peruse the items that were up for bid at the silent auction. Rows of tables displayed artwork and regalia that was donated by nearly 30 Tulalip artists. Beside each donation there was an informational note, detailing the art piece and the artist, as well as a sheet of paper where the guests could place their bids.
“It’s always nice to see everybody’s work,” shared Nicole. “One that I loved this year was made by Jose Roja, who is a Tribal youth. He made his first traditional wool skirt and matching headband. Since it was his first one, he’s supposed to give it away, so he donated it to us to put in the silent auction. We actually had several Tribal youth who donated items for the silent auction, that was really cool to see our youth participate and show their support.”
Once the silent auction placed a last call for bids, the event began with an opening prayer by Natosha Gobin and the presentation of colors by the Tulalip Honor Guard. Young Tribal member Lizzie Mae Williams shared a traditional story, followed up by opening remarks from the Hibulb Cultural Center’s Museum Manager, Mytyl Hernandez.
DJ Monie was behind the turntables and helped set the vibe of the soiree throughout the night. As the attendees enjoyed their fresh king salmon dinners, they were treated to a live spoken word and flute performance by Renee Roman Nose and Peter Ali.
From the comfort of their seats, the guests could scan a QR code, where they could donate to a canoe restoration project via their smartphones. They also had the chance to enter in a drawing to win a canvas painting by Tulalip artist, Ty Juvinel.
“This is the first year we did a specific fund a project,” said Nicole. “This was a canoe that was donated earlier this year that needs some serious restoration and treatment, it was outside for a very long time. Hopefully it will go on display in the canoe hall. This is a full-sized river canoe, the one in the canoe hall now is actually child sized. This is very similar to what we’d use here along our Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Skagit rivers. And Ty’s donation was great. We decided to use that for our special drawing. We always like to feature something unique for the special drawing. It was a very large print, almost 4ft x 4ft.”
This year’s fundraiser was dedicated in memory of David Spencer Sr., who was an active participant in countless events at the Hibulb Cultural Center for many years, notably at the annual film festival and the salmon bake. And according to Nicole, David also voices the introduction video that plays inside of the cultural center’s longhouse as people tour the museum.
Once everybody collected their winnings, the 2024 Salmon Bake Fundraiser was officially marked as a success in the books.
“I am extremely grateful for everyone’s support from friends, community, tribal partners,” Nicole stated. “Hopefully it means we’re doing our job well and showing them how the cultural center is continuing to serve the community. Every year the funds are going to future exhibitions and programming. Thankfully, the cultural center staff are able to continue to offer events. They just released their September events, and they have a busy schedule. It’s good to see that and hopefully our donors can see that as well.”
For more information, and to stay up to date on the Hibulb Cultural Center’s events, exhibits, and activities, be sure to give their Facebook page a follow. And for addition details about the Tulalip Foundation, please visit www.TulalipFoundation.org.
It’s impossible to know exactly how many Native Americans attended the Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays baseball game on Monday, August 26. But what we do know is the game’s official attendance was announced as 29,755 and, based on pure observation, one can safely say that a good percentage of that was proud Indigenous culture bearers from across the Americas who journeyed to T-Mobile Park to celebrate ‘Native American Heritage Night’.
Knowing full well how chaotic evening traffic can be, citizens of the region’s Coast Salish tribes hit the road early to ensure arrival into the Emerald City prior to the game’s 6:40pm opening pitch. Additional incentive to arrive early came in the form of a highly coveted, limited-edition jersey created by Muckleshoot tribal artists. Jerseys were only made available to the first 10,000 fans.
Last year, Muckleshoot and the Seattle Mariners announced a long-term, multi-faceted partnership allowing the organizations to work together to impact the broader community throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“This partnership is the result of two organizations coming together who share common values and beliefs. We’re excited to celebrate the Tribe’s culture and traditions with fans at T-Mobile Park, while providing enhanced baseball and softball access to more children throughout our region,” stated Catie Griggs, Seattle Mariners President of Business Operations.
“To be able to assert … our place and our identity within the city, within the region, with organizations like the [Mariners and Kraken], it’s hugely important and it’s hugely meaningful and really a powerful step for our tribe, for our people,” added Muckleshoot tribal councilman Donny Stevenson at the time of the announcement.
Prior to Monday night’s first pitch, the Muckleshoot Canoe Family took to the always stunningly manicured green grass of T-Mobile Park and shared their culture though dance and song.
The Mariners’ 11,000-square-foot scoreboard routinely displayed facts about Indigenous tribes of Washington State throughout the evening. The monstrous digital screen even showed Tulalip tribal members on multiple occasion. The first being 7-year-old Anthony Jefferson Jr. saying “Let’s play ball!” in Lushootseed. Then again, when the cameras panned to Morning Star Creations founder Nina Gobin-Scott hard at work sewing a ribbon skirt. She was asked by members of the Mariners’ public relations team to represent Indigenous entrepreneurs on the center field foyer, where her custom-made ribbon skirts were being sold and auctioned off to benefit Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services.
“It’s a huge deal for me as an Indigenous woman and small business owner be asked to setup and display my work for so many people and communities to see. I feel so honored,” shared Nina while taking a brief break from her devout sewing machine. “An underrated part of opportunities like this are being able to impart insight and expand perspectives of non-Indigenous people who may be curious about our cultures, arts and businesses, but unsure of who or how to ask.
“One of my favorite moments from the night was being able to sell a skirt to a First Nations relative from Canada attending her first Native Night,” continued Nina. “It’s truly breathtaking. There are so many places someone can go to buy a ribbon skirt and recognizing this, I don’t take it for granted when someone sees one of my designs and is excited to purchase from me.”
Turns out that Canadian purchaser was Councillor Morning-Star Peters of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc. Think of her as a tribal councilwoman of her First Nation. Morning-Star graciously shared, “My family was determined to not miss out on Native American Heritage Night this year, so we got the specialized tickets and got here early for the jersey and hat. I definitely did not expect to find a ribbon skirt, but that’s the beauty of our people – they always find a way. I’m so excited to bring this ribbon skirt back home with me. It’ll be a precious memento of this special night.”
During actual gameplay, the Mariners gave their adoring fans much to cheer about for 9 full innings. Second baseman Jorge Polanco (Dominican Republic) hit a 341-foot homerun in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. In the following inning, recently acquired outfielder Randy Arozarena (Mexico via Cuba) smashed a 376-foot, 3-run homer that gave the home team the lead for good. Starting pitcher Bryce Miller went 7 strong innings and tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts.
Ultimately, the M’s won an excitement-filled game, 5-1, in front of the largest Monday home crowd they’ve had all season. Only adding to the growing legend that is ‘Native Night.’
