Category: News

 

Article and photo by Sarah Miller

TULALIP, Washington— The WrapAround process is a fairly new service provided by Family Haven. With WrapAround, a facilitator works with an individual or family to develop goals, build on strengths and it gives them support to enhance family life. According to WrapAround Coordinator, Cherol Fryberg, it’s not a program or a service, but a way to put you back in the driver’s seat of your own life.

“It’s a way to get the client’s voice heard,” Cherol said. “Some people work with a lot of different services and counselors with Behavioral Health and they don’t always get to be heard. We want to give them that control.”

People using the WrapAround process are encouraged to form a team to help them out. This team can be family members, counselors or therapists. WrapAround uses four phases to help clients out. Phase one is an engagement of team preparation in which the concerns, needs, hopes, dreams and strengths of the client are addressed. Phase two is the initial plan development. During this phase, the clients will collaborate with their teams to identify the strengths as stepping stones to meet needs. Phase three is plan implementation. Based on accomplishments, the team can assess and see if the plan is successful and make adjustments if need be. Phase four is transition. During this phase, the team will view the success.

“If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or have multiple goals you want to accomplish, WrapAround is here to walk with you while helping you put your life back together,” Cherol said. “A WrapAround team of your choosing, with my support, will help you meet your dreams, needs, hopes and concerns.”

In addition to the four phases, WrapAround also uses ten principles to help keep people on track and help them achieve. The first principle is family voice and choice. This focuses on needs and wants. Second principle is to individualize. With this principle, the team will tailor this service to the client’s strengths and needs. Principle three and four, team based and collaboration, resolve individual challenges. Principle five is natural supports, which is about strengthening the connection of the family. Phase six and seven is about being strength based and culturally competent. These principles honor the individual or families culture with a positive approach. Principle eight is community based. The WrapAround team will implement services and support strategies that focus on the family receiving services in the community. Phase nine is persistence. With this principle, the team will persist towards the goals. Principle ten is outcome based. The WrapAround team is accountable to assist in setting and achieving measurable goals with this
principle.

“This service is available for anyone who is tribal or has a tribal member in their family,” Cherol said. “They must also live in Snohomish County. They do not have to have any kind of addiction, they don’t need to have had their kids taken away, and they can just come in to get back on the right track with their lives. It’s not about having severe problems; it’s about making a better life.”

If you think that you or someone you know is in need of WrapAround process for support, you can call Cherol at 360-716-4401 or email her at cfryberg@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

 

 

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington –  The Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, known for its artistic and educational series of workshops which highlight storytelling, lectures, culture and film, have added a new series that features poetry.

 Tulalip Tribal elder and author, David Spencer Sr., read a series of poems on October 4th at the Hibulb center, capturing the audience with his ebb and flow of words. Events that he witnessed in his life and the poets and teachers who inspired him to write poetry inspired these poems.

 “I took four courses at the UW from Nelson Bentley. He guided me on how to write poetry, to take one form all the way through the poem,” said David. “Poetry is like painting.”

  Writing poetry since 1973, he reconnected with his grandparents’ first language, and began his writing process anew in 1997 by using the Lushootseed language as a creative outlet. This transformation brought new meaning to his poetry that he had not found while writing in English.

 Poetry helped David through dark periods in his life, especially after his wife passed away. Sylvia Plath and Ted Hues are just a couple of poets he admires. He read their poems over and over to absorb their words and meaning.

 In the poem, “The Sacred Smoke,” David describes a traditional memorial burning, the feeling of being on-edge, being reborn, and having no temptation of worldly needs.

David’s first memoir, “Lifted to the Edge: the Reflections of a Tulalip Grandson,” is a skillfully written exploration of his life. You can find a copy of his book at theTulalipHibulbCulturalCentergiftshop. Visit www.hibulbculturalcenter.org for information and a schedule of events.

 

By Kim Kalliber

On October 8, 2012 the Tulalip Police Department received a call about an unresponsive infant found inside a parked car. Emergency services were dispatched to the 1000 block of Marine Drive. A 17-month-old girl was taken to Providence Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Her two-year-old sister, also found in the car, was taken to Children’s Hospital in Seattle where she is expected to recover.

The girls’ mother, a Tulalip Tribal member, is being held at Snohomish County Jail, facing possible charges of endangerment and failure to care for the children.

Community members at Tulalip describe the mother as a “good mom,” despite the fact that within the past year, she was under investigation by the Department of Social and Health Services for allegations of abuse involving the younger girl. DSHS had closed its investigation for undisclosed reasons, but due to the death of the child after closure of the investigation, their fatality review board will review the case.

The incident is being investigated by the Tulalip Police Department in coordination with the FBI. An autopsy was performed, but the results are unavailable while the investigation is underway

Legacy of Healing presents interactive play based on domestic violence

Article by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Domestic Violence happens more often than people realize. Behind closed doors, many victims fall pray to abuse. Without help, these victims are controlled by their abuser and live in a world of isolation, helplessness, fear, intimidation, denial, coercion and threats that usually turn into violence. Many battered victims are afraid to get help in their vulnerable state of mind.

There is help for victims of abuse. Tulalip Tribes Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House advocates are here to listen and offer assistances to victims and help them understand they are not alone.

To end domestic violence, it is important to educate the community. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Tulalip Tribes Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center is recognizing the rising epidemic of domestic violence.  In an effort to address this matter, they have collaborated with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence in presenting “In her shoes,” an interactive play based on real-life experiences of women with abusive partners. Participants will move, do, think and experience the lives of battered women.

Deborah Parker, Tulalip Tribes Vice Chairwoman and spokesperson for the Violence Against Women Act, will provide the traditional opening, along with a meet and greet of Legacy staff, and Traci Underwood with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence will facilitate the interactive event.

“In Her Shoes” will be presented on two days; October 18^th will be for Tulalip Tribes employees and October 30^th is open to employees and community members. Both showings will be held in room 162 of the Tulalip Administration Building from noon-3:00 p.m. and lunch will be served.

Are you are living with domestic violence? The most common form of domestic violence is physical violence. The signs of domestic violence include being hit, slapped, kicked or punched by your partner, including threats, injury to pets, jealousy and destroying of property.

Battered victims are reluctant or unable to report the abuse, but advocators at Legacy of Healing offer a safety plan that might help the victims feel safer before an incident, in the midst of a violent incident, and if victims decide to leave. When the battered victim is ready to leave, they can call an advocate staff at Legacy of Healing to address their needs.

Call to talk with an advocate at Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House for question or concerns at 360-716-4100, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or for immediate help call 911, DVS 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 425-252-2873, or Washington State Hotline 800-562-6025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article by Sarah Miller; photo courtesy of Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center

TULALIP, Washington – A new exhibit will be coming to the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center. Salish Bounty: Traditional Native American Foods of Puget Sound will be on loan from the Burke Museum until the end of January. This exciting new exhibit features Tulalip artifacts that are currently not on display, including items used for hunting, fishing, cooking, gathering and storing, along with historic photos. There will also be real food ingredients on display as well as videos and audio of Coast Salish people talking about food. This exhibit will open November 3^rd.

“This is a traveling exhibit,” said Marketing/Membership/PR Mytyl Hernandez. “It will be located at the end of the Canoe Hall, outside of the classrooms. Salish Bounty connects archaeological and historical research about thousands of years of food traditions in the Puget Sound area to current efforts to revitalize these food traditions in the region. Salish Bounty was created in close partnership with members of the Native Coast Salish community and features their history, voices and efforts.”

Visitors will learn about the cuisines of the Coast Salish people, along with the cultural values of respect, hospitality, community, and the environment of this region.

“This exhibit is broken into three themes,” Mytyl went on. “The way things were, dispossession and struggle, and the way things are. Our visitors will get the opportunity to learn about each in detail as well as over 280 plants and animal species used as food found from various archeological sites around Puget Sound.”

Coast Salish diets are incredibly diverse and always have been, according to Mytyl. The cuisine and its underlying values have survived major cultural shifts, from depopulation and loss of access to land and water, to intrusion into cultural practices, families and communities. Nowadays, there is serious revival of traditional foods that incorporates new ingredients, new communication technologies, and regained access to land and water, yet it maintains the same cultural values.

This is not the only new exhibit coming to Hibulb. At some point in 2013, the Veteran’s Exhibit, which is a rotating gallery, will be removed and replaced with a yet unknown exhibit. Hibulb will be rotating the temporary gallery two to four times a year. Sounds like a good time to stop on by the Cultural Center and check things out. Remember, admission is free for tribal members, $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and children five years and younger are free. For more information on prices and times, visit www.hibulbculturalcenter.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article by Sarah Miller

There are many precautions to take when preparing for your Halloween season. Trick or treating is fun, but it can be dangerous at times. The same goes for carving up your scary Jack O’Lanterns. It’s important to take care when you are preparing for this holiday.

We will start with pumpkin carving. This is a fun activity that gears everyone up for the Halloween season. However, it involves using sharp objects to carve a vegetable with. A child should NEVER be given a knife to cut with. There are many pumpkin kits out there with safety tools appropriate for kids to use if they are the ones doing the carving. Even then, be sure that an adult is around to supervise. Though they are safe, accidents can still happen.

If you are doing the carving sans the pumpkin carving kit, be sure that your child does not jerk the pumpkin or table the pumpkin is sitting on. You don’t want to get cut while carving that pumpkin. Make sure your child is safely seated away from you and the knife.

If you aren’t interested in carving pumpkins, an even safer alternative is painting them. This is an activity that everyone can partake in. You can even get some glue and decorate the pumpkins with sequins or other decorations.

With that said, the biggest thrill of the Halloween season is dressing up and going out trick or treating for candy. This can be a lot of fun, but kids going out should be supervised by a responsible adult.

Make sure your child is dressed in a safe costume. If they are wearing masks, make sure they can see out of the eyeholes. Though some costumes require the person to dress completely in black, this can be dangerous when trick or treating late into the night. Make sure there is a bit of white or something that will reflect light on them. Also, don’t forget flashlights!

Be sure to know your route when taking the kiddies out to gather candy. This will ensure that you don’t get lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Also, get on the website and check the neighborhoods you plan on trick or treating in for registered sex offenders.

Make sure your child does not go into any stranger’s house or car. These people could just be being nice, but better safe than sorry. Kids may be confused by this but explain to them that some people aren’t nice and want to hurt others. Then tell them that if anyone tries to coax them into a house or car, or approaches them and tries to grab them, to scream as loud as they can and to kick and flail as much as possible.

Watch your children as they cross streets. Teach them how to cross properly and not just run in front of cars driving by. Make sure they hold your hand as they cross the street.

When taking your kids trick or treating, be sure that they respect the yard they wander through to get to the front door. This means no vandalism! Some people enjoy a little trickery more than treats on Halloween. Some kids toilet paper houses, egg houses or even smash those perfectly carved pumpkins. This is rude and not funny. Though it seems funny at the time, the person who has to clean up that mess doesn’t really think so. Also, be kind to any of the owner’s pets. They may seem loud and annoying, but they’re probably just freaked out that so many costumed individuals have wandered into their domain.

Once the Halloween fun is over, it’s time to inspect the candy! Throw away all candy that has an opened wrapper. Inspect all candy and anything that looks odd, throw it away. It’s also important to make sure your child doesn’t snack on any candy while they’re out trick or treating. As for baked goods, this is a judgment call to be made by the parents. If it came from someone you trust, then you can let your kid eat it. If it came from someone you don’t know, maybe toss it.

Keep these tips in mind when you prepare your child for a night of fun trick or treating on All Hallow’s Eve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article and photos by Sarah Miller

This month’s community meeting, held at the Tulalip admin building on September 25^th, was presented by the Tulalip Transit Department. During the meeting, the employees of said department discussed how the transit program works and new changes that they hope to make.

“This program is a free service,” said Associate Planner II Mark Hamilton. “We don’t get revenue from it. It is funded by grants that allow us to operate this service. It is open to the public, both tribal members and nontribal members.”

The planning process for Tulalip Transit went into effect in 2009. A survey was mailed and emailed to the community and tribal government. It was discovered that there was a need for a transit program specific to Tulalip and different than the Marysville City Transit bus that comes through the reservation. Mark was able to get grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the WSDOT Consolidated Grant Program and the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program. These grants ensure that this program remains free to its riders.

“We calculated the number of employees and residents that were in need of this service,” Mark went on. “We were able to implement two routes, and we hope to implement a third.”

The two routes are the John Sam Lake route and the Tulalip Bay route. The third route they are working on is the Bay to Village route.

According to Transit Supervisor Mary Hargrove, the Tulalip Bay route has had a ridership of 11,796 while the John Sam Lake route has a ridership of 2,920. This was calculated from January 2011 to July 2012.

“Last year, we evaluated the data, and started proposing different suggestions,” Mary said. Those changes include Demand Response Service. This service would provide on-reservation transit services for riders at social service locations. Riders could call a number and get a ride to places like the pharmacy, beda?chelh, family services and the homeless shelter, to name a few. Also discussed was a Rideshare service. This service is similar to a carpool for people who work on the reservation. Participants would be matched to others who live in their neighborhood and assign vehicles for them to travel to and from work. Operating expenses for this service would be covered by the employees that participate. It would be $20 to $25 a week. These services aren’t provided yet but could be in the near future.

“We are also working on getting permanent bus stops,” Mary continued. “We are working to get these installed, though it has taken longer to do. They will replace the pylons that mark Tulalip transit stops.”

If you need to get a ride from Tulalip Transit, you can call 360-716-4206 or you can email at tulaliptransit@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.

New online format streamlines application process

Article by Jeannie Briones    

Tulalip, Washington- Imagine yourself no longer having to handwrite an application for every job that you apply for. Tulalip Central Employment has made the application process faster and easier by partnering with iCIMS Inc., a software company that offers talent acquisition solutions. This enables organizations to manage sourcing and recruiting for jobs all within a single web-based application. What does this mean for you? That it is convenient and secure and all your information is just a mouse click away. Effective November 2^nd, paper applications will no longer be accepted at Central Employment. This change is a win-win for the applicants and the community as a whole.

          “iCIMS is a great tool to use. It allows applicants to apply online rather than coming into the office and filling out an application every time they want to apply for a job. Once they complete the application process, they can apply for as many jobs as they wish. If they do not have a computer or internet access, they are welcome to schedule an appointment to come to the Central Employment office and use one of our computers,” explained Sasha Smith, Central Employment Tribal Advocate.

          “It’s [iCIMS] definitely cost efficient for us and accessible. The applicants can apply from the comfort of their own home, or they can apply here if they don’t have a computer. We have terminals that are available during our office hours between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.,” explained Desiree Day, Interim Central Employment Manager.

          Other benefits to using iCIMS include 24-hour online access, faster pre-employment screening and an applicant tracking system. The increase in efficiency means a timely email response to applicants, the option of printing previous applications, and the ability to link to job search websites like CareerBuilders.com and Monster.com.

          Angela Davis, Central Employment Coordinator explains that iCIMS software not only reduces the cost of office supplies, but also allows more time for staff to spend helping applicants with concerns and questions.

          If you need help using the online application process, feel free to contact Sasha, Angela, Desiree, or other Central Employment staff members, they are here to help people through this transitional period.

          For listings on current positions, visit www.employment.tulaliptribes-nsn.gov or call toll free 888-272-1111.

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

On September 22^nd, early Sunday morning, volunteers came together to have some fun and get their hands dirty for the United Way Days of Caring event at the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club. Volunteers helped out with general maintenance and landscaping to beautify the club grounds and conduct basic repairs to the playground, which was built in 2008 with help of Home Depot and non-profit organization KaBOOM!

Days of Caring, organized by United Way of Snohomish County, are two-day events, committed to creating positive change and lending a much-needed hand to local non-profit agencies. This year, volunteers worked September 21-22 at Asbery Field, Pinewood Elementary School, Allen Creek and the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club. Organizations such as Community Transit and Aviation Technical Services Inc., along with community members, donated their time at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club.

“Having volunteers here from the United Way Days of Caring, from Community Transit, Aviation Technologies, community members and staff, and seeing them work so hard and telling us thank you for letting us be here, was very humbling,” said Diane Prouty, Administrator Assistant for the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club.

Volunteers were ready to move into action and with little direction from Tulalip Boys and Girls Club staff. Over 40 volunteers diligently worked to complete the maintenance projects within six hours.

Projects consisted of staining benches, picnic tables, garbage can holders, and playground edging, and even painting over the graffiti on the overpass. Grounds keeping included weeding, pruning, and small tree removal.

Diane was amazed how fast the volunteers moved and how well they all worked together. She walked away feeling blessed by the entire experience and would like to pay it forward and volunteer in the future.

United Way is a non-profit organization with a vision to see everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future. If you are interested in volunteering and would like to support your community, visit www.uwsc.org for more information.