Category: Tulalip News
April 8, 2015 Tulalip See-Yaht-Sub
One-on-One with basketball stand-out Adiya Jones
photo courtesy Adiya Jones.
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
On Wednesday, April 1, 2015 the Associated Press announced their All-State basketball teams for boys and girls high school players, as voted on by sports writers and editors from around the state. La Conner High School junior and Tulalip tribal member, Adiya Jones, was named to the First Team for all Class 2B girls’ high school players in the state.
Prior to this past year Adiya was the face of the Heritage High School girls’ basketball team. She was part of a successful season in her freshman year, followed by being the focal point of the team’s offense in her sophomore year as she led the team in scoring and rebounding. It was expected she would again be the team’s star player in her junior season, but in a twist she opted to transfer out of Heritage and play at La Conner High School. Adiya and her mother, Charlotte Jones, relocated to the small town of La Conner in order for her to attend the local high school.
Over the next several months Adiya would become part of a new community and lead a new group of teammates on the basketball court. In fact, Adiya excelled at La Conner, both on and off the court, resulting in her being named co-MVP of the Northwest 2B Basketball League and leading her team to a 3rd place finish in the 2B State Tournament. Adiya sat down for an interview with the See-Yaht-Sub to tell her story to her tribal membership.
When did you first start playing basketball?
“I honestly didn’t like basketball when I was younger. I was a long-time cheerleader and loved to dance. Then before 7th grade I hit a growth spurt and being taller now I decided to try out for the basketball team. It didn’t work out. I was cut from the team, but decided at that moment I was going to come back and try out again next year. I worked out that summer and trained with Tori Torrolova, the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club athletic director. She really worked with me on improving my game and teaching me the fundamentals.”
So you’ve only been playing organized basketball for a little over four years then?
“Yeah, looking back I’m still surprised that I’ve accomplished what I have, being that I haven’t played basketball nearly as long as other girls I know. It came to me naturally after working out with Tori and getting help from my coaches along the way.”
Why did you transfer out of Heritage H.S. and why did you choose La Conner H.S. to transfer to?
“I’ve always wanted to go to a much better school academically. I miss Heritage, but I feel like moving up here was huge for me because I have many more opportunities available to me now. Originally, before making the decision, I met with [La Conner basketball coach] Coach Novak to talk about how I’d fit in and what our goals would be. After meeting with him I knew La Conner is where I wanted to go.”
Was it difficult adjusting to a more traditional curriculum?
“The quality of education is a big difference maker. The curriculum at La Conner is completely different. At first it was really hard to adjust. The first week I didn’t think I was going to make it. There’s homework every night. Here, they are prepping us for college. It’s a really good school. I’ve learned so much during this school year. I’m really happy I made the change because I’m learning every day.”
At La Conner you mentioned they have curriculum that really challenges you and helps you to succeed. How so?
“They have TAs and parents that come in to help students get homework done or particularly tough assignments. For me, at one point I had a tutor come in and help me for like four weeks with homework and writing papers. When I first came to La Conner I didn’t even know how to type up a full paper and edit because we didn’t do that at Heritage. At La Conner they have people who are there to help you and to support you to make sure you are understanding and able to do the work. The first week I felt like this wouldn’t be the place for me because I wasn’t used to this kind of environment and the curriculum was completely different. I kind of felt dumb at first, but after a few weeks I become more comfortable because I was getting the help that I needed. The faculty and tutors helped me to adjust. They wanted me to succeed and that made all the difference.”
Do you feel you’re getting better prepared for college life?
“Yeah, because they really hold you accountable for your homework and deadlines for assignments. They want you to succeed and recognize when you need one-on-one attention to understand the curriculum.”
photo courtesy Adiya Jones.
How does the style of play differ from what you were used to at Heritage?
“There’s a big difference. Coach Novak is really about structure and bases our game off of defense and set plays. The first week all we did was conditioning, other than that, the rest of our practices were focusing on our sets. At Heritage it was basically a few plays and half the time we didn’t run them. It was a huge change because back at Heritage it was mainly like, ‘get the ball to Adiya.’ Most of the plays were based off me, whereas here at La Conner it feels really good to have support and not be relied on to carry the offense all the time.”
How is the competition different playing in a larger league?
“Our league isn’t the best, but it’s an improvement competition-wise. We get more good competitive games, and for me I get to match up with girls who are my size or bigger with skill. At Heritage, district 1B, there weren’t that many girls bigger than me or taller than me so I wasn’t challenged in the ways that I am playing for La Conner. Being challenged makes me play better and improve my game.”
What was the adjustment period like playing with a brand new team?
“It helped a lot that Coach Novak had us all play fall league together before our high school regular season started. At first it was kind of hard to adjust, but we learned each other’s games pretty quick. Our point guard, Kamea Pino, was also a transfer student and new to the school like me. It helped me and her bond, both being the new players on the team. It really showed how we came together in a short amount of time by starting the season like we did.”
Before your first basketball game for La Conner, did you have any doubts about your skills in a different league?
“Yeah, I had doubts. I didn’t even know if I was going to be a starter. Coach Novak was really good about working with me to calm my nerves in the very beginning. “
But then you went on to be a starter and had a great season. You even averaged 16.3 points per game. Did that validate your skills as a basketball player?
“Oh yeah, fitting in as quickly as I did and taking on a good portion of our offensive sets really let me know that I could find a way to play in any league. Being able to score on better competition and then winning the Skagit Valley Herald Girls’ basketball player of the year was one of the best feelings.”
You guys got off to a really good start and in fact went undefeated during the regular season. At what point did you realize you had a real shot at winning the state title?
“I think it was towards the end of the regular season when we knew we’d be league champs. There was a week where we won our league and then came together, as a team to overcome some challenges at the district tournament. Really coming down to it, it was at that time that as a team we recognized we could win state.”
Going into the semi-finals at State your team was 24-0 and had a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter, but ending up losing the game. What happened?
“The easy answer is I fouled out with a few minutes to go. If I don’t foul out then I 100% believe we would have won that game. It was late in the game and I was exhausted from all the ball we’d been playing and I picked up some errant fouls that ended up being the difference. It was a really tough loss.”
But then your team bounced back in the 3rd place game, right? That’s still a nice accomplishment in your first year with La Conner to go 25-1 and place 3rd in the state tournament.
“Yeah, we were shocked after losing our first game of the season, but we came together and wanted to still finish the season strong. I was so mad at myself for fouling out in the semi-finals and was determined to end the season with a good game. In the end, whether we took 3rd place or not we were all happy as a team to be one of the top teams in the entire state.”
Now you have that extra motivation to come back even better next season and to hopefully win it all at state.
“Definitely. We have three returning starters and will be even hungrier to win the state championship. For me, it was my first experience playing on that level and now I know what it takes to take that next step. I’m all about basketball right now and focused to win a state championship. I’m not even playing a spring sport right now so that I can play spring league basketball. Plus, it’ll be my senior year, my last season of high school ball, so that’s even more added motivation for me to get better for myself and my teammates.”
Outside of school and basketball, how are you liking living in La Conner?
“It’s a very uplifting atmosphere and easy to get adjusted to. Over here there is definitely less drugs, so it’s good to be away from that type of environment. It’s so friendly here, like everyone is friendly and it’s very peaceful. I could walk to the store and people who I don’t even know recognize me as a basketball player and say ‘Congrats’ or ‘good job!’ and it feels really good to have people I don’t know acknowledge me like that.”
Who are your favorite basketball players to watch?
“On the professional level I don’t really watch WNBA, but in the NBA my favorite player is Kevin Durant. On the collegiate level my favorite player is Breanna Stewart at the University of Connecticut. I’ve been watching her the last couple years and try to copy some of her moves.”
I hear you plan on playing some ball in Europe during the summer. What’s that about?
“It’s such an exciting opportunity. I’ve been invited by the ACIS program to play basketball in Italy from July 15-21. I’ll be able to learn about the game on a whole new level and learn about that culture. I’m kind of scared to be in a new country, but I’m more excited for the opportunity to showcase my skills. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
What areas of your game are you going to focus on improving before the start of your senior season?
“Really working on better post moves is my main goal. I’ll be working on my conditioning too so that I’ll be in the best shape possible to be quicker on the court. Now, I know what it takes to the next level, to the championship game and I want to become a great player so that I’m prepared to take that next step.”
You averaged 16.3 points per game this past season as a junior. What is your goal to average in your senior season?
“My goal is to average at least 20 points per game. I think I can do it and being my senior year that would be a good goal to accomplish, along with winning a state title.”
Veterans Gather to Honor One Another in Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration
By Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
TULALIP – A celebration was held today at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club to mark the national ‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.’
Due to the unpopularity of the conflict, veterans returning home were often forgotten and abused, suffering years of post stress disorder. In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution to provide Vietnam veterans a proper welcome home. March 30, the day all U.S. troops and support-troops withdrew from Vietnam, was designated a national day of welcome. The resolution authored by North Carolina senator Richard Burr called the resolution, “a day to give our Vietnam veterans a warm, long-overdue welcome home.”
On March 30, 1973, all U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces had lost their lives while more than 300,000 were wounded during the conflict.
Today veterans in the Tulalip community came together to celebrate all the veterans who returned home and to honor those who lost their lives serving their country.
The celebration was organized by Tulalip veteran Andy James who served in the Marines during the conflict. The event featured a potluck style meal and small pow wow.
Thank you to all those who have served. We honor your sacrifice and welcome you home.
Brandi N. Montreuil: 360-913-5402; bmontreuil@tulalipnews.com
April 1, 2015 Tulalip See-Yaht-Sub
Tulalip team sweeps through game tournament
By Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
TULALIP – Tulalip Boys & Girls Club gaming team had an incredible performance at this year’s annual Snohomish County Boys & Girls Club Game Tournament on March 7. Players in the Tulalip team took home 12 medals including several first place spots, in a variety of game categories.
The annual event brings together club teams from around the county to compete in games such as bumper pool, checkers, pool, foosball, ping-pong and card games. This year the event was held at the Everett Boys & Girls Club.
The Tulalip team placed in the top three slots for each game category. Tulalip club members Gaylan Grey placed first in checkers and pool, and second in bumper pool. Terrance Phillips second in ping-pong, Mauricio Garcia first in foosball, Joshua Miranda third in pool, and Maximo Gonzalez third in checkers. Matthew Miranda placed first in ping-pong and second in foosball, while Marcella Gonzalez placed second in speed cards and Ayrik Miranda placed first in pool and third in bumper pool.
Tulalip Games Room Director Jay Miranda explains the tournament is more than just a bunch of kids playing games. Unlike other popular sport choices such as basketball and football, games in the tournament are played individually. They also help the kids develop skills that they can use later in life.
(Tulalip News Photo/ Brandi N. Montreuil)
“These games teach the kids strategic thinking, along with critical thinking skills. Bumper pool and pool are games about angles which helps in math at school because they have to look at the angles before they make their move. They have to calculate before they shoot,” said Miranda, who has been the director for just under year and incorporates a philosophy of fair play and respect with players.
“I tell the kids, when you get older you will learn life isn’t fair, but as long as you keep trying you will overcome the things that seem unfair in life. I tell them to always play to win,” said Miranda.
Unlike other clubs in the Boys & Girls Club of America chain, the club at Tulalip is uniquely tailored to the population it serves, which has a large percentage of Native American youth.
“We teach more than just the rules of the games. We teach about having morals and standards for personal growth and we incorporate traditional cultural teachings in our club,” Miranda said. “If there was no games room it would impact the other departments in the club with an overflow of kids. The games room gives them a competitive outlet. If we lose the games room, the kids lose the feeling of accomplishment.”
“This year was a great accomplishment,” Miranda said. “In last year’s tournament we had only three players, but this year we had seven and they did great.”
Brandi N. Montreuil: 360-913-5402; bmontreuil@tulalipnews.com
Recycling: It’s our way of looking out for our great-great-grandkids
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling benefits your community and the environment. As a sovereign tribal nation, the Tulalip Tribes’ core values includes conserving natural resources and sustaining our surrounding environment for future generations. That is why two years ago the Tulalip Tribes set out to implement a tribal wide recycling initiative.
The Solid Waste department was renamed the Solid Waste and Recycling department and was put in charge of the step-by-step process to bring a recycle, reduce, and reuse mantra to the reservation.
The first step took place on the tribal government level. The Tulalip and Quil Ceda Village (QCV) administration buildings received new recycling bins that separated cans, paper, and plastic into their own compartments. These bins were placed in specific common areas of each floor within the Tulalip Administration Building. In some cases, like the commonly populated first floor reception area and second floor lunch area, more specific type of recycling collection bins were used. These bins designated trash/organic, cans, plastic, and white paper only into their compartment.
What started out as voluntary program with the larger, more specific recycling bins on each floor had to evolve as it was observed employees were continuing to put their recyclables in their desk-side garbage bin. The bottom line was that it was more convenient to put recyclables in the desk-side garbage, rather than getting up and walking to the end of isle recycling bins.
“When we started our recycling program about two years ago it was a very small program. Mostly only our tribal government buildings were participating,” says Sam Davis, Solid Waste and Recycling Manager. “There wasn’t a lot of participation. People weren’t getting up and going to the end of the isles to dispose of their recycling, so last year I decided to make it easier and more convenient for everyone. We got these little desk-side recycling bins. We put the recycling bins at each and every desk. In all, we put over 700 desk-side recycling bins in tribal government buildings and Quil Ceda Village.”
Staff at Solid Waste and Recycling noticed a huge increase of recycling output once the smaller bins were put desk-side. It showed that Tulalip employees were consciously aware of what they could and couldn’t recycle, but the recycling program has to be convenient as well.
In 2014, with the larger end-of-isle bins and smaller desk-side bins in place, the Tribal Government collected and recycled 40.76 tons (81,520 pounds) of recyclable materials. Before the implementation of the tribal wide recycling initiative all of that 40.76 tons of recyclable materials would have gone the way of garbage and sent to landfills.
“It’s great to see the Tribal Government recycled 40.76 tons of paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum,” says Davis. “In the next two years I’d like to double that amount. If you were to walk around and look in employee’s’ garbage you’ll still find recyclables in there. In 2014, the Tribal Government had an output of 726,820 pounds of garbage. I’d say that a 100,000 pounds of that is probably recyclable.”
The second step of the tribal wide recycling initiative took place on the residential level. The Solid Waste and Recycling department made life easier for community members by providing curbside recycling pickup services. They proveded a single-stream recycling bin that allows for community members to put all their recyclables into one bin without sorting. You have an easy way to reduce your impact on the environment and these materials are diverted from going into a landfill. The recycling collection crews come around on one of two days depending on your area and empty all curbside recycling bins. For Silver Village and Battle Creek residents, the pickup day is Thursday afternoon. For Y-site and Mission Highlands residents, the pickup day is Friday afternoon.
“Now, we have moved on to our tribal housing homes. We have put recycling bins at every single one of our housing homes except for the homes on the Quil, which is our next step,” continues Davis. “It’s been a step-by-step process because of the cost of each bin. It’s a onetime cost of $95 for each residential recycling bin, so it’ll take a while to recoup that cost, but in my eyes it’s worth it to not see all that recyclable material go to a landfill.
“It’s starting to get to where we want it to. Last month (February 2015) housing recycling did 4.41 tons, which is over 8,000 pounds. My goal is to get to 10,000 pounds a month for housing recycling.”
The residential housing recycling program started very slowly as recycling was a new concept for many in the Tulalip community, but, as the program continues to build momentum, more and more materials once considered garbage are now being recycled. In fact, Tulalip housing members are recycling nearly three times as much as they were only months ago. In October and November of 2014 there was an average of 1.81 tons of recycling collected, whereas in February 2015 there was 4.41 tons of recycling collected.
“I think it’s just people getting used to the program and us being consistent with our pickup. Knowing that we are actually doing something with it,” Davis says of the surge in residential recycling. “Follow through: I think that’s a big thing is knowing that if they put in that little bit of extra time to sort thru and fill their recyclable bin that we are going to be there to pick it up. We want to continue to educate our tribal members so that everything that can be recycled is being recycled.
“Recycling is not just a cost savings for us, it’s our way of looking out for our great-great-grandkids. The future generations.”
Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Crafting for a Cause
Volunteers make necklaces for Boys & Girls Club auction
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
On Monday March 23, Tulalip employees from all entities, Tulalip Resort Casino (TRC), Quil Ceda Village and Tulalip Admin, came together to make necklaces in support of Tulalip’s upcoming Boys & Girls Club auction. The necklace making event was held in the upstairs conference room of the TRC’s administration building from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The goal is to create 250 hand-made necklaces that will be sold as keepsakes for those attending the 17th Annual Tulalip Boys & Girls Club Auction held on Saturday, May 9 at the TRC.
“This is our 17th annual Boys & Girls Club auction for Tulalip. All the funds raised from the necklace keepsakes go into our restricted account and are used strictly for Tulalip Boys & Girls Club,” explains Diane Prouty, Program Director for Tulalip’s Boys & Girls Club. “In the past the funds have been used for building improvements, remodels, a new roof, and whatever needs to be done in that form.
“The necklaces we are making sell for $100 apiece. The kids help put them in the bags so they have had their hands on them, but they are too intricate to have the kids make them. We have volunteers from the Resort Casino and all other entities to help come in and make these necklaces. Its wonderful people want to come in on their lunch and help. It’s great because it’s all for the kids.”
Every year the Boys & Girls Club annual auction has a theme and this year’s is a Seahawks theme. The hand-made necklaces consist of Seahawks colored beads (blue and green) and bone carved beads, including an orca tail center ornament.
Photo/Micheal Rios
When the necklace making concluded for the day the volunteers had made about 60 necklaces. They have many more to make at the next necklace making session on Monday, March 30from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the upstairs conference room located behind the Casino, accessible through the Casino Administration entrance. No experience is necessary to help make these necklaces and support our Tulalip youth. As an added incentive the TRC provides a complimentary catered lunch for all volunteers.
“We made about 60 necklaces for the Boys & Girls Club Auction. These necklaces are part of the fundraising we will be doing during the auction,” says Anita Rutherford, Administrative Assistant to the President & EVP at Tulalip Resort Casino. “If you can come and help us next Monday, March 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. we appreciate your support for the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club.
“Diane Prouty will be here with all the beads and wire. No experience is necessary! We will meet again in the Upstairs Conference Room located behind the Casino (go to the Administration Entrance). Lunch will be at noon. Call 6-1111 if you need directions. Thank you, I hope to see everyone next Monday. We can get this done for the kids!”
Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Nurturing Connections: Coast Salish Culture and the Natural World
Mountain Camp: Tulalip Tribes to develop pilot summer camp program in Snoqualmie National Forest
Submitted by Francesca Hillery, Tulalip Tribes Public Affairs
The Tulalip Tribes has been awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to start an exciting two-year pilot program for a youth summer camp in the Snoqualmie National Forest.
The five-day, overnight camp will help connect Tulalip 7th and 8th graders to their ancestral mountain lands, and will take place in August.
The camp will be situated at swədaʔx̌ali, “Place of Mountain Huckleberries”, a high elevation mountain meadow area, forty-five minutes north of the town of Skykomish, off of Highway 2. The Tulalip Tribes has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for co-stewardship with the Snoqualmie National Forest, as all of the national forest lies within the ceded territories, reserved in the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot. Tribal members have been harvesting huckleberries and other cultural resources under this MOU for several years at swədaʔx̌ali and throughout the national forest.
“One of the most important things about Mountain Camp is getting our youth back onto their mountain areas, and educating them, so they understand they have treaty rights there,” said Jason Gobin.
The vision for the camp is to nurture the connection for tribal youth to the natural world, and to inspire their curiosity, respect, knowledge and passion for the environment. Grounded in Tulalip’s own cultural teachings and traditions, the program will build on who they are as Coast Salish peoples.
The Mountain Camp Advisory Committee, made up of cultural and natural resource staff and community members, has met several times to shape the camp agenda and educational outcomes. The learning objectives for youth who attend this camp are:
To learn about tribal history, treaty rights, and the co-stewardship of the area.
Learn about the mountains from elders.
Develop competency in rustic camping in the outdoors, including safety, cooking, dressing, and backpacking.
Learn about the traditional ways of harvesting and being in the outdoors.
Learn some hands on approaches of work with natural and cultural resources staff.
Promote team building, problem solving, communication and cooperation.
“I want our children to know that as Tulalip they are more than just these 22,000 acres, more than the surrounding saltwater,” said Patti Gobin, who is on the Mountain Camp Advisory Committee. “Our ancestral homelands were so much greater,” she continued. “They extended from the whitecaps of the Salish Sea, to freshwater rivers, all the way up to the whitecaps of the Cascade Mountains.”
The YMCA is a recent partner in the pilot and has been contracted to set up the camp and provide security and meals.
“I am incredibly excited for this unique opportunity to work with the Tulalip Tribes,” said Chris Hagan, director of operations for the Seattle YMCA’s B.O.L.D. & G.O.L.D Mountain School, whose focus is Boys/Girls Outdoor Leadership Development. “We work with close to 1500 students annually on expeditions ranging in length from 1-22 days. We engage the youth in activities such as backpacking, rock climbing and mountain climbing in a wilderness environment.”
Tribal youth in the 7th and 8th grades are eligible to apply beginning March 21st until April 24. As this is the first year of the pilot summer camp, there are only eleven spaces available, with preference going to eighth graders. Because of the grant funding, the program will be free this year.
A community meeting will be held for interested tribal youth and their families on Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Tribal Administration Building, Room 162. A presentation on the camp will be made, and Tulalip instructors and the YMCA staff will speak and answer questions. Applications will be made available.
For more information please contact Libby Nelson (Project Coordinator) at 360.716.4639 or email: lnelson@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov. You can also contact Kelly Finely (Camp director) at 360.716.4604 or email: kfinley@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.
March 25, 2015 Tulalip See-Yaht-Sub
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March 25 2015 SYS
