The royal spotlight: Strawberry Festival Queen and King crowned

Eleanor and Eddie Nielsen, express their pride at being named this year’s Strawberry Festival King and Queen. Photo/Mara Hill
Eleanor and Eddie Nielsen, express their pride at being named this year’s Strawberry Festival King and Queen.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

 by Mara Hill, Tulalip News 

Guests travel from all over to participate in the fun and excitement of the annual Elders Luncheon held at Tulalip. For over eighteen years, the Tulalip Tribes has been hosting these luncheons specifically put together to honor elders and seniors. This year it was hosted on May 28 at the Tulalip Tribes Resort and Casino in the Orca Ballroom. Tribal and non-tribal members from our community and surrounding communities come together, find old friends, visit with family and meet new people.

Not only was this Elders Luncheon a day to honor our elders and seniors, it was also a day to crown the King and Queen for our upcoming Strawberry Festival and parade. Each year at least one Tulalip tribal elder is chosen to represent the Tulalip Tribes and the senior community. This year Eleanor Nielsen, a Tulalip tribal member, and her husband Eddie were crowned by the Marysville Strawberry Festival Senior and Junior Royalty.

Eleanor said that she is “proud to be a member of the Tulalip Tribes and to be chosen Queen, representing Tulalip and the Marysville Strawberry Festival.”

Eleanor and Eddie have attended the elders luncheons many times. “It is good to be with family and friends from many tribes. We like sharing the day with everyone,” said Eleanor.

“I am happy to be in the parade and thankful to Tulalip Tribes”, said Eddie.

 

Marysville Strawberry Festival Senior and Junior Royalty crowned Eleanor and Eddie Nielsen as Strawberry King and Queen at Tulalip’s elders luncheon held at the Tulalip Resort Casino, May 28.Photo/Mara Hill
Marysville Strawberry Festival Senior and Junior Royalty crowned Eleanor and Eddie Nielsen as Strawberry King and Queen at Tulalip’s elders luncheon held at the Tulalip Resort Casino, May 28.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

The luncheon included a raffle, which totaled $1500 in cash prize giveaways. There were ten $100 winners and ten $50 dollar winners along with several others who received gift baskets that were donated by tribal departments. In addition to the raffles, students from Tulalip Heritage High School honored the elders and seniors by gifting a blanket to the eldest member at each table.

Tina Brown, Athletic Coordinator at Heritage said “I have been bringing students the past five years to help honor our elders from all over the different reservations and tribes.”

Local and non-local vendors were on hand selling Native crafts and food. Some of the artwork included authentic handmade cedar weaved baskets made by Tulalip Tribal veteran, David Fryberg Sr. Fryberg has been cedar weaving for about 10-15 years and has been vending for approximately 20 years.

Vendors Percy and Ida Kanesta, a couple from Tacoma, have been selling their authentic handmade Native Zuni jewelry at the elder luncheons for almost 15 years and have been hand-making family oriented jewelry for nearly 50 years. Some of the jewelry they make is created out of turquoise, black onyx, silver, lapis, and malachite.

Jimi Pablo a Tulalip tribal member is a first-time vendor at the luncheon but has been in the vending business over 34 years. Pablo was selling fresh, handmade yeast bread. He explained that he had started making the bread at 4:30 p.m. the day before the luncheon and didn’t finish until 4:30 a.m. that day.

Wrapping up the 50’s inspired event were rounds of singing and possibly even a poodle skirt twirl or two.

 

 

Contact Mara Hill, mward@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Honoring Our Fallen, Memorial Day 2015 at Tulalip

Members of the Tulalip Tribes Honor Guard. Photo/Mara Hill
Members of the Tulalip Tribes Honor Guard.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

by Mara Hill, Tulalip News

The significance of Memorial Day is much more than taking an extended vacation or having a barbecue in your back yard on a nice hot, sunny day. It is a day to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who dedicated their lives to our country by paying the ultimate sacrifice. It is one of the few days that veterans are recognized, and one of the more important holidays. Speaking as a veteran, I understand the importance of this day. It is a day of remembrance, honor, and a way to express gratitude and thanks to the families of these service members.

These service members are just like any other person, aside from the fact that they joined a branch of the military in order to become something bigger than themselves. Many men and women who have served in any era that return from war and live to share their stories, come home incomplete; leaving behind a part of themself.  Some return with mental health problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors, traumatic brain injuries, survivor’s remorse, shrapnel injuries, and external and internal scars.

 

Tulalip Honor Guard fire a 21-gun salute in honor of our Tulalip tribal veterans.Photo/Mara Hill
Tulalip Honor Guard fire a 21-gun salute in honor of our Tulalip tribal veterans.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

Among the several people that arrived to pay respect and memorialize fallen family members were Tulalip Tribal Chairman Mel Sheldon. Sheldon welcomed and thanked people for attending, and introduced tribal member Virginia Jones who opened up the ceremony with a prayer in Lushootseed. Retired United States Marine Gunnery Sgt. Cyrus “Cy” Hatch III, held roll call for all fallen and present service members.

To conclude the ceremony, The Tulalip Tribes Honor Guard fired a 21-gun salute, and performed “Taps” to pay respect and honor over 200 fallen Tulalip Tribal member veterans who have lost their lives.

The ceremonies were held at the Priest Point Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. and the Mission Beach Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25 2015.

 

Retired Gunnery Sgt. Cyrus Hatch III takes roll call. Photo/Mara Hill
Retired Gunnery Sgt. Cyrus Hatch III takes roll call.
Photo/Mara Hill
Cyrus Hatch III, Virginia Jones, Cy Williams and Mel  Sheldon  during  opening prayer. Photo/Mara Hill
Cyrus Hatch III, Virginia Jones, Cy Williams and Mel Sheldon during opening prayer.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

Stan Jones Sr., WWII combat veteran. Photo/Mara Hill
Stan Jones Sr., WWII combat veteran.
Photo/Mara Hill

Contact Mara Hill, mward@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Lapwai edges Tulalip in Junior Nationals b-ball tourney

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

1st place boys team, NimiiPuu Elite (Lapwat, ID)Photo/Lonnie Enick
1st place boys team, NimiiPuu Elite (Lapwat, ID)
Photo/Lonnie Enick

 

1st place girls team, Lapwai Wildcats (Lapwai, ID)Photo/Lonnie Enick
1st place girls team, Lapwai Wildcats (Lapwai, ID)
Photo/Lonnie Enick

 

As part of the 2015 7th Generation Mentoring program, Tulalip Tribes held the High School Junior Nationals Basketball Tournament over the weekend of May 16 and 17. The two-day tournament, featuring a boy’s bracket and girl’s bracket, brought out some of the best Native high school teams in the Northwest. The Lummi Blackhawks, Washington State Champions, the Lapwai Wildcates, Idaho State 2nd place team, and Tulalip’s own Young Gunz team, featuring Robert Miles Jr. and Bryce Juneau, were expected to be the contenders battling it out for tournament champion. On the girl’s side, it was just a matter of time before Tulalip’s team featuring Adiya Jones and Faye Chartraw would be playing Idaha State Champions, the Lapwai Wildcats, in the finals.

It’s worth noting that there were several teams who came from out of state to participate in the basketball tournament. Besides the boys and girls teams from Lapwai, Idaha (of the Nez Pierce), there was also a boys team from Wyoming and a girls team from Nevada who traveled the long distance to represent for their tribe and state.

 

2nd place boys team,Young Gunz (Tulalip, WA)Photo/Lonnie Enick
2nd place boys team,Young Gunz (Tulalip, WA)
Photo/Lonnie Enick

 

The boys Championship game featured the Tulalip Young Gunz vs. the Lapwai Wildcats. The Young Gunz got off to a terrible start and were unable to break the full-court press applied by the Wildcats. A little more than midway through the 1st half the Young Gunz found themselves trailing 12-27, and at halftime they were down 19-30. In the 2nd half, the Wildcats went out of their full-court defense and that allowed the Young Gunz to mount a bit of a comeback, getting with 6 points, 48-54 with 4:00 left to play. The Wildcats were just better at executing their offence and seemed to force turnovers at will, which ultimately won them the game and the tournament.

 

2nd place girls team,Tulalip Elite (Tulalip, WA)Photo/Lonnie Enick
2nd place girls team,Tulalip Elite (Tulalip, WA)
Photo/Lonnie Enick

 

The girls Championship game also featured a Tulalip vs. Lapwai Wildcats matchup. The Tulalip team, coached by Charlotte Jones, did their best to keep up with the State Champions from Idaho, but the speed and tempo of the game favored the Lady Wildcats. In the end, the Lady Wildcats won the game, resulting in a Lapwai sweep of both the boys and girls brackets. Tulalip represented and took 2nd place in both sides of the bracket.

Lonne Enick, tournament coordinator, said of the weekend’s basketball festivities, “Another successful tournament in Tulalip. Thank you to all the people for coming out and supporting their teams.”

 

Photo/Micheal Rios
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

BOYS Division:
1st – NimiiPuu Elite (Lapwat, ID)
2nd – Young Gunz (Tulalip, WA)
3rd – Blackhawks (Lummi,WA)
GIRLS Division:
1st – Lapwai Wildcats (Lapwai, ID)
2nd – Tulalip Elite (Tulalip, WA)
3rd – Nevada BallHogs

 

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

 

Heritage H.S. applauded for Earth Day efforts

Inez Bill, Hibulb Cultural Center Rediscovery Coordinator, shakes the hand of each Heritage student in thanks for their Earth Day efforts. Photo/ Micheal Rios
Inez Bill, Hibulb Cultural Center Rediscovery Coordinator, shakes the hand of each Heritage student in thanks for their Earth Day efforts.
Photo/ Micheal Rios

 

by Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

On Thursday, May 14, the students of Heritage High School received a special in-person recognition by Inez Bill, Rediscovery Coordinator, for their efforts in cleaning up the natural history preserve located behind the Hibulb Cultural Center on Earth Day. All the Heritage students assembled in the main hall of the high school, received a traditional refreshment (nettle tea), and were recognized by a deeply appreciative tribal elder.

“You’re investing in your own future. It’s you young people that will come up after me and will take care of the museum and take care of the natural history preserve for the future generations, for your children’s children’s children,” said Bill to the Heritage students as they stood attentively around her. “That’s what our ancestors said when they signed the treaties. We wanted to preserve the rights of our people for their children’s children’s children. Today, this is where we are. You’re the ones that our ancestors talked about, they talked about this. It’s up to you to take care of this land, to carry on the teachings and values of our people. You will be the caretaker of our culture and our land….the beliefs, the respect, the honor.

“In doing what you did, you made a contribution to your own future. And so I wanted to acknowledge all those who came to Hibulb and invested in their future because I wasn’t there at the time and that’s the reason why I’m here today. Because I do need to acknowledge that because we can’t let something like that go by and not say thank you, take time and say thank you. I wanted to acknowledge that because you are important to your teachers and your teachers are important to you. That’s the way of our people. All of this is going to mean a lot to you later. I am a person who has had many teachers in my life and have teachers even today who continue to teach me. I am nothing without my teachers. I am nothing without having them people in my life. I appreciate the people who take the time; who teach me how to be a good person and live in a good way. Remember to honor your teachers because in our way of life we will have many teachers.

“Remember to take care of our environment. We’re at a critical time in our lives where our water is polluted, where there are a lot of things going on that are taking up the land, things are happening to our Mother Earth. It’s going to be up to you to help save our environment, to help save the purity of our water. Water is sacred. Everything that is living requires clean water, whether it’s salt water or fresh water, for the salmon and the fish and all Mother Earth.

“I just wanted to come here and share that with you today. Thank you. Try to be good stewards of the Earth 365 days of the year, like our ancestors were. Try to think about it and keep it in your prayers. Thank you.”

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

 

Heritage students mix art with traditional teachings

Students in the video production class get hands-on experience working with cameras and conducting interviews. Photo/Mara Hill
Students in the video production class get hands-on experience working with cameras and conducting interviews.
Photo/Brian Berry

 

by Mara Hill, Tulalip News 

Students at Tulalip Heritage High School were given the opportunity to experience different types of art in a program called Artists in Residency (AIR). Eight artists from the area came to the school to instruct students in a fourteen-week course, giving each student an option to learn, create, and perform two different types of art. The art classes offered were cedar weaving, carving, yoga, pow wow 101, Native American flute making/playing and video production. The teachings from each instructor allowed students a hands-on and individualized experience.

Shelly Lacy, the principal at Heritage, explained that the students not only learn the craft that the artist is sharing, but they learn traditional teachings as well.

 

Heritage students with the paddles they made during carving class. Photo/Mara Hill
Heritage students with the paddles they made during carving class.
Photo/Mara Hill

 

The video production class, instructed by Brian Berry and Rick Valentine, video producers from the Tulalip Tribes Communications Department, introduced students to the basics of video production and film making and then progressed into some of the more technical aspects. Students learned about framing, lighting, b-roll, audio, and editing. They were also taught how to interview people and operate a high definition video camera.

Nina Fryberg, a senior at Heritage, talked about why she chose video production. “At first I decided to take yoga and cedar weaving, but I asked to switch into film-making for both periods instead.” Fryberg had experience working on a short-film last year in another program, which helped with her decision to participate in video production this year. She also earned a position as a student producer, which allowed her to give other students instructions and tell them which crew positions they were assigned to.

Berry explains that students weren’t selected as producers, but that they more or less “earn the position by showing a significant level of initiative and attention.” Student producers also run the productions and make editing decisions.

“It takes a lot of effort to put into film-making. You have to plan everything out and make sure everything is okay and ready to go before you start filming” said Fryberg.

In the final weeks, students in each class finished their projects and prepared to perform for the other students, instructors and faculty members. The video production class created a short film, “Heritage High School – A Small Learning Community” which previewed on May 15th, about what makes Tulalip Heritage High School unique and why students chose Heritage over other schools in the district. The video was a product of what the students learned over the course of 14 weeks.

“The student body, faculty and fellow AIR artists screened the video and it received a round of applause and cheers” said Berry.

 

Students from the Pow Wow 101 class perform for students and faculty. photo/Mara Hill
Students from the Pow Wow 101 class perform for students and faculty.
photo/Mara Hill

 

The six additional artists who shared their gifts, teachings, knowledge, and talent with the students were Clarissa Johnny, Kelly Moses, Mytyl Hernandez, Ian LaFontaine, Sheri Thunder Hawk and Paul Wagner.

“Heritage High School – A Small Learning Community”can be watched on demand at tulaliptv.com and found in the Tulalip Culture section of the main menu.

The video will also be included in the May 25th edition of Tulalip Matters, which will air daily for a week, beginning May 25, on Tulalip TV channel 99, at 12: a.m., 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.

Tulalip Matters can also be viewed anytime, on demand, at tulaliptv.com.

 

Contact Mara Hill, mhill@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Tulalip movers and shakers form Native youth council

by Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News 

 

Chena Fryberg announces her candidacy for the Youth Council media coordinator.Photo/Brandi N. Montreuil
Chena Fryberg announces her candidacy for the Youth Council media coordinator.
Photo/Brandi N. Montreuil

 

Native youth across Indian country are assembling to make a difference in their communities. They are known as the Gen-I movers and what they say will be heard by top-level leaders in Washington D.C. The goal is to get youth involved in their communities and to remove barriers to education and health opportunities, while growing leaders for future generations.

Generation Indigenous was announced at the 2015 United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) midyear conference. Issued by President Obama this call to action, “is the first step in engaging a broad network of people interested in addressing the issues facing Native youth and creating a platform through which Native youth can access information about opportunities and resources, and have their voices and positive contributions highlighted and elevated.”

Tulalip youth have answered the challenge by creating the first ever Tulalip Youth Council. The thirteen-member council elected their officers on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

Officers include co-chairs Andrew Davis and Mikaylee Pablo, vice-chairs Kayah George and Jlynn Joseph, secretary Ruth Pablo, treasure/ fundraiser coordinator Isabel Gomez, event coordinator Keryn Parks, media coordinator Cyena Fryberg, recruitment coordinator Tahera Mealing, and junior co-chairs Arnold Reeves and Krislyn Parks. Senior advisors are Santana Shopbell and Deyamonta Diaz. Each officer will hold a six-month term to establish the council. Elections will be held in November for one-year terms.

“This is something we have been looking forward to for many years,” said Marie Zackuse, Tulalip Tribes Board Secretary. “We want to hear from you. We know what we think might be important to you but we want to hear what is important to you, and through this we can.”

Many youth running for council mentioned wanting equal rights to opportunities and expressed a desire to support all youth in having a voice on the council.

“I want every single voice to be heard and I want us to be the voice of change in the Tribe, not just talk about it, but be that change,” said Kayah George, vice-chair.

“I speak from my heart and I want to see my community change in a positive way. I want to break the chain in my family and graduate from high school,” said Mikaylee Pablo, who encouraged her peers in her election speech to prove people wrong about negative reputations. Pablo was elected as co-chair along with Andrew Davis, who said he wants to get youth involved with community events and have a youth presence at ceremonies.

Mikaylee Pablo, the new Tulalip Youth Council female co-chair, listens as other candidates to the youth council discuss changes they would like to see happen in their community.Photo/Brandi N. Montreuil
Mikaylee Pablo, the new Tulalip Youth Council female co-chair, listens as other candidates to the youth council discuss changes they would like to see happen in their community.
Photo/Brandi N. Montreuil

 

While no projects have been decided on yet, youth will meet regularly and participate in national challenges such as working in their community and volunteering with local organizations or schools. Meetings will be scheduled at a later date for the council to brainstorm with youth on how to address issues of concern in the community.

As part of the national Gen-I challenge, youth will document their community efforts and projects through photos and video, which will be used to share their stories at the National Native Youth Network. Youth will also have the opportunity to represent their tribal communities at the first ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering in D.C. this summer.

“You all are future leaders,” said Zackuse. “You are role models and we are excited to see what you achieve.”

 

For more information on the Tulalip Youth Council please contact Jessica Bustad, Tulalip Youth Services Education Coordinator at 425-280-8705 or Natasha Fryberg at 425-422-9276.

 

Contact Brandi N. Montreuil, bmontreuil@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

 

 

 

 

History, Biology and Purpose – what it means to be member of a Native community

Gyasi Ross, keynote speaker at Tulalip Wellness Conference.Photo courtesy of Gyasi Ross.
Gyasi Ross, keynote speaker at Tulalip Wellness Conference.
Photo courtesy of Gyasi Ross.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

 

As part of the Community Wellness Conference that took place on May 11 at the Tulalip Resort, keynote speaker Gyasi Ross gave an impassioned speech directed at Tulalip’s high school youth. Ross is a member of the Blackfeet Nation of the Port Madison Indian Reservation where he resides. He is a father, an author, a speaker, a lawyer and a filmmaker. TV, radio and print media regularly seek his input on politics, sports, pop culture and their intersections with Native life. For those who were unable to attend the conference and as a result were unable to hear Ross’s keynote address, the following is the most powerful message he delivered to the Tulalip youth on their history, biology, and purpose as a member of a Native community.

“I want to acknowledge the staff who put this event on. Most school don’t have stuff like this because there is no money for stuff like this. We all know money is important, which means the tribes is investing in you all by putting this money forth; they are saying you all are important. How do you know when something is important to somebody? Unfortunately, it’s because they spend money on it. That’s what people value in today’s society.

All of us come from a history and a culture, a culture that acknowledges where we are. History is a fancy word for ‘this is where I come from’.

One of my favorite quotes in the world is from an Okanogan woman named Christine Quintasket. She was the first Native woman to ever publish a written book. She had an amazing outlook on life where she viewed life’s function as a part of the natural world. She liked to talk about the relationship of human being to nature, to trees and plants and to the animals. Christine Quintasket said, ‘Everything on Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission.’ If this quote is true, and I believe it is true, then that means every single one of you guys and girls and women and men and me, has a purpose. Every single one of us has a mission. What purpose or mission do you have?

Let’s talk a little biology. If I look at my grandparents, three of my four grandparents were alcoholics. That means I have a 75% of carrying something similar to them that would make me like alcohol. As a result of that both my parents at one time were alcoholics. As a result of that I’ve chose never to drink, I’ve never driven alcohol in my life. It’s not a religious thing, I’m not religious at all, but it’s a practical recognition of history, of Mendel’s Grid, of biology. That’s why it’s important to understand biology and to understand our history. It’s because that helps informs who you are.

Going into biology a little bit more, how many of you have ever said or heard someone say, ‘I didn’t choose to be here!” How many of you have said that yourself, that you did not choose to be here? I know I’ve said that before. I’m going to tell you why that statement is dead wrong. Biology. Every time a baby is conceived a man releases from 80 to 500 million sperm cells. It’s fact. That means that for every single one of you, before you were conceived, you were in BIG competition. You were in competition with 80 to 500 million other sperm cells trying to get to that egg…and YOU won. Every single one of you are that special little sperm cell that was stronger, quicker and more agile than everyone else. You wanted to be here! I’m not talking religion. As a matter of biological fact, every single one of you wanted to be here.

That means anytime you say or you start to say, ‘I didn’t choose to be here’ you are lying, you are not telling the truth. With that we are going to go into some history.

The function of tribes, of Native people who lived in small, intimate communities who lived in distinct places. The reason we chose to live in these small, intimate communities was for survival. For no other reason than survival. It was based on interdependency. Everyone in the community had a role, a function within the community, and those communities were successful because each member was able to depend on the other members to live up to their roles. The hunters, the fisherman, the gathers, the clothes makers, those who were able to make medicines…whatever their responsibility within the community they had to live up to it because everyone else’s survival depended on them.

Going back to the notion of Christine Quintasket saying, ‘Everything on Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission.’ It is inherent, inherent is a fancy word that says it’s written within out DNA and it’s in our blood, it is inherent as Native people to have a mission. Every single one of us, every single one of you, has a mission. Once again, what is your mission? Going back to the historical times, our ancestral communities, those missions were hunting, gathering, medicinal herbs, being a warrior, seam-stressing, etc. This is something that is also historically proven, every single one of you are necessary. You are necessary to the betterment and survival of the whole. This is what we are talking about when we say culture.

 

On Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, the Tulalip Resort Casino hosted the 3rd Annual Community Wellness Conference. The target audience this year was our tribal youth. Photo/Micheal Rios
On Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, the Tulalip Resort Casino hosted the 3rd Annual Community Wellness Conference. The target audience this year was our tribal youth.
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

A lot of people think culture is this fancy thing that you wear, it’s a pendent or beaded necklace. One of my heroes, his name is John Mohawk, said ‘Culture is a learned means of survival in an environment’. That’s all it is. At one time when you were trying to survive as that special little sperm cell, you were kicking and fighting and elbowing all these other 80 to 500 million sperm cells because your means of survival was getting to that egg by any means necessary. As we developed and we became tribes, our means of survival was by finding what the need was within our community. We all come from need-based communities. From both these perspectives, historically and biologically, you are necessary, you are important, and you are beautiful.

A side note to the historical piece. I don’t get into the morality of drugs and alcohol, the morality of it and spiritual part is between you, your family and your creator. However, there is a practical part.

The practical part is historically our people couldn’t afford to do things that weaken themselves. You couldn’t do it as a practical matter, not as a spiritual matter. You couldn’t be weak. Why? Because when you are coming from a small community and there are only so many hands that can go out and hunt, or so many hands that could go out and gather food and medicinal herbs, or so many hands that can seamstress…every person is a commodity. Every person is incredibly important. For every single person who is unable, because they are weakened by drinking alcohol or doing drugs, that isn’t able to fulfill their function within the community is making the entire community weaker. Not morally, but practically because that makes their family and their community weaker by that individual’s decision to weaken themselves, because now they can’t be relied upon to carry word or to go fish or to hunt. So now the community as a whole is weaker. Every single one of you are necessary in a community.

You need this place, your community, your home…and it needs you. The reason why you need this place is because history and biology. Right now, you have the privilege of breathing the same oxygen, drinking the same water, eating the same fish as your ancestors have for 20,000 years. Nobody else in this country can say that. There’s not one single person in this nation who can say that other than Native people. That’s it. That’s a huge privilege. Your community has that sense, that longing, it’s that Mother Land that says, ‘I need you, but you also need me’. When we look at the history, the biology of these communities there is a DNA there and you are the living embodiment of that DNA.

I want to end with Christine Quintasket. ‘Everything on Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission’. What is your mission?”

Tulalip Bay Wellness Garden and Trail, bringing practical application to diabetes program

 

Garden_cover

 

by Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

When it comes to diabetes, Native Americans are clearly at greater risk compared to non-Natives. The incidence and prevalence of diabetes within the Native community have increased dramatically as traditional lifestyles have been abandoned in favor of westernization, with accompanying increases in body weight and diminished physical activity. Consider these sobering statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Indian Health Service:

2.2 times higher – likelihood of Native Americans to have diabetes compared to non-Hispanic whites.

68% – percent increase in diabetes from 1994 to 2004 in Native American youth aged 15-19 years.

95% – percent of Native Americans with diabetes who have type 2 diabetes.

30% – estimated percent of Native Americans who have pre-diabetes.*

The extent of diabetes in Native communities today demands public health programs that incorporate specific cultural adaptations for individual tribes. Enter the Tulalip Health Clinic’s Diabetes Program and its ‘grow your own fruits, vegetables & edible flowers’ campaign.

In the spring of 2013, Veronica “Roni” Leahy, Diabetes Program Coordinator, embarked on a mission to bring practical application of diabetes prevention into the everyday lives of Tulalip tribal members by creating a Tulalip Bay wellness garden and trail.

 

Tribal employees volunteer their time to plant apple trees.photo/Micheal Rios
Tribal employees volunteer their time to plant apple trees.
photo/Micheal Rios

 

“Our goal for this garden is diabetes prevention,” explains Leahy. “One of the ways you fight diabetes is good nutrition and exercise. We have a vegetable garden which supports good nutrition and a wellness trail for our exercise. It’s practical application. We offer natural foods you can grow. We have berries, like gooseberries, huckleberries and raspberries. We have fruits, like Oregon grape, apples and pears. Plus, we are growing edible flowers as well.

“Our plan here is to have as much community involvement as possible in creating this space. We have elders who have been a huge part of this project from the very beginning. We’ll continue to focus on the elders and community as we further develop this area. That’s why we call it ‘grow your own fruits and vegetables.’”

Volunteer elders work hard almost every day in creating new additions to the health clinic gardens. Tulalip elder Sandy Swanson is one of those dedicated volunteers.

“I’m out here every day because I enjoy gardening. I worked with Roni on this project since it first started at Hibulb Cultural Center,” says Swanson. “I worked there in the greenhouse and garden beds for two or three years. So when we started down here, I thought this would be good because it’s closer to my home and work at the Health Clinic. I was a nurse for 50 years and just retired last year. I’m 75 now so I putter around here and water and plant and help keep this area clean. I come down and help plant the peas and apple trees.

 

New garden boxes have been established for the various fruits and vegetables. Photo/Micheal Rios
New garden boxes have been established for the various fruits and vegetables.
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

“This garden is for the people so anyone can come help out and be a part of this. People come and work with us on these gardens, we’d like to have more people, but many work so we understand. The main theme is to be able to teach about healthy home-grown fruits and vegetables where they are safe to eat, store stuff is so processed and shined up with chemicals. You have to wash all your fruits and vegetables from the stores these days.”The Tulalip Health Clinic’s Diabetes Program is determined to teach the tribal membership how to live a healthy lifestyle that minimizes the risk of diabetes and welcomes any and all community volunteers to become a part of the wellness garden. The next ‘grow your own fruits and vegetables’ event with be on Friday, May 29 from 9:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. at the Tulalip Bay wellness garden and trail, located on the west side ofthe Tulalip Health Clinic.

 

View of the Wellness Trail as it leads to the garden. photo/Micheal Rios
View of the Wellness Trail as it leads to the garden.
photo/Micheal Rios

 

For more information about the Diabetes Program, the wellness garden, or opportunities for volunteerism please contact Roni Leahy at vleahy@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov or 360-716-5642.

 

*source: diabetes.org

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov