Volunteers make necklaces for Boys & Girls Club auction
Photo/Tulalip Boys & Girls Club
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.
Volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club and Tulalip Resort Casino making keepsake necklaces. 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!”
Mountain Camp: Tulalip Tribes to develop pilot summer camp program in Snoqualmie National Forest
swədaʔx̌ali, Tulalip-US Forest Service Co-Stewardship area and location for new Natural Resource Department’s “Mountain Camp.” Photo by Libby Nelson.
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.
Working with nettles in the Hibulb’s gardening class. photo courtesy Virginia Jones, Hibulb Culture Center
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
On Sunday, March 15, 2015 the Hibulb Rediscovery Program held a native gardening plant class to give Tulalip tribal members the opportunity to connect with their ancestral roots. This class was coordinated by Rediscovery Program staff members Inez Bill, Joy Lacy and Virginia Jones.
“We were very glad to see the large volume of interest. The class filled up very quickly,” says Virginia Jones. “We are thankful for the interest and wish we could offer it to more people. We are glad that people understand why we need to offer this class to our tribal members. We were anxious to see what kind of turn out we were going to have considering it was pouring down rain, but, despite the terrible weather, we were grateful to have a full class.
“The people got to hear advice about working with plants that has been picked up over the years from different teachers. The group went out and endured the rain. They learned how to harvest, clean, and process stinging nettles. They got to learn some of the uses for stinging nettles and what type of areas to look for them in. It was exciting to see. The class really came together and did the work. After the work was done they shared a light lunch.
“One of the important messages I hope everyone was able to take home is that it’s our responsibility to take care of these plants and the world they live in. It is just like fishing, hunting, clam digging, and berry picking. If we don’t protect their environments then there won’t be any places for us to harvest them from. If we overharvest, then there won’t be enough to sustain themselves. This is something that our people did for thousands of years. Now it is all being threatened by pollutants, new development areas, and people. I think a lot of the older generation can agree that the ‘woods’ just aren’t what they use to be. If we are going to go out and take these living things, then it is also our responsibility to protect them.
“Again, we thank everyone for their interest in the class. We are glad that there are so many people willing to reintroduce these plants back into their lives. These plants are able to provide their body and spirit with so much more than store bought foods.”
For more information about Hibulb Cultural Center events visit www.hibulbculturalcenter.org
Tulalip Police officers during the department’s awards banquet, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at the Tulalip Resort Casino. (Photo courtesy Theresa Sheldon)
By Brandi N. Montreuil, Tulalip News
TULALIP – “Honoring one honors us all” was the theme of the 2015 Tulalip Police Department Awards Banquet, held Wednesday, February 11, at the Tulalip Resort Casino. The banquet was held in recognition for officers and staff who have demonstrated exceptional professionalism and leadership within their positions as Tulalip Police officers or Tulalip Police staff members.
This year three officers, one staff member and a community member were highlighted for their outstanding work in the department and with the Tulalip community. While all officers and staff put 100 percent into serving the Tulalip community, Tulalip Chief of Police Carlos Echevarria said, “these officers’ and staff members’ work stood out.”
“With such a large staff it’s hard to choose just a select few. They all do such a great job throughout the year,” said Chief Echevarria.
Fish and Wildlife officer Clayton Horne was named Fish and Wildlife Officer of the Year for his service with the police department, while Lorelei Ranney was named Employee of the Year for her outstanding work and dedication in assisting officers and other department staff. The Chief’s Award was presented to Senior Officer Jeremy Mooring for his leadership, integrity, and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Tulalip Chief of Police Carlos Echevarria presents the “Officer of the Year” award to K9 officer M.C. Engen and his canine partner Wolfy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at the Tulalip Police Department awards banquet held at the Tulalip Resort Casino. (Photo courtesy Theresa Sheldon)
When presenting the award, Chief Echevarria had this to say about officer Mooring, “You have consistently performed your duties in an exemplary and professional manner.” Echevarria commended officer Mooring’s can-do attitude and praised his willingness to assist officers by taking on additional shifts when needed and helping to make safer road conditions for travelers in Tulalip.
The prestigious Officer of the Year award was presented to K-9 Officer Wolfy, whose watch ended on January 2, when she lost her battle with cancer. Wolfy’s handler and partner, officer M.C. Engen, received the award in Wolfy’s honor.
“Throughout their partnership, they have assisted in cases with the Tulalip PD Drug Task Force, FBI, DEA, and ATF agencies. We would like to commend you and your partner with the Officer of the Year award for the dedication and commitment you have provided to the department. Your devotion to the community, professionalism and commitment to duty reflected great credit upon yourself, the Tulalip Police Department and the Tulalip Tribes,” said Echevarria to officer Engen.
The department recognized community member Nate Hatch for their Honoring Our Own award, an annual award that is presented to community members who exhibit a commitment to leadership, trust, respect and service above self within the community.
Tulalip Police officer Sherman Pruitt shakes Nate Hatch’s hand, Wednesday, Feb 11, 2015, during the Tulalip Police Awards Banquet held at the Tulalip Resort Casino. Hatch was presented the department’s “Honoring Our Own” award for his bravery during and after the Oct. 24, 2014 shooting at Marysville High School. He is the only survivor who was shot that day. (Photo courtesy Theresa Sheldon)
“Nate Hatch, you have shown strong character, a can-do positive attitude, brilliant smile, sense of humor and most importantly, you have been an inspiration to the entire world following the events that occurred on October 24, 2014. Your bravery is second to none and we applaud you,” said Echevarria.
“Our year was cut short. As a tribal member, community member and chief of police it felt as though our year started on January 1 and ended on October 24. I literally cannot tell you what I did from October 24, until the end of the year; it is one large blur. As I look back, I can’t think of a better group of individuals in this police department and as a team that showed great courage, leadership, professionalism and the willingness to go above and beyond for the community, as I did in this group, that I would want to serve with,” said Chief Echevarria.
Wrapping up the banquet, all Tulalip officers and TPD staff members were presented a commemorative coin specially designed for them. Each coin symbolizes the dedication and commitment staff and officers have to keeping the Tulalip community safe.
Tulalip Police Officer Jim Williams. Photo Courtesy Theresa Sheldon
Brandi N. Montreuil: 360-913-5402; bmontreuil@tulalipnews.com
Recently built home at Tulalip Bay. Photos courtesy Tom Eadie, Tulalip Housing Authority Administration Manager.
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
The Tulalip Brand
When non-tribals think of the Tulalip Reservation, what do they think of? Surely some of the first things that would come to their minds are the Four Diamond rated Tulalip Resort Casino, the award winning fine dining restaurants therein, and the luxurious sanctuary that is the T Spa. For the upscale, fashion conscious individuals, they would assuredly think of the Seattle Premium Outlets that brings together the finest brands and cost-savings every day. Then there are those who would think of the essential shopping experiences provided by Quil Ceda Village stores, like Cabela’s and Home Depot.
It’s easy to understand why non-tribals, whether they be locals, visitors, long distance travelers or simply Washington State residents, would think of the exclusive experiences and premium services available to them on the Tulalip Reservation. First and foremost, the Tulalip Tribes has invested vast amounts of resources (money, time, manpower, more money) into creating the present-day image of Tulalip as a destination. From the early days of establishing the original Tulalip Casino in 1992, since rebranded as Quil Ceda Creek Casino in 2004, to the construction of the new Tulalip Bingo in 1999, to the inception of the ever expanding Quil Ceda Village in 2001, to the building of Tulalip Resort Casino in 2003 and followed by its accompanying hotel in 2008, the Tulalip Tribes has gone to great lengths and overcome many obstacles to create, develop, and brand itself as a tribal business leader.
Without question the planning, construction, and continued development of the Tulalip Tribes businesses and gaming enterprise has been first-rate. But those efforts, in large part, were aimed at crafting an enhanced image of the Tulalip Tribes from the outsider’s perspective and to create the market place for building a strong, loyal customer base that yields plenty of return business. Turn inward and we, the Tulalip tribal membership, can see that while the reservation along the I-5 corridor is unrecognizable compared to what it was fifteen to twenty years ago, the heart of the reservation remains relatively underdeveloped and deficient of the exclusive qualities that the Tribes is associated with externally. However, like the memories of the brush and forest that once occupied Quil Ceda Village, that will soon be a distant memory. The entire Tulalip Bay area is about to receive a major upgrade in image.
Creating change by building neighborhoods
The Tulalip Bay Work Force Housing Program, created by the Tulalip Housing department and approved by the Board of Directors, will makeover the heart of the reservation in the same way Quil Ceda Village changed the exterior boundaries of the reservation.
The Tulalip Bay Work Force Housing Program was implemented in early 2014. It is a three step process that will drastically change rural Tulalip, for the better. The first step of the process is taking back the land, that has for far too long been accommodating to non-Tulalips. More specifically, the land within the 1.7 square mile residential area around Tulalip Bay. Piggy-backing off the ideals that led to all the houses being demolished and removed from Mission Beach in 2013, all the non-Tulalip owned homes in the Tulalip Bay area are going to be removed in order to return the land to where it belongs, to Tulalip.
As the land leases expire, one by one each non-Tulalip house will be demolished, either by the residing home owner or by the Tulalip Tribes for a fee.
“New tribal mandates state that those folks living in the Tulalip Bay houses do not have the option to renew their lease because the Tulalip Tribes has made it its mission to take back the land,” says Tom Eadie, Tulalip Housing Authority Administration Manager. “Current Tulalip Bay tenants were told that back around 2003. The owner of the home, when their lease expires, has 90 days to remove their home. If they haven’t removed their home within the 90 days, then we remove their home and charge them the removal costs. At Mission Beach they removed their homes themselves. For Tulalip Bay, the opportunity to restore the beach-front would be available, potentially. We could have a several mile beach walk. It will be amazing, what we can do out there will be phenomenal.”
The second step of the Tulalip Bay Work Force Program is to build first-rate homes complete with top of the line appliances, immaculate fenced yards, and a house alarm. These will be beautiful homes, as evidenced by the first few that have been built already. Each featuring a multi-million dollar view overlooking stunning Tulalip Bay.
The second step also mandates that after the construction of the houses they will then be made available to Tulalip tribal members only, as either part of a home ownership program or as a rental. While most of the houses will be designated for home ownership, a fair share will be designated as rentals for those who are not in a position to buy a home. These newly built houses will become the homes of many Tulalip tribal members who would not otherwise have the opportunity to live on their reservation, and will help supplement the depleted housing market for our growing tribal membership.
“Everyone benefits from it in the long run. We can do a mix of rentals and home-ownership because we understand not everyone wants to own a home. Some people want to come and rent for a while and experience their reservation where their family is, and this gives them that opportunity,” explains Eadie. “You’re not going to find a 1,600-1,700 square feet house, especially on the water or near the water, anywhere else for the low prices we will be offering.
“You get to raise your kids in the heart of your reservation, and we’ll be continuing to develop that area: new sidewalks, light posts, we’re putting in a park, a really nice basketball court park right at Tulalip Bay. We’ll be selling these gorgeous houses within the $220ish price range. The prices are incredibly low when you look at comparable markets. There is no place in the state of Washington with that view and so close to a beach-front that even comes close to what we are selling them for. You’d double that price elsewhere, easy.”
The third and final step of the Tulalip Bay Work Force Housing Program involves the collaboration of both the Tulalip Housing department and the inherent responsibility of Tulalip tribal members. As the brand new houses are nearing completion and put on the market one by one, Tulalip tribal members, whether it’s for home ownership or to rent, must make themselves candidates in order to call a Tulalip Bay house their home. To have suitable, qualified Tulalip citizens and families stake their claim on the Tulalip Bay houses being built for them this means doing the necessities when it comes to preparing to buy or rent a new home on the Tulalip Reservation. Ways to be ready include meeting with a Housing department representative to discuss the qualifying considerations, and meeting with a 184 loan specialist and applying for a 184 loan if you want to become a Tulalip Bay home owner. Eadie explained that the standard operating procedures protect both you and the Tribes’ interests.
Remember that the Tulalip Bay Work Force Housing Program is still in the beginning stages of implementation and houses will be built and made available over the next several years. This means that if you don’t qualify to rent or purchase a Tulalip Bay home right now, that will not prevent you from renting or purchasing one of the many Tulalip Bay homes coming in the near future. Start on the path to becoming a qualified Tulalip Bay home owner or renter now. Start rebuilding your credit now. Start saving money for down payments and first/last month’s rent now. If you want to become a member of what will surely become a thriving Tulalip Bay neighborhood, then now is the time to start investing in that future.
Contact Micheal Rios at mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Karen I. Fryberg Tulalip Health Clinic is working together with Puget Sound Kidney Center to offer a day of actives, such as crafts and nature walks, and information about nutrition and kidney health, along with a snack/cooking table with recipes.
There will be a light breakfast and a healthy salmon lunch for participants.
Hibulb’s Rediscovery Program offers new gardening class to connect Tulalip’s ancestors
By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
The Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve’s Rediscovery Program is offering Tulalip tribal members an exciting new class to reconnect with their traditional culture. The class is part of a series of classes entitled ‘Native Plants and Medicinal Herbs’ that will be ongoing during the traditional harvesting season, early spring to late fall. The series of classes will focus on teaching tribal members how to collect, garden, harvest, and process native plants and herbs that are indigenous to the Tulalip region. The first of a full series of native plant gardening classes will take place Sunday, March 15, starting promptly at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m., at the Center’s facility classroom.
“Our plants are our medicine. They nourish our bodies and feed our spirit,” says Inez Bill, Rediscovery Coordinator. “We want to see our people gardening and harvesting the plants and herbs that our people have used historically. So we are starting this brand new series of classes that will help pass on the values and teachings of our ancestors. Hopefully, by taking the classes, our people will begin to use these plants at their homes and grow them in their gardens for their own use.”
Over the past four years, the Rediscovery Program has hosted its ‘Gardening Together as Families’ classes that emphasized teaching our tribal membership how to grow their own organic vegetable gardens. The Rediscovery Program staff think that the time is right to shift from a general theme of organic vegetables to one that specifically tailors to the traditional gardening customs of our Tulalip ancestors. By reintroducing the Tulalip people to native plants and herbs that were once used by our ancestors for generations.
“We’ve been doing the ‘Gardening Together as Families’ classes for four years now. That was an opportunity for people to come get hands-on experience growing their own organic vegetables. Now, we are able to shift the theme of our gardening classes to accommodate the needs of our people,” explains Rediscovery staff member Virginia Jones. “We want to give the people an opportunity to learn about the uses of Tulalip native plants and to grow them at their own homes.”
Throughout this new series of native plant gardening classes, there will be a primary focus of working with and getting familiar with the many uses of five major native plants; the stinging nettle, fireweed, giant horsetail, the Nootka Rose, and mountain huckleberry. There will be other native plants worked with as well, to supplement the uses and knowledge that come from working with the five major native plants.
“These plants we will be working with are all traditional food sources. They are something that are ancestors would have had, and so we are really fortunate to have them still available to us,” says Jones. “Today these foods are no longer a part of our everyday diets. We are trying to reintroduce these native plants back into the diets of our people. We want to reach our people on that level because these plants were used as foods that healed us and kept our bodies full of all different types of nutrients that our bodies needed.”
To participate in the first class in this new series, to be held March 15, the Rediscovery Program staff ask that you please RSVP ahead of time by calling Virginia Jones at (360) 716-2635 and leave a brief message with your name and how many family members will be attending with you. The initial class will be accepting 20 tribal member participants, so RSVP your spot as soon as possible.
Also, all those who will be participating in the native plant gardening class should remember to bring garden gloves and paper bags.
“Working with native plants is our culture,” says Bill. “It’s a delicate balance of going out and being with nature, gathering plants in prayer and working with them in a respectful way. We are one with nature at this time.”
