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Annual Veteran’s Pow Wow

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

The first weekend of June marked the 27^th Annual Tulalip Veterans Powwow. The extremely popular event welcomed hundreds of traditional dancers and singers to the Greg Williams Court to honor our veterans and celebrate Indigenous culture. The event kicked-off on June 1 and ended on the evening of June 3, as Natives of all ages and from across the Nation journeyed to Tulalip to participate in the powwow.

“I came from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and am Blackfeet and Colville,” said Dave Madera. “I came to dance and sing. It’s really positive, it feels good to get out on the floor and dance it’s really a celebration of our lives and uplifting our people through song and dance.”

The powwow featured a number of grand entries throughout the weekend, but the most popular was perhaps on the evening of June 2, as the entire gym was rocking to the beats provided by the many drum groups and the jingle of traditional regalia.

“It’s about visiting with your family and friends and at the same time you’re sharing the culture,” said Russell McCloud (Puyallup/Yakima) “Song and dance brings everyone together. For the powwow it’s that drum, the drum brings everybody here. When they’re drumming and singing, everybody’s on the same beat and that unites all of us together.”

Ruben Littlehead served as Master of Ceremonies during the powwow and Northern Cree provided loud, rhythmic drumbeats throughout the event as the host drum circle. This year featured a playground for the kids that overlooked Tulalip Bay as well as numerous vendors.

The annual powwow continues to inspire a new generation of dancers as kids of all ages took to the floor to honor our vets and ancestors by showcasing their traditional dance skills. Adults and elders also joined in on the fun by dancing their hearts out and getting lost in the culture.

“I love everything about this powwow,” expressed young Tulalip tribal member, Jordan Power. “I come to dance for the people, share our culture and continue practicing our traditions.”

An entrepreneurial journey with Angelina Elworth

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Angelina Elworth is far from understated. Her life’s journey to this point has taught her much about circumstance, being reactive vs. proactive, the value of experience and, most importantly, the power of the growth mindset.

She understands her effort and attitude determine her ability to overcome any challenge, and recognizes that failure is just an opportunity to grow, to be better. In her twenties, Angie spent years working for the Tulalip Tribes; started in ECEAP, then in Leasing, followed by a stint in Utilities and finally a few years in Child Support.

None of those jobs were fulfilling because she had the entrepreneur’s spirit. From a young age she’d always wanted to own a business of her own, to be her own boss. Willing to risk it all and bank on herself, Angie resigned from her office job at the Tulalip Tribes in September 2016 in order to pursue her dream of being a business owner. It’s been 21-months since she made that fateful decision. Now, she sits down to reflect on her entrepreneurial journey, thus far, and detail how a 30-year-old tribal member has become the full-fledged owner of Angie’s Nail Boutique.

When did you first consider creating a business of your own?

“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to have my own business. It’s taken a long, long time to get to this point, but it’s always been a goal of mine. I worked in several positions for the Tribe, but the thought was always there that I’m not happy knowing what I really want is to create something of my own. So I took a leap of faith and went all-in with being an entrepreneur.”

That’s a huge risk. Most people aren’t willing to leave the comfort of a stable job for the uncertainty of following a dream.

“It was a risk, a huge one, but in order to become the person I want to be I have to accept those risks and continually challenge myself to grow. I’m confident enough in myself and my abilities that at the time it was something I had to do.”

What were your immediate steps after resigning from your job?

“Before resigning, I researched local beauty schools and found out about an amazing program offered at Evergreen Beauty School in Everett. I knew it would be the right fit for me. So after resigning from Child Support, I enrolled full-time at Evergreen and began classes in October 2016. Plan was to cash-out my 401k and invest that money into supplies and money for my own business. That’s exactly what I did after graduating from the beauty program.”

How was the transition to becoming a full-time student?

“I’ve taken a number of miscellaneous classes, including several online classes offered by the University of Phoenix, over the years. It may seem unrelated but I’ve accrued so much knowledge over the years by taking advantage of online and evening classes. So becoming a full-time student was easy because I love to learn. At Evergreen, it took six months for me to complete the program and receive a beauty license. After graduating, in April 2017, I registered my business, Angie’s Nail Boutique.”

Why the beauty industry?

“It makes women feel amazing. We live in a society where there’s a lot of negativity and suppression, but yet women will always try to uplift themselves by looking and feeling good. When a woman has a really nice set of nails, do you know how many compliments she’ll receive? Compliments make people feel good. That kind of positive feedback is what makes the beauty industry a constant because the demand to feel good and look good will always be there.”

After creating and registering Angie’s Nail Boutique, then you hit some bumps in your journey. What happened?

“I attempted to really hit the ground running by leasing a space at Phenix Salon and Suites in Lynnwood, but being new to that area I didn’t have the clientele necessary to sustain the business. So I got out of the lease and had to take a step back and reevaluate my strategy for long-term success. Looking back, I really wasn’t strategic in my planning and I should have planned more thoroughly. That was a mistake, but I’ve learned from it.”

So you went back to school, again?

“Yes. I decided the best strategy was to re-enroll in Evergreen to receive an instructor’s license. That way I could eventually hire employees, train them in my style of work ethic, and better position myself long-term. I just finished the instructor’s program and passed the State exam two weeks ago.

It was one of the best experiences of my life. When you learn to be a facilitator and teacher, you become a student for life; whatever you learn, you teach other people. My instructor was amazing as well. She had very strong interpersonal skills, was consistent and always in a good mood. She is who I aspire to be.”

What’s the present status of your entrepreneurial journey?

“I’ve been in my current location in Everett since May 1^st, not long at all, but I love it. It’s not work to me because I love what I do. I’m leasing a space at a better location for me right now. We have close to fifteen individual businesses here, sharing a building for the benefit of all. The ladies here I can interact with every day in a positive atmosphere where we are all rooting for each other to succeed.

“I definitely think this will be the point where I can establish a firm foundation for my business. It’s a good location with a positive atmosphere, somewhere that can allow me to build my client list to where I’m booked out for weeks.”

What’s the future hold for Angie’s Nail Boutique?

“Once I’ve reached a comfortable level with my savings, I plan to lease a larger space that’s dedicated to my business. Then I’ll be able to hire on employees, so that I can make full use of my instructor’s license by training other ambitious ladies who are willing to grow within the industry.

The ultimate goal is to expand my business so that I’ll have locations in Everett, Seattle and Bellevue. I see myself and this business continuing to grow together because there is nowhere else to go but up.”

Any advice you’d offer to someone considering the entrepreneur life?

“Everybody dreams. You can’t be scared to follow your dreams. A lot of people won’t allow themselves to succeed because they are so afraid of failure and looking bad. All the young adults of our Tribe are so full of opportunity. In order to reach your potential and chase your dreams, you have to be willing let go of everything holding you back. You have to cut out the negativity and the naysayers. It might sound scary, but it’s so worth it in the end. And remember, that any bump in the road offers the chance to learn and grow, to be better.”

Angie’s Nail Boutique is located at 2817 Rockefeller Ave, Everett WA 98201. To schedule an appointment please call (425) 501-4210. For more information about services she offers visit angiesnailboutique.com or check out the Angie’s Nail Boutique page on Facebook.

20th Annual B&GC Auction: It’s for the kids!

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

During the evening of Saturday, May 19, the Tulalip Resort Casino’s Orca ballroom was home to the 20^th Annual Tulalip Boys and Girls Club Auction. The annual fundraising event is all about giving donors and community members the opportunity to take action for the benefit of countless kids and support the Tribes’ local Boys and Girls Club.

‘The Club’, as it’s affectionately been dubbed by the hundreds of children who attend daily, is a safe place where children can just be kids. At the Club, children make relationships that can last a lifetime, are exposed to healthy food choices, and create an abundance of happy memories.

The Club is the first of its kind to be built on tribal land in Washington. Established in 1995, 2018 marks twenty-three years of commitment to the community. Through before and after school programs, it aims to help young people improve their lives by building self-esteem, developing values, and teaching skills during critical periods of growth.

“It has been two decades since the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club has blessed our community by providing services to our children,” said Rochelle Lubbers, auction committee member and Tulalip tribal member. “If you talk to anybody, they’ll tell you how much the Club’s services have meant to them. For our families, especially those with working parents, this place has been a game-changer.”

Serving as a model for those working to improve the lives of young people in the surrounding communities, the Club is the primary beneficiary of the annual fundraising auction. With each auction building off the success of the previous years, the Club has not only been able to sustain services, but to complete much needed campus expansions that add additional learning and activity space. Funds raised from this year’s auction will make it possible to add a 5,000-square-footextension to the existing Boys and Girls Club building to better accommodate an ever-growing membership.

Funds raised from the annual actions are dedicated for capital improvement, not operating costs. Previous auction funds have paid for a state-of-the-art music studio, a multi-media room with twenty-plus computers, several transportation vehicles, a new roof, and upgraded kitchen equipment.

“Like past years, the funds raised from [the] auction will ensure that our Club not only continues to provide, but improves upon, quality programs in a fun, safe, and positive environment for the children who attend,” stated Samuel Askew, Auction Co-Chair. “We’re making great impacts in the lives of our kids through support and program expansion.

“The Tulalip Boys and Girls Club is a place where our children can build relationships, advance in school, excel in sports, learn new talents, and have a nutritional meal while spending time with their mentors and friends.”

There were over 700 caring and generous people in attendance at this year’s 20^th annual auction. With such an amazing turnout to support the kids came some thrilling fundraising numbers. Over $67,000 was raised for Kids Kafé, which is an essential part of the Club’s services. Kids Kafé addresses the very basic fact that often the meals provided to club members are the most nutritious part of their daily diet. This year, Kids Kafé served hot meals and healthy snacks to approximately 385 kids each day, which translates to 2,500 meals per week and 123,000 meals per year.

In total, over $400,000 was raised between the silent and live auctions, including the enormous amount of support for Kids Kafé.

“The auction is really about building relationships with the community and continuing to build upon the strong foundation of support we have with the Tulalip Tribes, Snohomish County, the school board, and the Tulalip Resort Casino,” explained Terry Freeman, Assistant Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County. “For twenty years now, our goal has remained the same – to create more and more partnerships off the reservation to achieve our goals on reservation. Thanks to our tribal leadership team, we continue to meet and exceed this goal. This year’s auction goes to show that it’s so much bigger than just an auction, it’s a signature event for people to give back to the kids.”

On behalf of the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club, the Tulalip Tribes thanks everyone who contributed to the success of the 20^th annual auction. The generosity and heartfelt support received each year from sponsors and volunteers is overwhelming. As in years past, the funds raised from the auction will ensure that the Club continues to provide and improve upon quality programs in a fun, safe and positive environment for our kids.

Relocating Taholah

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

As a member of the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN), I spent the majority of my childhood summers in Taholah at my grandparent’s house while my parents worked throughout the summer. My grandparents lived right at the heart of the lower village. Many of my childhood memories occurred in Taholah. Playing backyard baseball with all of my cousins, daily trips to the mouth of the Quinault River with my auntie, bike rides with my sister throughout the reservation, lighting fireworks on the beach and enjoying good food and times served up at the many family functions at the community center. In my adolescent years, I worked for the Quinault newspaper, the Nugguam, where the offices had an amazing view of the river, located directly across the street. My mother, my grandparents and countless others created priceless memories in the lower village and have lived there for nearly their entire lives. It’s heart wrenching to learn that at any given moment the entire lower village could be washed away.

“The last huge cataclysmic earthquake happened on January 24, 1700. The Quinault or Makah didn’t have records, but the Japanese kept good records,” states QIN Senior Planner, Kelsey Moldenke. “From that, they were able to extrapolate back to when it exactly happened. That’s three hundred and thirteen years ago, these quakes happen every three to five hundred years. We’ve already passed that three-hundred-year threshold, so the biggest threat to the village is a tsunami.”

Kelsey Moldenke, Quinault Indian Nation Senior Planner

Schools along the coast, throughout Grays Harbor County, practice tsunami evacuation drills in case they ever need to transport students to higher ground. Tsunami evacuation routes are posted throughout the highways as coastal communities including Ocean Shores, Seabrook and Westport are all at high-risk. Many of the small towns have only one or two roads leading away from the ocean. Several of my classmates would often scoff at the idea of a tsunami ever occurring during our lifetime. One classmate even stayed home while his entire family evacuated during one of a few red tsunami alerts. Tsunamis, for some reason, always seemed somewhat farfetched. However, the Quinault Nation is currently in the planning process of creating an entire new village that is out of the tsunami danger zone, preparing for a tidal wave that may not be as far away as we once thought.

“We have the Cascadia subduction zone off of the coast, about fifty miles,” says Kelsey. “It’s geologically similar to the area off Indonesia, which back in 2005 had that big quake and tsunami that wiped out two hundred and fifty thousand people. There’s six hundred and fifty people and one hundred and seventy homes in the lower village, so we need to get people up the hill and out of danger in case of a disaster.”

Relocating all of Taholah’s lower village community members and programs will be no easy feat. In fact, the planning department envisions completing the entire project within twenty to twenty-five years, depending on a number of variables such as funding and convincing the community to leave their current homes. When creating the plan for the new village, QIN also had to include the programs that are currently located in the lower village as well as the cultural museum, the Taholah Mercantile, post office, community center and the school.

“We wanted to have a central road with the mercantile, the bank, the post office and other offices,” Kelsey said while describing the relocation plan. “We have the museum at the heart of the community to keep the culture right there in the center. And also a new community center at the top of the hill where you would be able to have better space. The community center will probably be a little oversized, we’ll have extra showers and we added some storage for cots and tents, so that it could serve as the emergency evacuation area.

“The school’s plan was in place before I got here,” he continues. “The school is owned by the state, it’s not a BIA school, so it’s going to be harder to fund. I think the state will pay up to twenty percent of the new school, otherwise it’s up to local jurisdiction. Somehow we’d have to come with forty million dollars to pay for that school. Those funds could come through congressional appropriation or a big loan because that’s by far the most expensive building we’d be looking at and it’s not totally within the Nation’s control.”

The new village will also include a central park, cottages for elders, apartments for college students and single adults, and tiny houses for the homeless population as well as people who are returning to the community from recovery. If a disaster were to take place, the QIN planning department took measures to ensure the sustainability of the community.

“In the case of the quake and the tsunami, Taholah is by itself,” says Kelsey. “There’s one road in and there’s one powerline in and they both go through the tsunami zone on the beach. So having the best shelter in place was the goal of this project. We talked to Grays Harbor PUD and it would take six months to two years to get power restored in Taholah. Being at the end of the line, we’re the last ones to get served out here. How do we maintain at least some power was another goal of this plan. We placed an energy park in the village and a biomass facility. We worked with some federal agencies and with a non-profit group on incorporating solar into the neighborhoods. That may not take care of all the power needs for the village but it would keep the lights on for some of the day and the refrigeration going. And with the biomass, we’re looking at doing the district heating system where it would basically boil water and then you would take the heat from the boiled water and heat the clinic, the Admin Building and the Generations Building.”

The Generations Building is essentially the first step in implementing the relocation. The Generations Building will unite the elders and the babies of Taholah, combining the senior program and the Taholah Early Head Start, Head Start and day care programs into one building. Although the tribe hopes for much interaction between the generations, Kelsey explained that the idea behind the Generations Building is to protect the community’s most vulnerable populations. The new building will also serve as Taholah’s evacuation facility until the new community center is completed.

The Generations Building is currently in the process of architectural development and if approved by the Nation, could begin construction as early as next year. After the Generations Building is complete, the next phase will be constructing the first neighborhood of the village, with spaces for both small and large families.

QIN will then focus their attention on relocating the Queets Village, located near Lake Quinault and home to a number of Quinault tribal members.

“We asked, how’s the tsunami going to affect Queets, and found that all of the lower village of Queets will also possibly be wiped out. We’re working on a plan for Queets, we’ll also be building a Generations Building for them, which could also serve as the evacuation center.”

Kelsey believes the relocation of Taholah and Queets will happen over a number of years and in phases, alternating projects between the two new villages. In addition to the tsunami, QIN has to think about how climate change will continue to affect Taholah through sea level rise and beach erosion.

Funding remains a concern for the project at the moment because many communities haven’t had to move an entire village to higher ground for the safety of their people during this modern age. In earlier years, Indigenous communities would be able to move about the land more freely, today the tribes face more challenges such as property ownership and the cost of construction. Since working on this project with QIN, Kelsey has come into contact with two tribes, one in Alaska and the other in Louisiana, who are currently experiencing similar situations and are having to relocate. By keeping in contact with those tribes, Kelsey has been able to learn of a couple new resources for funding as well as pick up a few pointers.

Saying good-bye to the entire Taholah village would be extremely hard because of the memories created and shared there. However, QIN is making efforts to protect the culture, the safety of its people and ensuring the future of the tribe by beginning to build a safe, new community away from the danger of a tsunami.

Quil Ceda Village tax case underway in federal court

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

According to the Washington Department of Revenue, Tulalip’s Quil Ceda Village generates approximately $40 million in tax revenues each year, but none of these taxes go to Tulalip or the Village. Instead, the State and County collect 100% of the taxes, with the vast majority going to Olympia. The State and County do not share any of these tax revenues with Tulalip.

The Tulalip Tribes’ lawsuit challenging Washington State and Snohomish County’s authority to collect sales tax generated by businesses in Quil Ceda Village (QCV) has finally commenced. The bench trial, presided over by Judge Barbara Rothstein, is scheduled for 10-days and began on Monday, May 14, at the U.S. District Courthouse located in Seattle.

Moments prior to court going into session, Chairwoman Marie Zackuse stated, “The Tulalip Tribes are here today to present our case. This is about taxes generated in our own tribal municipality – built with our own resources. We are confident we have a strong case and look forward to a positive outcome.”

The U.S. federal government is Tulalip’s co-plaintiff in the legal battle against Snohomish County and Washington State. The United States claims the State and County’s imposition of taxes on commerce in Quil Ceda Village undermines tribal and federal interests, infringes on tribal self-governance, and violates the Indian Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“The United States takes seriously the federal role in protecting tribal self-government, which has its foundation in federal statutes, treaties, and regulations,” said John C. Cruden, the Assistant U.S. Attorney General at the time the lawsuit was filed.

“The State of Washington and Snohomish County did not contribute in any significant respect to the development of Quil Ceda Village,” according to the United States complaint filed in Seattle. “Moreover, they provide no significant governmental services at the Village and they play no role in the Village’s ongoing operations.”

The State and County currently collect over $40 million in annual property, business and occupation and sales taxes on the on-reservation activities at Quil Ceda Village. Even though Tulalip has its own applicable tribal tax laws, State and County taxation, in effect, preclude Tulalip from imposing its own taxes and deprive the Tribe of the tax base needed to fund important governmental services.

During opening arguments, Tulalip’s legal team expressed that the evidence will show that Tulalip has done everything reasonable to build QCV into what it is today while working under the guidelines of the Tulalip Leasing Act and other federal statutes encouraging self-determination. Tulalip created an economic engine, only to have the tax-base they created be 100% appropriated by County and State governments.

Background

In 2001, the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved QCV’s status as a tribal municipality. Quil Ceda Village became the first tribal political subdivision in the nation established under the Indian Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act of 1982, and one of only two federal municipalities in the country, the other being Washington, D.C. As the first tribal city of its kind, Quil Ceda Village is an innovative model of tribal economic development.

The Tulalip Tribes, with support of the United States government, took what was once undeveloped land and engaged in master planning, invested in infrastructure, and created resources that benefit its tribal membership and the surrounding communities.

Quil Ceda Village is widely regarded as an economic powerhouse, located entirely on federal land held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tulalip Tribes. The Village contains the Tulalip Resort Casino, Walmart, Home Depot, Cabela’s, the 130 designer store Seattle Premium Outlets, and provides jobs for over 5,000 employees. QCV has fulfilled the vision of past tribal leaders who sought to create a destination marketplace on the Tulalip Reservation.

Be a witness to history

Tulalip filed suit against the State and County in 2015, seeking the right to claim the tax revenue generated at QCV. Three years later, the lawsuit is finally being heard and is open to the public. Over the 10-day federal court proceedings, Tulalip Tribes, represented by the Office of Reservation Attorney and the Seattle-based law firm of Kanji & Katzen, will seek authorization to exercise its sovereignty over the economy and tax-base, while asking the Court to instruct the County and State to cease collecting sales tax on economic activities within the boundaries of QCV.

Tulalip Tribes, et al., vs. the State of Washington, et al. is ongoing at the U.S. District Courthouse located at 700 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101. Tribal members who wish to show their support are encouraged to do so. The case is being heard by Judge Rothstein in room 16106 from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

“We are witnessing history in the making as the two-week hearing for our federal city, Quil Ceda Village, is underway to preempt Washington State sales taxes within our sovereign lands,” said former Board of Director Theresa Sheldon. “It’s important to acknowledge that it has taken decades of work for us to get to this point. The efforts of so many past tribal leaders and QCV employees helped carry this vision forward.”

Raising Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

“Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) are an epidemic in Washington State,” explained Earth-Feather Sovereign, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. “Washington State is 4^th in the United States as having the most MMIW. I have two daughters, so I choose to not sit around and wait. Instead, I’m going to take action to try and make a better way for my children. There’s too many injustices going on with our Indigenous people. We should be the first thought, not the last thought.”

Earth-Feather coordinates the MMIW Washington group that aims to stop violence against Native women and children by advocating for social change in our communities. MMIW Washington recently worked with state legislatures to write a new state law that goes into effect in June.

House Bill 2951 is designed to open up the reporting and data-gathering on missing Native women. By requiring Washington State Patrol to work with tribal law enforcements and the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs to conduct a study, House Bill 2951 will increase state resources that are greatly needed to combat an epidemic of MMIW.

The National Crime Information Database reported 5,712 known incidents of missing and murdered Indigenous women in 2016, while a recent report from the National Institute of Justice found that more than four out of five Native women have experienced violence in their lives. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls homicide the third-leading cause of death among Native women ages 10 to 24. And the U.S. Department of Justice has reported Native women living on reservations are ten times more likely to be murdered than those who live off the reservation.

Earth-Feather, along with many members of MMIW Washington, visited the Tulalip Reservation on May 8^th as part of their eight-day march from Blaine, Washington to Olympia. The occasion allowed them to meet with community members and provided an open invitation to all to walk in prayer for their Native sisters who have been murdered and gone missing.

“Although a short notice, Tulalip Tribes made sure the group was honored with a meal and a place to sleep,” said Board of Director Marlin Fryberg, who greeted the MMIW Washington group as they arrived on the reservation. “Special thanks to Jen Maia for educating me on what MMIW is doing in North Dakota and helping me understand more about the cause and history. Awareness and education is key. Human trafficking has taken so many of our people across the nation and Canada. God bless everyone who has taken a stance.”

Following the prayer walk and a blessing, the MMIW of Washington made their way to the Dining Hall where a large gathering of community members waited to hear about their mission and journey. An estimated fifty-five people were in attendance, including representatives from the Board, Youth Council and police department. Many of the women attendees dressed in red to support the MMIW movement.

After everyone was treated to a catered dinner, they listened intently to the message, first-hand experience and call for action shared by their hosted guests.

“As a people we must uplift our women who are at the bottom of the so-called totem pole because when our life givers are able to heal and become strong, then all our nations start to heal,” expressed Earth-Feather during her heartfelt, key-note address. “We come from warrior people, we still are warriors. To our young men: you are protectors. Our women and children are sacred and need to be protected.”

Tribal member Deborah Parker shared her Woman Warrior Song, which comes from First Nations sisters in British Columbia, and gifted several speakers with custom-made MMIW flags. The evening concluded with the MMIW of Washington members offering song and prayer for those have gone missing, those have lost love ones to murder, and for any women seeking strength.

Cultural fair celebrates diversity at QCT Elementary

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Students of Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, along with their families, were captivated by the richness of Native American song and dance during the Cultural Fair held on the evening of April 24^th. In collaboration with Marysville School District (MSD) Indian Education, Tulalip Youth Services and school staff, the Cultural Fair celebrated the wonderfully diverse community that is the Tulalip/Marysville area.

Over a hundred participants filled the elementary multi-purpose room where a hearty dinner was enjoyed by all. Following the meal, there was a variety of family-friendly activities to engage in. Interactive booths and presentations represented several cultures from around the world, including Tulalip, Guam, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

“It’s always nice to learn about other cultures because it creates a better understanding between people,” shared QCT Teacher, Ms. Sablan. Along with her daughter, the duo were presenters of the Guam station. “I taught on Guam for six years and during that time I loved learning about the culture. While there I married and had a daughter who is Pacific Islander. My passion for embracing vibrant culture was the reason I became an educator at Tulalip after attending a Salmon Ceremony years ago.”

As fair goers made their way around the room they gained insights into other cultures and traditions. Of course, the variety of Native cultural stations was the most popular. There was dreamcatcher making under the guidance of experienced staff members and even a fry bread station manned by Chelsea Craig and her daughter Kamaya.

With the weather cooperating, many people wound up outside after hearing the call of the Native round-drum. Terrance Sabbas, Native Liaison for MSD, led a series of round-drum songs that held the attention of everyone young and old. Several young girls, dressed in their powwow regalia, shared their dance skills to the rhythmic beats of the drum.

“It means a lot for our kids to have pride in who they are and where they come from,” said Terrance. “When different tribes come together to celebrate with song and dance it’s even more special. Seeing youth who have the confidence to share their dances is awesome. To know they have that within themselves and are willing to share that with our community is inspiring.”

The musical jam session continued with a variety of hand-drum songs led by Ray Fryberg.

The Cultural Fair was a success in putting a spotlight on the richness of a diverse community; knowledge was gained and shared. For those with a strong understanding of historical context, the fact that so many were able to participate in traditional song and dance is a testament to the strong Native spirit.

“When the boarding school was here, our songs, our dances and all our ceremonies were prohibited by law. It was the aim of the government to assimilate the Indians into American society. For many years our people couldn’t speak their language or sing their songs for fear of punishment,” explained Ray Fryberg, Executive Director of Natural Resources. “It’s important for us to know who we are and where we come from, to retain the parts of our culture that make us unique. The boarding school era sought to take all that away from us, but we endured.

“Now, we have our own schools where we can teach our culture to the young ones; it gives them a cultural identity and builds up their self-esteem. The drum has a voice that calls to our people; it has its own good medicine. You can see how much the children love learning their culture. Our songs and dances are an expression of the inner spirit and that’s the one thing that can’t be taken away from us.”

Michelle Sheldon, first Tulalip tribal member to pass Washington State Bar Exam

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

On the morning of April 25, Tulalip tribal member, Michelle Sheldon, accomplished her long-term goal of becoming an attorney. In a courtroom at the new Justice Department, Michelle was sworn-in to the Tulalip Tribes of Washington Office of Reservation Attorney (ORA). In attendance were her family; her father Greg, mother Heidi, sister Megan and her brother Joe; and also the Tulalip Board of Directors, showing their support of Michelle’s incredible accomplishment of becoming the first Tulalip tribal member to pass the Washington State Bar Exam.

“It’s interesting. On my very first day of law school, my first teacher instructed us to write down a list of people that we wanted at our graduation/swearing-in because that’s what would keep us going and I remember writing down my family’s names like it was yesterday,” recalls Michelle. “I was very proud to have my parents there and my brother and sister. It was so nice to be able to share that day with the people who encouraged me along the way. I was also incredibly honored that the Board came. It was a nice surprise. I was very humbled that they took the time out of their day to acknowledge my accomplishment. I felt really supported as a tribal member.”

Michelle’s journey to attorney was no easy feat. In fact, it took years of hard work and dedication to reach her goal.

“After high school, I earned my associates degree from Northwest Indian College, I was that year’s valedictorian,” she explains. “Throughout my educational journey, I’ve always worked full-time and always went to school as a night time distant learning student. When I was working on my associates and earning my undergrad bachelor’s degree, I was working at my family’s restaurant. As soon as I earned my degree, they sold the restaurant. So, I applied for a position with the Tribe. I started briefly in TGO before a position as file clerk opened up at beda?chelh. That’s when I was first exposed to the work of the Tribal attorneys working on behalf of the Tribe, the children and their families, really making Tulalip a healthy and whole community. I really appreciated their work.

“I was very excited when a position opened up at the Tulalip tribal court as a court clerk,” she continues. “I immediately went for that position and was very thankful to have gotten it. I think that position solidified my desire to get into the legal field. I’ve always been inspired with the area of law and justice, so I knew I wanted to get an undergrad degree in that area. I attended night classes at Colombia College at their Smokey Point location after work and earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from there. Soon after, I enrolled through the Boston University distance program where I earned my paralegal certificate, kind of an introduction to the law area. I took a bit of a break between my master’s degree and pursuing a law degree, trying to figure out what I wanted to do career wise, what would be best for me and what could best benefit my community. And I thought, you know what, I’m going to go the extra mile, I want to pursue this.”

Michelle discovered that the Seattle University School of Law offered a night program and remembers applying multiple times before finally being accepted. At this point in her career, she was in her most recent position as the ORA Department Manager. For three years, after clocking-out at Tulalip Admin, she would hop onto I-5 to attend night classes in Seattle. Michelle claims that her positions with the Tribal Court and the ORA allowed her to gain useful experience that she was able to apply in law school.

“Michelle is truly an extraordinary individual,” states Tulalip Tribal Court Director, Wendy Church. “I’ve never had any doubt she would excel in her academic goals and now that she’s passed the State Bar Exam, the sky is the limit. Both Michael Taylor and Tim Brewer have expressed their appreciation of her work in ORA. She worked full-time and went to law school, which is truly remarkable. I think most importantly, she serves as a role model to our next generation of students with aspirations of careers in law.”

Michelle recalls advisors and teachers telling their students to not get set on the idea of working locally throughout the career, to keep an open mind and be prepared to work in different states.

“That was never an option for me,” says Michelle. “I lived on the reservation for most of my life, so I’m definitely a part of this community. I’ve always wanted to do something career and educational wise to where I can still work in my community and bring any knowledge and skills I learned off the reservation back to the reservation. Keeping Tulalip at heart was always at the forefront of my inspirations and goals.”

Michelle hopes to inspire young tribal members to pursue their degrees and encourages them to not give up on their journey when the waters get rough.

“It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to pursue something,” expresses Michelle. “You make a lot of sacrifices, but if you’re prepared to do that, you definitely have the ability to achieve anything. I want people to know that no matter what your goal is or how big your dream is, as long as you stick with it, you will get there. I was very thankful to have a very supportive family. The tribe has been extremely supportive as well; they’ve been able to help with anything I’ve needed throughout the years. Having that support and knowing that people are thinking about you gives you that little extra boost. It always meant a lot. I hope this opens the wave of getting more tribal members interested in this field and considering it when they start their own educational journey. I hope that by sharing my journey, it shows that if you put the hard work in, you’ll get your reward at the end.”

Michelle wants to extend an open-invite to those who are considering pursuing a law degree, stating she can offer advice and application assistance as well as encouragement.

“It feels good to protect Tulalip’s best interest, knowing that we’re helping tribal members and saving our tribal land and our resources. It makes me feel good that we’re trying hard to do something good for Tulalip. We talk about the seven generations; we always want to think ahead. That’s what I appreciate, everyone’s thinking not just for today but for twenty years from now. My best advice for the next generation is, if I can do it, you can do it too.”

Power and Perception Exhibit Showcases Contemporary Native Artists

Kevin Red Star (Crow Nation; born 1943)
Buffalo Horse Medicine, 2007, Mixed media
The Crow people have enduring relationships with horses. Paraded at the annual Crow Fair Celebration and other special events, horses adorned in beaded regalia demonstrate their value and importance to the Crow Nation. In Buffalo Horse Medicine, Kevin Red Star depicts horses that are an important breed for buffalo hunting. Red Star signifies a connection between this man’s identity as a buffalo hunter and his strong relationship with horses.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Many portraits of Indigenous people by non-Native artists romanticize, stereotype, or appropriate Native people and cultures. Contemporary Native artists are actively deconstructing these myths and preconceptions about their culture through the use of art. In fact, many modern-day artists use a dynamic combination of materials, methods and concepts that challenge traditional boundaries and defy easy definition.

Charles M. Russell (born 1864, died 1926)
Indian Canoe Party, 1906, Watercolor on paper
Great Slave Lake is in the Northwest Territories about 1,200 miles north of the Montana-Canada border. When Russell was 24-years-old, he spent six months in the Northwest Territory. It is possible that this painting is based on his travels.
Russell paints with a romanticism and nostalgia for what he considered the Old West. His idealized paintings of Natives are ripe with metaphors. In the early 20th century, most of America was concerned or convinced that Native cultures would be extinct. For Russell, the setting sun represented this false view.

Tacoma Art Museum’s newest exhibition “Native Portraiture: Power and Perception” gives voice to Native people and communities to show their resiliency and power over the ways in which they are portrayed and perceived. Native tribes aren’t uniform, they are diverse with a variety of distinct characteristics. As such, the artists in this show have taken on varied points of view while sharing their voice. All are well executed and demonstrate that you can’t pin Native art into a single category.

Preston Singletary (Tlingit; born 1963)
Whale & Eagle, 2013, Limited edition patented bronze
Artists capture the true appearances of the animals by highlighting anatomy and form. Bronze sculptures typically appear on a base without any background images, which places further emphasis on the shape and individuality of each creature rather than on the scene or setting. Through his sculpture, Preston Singletary invites viewers to look more closely at animals and foster a sense of awe and wonder.

“We can now say, let’s look at this artwork and use a contemporary lens to unpack where these artists are coming from and why they painted the work in this manner,” explained Faith Brower, exhibit curator. “We hope to inspire visitors to explore both controversial issues of appropriation and cultural imagery, and to think differently about Western art and how it relates to their lives and communities.”

Wendy Red Star (Crow Nation, 1981)
Indian Summer – Four Seasons, 1996, Archival pigment print
When visiting natural history museums, Crow artist Wendy Red Star was struck by the displays that treat Native people as inanimate remnants of the past. She reclaims these troublesome dioramas by humorously staging a fake museum display in which she wears an elk tooth dress, hair wraps and beaded moccasins while sitting on artificial grass surrounded by fabricated plants and animals. Simulating a mountain lake scene, this image uses humor and irony to address issues of stereotyping and romanticizing Native people today.

“Native Portraiture: Power and Perception”, on display through February of 2019, highlights work by Native artists who address issues of identity, resistance and reclamation through their powerful artwork. The artists ask us to reconsider images of Indigenous people because certain reoccurring themes, such as the “vanishing Indian” and “noble savage”, have led to centuries of cultural misunderstandings.

Shaun Peterson (Puyallup Tribe; born 1975)
Welcome Figure, 2010
Cedar, steel, graphite and magnets
The 20-foot-tall Welcome Figure stands fixed in Tacoma’s Tollefson Plaza, where a Puyallup tribal village had once stood. From acquiring and transporting a suitable wind-fall cedar log, to devising a metal support system, to carving, assembling, and painting the figure, the work stands as a time-honored sculpture that greets people on Coast Salish lands. Funded by the City of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe, and Tacoma Art Museum, the figure is carved from a single log and marks the participation of the tribe and Coast Salish people in contemporary society. Installed on September 13, 2010, the Welcome Figure is a powerful reminder that we are on Indigenous land.

“What’s happening now is museums are realizing that they have a problem and that problem is that they don’t have the Native American perspective,” said exhibit artist Wendy Red Star. “All the culture has been mined and been talked about by non-Natives. Now, there’s a switch where that body of work works really well as sort of being an institutional critique piece. It tends to fit, to help articulate that in an exhibition like this.”

Rick Bartow (Wiyot Tribe; born 1946, died 2016)
Old Time Picture I, 1999
Mixed media on handmade paper
Wiyot artist Rick Bartow is known for his powerful, vibrant and expressive images of people and animals. His work is honest and provocative depicting emotions that set it apart from stereotypical representations of Native people and cultures. Rather than glorifying a stoic person in a headdress, Bartow depicts the range of emotions that people feel through this depiction of a man. The title further suggest Bartow’s challenge of the stereotypical depictions of Native Americans.

Burke educators share cultural insights with Hibulb visitors

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

It was a much busier than normal morning for the Hibulb Cultural Center as many visitors, from young kids to elders, stopped in on April 5 to take advantage of a new opportunity to get up close and personal with cultural objects, artifacts and traditional items. Learning more about Tulalip and other tribes in the Pacific Northwest was made possible by the BurkeMobile and its helpful program educators.

BurkeMobile is a traveling program that brings Burke educators and real museum objects to learning environments across the state. Program participants are able to investigate the cultural heritage of local tribes through hands-on activities that stimulate curiosity and model new ways to learn.

“BurkeMobile is our statewide outreach program. We travel all over the state visiting schools, communities, and public libraries to showcase natural history and culture programs,” explained Katharine Caning, Burke Mobile Manager. “This specific program we’ve brought to Hibulb is called Living Traditions. It’s about Native American cultural traditions in Washington State.”

A highly appreciated program created by Burke Museum, located on the University of Washington campus, BurkeMobile was created specifically to stimulate learning about accurate Native culture. The program has included Native voices in its creation, such as collaborating with Hibulb and adding a mock Hibulb Village with accompanying miniature longhouse and canoe display.

“Part of this program is help teachers implement Since Time Immemorial curriculum in their classrooms,” continued Katharine. “A piece of that is having the learning material be more localized in order for students to learn about tribes living close to them. For example, when we reached out to Tulalip, Hibulb offered to build a model longhouse for us to display when we go to schools in this area.”

Over the two-hour window BurkeMobile was available, many Hibulb visitors, especially the youth, were engaged with the hands-on materials. They saw how cultural practices can grow and change over time from generation to generation and learned about the diverse, local Native culture. Burke educators were more than willing to answer any questions and offer insights into various subjects, just like they do when traveling to schools.

“One thing we always do is tell students whose ancestral lands they are on and what tribal cultural center is closest to them. We encourage them to learn more about tribes and ask questions to further their understanding,” shared Beatrice Garrard, BurkeMobile Education Assistant. “These traditions are ancient, in that they have been practiced since time immemorial, yet they have been adopted and are still ongoing today. Students learn that even though some of the objects look old, they were in fact created recently and these items are part of a still living tradition.”

For more information about the BurkeMobile, please contact (206) 543-5591 or email burked@uw.edu