By Wade Sheldon; photos courtesy of Bibianna Ancheta
Time is ticking away as the 2025 Annual General Counsel meeting approaches at the Tulalip Resort Casino on April 12. Doors open at 7:00 am, and those who arrive early will enjoy delicious treats and fabulous art from six of Tulalip’s small businesses. Cool gift boxes featuring the 1855 treaty inside are provided to read while you explore the wonderful gifts selected by the BOD for 1,200 lucky tribal members.
Jams, smoked salmon, cedar clappers, sugar scrub, whale paintings, and handmade chapstick symbolize a life of sovereignty. The tribe works toward these goals: enabling tribal members to expand their livelihoods by crafting and shaping the lives they wish to lead. By flourishing through creativity, these artists showcase their unique crafts. You can experience the blessings of these small businesses by arriving early and casting your vote.
In our final segment on the GC gifts, we present Bibianna Ancheta and her rejuvenating chapstick. From a young age, Bibianna learned to use traditional and medicinal herbs to create healing salves and chapsticks. She has since dedicated herself to using this knowledge to produce natural, unique products that reflect her cultural teachings.
“Part of my teachings led me to more traditional herbs that are unique to our people, like Devil’s Club and nettles,” said Bibianna, an herbal science student at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. “Devil’s Club and nettles are only ethically harvested by native herbalists.”
“For the last two years, I have been trying to explain to people the great benefits of medicinal herbs,” she shared. “I’ve provided products that aren’t available anywhere else.”
Reflecting on receiving the GC gift order, Bibianna admitted, “I submitted my bid and didn’t think I would be chosen. It was a challenge. I had to use skills I don’t normally use, like math, to scale up my operation. It was a good experience to know I could accomplish such a big order, but I want to be more of an intimate herbalist who works closely with my people. Filling the order was challenging because I am a full-time student.”
Despite the difficulty, the experience was gratifying. “I am honored to get this opportunity. It’s like a reintroduction into my community with my education. It’s a different level of fulfilling.”
Looking ahead, Bibianna dreams of continuing her work within her community. “My dream is to return to my people through the Tulalip Health Clinic, get integrated through the wellness center, and hopefully make products for my people.”
When asked what she enjoys about creating chapsticks and other herbal products, Bibianna replied, “It’s so uniquely diverse and adaptable.” She finds joy in formulating different products and expresses, “It gives me a great sense of purpose, feeling like I am stepping into the medicine teachings that I have been receiving my whole life.”
Bibianna concluded, “I am grateful and humbled by this opportunity, and I look forward to returning to the community with all the knowledge I have picked up. I look forward to gathering our medicine for the people. It’s important to protect our medicine and help the people so we don’t have to rely on Western medicine or outside sources.”
If you want to buy some of Bibianna’s medicinal salves, chapstick, and other products, you can contact her on her Facebook at Bibianna Ancheta.
Michael E. Taylor, 81, of Camano Island, WA, passed away on February 17th, 2025, in Stanwood, WA. Born on January 14th, 1944, to Edwin and Ruth Ella Taylor in Sacramento, CA, Michael’s early years were shaped by the military lifestyle as his family moved from base to base across the country, although he spent the majority of his youth in Sacramento.
Michael met his beloved wife, Doris, during their high school years in Carlisle, PA, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. Their enduring love blossomed through letters exchanged nearly every day for seven years before they married in 1969. Together, they created a life filled with adventure, celebrating 64 years of marriage last June. They lived in various homes, including a floating residence on Lake Union in Seattle, an adobe house in Santa Fe, NM, and a cedar log house in rural Okanogan, WA, before settling in their waterfront home on Camano Island. Doris, who passed away in October 2024, was Michael’s steadfast partner throughout their journey. He is survived by their daughter Meghan and grandson Desmond, as well as the eight foreign exchange students they welcomed into their lives, who became part of their extended family.
After graduating high school, Michael pursued his passion for philosophy and earned a law degree from the University of California at Davis Law School as part of its inaugural graduating class. He entered the legal profession during a pivotal time, becoming one of the early advocates for tribal governments as an in-house attorney. For over 50 years, Michael applied his exceptional legal skills in support of the rights and sovereignty of Indian Nations and Tribes.
In his illustrious career, he represented the Quinault Nation in the landmark case, United States v. Washington (The Boldt Decision), successfully affirming and defending the treaty fishing rights of the tribe and establishing a precedent for tribal self-governance. His dedication led him to work with Pueblo Legal Services in New Mexico and later as General Counsel for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, where he played a significant role inprotecting tribal sovereign rights and managing critical litigation concerning reservation lands.
Moving across the Cascades, he served as General Counsel for the Tulalip Tribes, where he spearheaded economic development initiatives, including the creation of Quil Ceda Village, a vibrant commercial center that serves the Tulalip community. Even after retiring from his role as a Tribal attorney, Michael continued to share his wisdom and experience as a Tribal Court and Appellate Court judge.
Throughout his career, Michael was a champion for tribal members, tirelessly working to empower them to take leadership roles in the legal field. His legacy includes mentoring many who now serve as attorneys for tribes across Indian Country. Among many awards he received, was the Goldmark Award in 1993, recognizing his exceptional leadership in the quest for equal justice in Washington State.
Michael E. Taylor was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose impact on the legal rights of Native American people and the strength of tribal governance will be felt for generations. He held a lifelong enthusiasm for stringed instruments, particularly the banjo, spent much of his time hiking through the mountains, rollerblading on freshly laid pavement, and diligently contributed to his much prized woodpile. The collections of bottles, stamps, license plates, coins, and mismatched gloves rescued from the side of the road give a glimpse into his quirky personality. He now rests peacefully alongside his life partner, Doris, knowing that together they made the world a better place through their love and dedication to others.
A powerful and highly regarded traveling exhibit will make its final stop at the Hibulb Cultural Center gallery this summer. Touring for the past couple years, Portraits in RED has brought attention to the ongoing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Persons (MMIWP) crisis happening in America by featuring the paintings of Métis Nation artist, Nayana LaFond, at several museums across the nation.
Portraits in RED was initially set for its last viewing at a museum in Oregon, but after hearing how close LaFond’s works were to Tulalip, HCC reached out in hopes of bringing the exhibit here. LaFond started this project in 2020 during the pandemic and has painted close to 50 portraits of Indigenous women and men who were murdered or are still missing, their families and friends, as well as athletes, actors, and activists who have raised awareness for the cause.
Her artwork is a strong visual representation of the MMIWP movement and showcases each subject in black and white. The sole color on each canvas is red, which highlights a handprint painted across their face, which has become the national symbol for the movement and signifies that people are taking a stand for those who were silenced by the epidemic.
Over recent years, the movement has gained a bit of momentum throughout the country which resulted in May 5th becoming the National MMIWP Awareness Day. However, even with this progress, the epidemic continues to affect Tribal nations at an alarming rate. Currently, Indian Country is standing with the Apache Nation after news broke out of the murder and dismemberment of Emily Pike, a teenager whose body was found in trash bags last month. Not surprisingly, the coverage and reporting of this story has been minimal and the case has not received major headlines or garnered much support and outrage of Americans, like in similar cases of white females who have gone missing, such as Gabby Petito.
The epidemic has hit Tulalip hard as well. At the 2024 MMIWP gathering, it was revealed that 12 of the Tribes’ membership fell victim to this crisis: Cecil Lacy Jr., Anthony Kitsap Sam, Bridgette Simpson, Nina Mae Dell, Kyle Van Jones-Tran, Sophia Solomon, Hayleigh Jo McGhie, Jessica Christian Jones, Andrew M.L. Fryberg, Gina Blatchford, Jolene Leanne Flores, and Mary Davis Johnson. Last summer, a documentary titled Missing from Fire Trail Road was featured at film festivals across the country. The documentary was about the sudden disappearance of Mary Davis Johnson and her family’s quest for answers. If you have yet to see Missing from Fire Trail Road, it is currently streaming on Hulu.
HCC is planning to debut Portraits in RED at the end of June and will feature the exhibit through August. If you are reading this and your family has been impacted by the MMIWP crisis, the cultural center is asking that you take part in this exhibit and share your story to help raise awareness about your loved one’s case. As always, the HCC will incorporate local history and interactive displays. Those who visit the exhibit will get the chance to write a personal message to MMIWP victims on a dedicated wall of the gallery.
Said HCC Senior Curator, Emilie Miller, “I think with the documentary coming out, it started that conversation and put it on the forefront of a lot of people’s minds. With the exhibit being so close in Oregon, I think it all coincided and worked out really well to bring it here and bring even more awareness to it. We’ve seen more cases that have come out in the United States just recently. It’s still an ongoing problem. It’s still something that hasn’t been dealt with, and who knows what’s going to happen with the current administration, and so we just want to keep it on the forefront of people’s minds.”
Read more about Portraits in RED in the following HCC official press release. To share your story or for more information, please contact the museum at (360) 716-2600.
Hibulb Cultural Center Media Release
“Portraits in RED” by Nayana LaFond is a deeply personal and impactful art project that sheds light on the ongoing epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). This crisis disproportionately affects Indigenous communities across North America, with Indigenous women and girls being particularly vulnerable. Indigenous people are more than twice as likely to experience violent crime compared to non-Indigenous people, and Indigenous women and girls are especially at risk, being murdered or going missing at much higher rates than women from other demographics. For example, in the U.S., the National Crime Information Center reported over 5,700 cases of missing Indigenous women in 2016, though the actual number is believed to be much higher due to unreported or misclassified cases. The epidemic continues to be a significant issue, with ongoing calls for systemic change in how law enforcement and government agencies address the crisis.
Through a series of painted portraits, LaFond commemorates the lives of Indigenous individuals and families affected by this violence, offering a medium for remembrance, healing, and advocacy. The project, which has never profited from the artwork, focuses on returning the portraits to families in its final phase, allowing them to choose whether the artwork is kept, donated to institutions, or sold to raise funds for the families or a related charity.
“Portraits in RED” serves not only as a memorial but also as a call to action, drawing attention to the systemic violence and erasure faced by Indigenous communities while creating space for healing and solidarity. Through LaFond’s work, the exhibit offers a profound reminder of the resilience and importance of those whose stories have too often been overlooked.
Kanim Lee Taige Posey was born in Everett, WA on June 5, 1996. He was called home on March 18, 2025. He was a very proud Tulalip Tribal Member who exercised his Treaty Rights hunting, fishing, and shell fishing. He was a loving son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, friend and father to 5 beautiful children and one precious angel baby.
Kanim was an athlete. His hockey team placed 3rd in the Nation. He was an outstanding baseball catcher with a great arm that surprised people with his speed. He had quick enough reactions to save lives. He was a hard-working man just like his Papa, he exercised his Treaty Rights and defended them with passion. He loved the water and land, they were not just places he fished and hunted, but they were a part of him. He spent countless hours on Tulalip Bay, and in his U&A San Juan lands. He utilized his rights to provide for his family and community. Kanim was fiercely loving and loy
His legacy will live on in the waves he fished, the lands he hunted, and the people who loved him. Kanim was preceded in death by his son, Nicholas Posey; Brother, Keaden Posey; Great Great-Grandmother, Edith Percival Parks; Great-Grandma, Winona Cooper; Great Grandpa, Lloyd Posey; Grandpa, Lloyd “Grumpy” Grow; Uncle, Dwayne Posey; Great-Grandma, Elizabeth Posey; Aunt, Marilyn Posey; Great-Grandpa, Thomas Gobin; Cousins, Crystal Gobin, Teddy Orr, Dennis Boon and Derek Halstead.
Kanim is survived by his parents, Dana (Crystal) Posey, Nikki Thompson Posey; Sister, Katie Dire; Grandparents, Dean and Debra Posey, Rikki Kellog Grow; Aunts, Becky Posey, Kim Thompson, Brett (Bryan) Parker; Uncle, Tommy (Santana) Thompson; Special Cousins, Keani Posey, Joseph Hatch Jr. (Kiana), Tnessa (Hayden), Ratina (Josh), Teague Parker, Kenzie Thompson, Jayden Thompson, and too many more to be named; His children, AraBella Lee, Saleesta Dae, Kamila, Zeriah, and Khloe Posey.
An evening service will be held Friday, March 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Tulalip Gathering Hall. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 10 AM at the Gathering Hall with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
To all the kiddos on the reservation, get your baskets ready because the Easter Bunny will be making his return to Tulalip this spring! Local non-profit organization, Together We’re Better, is gearing up for its fifth consecutive Easter Bunny Run.
The Easter Bunny Run was inspired by the Tulalip Bay Fire Department’s annual Santa Run, where Santa visits children who live within the fire department’s district while simultaneously collecting canned goods for the local food bank. So naturally, Together We’re Better reached out to the fire department to see if they would like to participate in the Easter Run. Not only did they accept the invitation, but they also called upon the national fire fighter mascot, Sparky the Dalmatian, to join in on the fun.
The initial Easter Bunny Run in 2020 was such a smash amongst Tulalip families, Together We’re Better decided to make it a yearly tradition. And now, this is an event that community members look forward to every Easter.
The Easter Bunny will be joined by Sparky and a handful of volunteers from Together We’re Better and the Tulalip Bay Fire Department on April 19. Collectively, they will walk through a total of 10 Tulalip neighborhoods beginning at 11 am.
Below is a list of the neighborhoods they will visit and the approximate time they expect to arrive.
11:00 a.m. – Hermosa – at either the Dining Hall or Gathering Hall. Location TBD
11:20 a.m. – Mission Highlands
11:50 a.m. – Silver Village
12:20 p.m. – Church Site/Larry Price Loop Road
12:50 p.m. – Walter Moses Jr. Drive
1:10 p.m. – Battle Creek
1:40 p.m. – Y Site
2:00 p.m. – Village of Hope/Homeless Shelter
2:40 p.m. – Quil 1 & 2 (27th Ave)
3:15 – John Sam Lake
So as soon as you hear the sirens from the Tulalip Bay Fire Engine, be sure to run outside to greet the Easter Bunny. Kids don’t forget your Easter baskets. And parents don’t forget your cameras!
Following last year’s run, Together We’re Better’s Natosha Gobin shared, “The Together We’re Better events are so much fun to participate in because it is community driven. For the Easter Run, a lot of community members look forward to stuffing eggs, buying snacks, and doing whatever they can to help. It’s nice to take time and visit with the families and go to all the different developments. It feels so good to be with the community for a positive reason and to see how much this means to the families as a whole.”
If you are looking to get more involved with the community, Together We’re Better is always accepting donations, whether that is goods, funds, or your personal volunteered time. For more information, please contact Natosha Gobin at (425) 319-4416 or Malory Simpson at (425) 905-9137.
The six-gift box set being distributed to the first 1,200 tribal members who show up to vote at General Counsel on April 12 includes artist Jennifer Tracy’s orca paintings. The Board of Directors selected these unique gifts to showcase Tulalip tribal small businesses and each company’s art, crafts, and delicacies.
Tracy shared her passion for painting and expressed, “I have always been interested in painting, and in 2008, I started. It’s very calming and relaxing for me. Once you start, you can kind of get in a groove, and all the creativity takes over, and I never know what I will come up with.” This insight into her artistic process highlights the beauty of her work and the profound connection artists have with their craft, further enhancing the value of the gifts being presented to the tribal members.
She operates under the business name “Jen Tracy Art” and typically showcases her work at pow-wows and other community events. She mentioned that she discovered a call for local artists and found it exciting since she had never seen such an opportunity before. Tracy explained, “I saw that they were looking for more traditional Co-Salish designs, and I thought that was cool, so I decided to give it a shot. It was the most significant order I have ever had. It was a bit grueling fulfilling this order, but it was nice learning that I could fulfill an order this large for future reference.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming GC meeting, Tracy expressed her hopes for the new leadership, “I would like to see the education for our tribal youth enhanced so our kids have a foot up in the future. I would also like to see more business expansion. Who gets elected should be business-minded and tied to our culture and traditions. They should also have a progressive mindset and be able to take initiative.”
Finally, she concluded with optimism, saying, “I hope everyone enjoys the gifts. I look forward to seeing all the different submissions, and I hope people get inspired to help the local artists.”
If you want to purchase art from Jennifer, you can contact her on her Facebook at Jennifer Tracy.
As the 2025 Annual General Counsel Meeting countdown intensifies, a pivotal moment is on the horizon. There is an opportunity to elect two vital members for the Board of Directors (BOD). This meeting and election present a crucial chance for the tribal community to unite and express their views, ensuring that every voice counts, navigating challenges ahead, and selecting visionary leaders to uplift and inspire the community.
On April 12 at the Tulalip Resort Casino, the Tulalip Tribes will gather to determine who will join the leaders on the BOD. To enhance the experience, early arrivals who cast their votes will receive a gift box containing six unique items, carefully curated by the BOD and provided by tribal businesses.
We are excited to introduce culture bearer, Walter Moses in this segment of our six-part series. Walter has prepared unique gifts for this event—yellow cedar clappers that he has intricately carved and embellished with his art. These clappers symbolize sovereignty and the ability of Tulalip and other tribes to create and provide from the land.
Crafting 1,200 cedar clappers for the gift boxes, Walter utilized skills he developed from a young age. He learned to carve at age 11, studying under his father, the renowned Culture Bearer Kelly Moses. Walter states, “What I like most about creating is that it keeps me busy. I was taught as an artist that if you are good with your hands, you must always keep them busy. It makes me feel good, and knowing I can preserve the culture also makes me happy. It also relieves stress and is beneficial for creativity.”
He offers a wide range of artwork, from jewelry like earrings and bracelets to carved paddles and masks, as well as t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and sublimation prints. His designs have been featured in events such as Tulalip Youth Services Orange Shirt Day. He also has art installations at Starbucks in Seattle’s U-Village. In response to whether he has ever received an order this large, Walter remarked, “I’d say this is the largest order I have ever had. I didn’t think it would be this much, but I am always up for the challenge. I am using a killer whale and salmon design on yellow cedar.”
For those interested in purchasing his art, Walter said, “I usually vend during the holidays, and that is mainly how you can find me. I will also be at the Hibulb vending on March 29.” Walter said, “I’m thankful that the tribe has taken an interest in local artists, and for orders this large, it’s awesome. I like how they are reaching out and supporting us.”
The BOD selected six Tulalip artists and entrepreneurs to create handcrafted items for the gift boxes, highlighting their talent and cultural heritage. This initiative honors tradition and encourages future generations to preserve and share their artistry.
A Saturday night soiree brought together over 200 community members at Tulalip Resort Casino’s Orca Ballroom on March 15. Held on an annual basis, the Problem Gambling Awareness Month Dinner unites people in the name of healing while promoting recovery and celebrating individuals who attained sobriety from their gambling addiction.
Over the years, the gathering has evolved into an elegant event where the people spiffy up and enjoy dinner and a comedy show, all while learning about the dangers of habitual gaming. In its infancy, the dinner garnered around 50 participants and was held in the halls of the Hibulb Cultural Center. The fact that the event has quadrupled in attendance speaks volumes of the positive impact that the Tulalip Problem Gambling has made on the reservation, as more and more people are seeking aid, and the local recovery community continues to grow.
For the past decade, the Tulalip Problem Gambling program has actively participated in a nationwide initiative known as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Taking place every March, during the season of bracket clashing known as March Madness, the Problem Gambling program raises awareness about the compulsive gambling disease by hosting fun, engaging, informative, and impactful gatherings in the community throughout the awareness month.
The perilous and often silent habit affects the Native American community at a much higher rate than other ethnicities. A 2019 study by the National Institute on Alcohol and Related Conditions showed that 2.3% of the Indigenous population in America are battling a gambling addiction.
Though heavily focused on problem gambling, the event also celebrates those who are in active recovery for alcohol and substance abuse. Many of those individuals show up to support their loved ones who are recovering from a gambling addiction, only to find out that they also get the chance to celebrate their own hard work of getting clean. No matter the vice, it’s just as important to receive love as it is to show love to others.
The event opened with a traditional prayer and story by Natosha Gobin, Thomas Williams, and their daughter, Lizzie Mae. This year, two individuals shared their personal testimonies at the dinner, Jeff and Joanne. Each spoke of how their gambling addiction abruptly took over their lives, and the strain it consequently put on their friends and family. They talked about hitting rock bottom, Jeff’s happened when he was denied a kidney transplant, and that moment for Joanne occurred when she was facing assault charges. Both Jeff and Joanne were given a second chance and were presented with the option to attend counseling for compulsive gambling, to turn their situations around. Thanks to the Tulalip Problem Gambling program, Jeff and Joanne were able to start their journey to recovery; Jeff received his transplant and Joanne’s charges were dropped. After they each shared their story, the Tulalip Youth Council blanketed them with Eighth Generation wool blankets for their accomplishments, and also for bravely speaking about the challenges they faced and how they overcame.
In Native America, part of the healing journey is laughter. It is one of the best medicines, no doubt. And to be surrounded by the hearty chuckles of uncles and the cackling laughter of aunties is a healing experience in itself. Which is why the Problem Gambling Program is sure to enlist hilarious acts year after year.
At this year’s dinner, Native Comedian, Vaughn Eaglebear served as the event emcee. While keeping the schedule on a smooth run, Vaughn got a few jokes in and even asked the house drum, the 206 singers, to join in while he sang John Wayne’s Teeth, a song he famously wrote for the movie Smoke Signals.
The keynote speaker was JR Redwater. JR is an OG in NDN comedy and was one of the first Indigenous Stand Ups to achieve national acclaim. JR’s 45-minute set was rated R for rezzy and raunchy as he had the crowd in stitches with his Native humor, a specific brand of comedy that many tribal members can relate to.
The evening concluded with what has now become a yearly tradition at the Problem Gambling Awareness Dinner – the recovery countdown. Vaughn started the countdown at 50 years clean. He asked each person in active recovery to stand when he called out the amount years of sobriety they attained. More than 50 people proudly stood and were cheered on during the recovery countdown, an inspiring, heartwarming, and beautiful sight to see.
Following another successful event, the Tulalip Problem Gambling program coordinator, Sarah Sense Wilson, shared, “This year felt spectacular. Electricity was in the air. I think that having the combination of Vaughn, and his comedy routine buddy JR, flowed really well. We had such good attendance. The Tulalip recovery community has been growing and growing. This event isn’t just well attended because of the speakers, it’s well attended because there is a movement of recovery happening in Tulalip. It’s amazing. And I am proud to be, in some small way, a part of that movement. Tonight, we also had people from Lummi, Swinomish, the Everett Recovery Café here joining together and celebrating recovery. Without the support from the team at Tulalip Family Services, and the Tribal Council, this wouldn’t happen. I give big credit to all of them for making this possible.”
If you or someone you love is suffering from a gambling addiction, please contact (360) 716-4304. Below, you will find more information about the compulsive gambling disorder, submitted by Sarah Sense Wilson.
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Problem Gambling Awareness
By Sarah Sense Wilson
Informed decisions make you a winner. Healthy choices ensure your wellbeing and strengthens your family and community. Our future depends on the choices you make today.
Types of Gambling
Video Game Betting/Skins or Treasure Troves
Slahal/Stick games
Sports Betting
Bingo
Scratch Tickets
50/50
Dice
Internet Gambling
Raffles
Gambling Facts
Our Problem Gambling Program is about reclaiming health, wellness, and relationships.
Tulalip Problem Gambling Program is free treatment, referrals, counseling, groups, and family therapy.
Tulalip Tribes Problem Gambling Program is comprehensive, culturally responsive and designed to be tailored for each person seeking support.
Problem Gambling is also referred to as Gambling Disorder, Compulsive Gambling, Addictive Gambling, and Pathological Gambling, or People experiencing Gambling Problems.
Data: 1-3% of Washingtonians are classified as Problem Gamblers.
We could fill the Seahawks Stadium (Lumen Field) to capacity 4x to fit all problem gamblers in our state.
Up to 92% of problem gamblers experience suicidal ideation, and up to 40% attempt suicide.
Sadly, only one 1-in-10 problem gamblers seek professional help.
