Category: Tulalip News
Top Shelf, top notch:Young Tulalip entrepreneur opens first business
Article and photos by Andrew Gobin, Tulalip news
Since the debut of Nike’s Air Jordans in 1985, sneakers have become more than necessary clothing, they are a social commodity. Wesley Monger, a young entrepreneur and Tulalip Tribal Member, aims to capitalize on the collectible shoe market with the opening of his first shoe store, Top Shelf, March 8th.
“There is a big online market for collectible merchandise, collectible shoes included. You really don’t see any places where you can go and sell or trade your shoes though. I thought, why not have a place to go and buy, sell, or trade your sneakers, rather than online,” said Monger.
He and his partner, Devante Edwards, both saw the need for a storefront location for the shoe market. On March 8th, after months of planning and preparation, they opened up Top Shelf, a unique store where patrons can buy, sell, and trade collectible sneakers.
“We had a pretty good opening day, and business is steadily picking up,” Monger said. Our website will be up in a few weeks, and then more people will know about us.”
The shop will potentially reach a wide range of customers, whether they are collectors or looking to make a fashion statement. Shoes range anywhere from $10 up to $600, varying in rarity and style.
The youth on the Tulalip Reservation may be some of his biggest customers, though some have concerns about trading shoes. When asked about their sneakers and the shop, students at Tulalip Heritage High School had interesting responses.
“That’s gross,” said Mikaylee Pablo. “What about all that fungus and athletes foot?”
Monger said, “All of our shoes are cleaned and disinfected when we get them.”
“I have six pairs of Jordans (Nike air Jordans), but I don’t think I would sell them in a shop. I wouldn’t get what I paid for them,” said Johnny Hendrix.
Hendrix raises an interesting point, how do sellers get a fair deal and the shop still make money?
“We offer comparable pricing. We look at ebay and shoe forums, and the condition of the shoe, to determine a fair price. Our offers start at about half of what the shoes are worth,” said Monger.
Right now, Monger and Edwards have no intentions of expanding Top Shelf to other footwear, such as women’s designer shoes, though they are constantly looking for ways to expand their customer base. With the launch of their website, they will begin trading and selling shoes online, though they will only purchase shoes brought to the store. Check out Top Shelf online at www.everetttopshelf.bigcartel.com or in store located at 3417 Broadway Ave Suite B Everett, WA 98201.
Andrew Gobin is a reporter with the See-Yaht-Sub, a publication of the Tulalip Tribes Communications Department.
Email: agobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Phone: (360) 716.4188
Fish Wars convictions cleared: Senate House Bill 2080 vacates felony convictions of Treaty Indian fishermen
Article by Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
Olympia – Senate House Bill 2080, introduced to the Washington State Legislature after session in 2013, was passed this year by the House on February 13th and the Senate February 5th, which coincides with the 40th annum of the Boldt Decision which settled the Fish Wars. The bill allows tribal fishermen arrested while exercising their treaty fishing rights and convicted prior to January 1st, 1975, to apply to the sentencing court to vacate their convictions including misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felonies. With this bill, the legislature acknowledges that no crimes were ever committed in these cases, making these convictions void.
Rep. David Sawyer, (D), whose district includes the Nisqually and Puyallup reservations, introduced SHB 2080 after session in 2013. That move gave legislators time to read the bill and engage with it, allowing it to move rather quickly through the House and Senate.
“It is an excellent bill, it writes a wrong for so many,” said Sen. John McCoy, (D). He was one of the point people for the bill as it moved through the Senate.
The language of the bill is just as important as the bill itself. It is not a pardon. It is a new law allowing Treaty Indian fishermen, who were wrongfully arrested and charged, to clear their name through vacation and expunction. To vacate the conviction means it has been rendered void by the court. To expunge means to remove completely from the record. Those two terms, from a legal stand point, make these convictions as if they never occurred, as opposed to a pardon which acknowledges the crime and validates a conviction, yet forgives the crime and sets sentencing aside.
“A crime was never committed, they [the convictions] should be expunged,” said McCoy, referring to the imposition of state law over Treaty Indian fishing.
During the Fish Wars, the State of Washington filed injunctions to block Treaty Indian fisheries. Treaty Indian fisheries, which stem from treaties made with the United States, preempt state law, meaning the state had no authority over Treaty Indian fishing activities. The momentous Boldt Decision reaffirmed the treaties and the fact that the state had no authority to block Treaty Indian fisheries. In turn, that means the state had no jurisdiction to convict those participating in Treaty Indian fishing under state laws. Senate House Bill 2080 acknowledges that and makes a way for people who never should have been charged and convicted to clear their name.
McCoy noted, “This should have been done a long time ago.”
Through the passing of SHB 2080, the State of Washington realizes the sovereignty of tribes, acknowledging that they had no authority over what happened more than 40 years ago. This sets a precedent for Washington tribes, and for tribes across the nation.
Andrew Gobin is a reporter with the See-Yaht-Sub, a publication of the Tulalip Tribes Communications Department.
Email: agobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Phone: (360) 716.4188
March 5, 2014 syəcəb
Rainwater Management at Tulalip
Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources is hosting three workshops on rainwater management, beginning Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tulalip Heritage Hawks Regional Champions: Advance to State Championships in Spokane
By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
The WIAA Regional Championship game held at Everett Community College February 28th was the final qualifying game for the State Championships in Spokane. The Tulalip Heritage Hawks took the Regional Championship Title over the Wilbur-Creston Wildcats, with a final score of 81-64 Tulalip. This loser-out game advances the Hawks to State, where they will play the Neah Bay Red Devils.
The Tulalip Heritage Hawks have said all year that this was their year to return to state, and bring home the championship title from Spokane. In recent years, they have come close, losing to their rivals, the Lummi Blackhawks, stopping their dreams of taking state just short of the championships. The Hawks have had an incredible season, currently ranked second in the state class, with an overall 26 wins and one loss to rival Lummi Blackhawks earlier in the season. Heritage defeated Lummi three more times since, including one game for the District Championship.
On Thursday, March 6th, Tulalip Heritage Hawks will face the Neah Bay Red Devils for the first game of the State Championships in Spokane. Tulalip defeated Neah Bay at the Tri-District Championship game 68-66, so this first game will be an intense rematch.
Andrew Gobin is a reporter with the See-Yaht-Sub, a publication of the Tulalip Tribes Communications Department.
Email: agobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov
Phone: (360) 716.4188
Tulalip Wrestlers take 2nd and 3rd at State Championship
By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
Four wrestlers on the Marysville Pilchuck High School wrestling team that went to state are from Tulalip. Drew Hatch, Killian Page, Keith Pablo, and Austin Brown all did exceptionally well in getting to the state championship, with Page taking 2nd place in his weight class, and Hatch taking 3rd place in his.
Juniors Drew Hatch and Killian Page had an excellent season on the way to state. Undefeated, Hatch ranked second in his weight class going into the championships. Even though he was fighting a fever, he stepped on the mats, losing his second match, coming back winning 5 straight matches and taking third for the 170 weight class. Page went to state undefeated as well. Taking time to warm up and get focused, he was a force in the 160 weight class, remaining in the championship bracket until the final match, placing second after he lost the final match to the last year’s returning champion
Freshmen Keith Pablo and Austin Brown made it to state their first year on the team. Although Pablo lost his first two matches and was not able to continue, he took each match right to the end of the time limits, refusing to be pinned.
Brown had a rough season, according to his coaches. What brought him to state was his spectacular performance in districts and regionals. In his final match, although he lost, Brown flipped his opponent twice like it was nothing. He went on to the State Championship for the Marysville club team, taking first in Folk Style wrestling.
February 26, 2014 syəcəb
Hawks advance to Tri-District Championships after a smashing game against the Lions, winning 86-55.
By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News
The Tulalip Heritage Hawks continue to blaze through the district championships undefeated. Tonight’s intense game was an exhilarating win as the Hawks triumphed over the Shorewood Christian Lions 86-55, advancing on to the Tri-District Championship game next week.
By the end of the first quarter, the Hawks were already leading the Lions strong at 30-10, dominating the rest of the game staying ahead of the Lions by double the points. In the fourth quarter, the Lions started their assault on the Hawks, but could not get past their defense.
Dontae Jones – 4, Brandon Jones – 8, Bradley Fryberg – 9, Ayrik Miranda – 2, Trevor Fryberg – 3, Robert Miles Jr. – 19, Shawn Sanchey – 19, Keanu Hamilton – 20, Anthony McLean – 2.
Tulalip: 30, 22, 15, 19 Final 86
Shorewood: 10, 14, 14, 17 Final 55
Tri-District Game 2: Tulalip Hawks to play Shorewood Lions
The Tulalip Heritage Hawks will play Shorewood Christian Lions today at 3:00 p.m. at Mount Vernon Christian High School. This is the second tri-district game for district one 1B champions, the Heritage Hawks, who stand 23-1 for the season, undefeated in the post season, and are second seed for the 1B class ranking.
Catch live updates on Tulalip News Facebook page.