Tulalip News

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

With students spilling out onto grassy quads and Boston’s Charles River bustling with rowers, Tulalip Tribal Councilmember Theresa Sheldon walked across the storied campus of Harvard Business School. For one week, she joined tribal leaders from across Indian Country for an intensive program designed to strengthen leadership skills and expand the tools available to Native governments.

Harvard’s Tribal Leaders Program is a premier executive education course tailored for tribal officials navigating the complex world of governance, sovereignty, and nation building. Theresa was one of more than 80 participants who spent six days immersed in case studies, lectures, and discussions inside the ivy-covered walls of one of the world’s most influential academic institutions.

Education has always been important to the now 47-year-old Theresa. Although she graduated college in 2005 with a pre-law degree, as a self-described lifelong learner she has sought out broadening her skill set and adding knowledge wherever possible. This latest educational experience, at prestigious Harvard of all places, was an opportunity to grow as a leader and bring innovative knowledge back to Tulalip. 

“The biggest take away was learning about executive leadership from an international viewpoint as it helped me step outside the box,” she shared. “Many times, as an elected official you feel overwhelmed when you do not know an answer to something complex. This program helped teach you steps and processes for finding solutions that may seem unattainable.”

The course used real-world case studies of corporations and governments pushed to their limits, including some that rose to the challenge and others that failed. These examples, Theresa said, revealed the full spectrum of outcomes and offered insight into decision-making under pressure.

“Some did well, and others did horrible,” she said. “Being able to learn from the good and bad helps you to think creatively when under stress.”

Outside of the classroom, the Harvard campus became a hub of exchange and camaraderie. During long lunches under shady trees and lively dinners in the dining hall, Theresa and her peers dug into the unique complexities of their own tribal governance systems.

“The program had over 80 tribal officials and so we spent our lunches and dinners together on campus going over our own complex government systems and discussing how to govern in a more holistic manner,” she said. “It was really encouraging to be in a setting with nerds who wanted to learn and find better ways of leading.”

Those “nerds,” as Theresa affectionately called them, represented the heart of what made the experience so meaningful. A true gathering of Native leaders deeply committed to the hard work of self-determination and strengthening their communities.

For Theresa, the week reaffirmed her conviction that learning is not just for students in classrooms, rather learning is a right and worthy pursuit for every Tulalip citizen, regardless of age.

“The real highlight for me is if someone has an opportunity to learn a new skill, to take it, as we are lifelong learners,” she reflected. “Keep supporting our college students who are away from home learning new skills so they can bring it home and help their nation excel. True nation building is when we grow our people so they may contribute to the whole nation excelling together. Focusing on nation building also shouldn’t be limited to just today, but go well the future as we consider the generations yet to come.”

Secretary Sheldon’s participation and completion of Harvard’s Tribal Leaders Program is an investment in leadership and education. In addition, it’s a reminder that when tribal leaders strengthen their own skillsets, they also expand opportunities for their entire tribe and local community.

Theresa described her time in Boston as both humbling and energizing. Walking through Harvard’s historic lecture halls, she carried with her the responsibility of representing Tulalip, the voices of her community, and the aspirations of generations yet to come.

Now back home, she’s determined to translate the lessons learned into practical strategies that can help Tulalip navigate challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.

“I see this as part of the bigger picture,” she explained. “We are all tasked with building up our nation. By investing in ourselves as leaders, we’re also investing in the future of Tulalip. That is what true nation building is all about.”

The week at Harvard may have been brief for Theresa, but the knowledge, connections, and vision gained are already being woven into Tulalip’s ongoing journey of sovereignty and self-determination.

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News  

Warm embraces, soft songs, and tearful smiles filled the Gathering Hall as Tulalip came together in a powerful act of healing and homecoming. On Tuesday, October 7, community members gathered for the first ceremony of Season of Healing 2.0, guided by Sandy White Hawk, founder of the First Nations Repatriation Institute. Through the Welcoming Circle, those who had been abused, neglected, taken away, or simply finding their way back were greeted with open arms, wrapped in blankets, and surrounded by love. 

The evening was led by Tulalip tribal member Tony Hatch, whose calm presence and thoughtful words guided the flow of the night. It began with a salmon dinner and healing teas, setting the tone for reflection and connection. Deep, heartfelt words were shared by local tribal members, each speaking from places of love, pain, and hope. One of the most touching moments came during the Welcome Home Circle, when community members came forward to wrap blankets around those being honored. As each individual was embraced, smiles began to break through, expressing relief, belonging, and acceptance that filled the room with emotion.

Tony spoke about the importance of cultural strength and carrying forward the teachings that once faced erasure. “It always makes us feel good when our young people get up and speak, especially when they speak our traditional language,” he said. “Those things were once punished, but our elders persevered. Because of them, our traditions and identity are still here, and they will continue for the next seven generations.”

Following the welcome and meal, Sandy White Hawk, a Sicangu Lakota woman and head elder of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS), shared a heartfelt message about reconnection, language, and the power of returning home. “I was adopted out when I was 18 months old,” she said. “It took me many years to find my family again, so much fear, so much worry about rejection, but when I finally made it home, I realized my mother had always been there. The land itself was hers.”

Sandy spoke about how healing begins when Indigenous people reclaim their language, culture, and place within their communities. “Our languages are healing,” she explained. “When I say, ‘I greet you with a good heart,’ I can’t say it unless I truly have a good heart.” She encouraged everyone to take pride in their roots, to speak their language without fear, and to remember that correction from elders is an act of love. “If someone corrects you, it’s because they care for you,” she said. “They don’t want you to be hurt again.”

Reflecting on the purpose of the Season of Healing ceremonies, Sandy emphasized that every community must shape healing in its own way. “Every nation must make it their own circle, with your own songs, your own words, your own way of welcoming people home,” she said. “That’s where the true healing lives.”

Among the voices that evening was Tulalip tribal member Linda Jones, who shared her own powerful story of survival, resilience, and healing. Taken from her parents at the age of seven, Linda spoke about the lasting pain of being raised in foster care and learning to carry that trauma into adulthood. “When children are taken from their parents, we think it’s our fault,” she said. “We start to believe we’re unlovable.” After years of struggle, Linda found her way back to community and herself. “This is a different experience for me,” she said. “In my healing journey, it’s the first time in a long time that I feel like I belong.” 

Now four years sober, she spoke of building a new legacy of strength and presence for her family. “Every one of you is essential to the well-being of our community,” she said. “When you’re not in the circle, there isn’t anybody who can take your place.”

Another deeply moving moment came from Tulalip tribal member Princess Jones, who shared her journey of loss, survival, and rediscovery. Taken from her biological family at the age of five, Princess grew up in foster care, carrying wounds that followed her into adulthood. “When I came back, I was welcomed with open arms,” she said. “There was so much love, so many new faces, but it was overwhelming. I wasn’t comfortable with human touch. I felt like an outsider, and even now, I still struggle with that feeling.”

Her healing began when she reconnected with Tulalip’s teachings and Lushootseed language. “Something started to change when I was hired as a Lushootseed Warrior,” she said. “Reconnecting with our language and understanding the values our ancestors carried, that’s where I began to feel healing in my spirit and soul.” After decades of addiction and pain, Princess shared that reconnecting to her culture gave her purpose. “Now I hear our ancestors. I see them. I know the reason I made it back home is because they were watching over me, protecting me, and guiding me.”

Her message carried the heart of Season of Healing: “If we truly want to welcome our people home, we have to do more than open our arms,” she said. “We need to listen. We need to understand that some of us are coming back with wounds that don’t heal easily. Have patience and never give up. Be the light that we need when darkness consumes us.”

As the evening came to a close, Sandy White Hawk reminded everyone that healing is not a single event, but a lifelong journey, one strengthened by community, laughter, and love. For those wanting to continue their own journey of understanding, her book “A Child of the Indian Race: A Story of Return” offers a powerful look into her life and the broader movement of Indigenous reclamation and healing.

The next Season of Healing 2.0 gathering will take place on Monday, November 4, at the Tulalip Gathering Hall, focusing on “Honoring Our Elders.” The event will begin with a community lunch featuring James LaBelle Sr., Second Vice President of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, and his wife, Susan LaBelle, followed by a ceremonial dinner and an evening of reflection.

Through each gathering, Tulalip continues to show that healing is not only possible, it’s happening here, together, one circle at a time.

By Kalvin Valdillez

Two Tulalip tribal members are going toe-to-toe this election day as they fight for a seat on the Marysville School District Board of Directors. Malory Simpson and Ray Sheldon Jr. are both well-respected leaders in the community of Tulalip and hope to earn your vote this November 4.

This is a historic moment in the fact that two Tribal members are on the ballot for the first time and are facing off against each other for this seat. This is important to note because District 1’s service area covers the majority of the Tulalip reservation.

Most recently, this seat was held for nearly a full term by non-tribal member, Connor Krebbs. Prior to that, Chris Nations, also non-tribal, served in this position for twelve years. The last time the seat was occupied by a Tulalip tribal member was in the early aughts by Don ‘Penoke’ Hatch. That is, of course, not including the past five months in which Malory has served District 1 in an interim role after Krebbs resigned from the position at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. 

Now, although the headline of this article reads like a marquee on fight night, Malory and Ray have shown nothing but respect for one another. And the real winners, no matter the result from Election Day, are Tulalip and its future leaders as they are guaranteed to have someone in this position for the next four years who has their kiddo’s best interests in mind and will advocate for tribal students throughout their term. 

Malory is currently the Director of the Tribe’s Legacy of Healing and the Children’s Advocacy Center. Over the past decade, she has built up her community-focused nonprofit organization, Together We’re Better, and has created fan favorite events such as the annual Easter Bunny Run and Halloween time’s Trunk or Treat. 

Once she earned her degree from NWIC, she immediately began putting everything she learned into play and started pouring it back into her community. Malory is also a product of the Marysville School District, as are her children, three of whom have recently graduated and one who is just starting her high school journey. She comes from a long line of educators and served as a student advocate for a number of years at Quil Ceda Tulalip, where her eldest daughter is currently in her first-year teaching at the elementary. 

After being sworn-in as Interim Director of District 1 in July, Malory shared, “It’s vital to have Tulalip representation, not only to support our students and community, but to show that anything is possible when we uplift one another. Our presence sends a message: we stand together, and we show up for each other. This means everything to me. Who are we without our families, our friends, and the communities that shape us? These are the people who guide, challenge, and nurture us—whether through joy or adversity, each experience becomes a powerful lesson.”

She continued, “I’m eager to embrace growth and tackle new challenges. Stagnation isn’t in my nature—I thrive on progress and forward momentum. My goal is to join a team committed to driving meaningful change and working collaboratively for the betterment of the district. After being sworn in, it was straight to business—our meeting kicked off and we hit the ground running. The energy was good, the conversations were meaningful, and it felt right. I’m genuinely excited to be part of this team.”

Ray’s name has been on the ballot for the District 1 seat over the past several four-year terms. Although he has yet to be elected to the position, his dedication to tribal students has never wavered. And through his actions, like showing up at nearly every MSD Board meeting, Ray has been able to use his voice to advocate for students of color and students living with special needs. 

Ray initially began running for the MSD Board because he was encouraged to pick up where Penoke left off. Endorsed by Penoke himself, Ray was determined to get on the board in 2017 and really take a look at the budget and make any necessary changes to ensure that the needs of tribal kids and students with disabilities were being met. This was prior to the recent budget fiasco and financial woes that have plagued the school board over the past couple of years. He was also an advocate of the 2020 levy that would’ve prevented the closure of four MSD schools and the relocation of hundreds of students. 

You might know Ray from his work with his daughter’s nonprofit organization, Leah’s Dream Foundation. Leah’s Dream puts on monthly gatherings for MSD’s special needs students, to help the kiddos build community and have a safe space to be themselves without any judgment. Like Malory, Ray is also a product of MSD, as are both his daughters and his grandkids. Ray is also quick to lend a hand and show his support for Marysville Getchell’s Native American and Friends Club, an inclusive program that is led by his daughter, Amy. 

Said Ray, “I’m an advocate for special needs and the kids that need care because I have four grandkids who are categorized as special needs. I think we need to help those special needs children and spend more time with them. Special needs doesn’t necessarily mean they’re stuck in a wheelchair, special needs are also the kids who have trouble reading or with dialect or anything else. I think there really needs to be change with special needs education. It’s not just tribal children, it’s non-tribal too. We need representation for these children.

“Our future is really important. It’s important to have our children educated,” he expressed. “It will be a better community, and they’ll be great parents – that’s the whole dream. They can do it; they just need someone to make them understand that they can do it. We can make a positive change for our students now. This is exciting and enjoyable for me and I’m really hoping to get in. But if it doesn’t happen, I’ll still be here. I’ll be fighting for our students for a long time.” 

You should be receiving your ballot and voter’s guide in the mail soon. The Tribe will be hosting a ballot party in room 162 of the Admin building on November 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where you can register to vote, cast your vote, enjoy a snack, and enter a raffle. If you cannot attend the ballot party, be sure to drop your vote in the ballot box at the Teen Center campus by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. 

To follow Ray’s campaign, please be sure to join his Facebook group, Ray Sheldon Jr. for MSD 25 District 1. 

And for more information about Malory’s campaign run, give her Facebook page, Malory Simpson for Marysville School Board, Director 1, a follow. You can also visit her website, www.electmalorysimpson.com for additional details.