Category: News

2020 Tulalip General Election Voters Guide

Referendum 90-Yes. Comprehensive age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education plays an important role in teaching children about what kind of touching is appropriate and which is not. Education of teens about sexual health is critical to preventing unwanted pregnancy and STD/STI’s. This referendum affirms a bill passed by the Washington State Legislature in the beginning of 2020 while leaving an “opt out” option for all students. 

Advisory Vote on 32- Maintain. This advisory vote upholds a bill passed earlier this year by the Washington State Legislature that prohibits businesses from using single-use plastic bags and requires an 8-cent pass through charge for each paper bag that it distributes to its customers.

Advisory Vote on 33- Maintain. This Advisory vote upholds a revenue-generating bill passed earlier this year the Washington State Legislature that imposes a tax on the rental of heavy equipment within the State equal to one and one-quarter percent of the rental price on each rental. The tax revenue generated will go into two state accounts that fund transportation projects in the State.

Advisory Vote on 34- Maintain. This Advisory vote upholds a revenue-generating bill passed earlier this year the Washington State Legislature that increases a business and occupation tax on certain businesses with the revenue generated by the increased tax will go into the workforce education investment account and the Washington state general fund.

Advisory Vote on 35- Maintain. This Advisory vote upholds a bill passed earlier this year the Washington State Legislature that changes taxes on certain businesses. This change should bring the state and the nation into compliance, and reduces the threat of retaliatory tariffs against Washington industries such as fish, wine, and intellectual property.

President/ Vice President of the United States

Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are committed to upholding the U.S.’s trust responsibility to tribal nations, strengthening the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the United States and Indian tribes, and working to empower tribal nations to govern their own communities and make their own decisions. The current administration has attacked environmental protections, refused to condemn white supremacists and their mishandling of the pandemic has led to the death of over 215,000 Americans. America and tribal nations cannot afford four more years of Donald Trump. 

US Representative Congressional District 2

Rick Larson. Congressman Larson has been a strong advocate for jobs, transportation, and infrastructure projects in the second District. Before serving in Congress, he served on the Snohomish County Council and worked on economic development for the City of Everett.

Governor of Washington State

Jay Inslee. Under Inslee’s leadership, Washington recovered from the last great recession to become the country’s #1 rated economy, and our state is poised to rebound more quickly thanks to the Governor’s progressive policies. Inslee’s’ continued work with tribes has helped support tribal sovereignty since the beginning of his time as Governor. His response to the pandemic has saved the lives of Washingtonians. 

Lt. Governor of Washington State

Denny Heck. Former Congressmen Denny Heck has represented Washington State at every level of government throughout his time he has been a staunch advocate for tribes in all those places. Denny was chief of staff for Governor Booth Gardner when they signed the Centennial Accord with Washington Tribes outlining the process by which tribes and Washington State will consult on a government-to-government level. 

Secretary of State

Gael Tarleton. Representative Tarleton has 30 years of experience as a defense intelligence and national security analyst. She will bring that knowledge to bear to protect our free and fair elections in the state of Washington Tarleton was also the prime sponsor of the House bill that resolved Tulalip’s tax case against the State of Washington.

State Treasurer

Mike Pellicciotti. Representative Pellicciotti formerly worked as an economic crimes’ prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General. Mike has never accepted corporate campaign donations and has been a strong advocate for financial transparency. He will bring a pragmatic approach to the office of State Treasurer. 

State Auditor

Pat (Patrice) McCarthy. Pat is the current Washington State Auditor, and has been so since 2017 when she was the first women elected to the position. She previously served as the Pierce County Executive and Pierce County Auditor. She has been a lifelong Democrat. 

Attorney General 

Bob Ferguson. Ferguson has served as Attorney General for the last 8 years where he has taken on large corporations like Comcast for defrauding its customers and won. He has taken on corporations and the Trump Administration, who have damaged our state’s natural resources. 

Commissioner of Public Lands

Hillary Franz. As Commissioner, Hillary has worked hard to protect Washington’s natural resources and public lands just as she did when she was an environmental attorney. Commissioner Franz has built a strong relationship with tribes around the state for her commitment to consultation on issues that affect tribal treaty rights. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Chris Reykdal. Under Superintendent Reykdal graduation rates have risen steadily and Washington is on track to reach its 2027 targets. His challenger wants to send children back to school during this pandemic with no plan for how to deal with it. She also has no experience as an educator. 

Insurance Commissioner 

Mike Kreidler. Kreidler has served as Insurance Commissioner since 2001. He is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and Doctor of Optometry. 

State Senator

June Robinson. Senator Robinson was appointed to former Senator John McCoy’s (Tulalip) senate seat after his retirement. Prior to that, she served as the Position 1 State Rep. for the 38th district since 2013. Her expertise on Operating and Capital Budget matters has helped bring opportunity to our district.

State Representative Position 1

Emily Wicks. Representative Wicks was appointed to Position 1 when Senator Robinson replaced a retiring Senator McCoy (Tulalip). Wicks is the President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington and was formerly the legislative aid for outgoing Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib. She is the best choice for this race. 

State Representative Position 2

Mike Sells

Mike was elected in 2005 and has been a strong progressive leader representing the 38th Legislative District in Olympia for 15 years. He is the Chair of the Labor and workforce development committee and has been a strong advocate for labor and education issues. 

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Position 3

Raquel Montoya-Lewis. Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis is the first Native American woman in the Washington to be appointed to the Supreme Court. She is a strong advocate for children, families and justice. She is formally endorsed by the Tulalip Tribes and is the best candidate for the position. 

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Position 4

Charles W. Johnson. Justice Johnson is running unopposed but his commitment to equity and justice has shown through in his nearly 30 years on the State Supreme Court. He co-chaired the Washington State Minority Justice Commission for 24 years. 

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Position 6

Helen G. Whitener. Justice Whitener was appointed in April and is running to retain her seat. She is the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court for Washington. Rated as “exceptionally well-qualified” by a number of bar associations and having an endorsement from every current Supreme Court justice, she is clearly the best option for this position.

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Position 7

Debra L. Stephens. Stephens is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and has served the court and the state of Washington since her appointment in 2008. She has been rated “exceptionally well-qualified” and has earned your support. 

Court of Appeals Division 1, District 2, Judge Position 2

Linda Coburn. Coburn has served as City of Edmonds Municipal Judge since 2015 and is seeking election to the open Court of Appeals position. She emigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan at the age of four and earned her law degree from Seattle University. She has had a long and successful career and in law and is endorsed by many current and former justices. 

Snohomish Superior Court, Judge Position 8

Cassandra Lopez Shaw. Lopez-Shaw has experience as an Attorney in civil, criminal and family law. In 2019, she was awarded the Domestic Violence Advocacy Award by the Washington Women Lawyers for her work to support victims. She is rated “exceptionally well qualified and “well qualified” by a number of bar associations. Both candidates are well-qualified, but we believe Cassandra is the best selection for this position. 

PUD Commissioner

Sidney (Sid) Logan. Commissioner Logan is the incumbent in this race, he has advocated for programs that help customers reduce their carbon emissions. He is the best choice for this position. 

Meet the New Tulalip Police Officers

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

After returning from three months of intensive training at the U.S. Indian Police Academy in Artesia, New Mexico, four cadets were officially sworn-in as Tulalip police officers on the afternoon of October 7, taking the oath to support and defend the Tulalip Tribes constitution. 

The new TPD officers were surrounded by their friends, family and fellow officers while they were welcomed by tribal singers and Tulalip tribal leadership who spoke of commitment, bravery and compassion while congratulating them on their new journey.

The celebration, of course, was taken with the appropriate safety measures, ensuring everybody in attendance was practicing social distancing and wearing a mask. Angela Davis, TPD Professional Standards Manager and tribal member, organized the event and stated that normally the night would end with a feast, but with the recent uptick in coronavirus cases at Tulalip, the police department opted to forgo the meal. However, Angela explained that enjoying cake together is a longstanding nationwide tradition after newly appointed officers take the oath, so she ordered cake and had to-go boxes ready so the officers could bring their cake home and take part in the tradition safely. 

Four lateral officers who transferred from different police departments were also sworn-in on the 7th. Officer Jason Lee, who has taken the oath for a number of Washington State police departments, said the ceremony was, “amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it before. When I was previously sworn-in at other departments, it was always a quick process where we took the oath and signed the paper. But here, we actually had a ceremony in both the judicial way and the Tulalip way, council members spoke and they are very passionate about the city, the reservation and law enforcement. I thought that was pretty moving.”

Angela Davis stated, “My prior military service allowed me to be a part of ceremonies like this. We wanted to make sure that we had the ceremony that we’re used to having at these academies that are off-the-reservation, but also incorporate our culture. We made sure that we had a prayer song or protection song. I thought it was important to have the ceremony available for our new recruits, and our new officers, and even welcoming our new lateral officers, to bring everyone together.”

Now officially members of the Tulalip police force, officers Cheyanne Bear, Jordan Jira, Jonathan Blumm and Brandon Bennett, recently sat down with Tulalip News, in-between defensive tactic training (DT), to reflect on the past several months while on the path to becoming a tribal law official during the COVID-19 era.

Cheyanne Bear (Assiniboine Sioux/Tulalip Mother)

Tulalip News: How does it feel, now that you’ve completed training at the academy and have taken the oath to protect and serve?

It doesn’t seem real yet. I started here January 6th. We were supposed to leave for the academy around April or May and because of COVID, it kept getting canceled and postponed. Finally we got to go in July and we spent three months there. The best feeling that I’ve had so far is seeing how proud my family is, especially my daughter. She’s Tulalip and I just want to give back because the Tribe has been amazing to us. And like everyone else, I want to make a difference and make it safer. Myself, the other officers, we all have good hearts and I want to show being a female Native American, that I can help make that little bit of a difference.

What inspired you to become a police officer?

I was going to school for criminal justice and I had a couple instructors whose stories were amazing, and I knew immediately I wanted to do something like that. Personally, I had some bad experiences with police growing up, they weren’t the best. You see what’s going on in the world, on the news, I don’t want it to stay like that. I want my daughter to see that police officers aren’t bad. How many female police officers are there? Like 4%. And being a Native American, a minority, there’s like, none. At the academy, I was the last female that graduated in our squad. Over 90-something-percent were males. I want to show my daughter and other young women that you can do anything you put your mind to. 

What did you learn at the police academy?

We learned Indian laws. We are a sovereign nation, so we learned Tulalip policies, federal polices and Washington state polices. We did stress-test scenarios where they hired actors to come in and they were screaming in our face; there were big guys, small girls, and people you didn’t expect, like in real life. We did mock night calls and pulled people over. There’s a lot of steps to approaching a vehicle, before you get out of the vehicle there are like 12 steps you need to take. We had the gun range; shotguns, A-Ks, handguns – and this was all in the New Mexico heat. We had about 45 physical exams and you had to pass them or you would get sent home.

Why do you believe it is important to have Native American representation on the tribal police force?

I understand where the people are coming from, being Native American as well, I understand the culture. Being out here, there’s a lot of people that are related, so you just have to have an open-mind for that. I feel like that alone could help teach other officers who aren’t Native American tremendously. Like at academy, the cadets who weren’t Native American, we had to get them to understand that there are going to be family members showing up on scene, at the police station. Compared to the outside world, it’s different here. 

We are literally a family working out here. Imagine working in Marysville or Everett, when they first get to work they are 20 calls behind. It’s not like that out here, you get to stop, take a moment and talk to people. One time we were handing out food to the elders, that was an amazing experience you’re not going to get that anywhere else.

Now that you are officially sworn-in and a TPD Officer, what’s next?

I don’t plan on ever leaving Tulalip. I don’t plan on working anywhere else. I’ve grown so much being out here, getting to know people. My daughter knows more Lushootseed than I do, so I want to have her to continue to come here and grow as well. 

Honestly, I want to be a detective. That would be my dream. 

Any words of advice for those interested in joining the Tulalip police force?

If you have the heart, you can do it. You can push yourself to do it and you have all the support of the Tulalip community.

Jordan Jira (Tulalip)

You are officially a Tulalip police officer; how does it feel?

It’s definitely a good feeling. I feel like being a police officer is more of a calling, it’s a career. Tulalip is where I wanted to work because it’s where I grew up, it’s where my friends and family are. I want to raise my family on the reservation. It’s definitely an honorable position to have and I look forward to making the community safer and doing anything I can to put my part in.

What inspired you to follow this career path?

My grandpa was Stan Jones, Scho-Hallem; he made a big impact. If I could do a partial bit of what he did, that would be an amazing accomplishment. He always wanted what’s best for Tulalip and I feel like I have similar beliefs.

Also, my dad (Sgt. Jeff Jira) has been here at the department for 20 years. Every night he’d be going out in his uniform and I just thought that was the coolest thing. Growing up with a father who is in law enforcement makes you respect officers more, what they go through. Another thing is I’ve always wanted was to help make Tulalip safer. Tulalip is the community I love. 

What was your experience like at the Indian Police Academy?

It was definitely a good experience. We had it a little bit harder, we were kind of the trial run. It’s a 13-week program. Usually on the weekends you get liberty, meaning you get to go out, go on hikes, get try all the food in New Mexico. It was pretty hard for us because we didn’t get to leave at all, we were stuck on base because of COVID. Five days a week you’re working hard and that goes by quick, and then there’s those two days where you’re just sitting in your room wanting to be at home.

Why is it important to have tribal members serve on the Tulalip police force?

I feel like being a tribal member, especially growing up on the reservation, knowing people is an advantage. It’s not a strange face coming up to you with a badge, it’s someone you know, someone you’ve seen on the reservation. It feels good being a tribal member and working for the police department. Our sovereignty is such a big thing and it’s a big thing to have our own police department. 

What’s next for you and do you have any words of advice to share for aspiring police officers?

One thing I always wanted to be when I was younger is a K-9 officer. You have to start out on patrol for the first couple years, but I always thought it would be really interesting to be a K-9 officer. And not going to lie, it’s a hard job. Especially nowadays, you have to have love for the job, love for the people and the community. If you feel like it’s a career and not just a job, go for it.

Jonathon Blumm (Enrolled Alaskan Native)

You were sworn-in on Wednesday, congrats! How does it feel to reach this milestone?

It feels very good, I am pretty proud of myself and all of the other officers. It’s a lot of work, the three months in Artresia were rough, but awesome. I started here in February in pre-academy. At the beginning we were going over laws and lots of DT, shooting, getting ready for the academy. Going to Artesia was an eye-opener but also, looking back, you make a lot of good memories and good friends.

Why did you want to become a police officer?

I always wanted to be a cop, I just never thought I would actually do it. Before this, I was a fleet mechanic for the Tulalip Resort for 12 years. I’ve always seen the position posted online, and one day my fiancé and I decided to just apply and go for it. 

I’m Fish and Wildlife – still a police officer but basically patrol the woods and water. I commercial fished on the state side for 5 years, I built two boats and fished under a permit so I was already familiar with boating and commercial fishing. That’s the real reason I went for Fish and Wildlife because I get to be on the water.

Why do you believe it is important to have Native American officers on the tribal police force?

If you’re in uniform they can come up to you, and feel more comfortable doing so because they know you. I know a lot of people out here from working here for so long, and they know you, so you get that support from them.

What’s next in your career path with the Tulalip Police Department and do you have any words of encouragement for those who wish to become a member of the tribal force?

My goal is just to stay here and work my way up if I can and just grow. And even if you don’t think you can, try.

Brandon Bennett (Tulalip community member/parent)

You were recently sworn-in as a member of the TPD police force, let’s talk about your journey up until this point. 

I applied back in 2019, did a written interview with the chief and commanders and then did a polygraph, psych evaluation and medical exam. I got hired-on and started working as a cadet. We did a lot of pre-academy work until July 5th, when we left for the academy in New Mexico.  We got back a week ago today and it feels so good to be back with the family, my kids and my wife. My wife is other native, my son is other native and my daughter is Tulalip. It felt amazing to be sworn-in, it was a long process. The academy was not easy. I’m talking 10, 12, 16-hour days, so getting sworn-in is a huge accomplishment.

What inspired you to become a police officer?

To show the community that I care. I want to help protect and grow the community and try to keep all the drugs off the reservation. 

Why is it important to have members of the community on the tribal police force?

It’s important that kids don’t see police officers as bad people, so they don’t get afraid or think we’re there just to arrest somebody. Sometimes, that is our job, but most of the time we’re there to help the community out with whatever is needed at the time.

What’s next in your career as an official TPD officer?

Field training. Once I pass that, hopefully I get my own vehicle. I’m excited to get out there and start patrolling, I want to connect with more people, talk to more citizens, play basketball with the kids if they’re playing. Just to show that we are all the same, just because I wear a badge doesn’t mean I’m anything more.

The new Tulalip Police Officers will be out and about the rez while training with their senior officers, be sure to give them a warm welcome! And for more information about becoming a Tulalip Police Officer, please contact the department at (360) 716-4608 or visit their new website at www.TulalipTribalPolice.org

Chris Sutter, Tulalip Chief of Police, expressed, “It’s a real positive step in the right direction for the Tulalip Tribal Police to bring on and hire new officers to help grow the department. We’re all about community and service to our community, being guardians and protectors. We’re making significant investments in time and training to help our officers be successful in their new role here in Tulalip. I’m really pleased to see this happening.”

In Spirit: A modern day look at the effects of generational trauma

Nathan Williams, Tulalip tribal member, actor and producer of In Spirit.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“How did I let this happen?” cried a mourning Indigenous mother. 

“Did you know?” she asks, turning her attention away from a photograph to a young Native man standing in her doorway.

“I had no idea, I didn’t think it mattered,” he responded, fighting back tears of his own.

“He’s my son, he matters.”

This emotional dialogue may seem familiar to you if you grew up in Native America. However, it is directly quoted from an upcoming project titled In Spirit, a short film based on a story by Tulalip tribal member, Nathan Williams, also referred to as his moniker, DEAMA. For years, Nate has been expressing himself creatively, giving people a glimpse into his world, whether through music, street art, fashion or most recently, film.

“If I were to put it in my words, short and sweet, the film is about a troubled kid named Jared,” Nate explains. “He’s about 17 or 18 years old and he’s trying to come to grips with his own emotions, with the passing of his long-time best friend turned addict. I tried to make it like a saturated version of my story, as much of my reality as possible without making it the same exact scenario. I tried to paint a typical scenario for everybody else’s situation when confronting those emotions. So, I would say it’s based on a true story, but the film was not the actual timeline.”

There is a meme, or a statement rather, that occasionally will make an appearance on the social media platforms, stating “our generation has been to more of their friend’s funerals than to their weddings,” and unfortunately that is a reality that many Indigenous youth live with in modern society. At tribal gatherings that aim to bring attention to today’s drug epidemic, Tulalip Board Member Mel Sheldon often opens the events by asking attendees to raise their hand if they have ever lost anybody due to a drug overdose. Each time nearly everybody’s hand goes up. 

According to current research conducted by the Washington Post, over the course of 8 years, 2006-2014, Native Americans were approximately 50% more likely to die from an opioid overdose than any other race. Furthermore, a new study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) showed that the suicide rate amongst Native teens is continuing to rise and is up 139% for Native women and 71% for Native men since 1999. 

If you are a non-Native reading those statistics, you may find yourself shocked to learn of this news. This is felt on an even greater level for tribal communities because those ‘statistics’ are often our siblings, cousins, uncles, aunties, parents or friends. And while those articles may provide a lot of eye-opening info, more times than not, they fail to encapsulate the hardship Indigenous Nations are feeling – what they go through with each young tribal member that is buried far too soon. 

In Spirit places you directly into that storm of emotions that we are left to deal with after our loved ones make the transition to the afterlife; the hurt, the anger, the guilt, all of those raw emotions are on display and they are portrayed so evocatively you almost feel like you’re reliving moments of your personal life. Nate explained that when casting the roles for the film, he called upon the people in his life that best fit the personalities of his characters, and that all of the cast members were first time actors. 

“We tried to go across everything that could possibly happen emotionally in these scenarios,” said Nate. “I’m super impressed with how everyone killed their roles. For the most part, we kind of just gave people a template of what to say. We told them to say it naturally, how they would speak if we were having a normal conversation; the way you say it, your cadence, your emotion that comes out. I think that helped a lot of people with their performance because they didn’t feel like they had to remember their bars. Every shot was under ten takes.”

The 8-minute film was originally intended to be just a scene in a full-length feature that Nate was writing at the time he met the film’s director, Jonathan ‘Jon’ Salmon. The two creatives crossed-paths when Jon hired filmmaker Luis Perez, a close friend of Nate’s, for a 3-part series dubbed Residents. That project was shot in three neighborhoods in the Pacific Northwest; South Seattle, Tacoma and Tulalip. From that project, Nate and Jon built a collaborative relationship and the first project they worked on together, a music video for Seattle artist Ben Zaidi, won Best Music Video at the Tacoma Film Festival. 

“From there, we started talking,” Jon stated. “A lot of people don’t know what happens on tribal lands, and they’re not too familiar with the genocide of Indigenous people and how the genocidal trauma can continue to affect and spread through the lineage of the people. We opened up and talked about our experience with death, how fast I thought I was losing people from the young age of 15 all the way up until today. And he talked about how it happens on the reservation and how it happens at Tulalip. We need to talk about that because that’s something that’s always put in the headlines, the opioid epidemic tearing apart suburban white neighborhoods, but you never hear that same focus and energy put in the tribal lands that need resources more than suburban families who have the means to deal with it, in a sense.”

After a ten-month writing session, the two created a script that they felt could honestly address the issue of generational trauma and how it affects the Native youth specifically. Once the roles were cast and locations were successfully scouted, filming began at the beginning of 2020 before COVID struck. And thanks to what Nate credits as Jon’s deep connections, multiple crews – filming, editing, makeup, colorists, were in place and the entire filming process took place over the course of only 48 hours. Post-production was relatively quick as well, taking approximately 5-6 months to wrap the film up. 

Nate expressed, “I got to give it up to Jon for being such a good director, because he’s down to get real personal with you. There were times he would pull me to the side and remind me what I was there for. Coming from the situation we are in, you grow accustomed to suppressing your emotions to a degree. You don’t want to relive those emotions, because you don’t genuinely want to hurt yourself again, but you got to put yourself in that ballpark for the film and that is what Jon is good at getting you to.”

And while Nate praised Jon for his work ethic and his execution of bringing his vision to the screen, Jon was quick to reciprocate, claiming that it was a collaborative process the entire way through, stating, “The film was organically developed. It wasn’t me saying, let me tell a story that I didn’t know anything about or relate to any of their experiences. It was me and Nate walking through everything together because he’s also the main actor in the film and the producer as well.”

Jon is non-Native but has close ties to families within the Puyallup tribe, which allowed him to have a better understanding of the reservation lifestyle than many filmmakers throughout the region. Coupled with his conversations with Nate, he took on the project with intentions of not only raising awareness to the drug epidemic and dealing with the loss of a loved one at a young age, but also to find a way to support a program or organization that helps Natives work on their mental health as it relates to generational trauma. 

“We understand that there is trauma,” he said. “We were trying to do something informative and insightful, we do believe we achieved that, but the film was also highlighting a very traumatic event and it kind of encouraged the cycle of trauma that I try to break in all of my work. We can’t open up a wound and not want to help people deal with it. We want to partner with an organization; whether it’s from the Tulalip Tribes, or any tribe in the State of Washington that offers services for the mental health and mental improvement for young adults between the ages of 13-30, to help them cope with experiences like this.”

The duo plan on officially releasing In Spirit on Indigenous Peoples Day, October 12th. The film is a must-watch; a modern day observation of how generational trauma is impacting the future of Native communities nationwide, as well as an important piece of work that helps open up a much-needed conversation about issues that are often overlooked or deemed too uncomfortable to talk about growing up on the rez.

“I feel like us, as Native Americans, are way too accustomed and jaded to these situations, and for the most part people aren’t seeking the therapy needed for certain things,” Nate expressed. “I don’t know if it’s because they don’t feel supported or if they just don’t have the resources. But as fortunate as the Tribe can be, I still feel like mental health is one of those things that’s not taken as serious as it should. We wanted this film to be the mirror; this is us – we are like this. As a community, we need to take it upon ourselves to help the people around us. That’s what I’m on.” 

View In Spirit here:

Indigenous Peoples Day: Together We Rise, Resist, Reclaim

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

For the seventh consecutive year, the greater-Seattle area and its thousands of Native citizens will proudly celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Replacing the former misbegotten holiday dedicated to a slave trader and lost Italian navigator, the commemorative day to honor the past, present and future of Indigenous cultures takes place annually on the second Monday in October.

“People ask, ‘Why Indigenous Peoples’ Day and why not American Indian Day or Native American Day?’ It’s only appropriate that we honor the legacy of work that’s been done,” explained Matt Remle, Lakota activist and local educator. His efforts, along with many other dedicated Native advocates, were instrumental in getting a proclamation voted on by the Seattle City Council and signed into law by then-mayor Ed Murray in 2013. 

“It’s not only honoring legacy, but when we say ‘Indigenous peoples,’ it’s referring to more than just the tribes of the colonized United States,” Remle continued. “We’re talking about all Indigenous peoples who’ve been impacted by settler colonialism around the world.”

Since its inception into the Puget Sound region, the Indigenous Peoples’ Day movement has spread to over 120 cities and been embraced by at least 10 state governments. Even some universities and a handful of public school districts have indoctrinated the holiday to celebrate global Indigenous cultures. 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day reimagines Columbus Day and changes a celebration of colonialism into an opportunity to reveal historical truths about the genocide and oppression of America’s original inhabitants, to organize against current injustices, and to celebrate Indigenous resistance.

Like so many things in 2020, this year’s celebration is forced to adapt to a social environment that doesn’t risk anyone’s health or wellbeing. It’ll be all virtual, all the time with prerecorded performances and heartfelt messages shared on Monday, October 12. To view the itinerary, receive updates and view the live videos come Indigenous Peoples’ Day, click on the following link – https://www.facebook.com/events/417245289650927/

We now reflect on more glorious days, when Native people and their allies from around the Pacific Northwest gathered on Coast Salish land to be seen and heard in celebration of reclaiming the narrative and repurposing a national holiday in our own image, all the while showcasing the beauty of Indigenous resistance.

Six years’ worth of Indigenous Peoples’ Days have brought about countless memories made. There’s been marches through the streets of Seattle, tears of joy shed between strangers, untold friendships made, and so much traditional knowledge shared at Daybreak Star cultural center. Most of all, this year’s seventh anniversary marks seven years of our younger generation not being forced to celebrate Columbus. 

“It’s been beautiful to see so many Indigenous people come together and be filled with so much joy,” shared 21-year-old Ayanna Fuentes, a member of Indigenous Sisters Resistance. “Our younger generation is growing up not knowing what Columbus Day is, and that’s an amazing thing.”

During the very first anniversary of Seattle’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation, renowned activist and two-time Green Party vice-presidential candidate Winona LaDuke (Ojibwe) delivered a passionate keynote address.

“It is so liberating for me to be here and celebrate with you all in just how awesome it is be Indigenous,” beamed LaDuke in front of her Native brothers and sisters. “You know, it’s always perplexed me how someone can name something as large as a mountain or sea or an entire day after something as small as a human.

“It changes how people view things when everything is named after all these white guys,” she continued. “We are just beginning. There is a lot of work ahead in the renaming and recovering and restoration of our homelands. In doing so we remember our ancestors. In doing this we honor all those before us, all those here, and all those yet to come. And we reaffirm our place here as a people who remember, as a people who do not suffer from historic amnesia.”

The Tulalip Youth Council attended last year’s celebrations at Daybreak Star where they joined an energetic lineup of Native performers. The young culture bearers shared their Tulalip culture with hundreds who packed the traditional space. Tulalip voices rang out, as did their bellowing drums, during their two song performance. 

“We are here to celebrate the amazing resiliency of Indigenous peoples,” said Matt Remle three years ago while serving as evening co-emcee. “Despite the Euro colonizers greatest efforts at mass genocide, disposition, slavery, and assimilation, we as Native peoples are still here. Native communities continue to fight to protect the land, air, and waters. We continue to live traditional roles and responsibilities, which have been passed down from our origins as a peoples since the beginning of creation. We continue to sing our songs, relearn our languages and express ourselves through our dances and cultures. If this isn’t worth celebrating, I don’t know what is.”

A plethora of states, cities, counties, community groups, schools, and other institutions will observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 12. They do so with activities, storytelling and lesson plans that raise awareness for the rich history, culture, and traditions of America’s Indigenous peoples. Because we are still here. And we are thriving.

Community Health COVID kits

By Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News

Being prepared is key in any health crisis. It’s especially important during a nationwide pandemic like COVID 19. With cases on the rise again at Tulalip, staff at Community Health, in partnership with Emergency Management, have prepared wellness kits for those testing positive with the virus.

According to Morgan Peterson, Community Health Nurse, 70 kits have been assembled and are available. “These are a starter kit to help promote health and wellness. Family or friends can pick them up at the Community Health building. We also will deliver the kits the persons home.”

“These kits are for all Native families residing on the reservation and receive care at the health clinic,” said Morgan. “We will provide these kits to Tribal families that have tested positive outside of the Tulalip Health Clinic.”

These kits include many essential items such as: 

  • Hand soap
  • Sanitizer
  • Disinfectant wipes
  • 20 masks 
  • 20 pairs of gloves
  • Teas
  • EmergenC
  • Pulse oximeter
  • Thermometer
  • Booklet to track and monitor symptoms 
  • An info card on how to use the items and who to call if you need help

There is a limit of one COVID care kit per household and three kits have been given out so far. Clinic staff are asking those picking up kits to please call first, and staff will bring the kit to your car. 

“Community Health nurses and nurses of the Health Clinic are here to answer any questions or concerns so don’t hesitate to call,” added Morgan.

The Clinic is offering COVID testing to any patient of the clinic. You must be or become registered to receive COVID testing. 

For more information, please contact the Tulalip Health Clinic at 360-716-5662 or visit tulaliphealthsystem.com. 

The art of soap making with Amoreena Anderson

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“Everybody sees soap as this magical thing, and it is kind of magical,” said Tulalip tribal member, Amoreena Anderson. “It cleanses your pores and takes away all the dirt and bacteria off your body, binds it to a molecule and washes it away.”

At a young age, Amoreena found her passion while on shopping trips with her mom in Mount Vernon. Little did she know of all the lives she would positively affect when she was drawn to a section of a local food co-op where they sold handcrafted soap, and her teenage, curious mind began to wonder how soap is made.

“My mom used to take me to the Skagit Valley Food Co-Op and they would have all these handcrafted soaps, I was always interested in knowing how they were made,” she said. “My mom told me she made soap before and I would probably learn when I got older. From that moment on, I was completely into it.”

She spent the next few years researching how to craft soap. If the co-op visits were the prelude to her journey in soap making, the first chapter took place in 2012 when she began experimenting and created her first product, which was a big hit amongst her family and co-workers.

She stated, “I have carpal tunnel and was always typing as a data entry clerk, so I started making shea butter body whip, basically whipped shea butter that I would add essential oils and vitamin E. My friend used to trade me massages for the body butter, it was for her child who had a skin condition. I believe all the high-end essential oils are wonderful, they reap all the benefits that you could use and I really wanted to know more.” 

Amoreena explained that after receiving positive reviews about the body butter and learning more about essential oils, she was ready for the next challenge. Purchasing her first home in 2013, she now had the necessary space to fully immerse herself into her passion project.

“I had a typical first timer experience as I started perfecting my methods and recipes. They have soap calculators online that are very helpful in helping you get the right consistency. Cleansing and moisturizing are the two most important factors. Depending on your skin type, you can modify each batch to meet your specific needs. And then there’s also the oil properties; soy bean, coconut, shea butter, a lot of exotic oils that all have different properties. Pretty soon I had a lot of people who wanted to buy soap from me, so I start selling soap. But, I wanted to do more.”

“I had a typical first timer experience as I started perfecting my methods and recipes. They have soap calculators online that are very helpful in helping you get the right consistency. Cleansing and moisturizing are the two most important factors. Depending on your skin type, you can modify each batch to meet your specific needs. And then there’s also the oil properties; soy bean, coconut, shea butter, a lot of exotic oils that all have different properties. Pretty soon I had a lot of people who wanted to buy soap from me, so I start selling soap. But, I wanted to do more.”

Growing up Tulalip, she learned about the traditional lifeways of her people and knew a great deal about harvesting and the medicinal properties that plants contain. She wanted to expand her knowledge on the subject of herbalism even more to incorporate different plants and herbs into her soaps, salves, candles, bath bombs, and lotions to help people with their everyday ailments. She enrolled in an herbalist course to get a better understanding of the healing abilities that various plants offer. 

“I took a class to learn different ways I could incorporate a holistic approach, to help people heal their skin issues and symptoms because a lot of herbalism can treat those symptoms,” said Amoreena. “Depending on the plant you’re using, some of these plants are adaptogenic and they alleviate and eliminate symptoms completely. I really feel like I’m doing my best work, sharing my passion for my work in general to give to my community. Whether it be information or product, it’s very empowering and uplifting and I like to not only give to them, but ask them if they would like to make soap with me, if they want to go harvesting with me, or if they want to sit in and watch.”

Amoreena’s soap making journey was off to a great start. In fact, if her story was a biopic on the silver screen, the next few years would play out like a montage as her business, known officially as Coast Salish Soaps, took off. Not only was she selling soap to multiple families within the Tulalip community, her products were being shipped nationwide and could even be found for sale in other countries such as Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany and England. The quality of her products was spoken of highly by her clientele who provided testimonials and side-by-side before and after pictures to back up their reviews.

A major component to her success is the fact the she shares her knowledge with her consumers. When people approach her with different skin issues they wish to address, she not provides them with a product that works, she explains why it will work, what to expect and how the issue may have arisen in the first place.  

“I really do care,” expressed Amoreena. “I have sensitive skin. My kids have sensitive skin. A lot of it stems from the food you eat. Your liver is basically your body’s second brain, and your skin is the largest organ on your body. Your skin is considered to be your second liver. Everything your liver doesn’t process out, comes through the skin and you end up having skin eruptions; eczema, cirrhosis, endocrine diseases are linked to the liver and heavy metal. There are so many people who suffer from skin flare ups like dry skin, rashes and they don’t know where it comes from.”

She continues, “When you go all natural with handcrafted soaps like I make, sometimes you go through a detoxing process for your skin and it’s weird for the first two weeks, but then you’re all good. A lot of people say soap irritates their skin and think what is sold over the counter is soap, when it’s not actually soap, it’s chemicals. People like it because it doesn’t leave soap scum, one of the complaints that happens regularly with handmade soaps. But then they’ll notice their skin is a lot drier, itchier, and tight-feeling, and that’s because their using surfactants versus soap. With what corporate America gives the public to use, small-business-handcrafted-soap-makers are really valuable people inside their communities, to bring that knowledge back to people. It’s empowering for a lot of people to take back control on what they use on their bodies.”

All great success stories are not complete without trials and tribulations, and Coast Salish Soaps are currently weathering a momentary hiatus brought forth in the form of an injury when Amoreena took a spill and broke both of her wrists. Although she hasn’t been in business for about a year, she still receives requests on the regular. When she has the necessary helping hands from her kiddos and plenty of notice in advance, Amoreena will occasionally concoct a batch of soaps to donate for local memorials and funerals in the Tulalip community. 

  “I usually have a feeling of gratitude when I do my work. When I’m called upon to make soap for memorials, or funerals for our give away practices, I always try to oblige. An important part of our culture, in the potlatch system, is our giveaways.”

Amoreena wants her loyal customers and interested parties to know that her love and passion for soap making hasn’t faltered through trying times, and that she plans on elevating her brand once she is back to 100% and healed from her injury. And although she constantly works with Native plants of this region, such as Devils Club, and has even rendered bear fat to use in her products, she wants to incorporate more traditional teachings and medicine into soaps and creations. 

“One of my favorites to make is the emulsified sugar scrub because you’re in total and complete control of how moisturizing or cleansing it is, and how silky it’s going to turn out and how much lather it will have. My healing butter infused with plant medicine is another favorite. Soap is my favorite, that’s a given because that’s the base of my business. I like to make lotions and heavy creams upon request. Liquid soap is most definitely up there, people really like the liquid soap. My son’s out fishing and he’ll come home and it will take the fish smell right out of his skin. Any stinky smell, it’s just gone, don’t have to re-wash your hands from anything potent smelling. It’s really good for your skin too, it doesn’t leave it over dried.”

To stay updated on the latest news about Amoreena and Coast Salish Soaps, please join the Coast Salish Soaps group on Facebook and be sure to give their business page a like as well. Amoreena may not be selling products at this time, but she is always willing to share the knowledge she has attained over the years with those who are inquiring. 

She expressed, “My goal with my business is to empower the people, to give back to the community. It’s important that we uplift each other and share our knowledge to keep our Tribe and our community empowered. You’d be amazed at what a bag of liquid soap, that’s full of essential oils, can do for somebody’s mental health just by that ritual of showering and inhaling the essential oils in the steam.”

Did you know?

  • Devils club salve is a sacred plant native to the United States, Canada and Alaska regions. They like to grow in areas that have a lot of moisture. A little bit can go a long way. It’s an anti-flammatory and it has multiple uses beyond herbalism that are sacred and spiritual. The plant itself will smoothen out kinked muscles, it will alleviate the pain and bring circulation in. 
  • Magnesium is a mineral that our bodies need, it’s something that our body doesn’t reproduce on its own so you need to get it from food sources or topically. Magnesium does hundreds of positive things for your body; it relaxes your heart, it relaxes all of your muscles so you can get proper blood flow to damaged tissue, it alleviates leg cramps, it works with nerve damage like neuropathy that diabetics can get, it helps immensely with headaches and can be a very powerful pain reliever.

Hibulb Cultural Center accepting submissions for November 7th Film Festival

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

The film festival lives on! With each year that passed since the Hibulb Cultural Center (HCC) first announced the Film Festival, more and more participants found community by bonding with other likeminded creatives at the yearly Fall time event. Each year the film festival culture grows stronger as Indigenous filmmakers, actors, and storytellers showcase their art to the public. The festival is open to all who work in film, whether you live locally or a few states or continents away, everyone is encouraged to take part in the festival and several filmmakers, scorers and screenplay writers from around the world submit their works each year. 

“The film festivals began at Hibulb to celebrate films and filmmaking, and to highlight Coast Salish communities as well as communities around the world and the values that we share,” explains Lena Jones, HCC Education Curator and Film Festival Organizer. “There is always an international element to our festivals that remind us of the beauty of the world.”

In years past, the event typically occurs throughout the course of an entire day and movie lovers are treated to multiple screenings in both the HCC classrooms and longhouse. The participants who submit their films provide an introduction before the film plays and afterwards, they explain in detail the intricacies of each scene and answer any questions from the audience, allowing the creatives to fully engage about all the specifics that go into making a film. 

Lena expressed, “We believe it is important to celebrate Indigenous filmmakers and actors because they carry our voice and perspective into the world, a perspective that is much needed during these times. They provide role models for our younger generation with their strong, healing messages. They uplift their communities. We know there is so much talent in our communities and so much knowledge to draw from in our heritage.”

With local events throughout the nation being pushed-back or canceled completely due to the coronavirus, it is refreshing and exciting to see the continuation of the film festival, especially since last year’s event drew many spectators and submissions. And although the HCC is open to the public, with many safety measures and practices in place, they are taking an extra-cautious approach to this year’s festival because of the infectious disease and are proceeding with the event digitally. 

“The show must go on,” said Lena. “This year the festival will be virtual. We will livestream the film awards and lifetime achievement awards on our Hibulb Cultural Center Facebook page at noon on November 7, and we will post links of the films for folks to view. An audience award will be given this year on the film selected by the audience as the overall best film.”

Over the past eight years, the festival has welcomed several genres of films such as music videos about rez love, fantasy films, documentaries about local tribes and their people. Local cinephiles are often treated to a look into tribal lifeways when films regarding sovereignty, treaty rights, harvesting, and art are shared during the festival. 

Some films feature songs and on-screen interactions that are spoken and sang in the filmmaker’s Native language, such as fan favorite films by Tulalip Filmmaker, David Spencer Sr., Waiting for Blackberries and I Am Frog in which the film’s dialogues are spoken entirely in Lushootseed.

“The films are diverse. Each year we pick a theme for the festival,” said Lena.  “This year is ‘Past, Present, and Future’. Our judges, Swinomish tribal elder and filmmaker Robin Carneen, filmmaker Mike Van Luvan, and chef and film consultant Brit Reed all bring unique and inspiring perspectives to our film festival. We’re honored for their help and expertise. 

“We accept all films. In the past we’ve received historical and biographical documentaries, animations, romance, fantasies, thriller films, action films, comedies, music films, experimental films, and sci-fi films.”

So far, the HCC has received five film submissions including, Bittersweet Life as We Know It by Julie Antony, Nobody Cares by Tim Fraser-Granados, Salish Cedar Canoes by Costa Boutsikaris, The Battle of Blythe by Robert Lundahl, and The Vision, Death, and Ghost of Isaac Ebey by Jefferson Elliot. The Film Festival will continue accepting submissions throughout the month of October as they gear-upfor  the 8th Annual Hibulb Cultural Center Film live on Facebook, November 7th. 

“It is important for the festival to continue,” Lena stated. “There’s so much history, heritage, diversity, and beauty in our communities. Our cultures and values are medicine to our communities. This is one way to keep spreading the wisdom and highlighting the ideals of our ancestors. We would be happy to receive more entries for our festival. The entry form can be found on our Hibulb Cultural Center website, Film Festival 2020, https://www.hibulbculturalcenter.org/Events/Film-Festival-2020/. Then e-mail me the form along with a link to your film. My e-mail address is lejones@hibulbculturalcenter.org.”

Tulalip distance learning sites promote student achievement

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Washington State is home to over one million public school students. According to the Seattle Times, 94.4% of these students have begun the 2020-2021 school year not in the classroom nor with any in-person interactions with their devoted teachers. Instead, nearly all of Washington’s public school districts have gone all-in with a virtual teaching concept designed to minimize spread of coronavirus – Distance Learning.

Defined as any form of remote education where the student is not physically present for the lesson, distance learning is the default safety net for education in the age of COVID. Thanks largely to the power of the internet, educators are able to teach their carefully crafted lesson plans via a computer screen and video cam to their young learners. This type of learning comes with one major flaw; it’s completely dependent on the students having the access and know-how to operate today’s tech gadgetry and ever-updating software and apps.

Welcome to 2020, where the kingdom of social distancing reigns supreme and access to ample bandwidth is the difference between a student achieving and being irritably stuck on a frozen Zoom screen. 

Fortunately for Tulalip’s K-12 students, they belong to a Tribe who had the foresight to transform the reservation’s largest two youth activity centers into dedicated distance learning sites. In the weeks leading up to the new school year, the Tulalip Teen Center and Boys & Girls Club received critical network upgrades to ensure a high-demand of bandwidth could be sustained, turned typical activity and gaming rooms into spaces that encourage learning, and instituted COVID guidelines such as temperature checks, mask enforcement, and social distancing.

“The health, education and overall success of our students is our top priority. The Tulalip Education Division and the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club are working hard to provide support in the safest environment possible,” stated Jessica Bustad, executive director of education. “Together we can ensure that our students begin thriving during these uncertain times. We wrapped up our second full week of Distance Learning and are improving services provided to our students. We are very proud of our young people who are showing up and doing the best they can.”

Change can come into our lives as a result of crisis, as a result of choice or just by chance. Being unprepared and resistant to change leads to fear, hostility and a sense of hopelessness. Embracing change and managing all its challenges in a constructive way is key to not only surviving, but thriving in an ever-changing world. 

Adapting to change is what the devoted staff of both distance learning sites and the many young minds who attend on a daily basis exemplify. Primarily accommodating Kindergarten – 5th grade students who require much more attention and emotional reassuring, the usual Boys & Girls Club activities specialists are now de facto educators.

“We are no longer a traditional boys and girls club. We’ve become a school-like learning center,” said Diane Prouty, administrative assistant for the Club. “We have 98 kids registered and average about 70 kids per day. We separate them by grade level, so 1st graders are together, 2nd graders are together and so on. 

“As a staff, we feel so needed. We’re all learning to navigate this unprecedented time together,” she continued. “We have five different elementary schools represented among our K-5 kids. We do our best to keep up with each student’s daily responsibilities, but there are so few of us and so many of them. It can be overwhelming at times because we know some kids require more one-on-one time, but we have to use our time effectively to do the most good. At the end of the day, we are making a huge impact by creating a safe place for our community’s kids to learn.” 

Adapting to the new tech-centric normal is easier for teens who willingly spend much of their free time with their eyes glued to screens anyway, whether it be a computer, TV, cell phone, tablet or video game. A big obstacle for them is less familiarity with Chromebooks and virtual learning programs and more access to a consistent internet connection. Within the rezzy landscape of Tulalip, stable internet and adequate bandwidth can be difficult to come by under the best of conditions. 

Network upgrades and additional Wi-Fi hot spots at the Teen Center make it a quality alternative for homebound teenagers looking to focus on their school work. Plus, there is support offered by both peers and staff, many of whom are recent graduates of the same Marysville School District curriculum. 

“It’s been pretty cool because there are people here to guide us with our school work when we’re confused and have questions,” shared 9th grader Image Enick. “For those with working parents, there is no one at home to assist with assignments, but here at the Teen Center there are plenty of people we are comfortable with asking questions. I haven’t had any difficulty with my online classes or getting kicked off because of bad internet either.”

“We are so proud of the kids here,” added tribal advocate Courtney Jefferson. “We’ve been averaging 40 to 60 a day. They have been taking the initiative to prioritize their education and haven’t needed to be redirected to engage in their online classes. They’ve been getting themselves into their learning spaces, taking ownership of their rooms here in the building, and being productive with their time.”

The Tulalip distance learning sites continue to adapt and find creative ways to provide additional support to our students. Both locations are a safe space for students to access the internet, connect to WI-FI, or use a desktop. They each provide daily meals as well. Most importantly, the sites allow students to build a routine, with consistent support and resources that effectively promote scholastic achievement.

The Tulalip Education staff are also available to provide support and resources to students who are not currently attending the facilities. Feel free to contact any of the programs if you have additional questions: