Category: News

2020 Census update: Nearly 50% of Tulalip households have responded

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Every 10 years the United States Census Bureau attempts an astounding task to count each and every person in the country. The Constitution requires a census every 10 years to determine how many seats each state will have in the House of Representatives. More importantly, census data also helps guide how billions of dollars in federal, state, and tribal funding are distributed.

Accurate census data leads to fairer distributions of funds that support tribal programs in meeting community member needs, such as housing, education, elder programs, healthcare, childcare programs, and economic development. Put simply, having accurate representation means making sure you are counted, and by being counted you bring more federal money to Tulalip that benefits the entire reservation. Each person counted equals $3,000 of potential funding for our community.

As of Monday, April 20th, official numbers provided by the Census Bureau list Tulalip with a 47.3% response rate. That means a little less than half of all Tulalip households have responded to the 2020 Census via self-responses online, by phone, or by mail. 

To those households who responded to the census already, a huge thank you for being proactive. For the rest of you 52.7% of households yet to make yourselves counted, the good news is there’s still time. The U.S. Census Bureau has extended the census deadline to October 31 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The 2020 Census is our chance to be visible, to be heard, and for our tribal nations to be recognized,” stated Kevin Allis, CEO of the National Congress of American Indians. “Being counted means standing up for yourself, your family, and your tribal community. Our people, our nations, and our future depend on each one of us to complete the census form. This is our opportunity to make a difference – the time is now. Let us join together and make 2020 the year that Indian Country counts!”

Despite the lengthy history and expansive impact of the U.S. census, Native Americans have historically been undercounted. This history of inaccuracy costs millions of annual tax dollars to Indian Country that would otherwise be used to improve public programs such as schools, roads, and other forms of critical public infrastructure.

Not being counted hurts Indian Country and on the local level, hurts Tulalip. Tribal leaders and the Census Bureau hope that focusing on designated hard-to-count communities and improved technology will help produce a more accurate count this year. In 2020, for the first time ever, citizens are able to respond to the census online.

“I want to tell every [Native American] to be counted as an act of rebellion because this census is designed not to count you,” declared Natalie Landreth (Chickasaw), a senior attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, to Indian Country Today. “It is designed for you to not have congressional districts. It is designed for you to not have federal monies. Make yourself heard because they don’t want to hear from you.”

The easiest and most efficient method for participating in the census is to fill it out online at my2020census.gov All Tulalip households should have received an invitation in the mail to participate in the census with a unique 12-digit Census ID. If you don’t have the 12-digit ID handy, then there is an online tool at my2020census.gov/app/intro/state to assist you.

The average time for a household to complete the census form online is only about ten minutes. Taking those critical minutes to be counted means standing up and being visible for yourself, your family, and your tribal community.

Your responses to the 2020 Census are confidential and protected by law. Personal information is never shared with any other government agencies or law enforcement, including federal, local, and tribal authorities.

It cannot be understated that accurate census data is essential for policymaking and funding for public roads and many other types of essential infrastructure. A lot of our federal programs are dependent on the numbers generated from the census. It impacts education. It impacts economic development. It impacts tribal housing. It impacts health care. 

Now is the time to encourage family, friends, and neighbors to spread the work and participate in the 2020 Census. Don’t let the government short change Indian Country or Tulalip a single dollar of federal funding. Be visible and be counted!

For more information, visit www.census.gov OR for those intending to complete the census online please visit my2020census.gov/ to help shape our future.

How to be counted as Tulalip

For many reasons, it is important that Native households be counted in the 2020 Census. This depends on the race of “Person 1” or the first person listed on the census form. If that person says he or she is Native, then the household will be counted as one with a Native “householder”. 

Saying that you’re American Indian or Alaska Native on the 2020 Census form is a matter of self-identification. No proof is required. No one will ask you to show a tribal enrollment card or a certificate of Indian blood. 

To be counted as a Native citizen who is part of the Tulalip Tribes, you must complete two simple steps. Frist, check the box for American Indian or Alaska Native. Second, make sure to write in your enrolled tribe. For Tulalip tribal members this means writing in Tulalip Tribes.

As far as the Census Bureau is concerned, the listing of a person’s tribe is entirely a matter of what the person writes in. No proof of the person’s relationship to that tribe is required. It’s all a matter of self-identification. 

Inside a local hospital

Swedish Medical Center, First Hill, Seattle, stock photo. 

By Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News

For firemen, police officers, doctors and nurses, every day is a new day, with new dangers. Now add a global pandemic to that. With shortages of equipment and tests, to political uncertainty provoking protests outside of health institutions in some states, one can only imagine the levels of stress, anxiety, fear and frustration these workers are under. 

According to a March 31, 2020 CNN report, hospitals across the nation began seeing COVID patients in early March and many quickly became overwhelmed. Though many people suffering from the virus experience symptoms that can be treated at home, those with more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath or chest pain are encouraged to consult their doctor or to visit an ER. 

We spoke to an RN at Seattle’s Swedish Hospital, who prefers to go only by Mary, about her experience working first-hand in the COVID-19 environment. 

“The COVID patients I have seen have been from anywhere from the age of 28 to age 89. They all have fever and respiratory symptoms. Some have been otherwise healthy and others have had underlying medical problems such as asthma and heart disease,” explained Mary about the patients that have been admitted to the hospital.  

Those wondering if they should visit an ER or not, need to keep a close eye on their symptoms, especially if they persist. 

“You should call your doctor if you have a fever or a cough or if you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID,” said Mary. “You should call 911 if you have any emergency signs such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, new confusion, inability to arouse or any bluish lips or face.” 

  Questions from the general public about local hospitals include whether they are full or still accepting patients. Mary explained that Swedish prepared early on for the virus, and kept rooms available for patients along with rescheduling and canceling surgeries. 

“The hospital campus I work at is not at its capacity. The hospital prepared itself in COVID’s early stages by not doing any elective surgeries or procedures to make room and have staff available for surges of COVID patients. Right now, the hospital has plenty of beds for any new cases of COVID patients.” Mary went to on the say that Swedish is beginning to open up limited surgeries for originally scheduled, non-COVID patients. 

Even though staff are in fact seeing a slowdown of COVID-admitted patients, it is still an extremely stressful environment. 

 “The general feeling I am getting at work is frustration. It is overwhelming when rules and protocols change daily and we never know what to expect. We are still limited on our supplies.” 

In addition to administrative stress, there is the fear of having contact with the outside world and going home to family members. Mary practices constant handwashing and other important steps when leaving a hospital shift.  

“When soap and water is not available I use hand sanitizer,” she said. “Social distancing. I always wear a mask to the store and try not to spend a lot of time shopping in the store. I never wear my scrubs home. I make sure to not bring hospital germs out into the public or home. I take my vitamins, asthma medications, and try to get good sleep.” 

“All employees are screened before they come in to work. We all get our temperature taken and are asked if we have any respiratory symptoms. If we have a fever over 100 degrees, we are sent home and our manager is notified. At my hospital campus, thankfully, COVID cases are slowing down. But we all still have to keep protecting ourselves and families by handwashing and social distancing because we still have some positive COVID cases coming into the hospital.” 

As far as states making plans to re-open businesses, and the quarantine backlash from protestors, Mary says, “The nurses on my unit and I agree that it is a little early for things to be reopening. We don’t think enough time has gone by for the virus to have been on the decline, there are still too many active cases to be loosening the social distancing guidelines. We have to be careful.

The protests are not helping anyone. There are other ways people can voice their opinion without gathering in large groups at this point in time, with the virus still being active as much as it is.”

As a reminder, Tulalip Bay Fire has an ambulance in service, which can transport community members transported directly from their residence to the reservation’s primary medical facility.  For concerned citizens who are beginning to experience COVID-19 related symptoms, please call the Tulalip Health Clinic’s main line at (360) 716-4511 to speak to their medical professionals. 

Tribe file lawsuit to stop Treasury Department from distributing tribal funds to corporations

Tulalip Tribes, Washington, DC Office 

In a joint effort, the Tulalip Tribes and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in Washington state, together with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians in Maine and three federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Alaska, have filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to prevent the Department of the Treasury from distributing funds to corporations or other non-governmental entities that Congress intended to be distributed only to Tribal governments. The three Alaska co-plaintiffs are the Akiak Native Community, the Asa’carsarmiut Tribe, and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island. The Parties will be asking the Court to issue an injunction against illegal disbursements of the Congressional appropriation. 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) became law on March 27, 2020, and provides $150 billion in direct aid specifically for COVID-19 related expenses to states, Tribal governments, territories and local governments. Of the $150 billion, Congress allocated $8 billion to Tribal governments. In setting aside the funds for Tribal governments, numerous members of Congress related the tremendous hardships that COVID-19 has caused for Tribal governments. 

During the past week, Indian country became aware that the Treasury Department was considering expanding the scope of entities that could receive direct payments under this provision beyond Tribal governments. On April 13, 2020, Treasury published on its website a certification form for eligible entities to complete that confirmed its intent to treat Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) as “Tribal governments” for purposes of making payments under Title V of the CARES Act. 

There are 574 federally recognized Tribal governments that maintain a government-to-government relationship with the United States, which include Indian tribes and nations in the lower-48 states and the state of Alaska. Treasury’s disbursement of funds to ANCs will diminish the funding available for Tribal governments, which are providing critical services across the country to tribal members and their communities in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Such diminishment will occur at a time when other programs under the CARES Act are either unavailable to Tribal governments or have expended available funds. 

Many Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and members of Congress expressed written opposition to Treasury’s inclusion of ANCs inclusion because ANCs are state-chartered and state-regulated private business corporations, not Tribal governments as contemplated in the CARES Act. 

“We are opposed to any effort to consider Alaska Native Corporations or other entities not on the list of federally recognized Indian tribes as a ‘Tribal government’ under the CARES Act relief fund,” said Harry Pickernell, Sr., Chairman of the Chehalis Tribe. “We do, however, fully support the ability of Tribal governments to transfer any relief funds that they receive from Treasury to ANCs or other non-governmental entities if those Tribal governments determine that is in their best interest.” 

The federal government has a specific trust responsibility to federally recognized Indian tribes, not shareholders of corporations. The historic lack of federal funding for tribal programs has created a dramatic need in Indian Country. This portion of the CARES Act was intended for tribes that provide services to tribal members, not dividends to shareholders or any other non-governmental entity. 

“The notion that corporations incorporated under state law should be considered Tribal governments is shocking and will come at the expense of tribal governments, who are responsible for providing critical needs such as healthcare, housing, and education to their citizens,” said Teri Gobin, Chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes. “We are struggling right now because we have no revenue coming in, and it’s going to take years to recover,” Gobin added. 

The Tribes’ lawsuit does not seek any delay of Treasury’s statutory requirement to distribute funding to Tribal governments by the CARES Act deadline of April 27, 2020. Rather, the Tribes’ request that the Court order Treasury to disperse all $8 billion to Tribal governments, but not to ANCs, in accordance with the CARES Act. 

Tulalip debuts innovative program to combat Coronavirus

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The firefighters at Snohomish County Fire District #15, known as the Tulalip Bay Fire Department, serve an estimated 13,000 people living in an area of 22.5 square miles on the Tulalip Reservation. Their mission is to foster community relations through unwavering service and protection of life and property. 

This team of devoted first responders just received crucial reinforcements to fulfill that mission as part of a 90-day pilot program that secured a second emergency aid car and three additional staff members to help Tulalip Bay Fire combat the dreaded Coronavirus.

“[As of April 6] we’ve put a new ambulance in service. It is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm,” explained Chief Ryan Shaughnessy of Tulalip Bay Fire. “The purpose of this unit is to transport Tulalip tribal members residing on the reservation to the Karen I. Fryberg clinic.

“Part of what we’re trying to do is eliminate the need to take people to the Emergency Room,” continued Chief Shaughnessy. “One of our main goals is to be able to transport people here locally, as to avoid an unnecessary trip to an out of area E.R. that is experiencing long wait times. We want to keep you here, close to home, where we can transport you to the local clinic and then get you a ride back home.”

COVID-19 has changed life dramatically for the foreseeable future. However, with this new program now implemented, both tribal and non-tribal community members can benefit in a variety of ways.

For tribal members that live within the Tulalip boundaries, if you are experiencing COVID related symptoms and report them to the Health Clinic, you can now be transported directly from your residence to the reservation’s primary medical facility. This is the first time ever a service of this nature is being provided. No unnecessary travel to an Everett-based hospital, nor historically long wait to be seen at the Emergency Room. By using the Health Clinic’s services to be seen, tested, and treated for COVID-19, costs are only a fraction of what one could expect from an E.R. visit.

The new aid car and team will work directly with Tulalip’s Health Clinic to provide transport for tribal members to and from the clinic for standard care during clinic hours, reducing demand on surrounding health systems. This work is part of a collaborative effort to strengthen social distancing measures and reduce the potential spread of the novel coronavirus.

For non-tribal citizens on the reservation, the new aid car provides must-needed relief and shorter response times during an ongoing coronavirus crisis. The primary emergency medical services (EMS) unit is freed up to quickly respond to life threatening emergencies, while the backup unit can focus on situations that don’t require emergent care. Additionally, the new ambulance can be used to transport any Tulalip-based citizen to a local Emergency Room, if necessary. 

“One of the added benefits of our new program is that when this unit is not being utilized to transport COVID patients from their homes to the clinic or to the emergency room, its available for 911 calls, to assist on structural fires, motor vehicle accidents, and all other call types we respond to,” said Chief Shaughnessy. “The individuals who work this unit are trained firefighters and EMTs. They are experienced and trained to respond to any call type.”

The 90-day program officially launched on April 6th. While it’s additional resources and manpower will undoubtedly bring relief and critical assistance to combat the Coronavirus here on the Tulalip Reservation, its impacts will be even more long-lasting. The new ambulance will be a permanent fixture at Tulalip Bay Fire and provide necessary back-up.

Last year, Tulalip Bay Fire received over 1,300 EMS calls. An estimated 100 of those calls required a backup unit, which meant depending on other agencies lending support and required losing potential life-saving time waiting on that back-up. Now, those type of situations will be mitigated by having a second aid car at the fire house permanently. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for Tulalip,” said Chairwoman Teri Gobin. “We’ve had to adapt quickly to protect our people. We are grateful for our partnership with Tulalip Bay Fire. Together, we are doing what we can to make sure that the entire Tulalip community remains healthy and safe.”

Tulalip Bay Fire provides fire suppression, emergency medical services with transport, water rescue, public education, hazardous material cleanup and a basic level of technical rescue services. For more information, visit tulalipbayfire.org 

For concerned citizens who are beginning to experience COVID-19 related symptoms, please call the Tulalip Health Clinic’s main line at (360) 716-4511 to speak to their medical professionals. 

Emergency Management Coronavirus Update, April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

Today in Emergency Management, we are working on preparing for a COVID-19 quarantine facility if needed, tracking expenses for reimbursement, and developing a direct relationship with FEMA, rather than filing through the State. 

Many news sites are predicting that we are at the peak of COVID-19 infections. We want to encourage you to continue taking precautions. Our Board of Directors Stay Home, Stay Safe order is still in effect. Do not visit with people who do not live in your household and limit travel to essential tasks only. 

We’re often asked what individuals can do. Limiting exposure is the first step. Our doctors at the Karen I. Fryberg Health Clinic have asked us to encourage people to continue moving and to practice breathing exercises to be more resilient if we catch the virus. Practice these three to five times a day. 

  • Diaphragmatic breathing: To feel your diaphragm, put your hand on your belly, and sniff like you’re smelling a flower. The lifting in your stomach happens when your diaphragm contracts. To perform diaphragmatic breathing, attempt to breathe deep into your belly where you felt your belly lift. See if you can breathe in for 5 seconds, and breathe out for 5 seconds.
  • Pursed lip breathing: Take a slow deep breath with your diaphragm as described above, half-open your lips, and slowly breathe out as if you are making a candle flicker. This will strengthen your diaphragm and breathing control, and should make breathing throughout the day easier and smoother. You have healthy breath control if you can do this for 20 seconds!
  • Summed breathing: Take a small breath and pause for 2 seconds, then repeat this until you are unable to inhale any more. You may exhale quickly. This will allow air to get behind any mucus blockages in your lungs, and push it out. This will reduce the risk of pneumonia or lung infections.

In addition to breathing exercises, walking 30-40 minutes, at least three times a week can improve lung health and doctors encourage us to get up and move for five to ten minutes once an hour. As always be safe and if you have any unusual symptoms (chest pain, lightheadedness, confusion, prolonged shortness of breath, or breathlessness while not doing an activity) please contact your doctor. 

Stay safe and healthy and remember wash your hands!

Contact: Ashlynn Danielson, Emergency Preparedness Manager,

adanielson@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Homemade mask maker Georgina Medina is hustling and bustling… and potentially saving lives

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, unemployment is quickly approaching historic levels, and some economists are forecasting we may be heading to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Welcome to April 2020 in the good ol’ U.S. of A.  

While countless people are scrambling to find paying jobs or anxiously awaiting unemployment benefits to kick in, one Tulalip citizen’s ingenuity and craftsmanship has allowed her to carve out a critical position in a very niche, yet suddenly surging, market place. Georgina Medina, tribal member and devoted mother of five, is creating stylish, protective face masks to combat the coronavirus.

First, we must interrupt this article with an important message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“The CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). 

“It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”

That message comes directly from the CDC’s own website in an April 3rd announcement ending the weeks’ long debate about whether a non-medical grade face mask can minimize the transmission of coronavirus. The answer is a resounding ‘Yes, it can.’

Now, back to Tulalip tribal member Georgina and her homemade mask making. It was in early March, back before COVID-19 had really entered the everyday lexicon and long before the CDC recommendation, that she had the foresight to hone her craft making skills. A high-risk family member had started to wear a mask as a preventative measure and Georgina thought to herself, “I wonder how difficult those are to make?”

The inquisitive 36-year-old then took to YouTube and watched a video tutorial on cloth mask making.

“It seemed easy enough, so I tried a few different methods on my sewing machine that my boyfriend bought me for Christmas,” recalled Georgina. “It was quite an experience. I messed up a few times until finally finding a way that worked for me.”

When she perfected her fabrication method, she made a mask using an eye-catching fabric design and posted it on Facebook. The response was incredible. Immediately, she received comments and messages from prevention-minded individuals offering to purchase one of her homemade creations. 

“I learned quickly that there was a definite need for these types of masks. After I posted that picture the requests just kept coming,” said Georgina. “Because I purchase all the materials and do all the necessary cutting, sewing and ironing by hand, I decided to charge $10.00 per mask. It’s been one journey after another to my favorite store (Jo-Anne’s Fabric in Smokey Point) to pick out fabrics ever since.”

From the time when she made that initial Facebook post in March, the terms ‘coronavirus’, ‘COVID-19’ and ‘high-risk groups’ have dominated the media landscape. COVID-induced fear and panic has spread like wildfire across not just the nation, but the entire planet. Globally, there are now 1.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 85,000+ deaths attributed to the pandemic. The statistics continue to grow at an exponential rate, resulting in health experts no longer simply urging preventive measures, instead they are demanding the use of social distancing and mask wearing when in public.

As a result, Georgina’s 100% double-layered cotton fabric masks are Earth-friendly not only because they are washable and reusable, but they also potentially save lives by mitigating risk of coronavirus transmission.

“If my masks help people and allow some to feel safe going in public like on essential trips for supplies and groceries, then I’m glad I can be a part of that,” said Georgina when considering her masks’ positive impacts. “A mask is not a cure, but it is a preventative measure and that’s better than nothing at all. The CDC has recommended everyone to start wearing them, so I’ll keep making them until we are virus free.”

To date Georgina’s surging sales have led to a customer base spanning the entire west coast. She has shipped her masks to consumers from Alaska to California, the Dakotas and throughout Canada. There’s even been repeat business from a customer in Texas.

“I have an impaired immune system and was terrified to leave the house,” shared customer Callisto. “Now, with this mask and an added filter on the inside of it, I can go get groceries and not be so afraid. [The mask] is beautiful, fits well, and is so needed. And a bargain for the price!”

She delivers locally, offers shipping to those who require it, and even takes custom orders for customers desiring a specific fabric design.

“A huge thank you to those willing to support me and my 5 children at this time,” said the diligent mask maker before hustling back to her sewing machine. She just received another order to fill. 

Anyone interested in buying a stylish, protective mask to aid in lowering the coronavirus curve can do so by contacting Georgina Medina on Facebook.

Eighth Generation donates much-needed medical supplies to Seattle Indian Health Board during COVID-19 response

Source: Seattle Indian Health Board

Seattle, Wash.—Eighth Generation, a small business based at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, donated 4,000 N95 respirator masks, 6,000 surgical masks, and 300 face shields to Seattle Indian Health Board amid a world-wide shortage. 

The Native-owned company was able to expedite the process to acquire supplies by leveraging its relationships with overseas manufacturers to quickly locate and ship the masks. 

Louie Gong, Founder and CEO of Eighth Generation, contacted Seattle Indian Health Board CEO, Esther Lucero, through Facebook, where they exchanged messages to work out the details. 

“It is important we support each other during times of crisis,” said Gong. “We are a resourceful community and always figure out ways to lift each other up.”

Seattle Indian Health Board expects to receive the supplies over the weekend, less than two weeks from the first Facebook message between Gong and Lucero. 

Over two months, Seattle Indian Health Board has been working with federal agencies and Congress to access more supplies and resources, but has yet to receive any due to the lack of mechanisms in place. 

“We are grateful to Louie and Eighth Generation for their support and dedication to our community,” said Esther Lucero, CEO of Seattle Indian Health Board. “We are looking to our community partners for support because the federal process is not providing us the resources at the speed needed for our community and to respond to this virus.”

Seattle Indian Health Board recently needed to redirect personal protective equipment (PPE) from its dental supply after scaling down dental services in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The organization is still providing emergency dental care, while most of the dental staff take on various roles to support the clinic in its COVID-19 response. 

Eighth Generation made the donation to Seattle Indian Health Board amid facing its own concerns. They temporarily closed their flagship store at Pike Place Market after Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home order went into effect. 

The company, which specializes in products designed by Native artists, is still taking orders online at https://eighthgeneration.com/.

Gong says the company loves taking on big challenges in business and beyond. “We lead with our values. This donation is just our traditional response to a contemporary need. It’s what we do.”

The Snoqualmie Tribe purchased Eighth Generation from Gong in November 2019.  

“This donation exemplifies the shared values between the Tribe and Eighth Generation,” said Snoqualmie Tribal Chairman Robert de los Angeles. “It is crucial that we do what we can to support the community in whatever ways we can.”