Ryan’s REZ-ipes named King 5 ‘Best Food Truck 2022’

By Kalvin Valdillez; photos courtesy of Ryan Gobin. 

It was nothing but love in the comment section of Ryan’s REZ-ipes’ most recent Facebook posts. While some fondly recollected about Ryan Gobin’s early beginnings inside the blue concession trailer in front of Tulalip Bay CrossFit gym, others listed their favorite dishes by one of the most in-demand food trucks and catering services in the Pacific Northwest. “I need me a shrimp n’ steak rice bowl,” said Magdelina Spencer. Jim and Rhenee Florian commented, “We were just there and had your nacho cheese smash burgers, kalbi burrito, fries and cinnamon sugary frybread. SO Good!”. And Melissa Peacock simply shared, “Those smash burgers… heaven!”

Among the hundreds of congratulatory comments, perhaps the most heartfelt came from some of Ryan’s fellow Tulalip community members who beamed with pride about his rise to fame in the food industry. Samantha Rose stated, “So great watching your growth! Great job Ryan!”. “Congratulations! It’s a blessing watching your journey. Keep growing your dreams,” encouraged Sunshine Jess. Elena Wilson, who also cooks on the 2022 Best Food Truck, shared, “Congratulations for all your hard work and dedication to loving the food you serve. [It] means a lot to everyone who shows up to the truck. You earned it, you the best.”

After years of service to his community as a Tulalip Police Officer, Ryan made the courageous decision to follow his lifetime passion in 2016 – a passion that was developed in his adolescent years and inspired by all the cooks within his very own family. After soaking up all the knowledge his family could offer in the art of cuisine, he began experimenting and creating his own recipes. Today, Ryan has thousands of devoted followers hailing from all across the country who love his unique and tasty dishes. 

“I am forever grateful and deeply appreciative for all the support I’ve been given by my family and friends from our Tulalip community for supporting me in my food truck journey,” Ryan shared. “I was recently nominated by King 5 Evening News as the number one food truck in Western Washington. It’s a huge achievement for me, because I’ve worked very hard over the past five years to get where I am today, and I never let anything stop me.”

Now don’t get it twisted, Ryan’s food could easily speak for itself – it is that delicious. However, he has worked his ass off ever since he decided to start his culinary endeavor, not only in the kitchen but on the business end as well. Over the years he went from a local trailer to an upgraded sleek blue food truck that travels around western Washington serving up the likes of frybread, truffle fries, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, the ever-popular smash burgers, shrimp bowls and a variety of weekly specials and experimental dishes. In addition to investing in a new truck and cultivating a strong following, Ryan has also expanded his services to include catering for large parties to enjoy his food. He has also worked numerous corporate events, baby showers, weddings, and other gatherings. 

Said Ryan, “There have been many hurdles, failures, and lots of sacrifices over the years, but I kept pushing forward in a good way with passion and drive to show my kids and others that you can really do anything you put your mind to. The way I see it is this – if you give up because it gets difficult, it’ll never be a success. Never give up!”

The Tulalip chef and entrepreneur serves as an inspiration to many, and he is quick to share his success and guidance with those on the same career path. He humbly expressed, “To me, other food trucks or other food vendors are not my competition. We are all attempting to achieve the same goals – creating amazing foods and making others happy when they eat it, and also supporting our families at the same time. We should all support and help one another. Recently, I had the food truck at the Tulalip Amphitheater for the Lights and Ice Festival, that was such a beautifully set up event full of Tulalip tribal food vendors and everyone supported one another as a big family. That’s what it’s all about! It was all love and warmth together.”

To get an idea of how amazing it is to receive recognition from King 5’s Best in Western Washington Awards, Ryan joins the likes of PNW heavy hitters such as the best taco award winner, Taco Time, and the best burger award winner Dick’s Drive-In. If you have yet to experience the mouth-watering food at Ryan’s REZ-ipes, be sure to follow his Facebook and Instagram pages for the most up-to-date menu items and all the locations that they plan to visit.  

After winning the Best Food Truck of 2022 award, Ryan took to Facebook and shared, “This just goes to show how far you can get when you have an amazing support system at home, have a great team through the years, and never give up! Cheers to many more years of progress and expansions!”

Congratulations to Ryan and the entire Ryan’s REZ-ipes crew. We are excited to see what’s next up on the menu for his tribal member-owned business.

A future for unhoused tribal members

By Shaelyn Smead, Tulalip News

On December 19, Tulalip Tribes hosted the ribbon cutting and blessing for the newly built extension of Village of Hope. The intimate community consists of 17 one- and two-bedroom tiny homes created as permanent residences for unhoused tribal members. Of the 17 tiny houses, seven residents moved in before Christmas, and the other ten are moving in this new year. 

The Village of Hope’s extension project was created in 2018 and overseen by the Executive Director of tribal Services, Teri Nelson. It is the first permanent housing available for unhoused tribal members. Compared to the temporary transitional housing that Tulalip has, tenants can stay for as long as they need if they follow the community requirements and their case manager’s expectations.

Teri said, “I’ve been to many conferences and serve on Snohomish County Partnership to End Homelessness as the tribal government board member. Permanent housing has been proven to be more successful than transitional housing. They [residents] don’t have the stressor of the ticking clock, counting down to the moment when they have to move out. Whatever barriers they face, like credit issues, claiming an address, seeking employment, obtaining a driver’s license, etc., they have as much time as they need to accomplish it and better focus on their goals.” 

The project was submitted to the Board of Directors in 2019, where they quickly approved the concept.  The initiative was shaped more definitively after a stakeholder survey was sent out to community members in 2020. After seeing the high demand for shelters and concerns about chemical dependency, an examination of Snohomish County’s statistics for unhoused people was also taken into consideration. All these helped assess the number of homes needed and the specific needs the Village would strive to provide. 

The parcel for the Village was chosen based on its proximity to Behavioral Health, medical care, child care, and other support services that the residents would utilize later on. After seeing the progress with tiny homes and pallet shelters for unhoused communities in various rural areas, it was decided that this would be the route for Village of Hope. 

For a project initiated in 2018, the Village of Hope had obstacles to overcome. Due to various landscaping and covid-related complications, the project took much longer than anticipated. Tulalip’s primary source of income from the casinos took a hit during the pandemic, making the project’s financial status questionable. Inflation was starting to affect supply costs, and the demand for help increased. Ultimately after putting out bids in 2021, native-owned Reece Construction won and began to build. To help finance this project, the Village of Hope received funding from the Tulalip Foundation, the state Department of Commerce, and tribal government.  

Covid-19 regulations during that time also affected the design and structure of the homes. The initial goal was to have a kitchen within the community building for tenants to use, but with extremely limited gatherings allowed, the plan no longer seemed feasible. The designs for the homes were quickly changed to include kitchenettes for each home.

In the hopes of Covid-19 lifting, the Village of Hope built a community building where tenants can gather, do their laundry, utilize the computer work center, partake in cultural practices, and break bread.

In addition, the Village of Hope wanted its tenants to start on the right foot. The units were set to be fully furnished and include household items like pots, pans, bedding, dinnerware, etc. Each tenant has access to tribal resources, such as medical care, behavioral health care, employment training, counseling services, cultural services, education, vocational training, and more.

The Village had approximately 27 applicants, but the 17 residents chosen were based on the severity of their situations. Each tenant was also designated a case manager to help them set and achieve their goals, ensure they’re following community guidelines, and set them up for success. As each tenant’s case is unique, so are specific requirements.

Teri said that the potential tenants worked closely with tribal staff to help create the community guidelines. “We wanted to create a sense of agency. They’re the ones that are going to have to work at it every day, and if they don’t feel like they have a voice in it, then it might make accomplishing their goals more difficult. We wanted to empower them to build their community and support each other,” She said.

Overall, to apply for the Village’s permanent housing and maintain their residency, they must obey the curfew, the tenants must remain sober, they must meet a specific financial status, have an enrolled tribal member living within the unit, and have zero history of sexual crimes/offenses.

With an understanding of the demand to help tribal homelessness, plans are already being set to build additional housing and accommodate tribal members struggling. 

Board Secretary Debra Posey was at the ribbon cutting and spoke fondly about the efforts made toward the Village. “This is what a tribe does. A tribe is about its people and the well-being of its members, and I’m grateful that our people have this opportunity to get out of the cold and start something new. My hands go up to the people who made this possible and the people moving in and beginning their journey. May they finally have some comfort,” Deborah said. 

As the moving day came for some tenants, they were overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotion, with some even comparing the experience to the television show Extreme Makeover. Teri noted, “The world is changing so quickly, and some people could be only two paychecks away from losing their home. And that is exactly what happened to some of these people. Homelessness isn’t an identity, it’s people that are experiencing homelessness.”

If you or someone you know require tribal transitional housing, don’t hesitate to get in touch with dparks@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to see if you qualify. 

Lena Arlet Jones

OCTOBER 4, 1957 – DECEMBER 26, 2022

Lena Arlet Jones born on October 4, 1957 in Arlington, Washington to Kenneth Moses Sr. and Theresa (Joseph) Moses passed away on December 26, 2022 surrounded by family. Lena, a Tulalip tribal member, respected and honored her Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, Duwamish, Cowichan, Saanich, and Malahat ancestry.

Lena graduated Darrington High School in 1975, where she held the record as the fastest typist and shorthand transcriber. Lena attended Seattle University shortly after high school and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from Antioch University in 1998. She received her Master of Arts in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix in 2005.

Lena started working when she was 13 years old at berry farms. Lena dedicated over 31 years of her life to working for The Tulalip Tribes in Natural Resources, bədaʔčəɬ, the Legal Department, and at the Hibulb Cultural Center. Lena loved working as the Education Curator for Hibulb, where she helped coordinate the film festival, lecture series, workshops, and lesson plans. Lena loved to be a part of the quilting group that annually make Veterans quilts to honor and respect the Tulalip service men and women. 

Lena loved and cared for her sisters and brothers. Often recalled as the most caring person while watching over her siblings growing up. As a sister and aunt, every Christmas, she ensured that all of her siblings, nieces and nephews got gifts. She also provided whatever support she could to the family, whether it be finding them work, donating her time or money to their causes, and sharing her knowledge, teachings, and gifts with the culture and spirituality of our people in the United States and Canada. 

Lena raised four children and has nine wonderful grandchildren who were her world. 

Lena is survived by her children, Monique (Moses) & George Jones (son in-law), Kyle Moses, Derek Jones & Christine Ann Jones (daughter in-law), Aaron Jones & Brit Reed; her grandchildren Eilidh Fleek, Sorcha Fleek, George Jones Jr., Kenneth Jones, Walter Jones, Stomper Jones, Artie and Selena Jones (twins), and Mikel Jones; her siblings Russell Moses (Judy), Lyle Moses, Marcia (Moses) Horne (Manual), Susan Moses, Myra (Moses) Hudson (Hoss); her loved nieces and nephews.

Lena is preceded in death by her parents, Kenny Moses Sr. & Theresa (Joseph) Moses; her grandparents, Peter & Selena Joseph, Edward & Helen (Pierce) Moses; her siblings, Kenneth Moses Jr. & Carolyn (Grenier) Moses, Dolly (Moses) Iukes, and Gladys Moses. 

Lena goes on to join our ancestors.

An evening service will be held Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the Tulalip Gathering Hall. A celebration of her life will be held Sat. Dec. 31, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Tulalip Gathering Hall with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.

In the care of Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home

Hayleigh Jo McGhie

Hayleigh Jo (JoJo) McGhie, 17, passed away on December 8, 2022 at Everett Providence Hospital.
Hayleigh was born in Everett, WA on June 22, 2005 to Brett McGhie and Corrina Gobin. 
Throughout her life, Hayleigh enjoyed numerous hobbies which included being a member of the 4H club where she proudly participated in showing dogs and horses. Arts and Crafts with her mother, while listening to their favorite music was another one of her cherished past times. She loved the outdoors; riding and racing quads alongside her father, standing by a bonfire and camping at fish lake will always be memories her family will treasure. Hayleigh attended Arlington High School and looked forward to walking alongside her graduating class of 2023. She was referred to as a sister to many of her friends and offered a sense of family for many youth in need. JoJo was full of life and love, she will be deeply missed by all of her family. At the end of her journey with us, our precious Hayleigh Jo was able to give the gift of life to numerous others through organ donation.
Hayleigh Jo leaves behind her Mother Corrina Gobin, Father Brett McGhie (Dana), Special Guardian Jerry Jones, Sisters – Keely (Taylor), Mykalee, Jaxsyn, Shelby and Taylor (Branden), Brother – Charlie, Great-Grandma Bev, Grandma Donna (Jerry), Papa Steve, Grandpa Kyle (Michelle), Uncles – Kit, Michael (Nicole) and Kyle (Angela) , Aunts – Krisan (Ross), Lori (John), Stacey, Special Auntie/Cousins – Rebecca, Samantha and Cidney, Nephews – Charles, Hank, Brett, Miles and Jr. Nieces – Beverly and Marilyn. She also leaves behind numerous family members that were dear to her heart; but far too many to list. 
She is preceded in death by her Great-Grandpa Tom, Great-Grandma Jo, Grandma Wendy and Uncle Kenny.

Services for Hayleigh will be Friday, December 23, 2022 at 10:00am at the Tulalip Gathering Hall, 7512 Totem Beach Road, Tulalip, WA. Immediately following, Hayleigh will be laid to rest at Mission Beach Cemetery in Tulalip, WA. 

Mary Jo James

Mary Jo James born December 19, 1944 in Everett, WA to Monacella and Leroy Henry passed away December 12, 2022 surrounded by family in her home. She graduated from Marysville Pilchuck High School in 1963. After high school she participated in a relocation program beauty school at Mr. Lee’s Beauty School in Vancouver, WA. She came home to marry her high school sweetheart Leonard James, with whom she had four children, Hanford, Jana, Lisa and Derek. Mary Jo was a homemaker, Tulalip Entertainment Center Session Supervisor/Manager and employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She is preceded in death by her parents, Monacella and Leroy Henry, sisters Loretta James, Donna Cooper, Patricia Cheer, Elizabeth Henry, brothers Woodworth (Bunny) Henry, Patrick Henry, Oliver Henry, Morrie Henry, Hanford Henry, Duane Henry children Hanford James and Derek James. Survived by brother Leroy Henry, sister Annette Napeahi, children Jana Nordahl and Lisa James-Rodriguez, numerous grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.


A funeral service for Mary Jo will be held Monday, December 19, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Tulalip Gathering Hall, 7512 Totem Beach Road, Tulalip, WA 98271. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Mission Beach Cemetery, Mission Beach Road, Tulalip, WA 98271. December 12, 2022

Tulalip Bay Fire brings holiday cheer while raising donations

By Shaelyn Smead, Tulalip News

On December 9-10, the Tulalip Bay Fire Department hosted its annual Santa Run. The department helped spread holiday cheer while collecting non-perishable foods and monetary donations to support the food bank at the Tulalip Church of God.

All around Tulalip, people could hear a mix of sirens, Christmas music, and a jolly, “Ho Ho Ho” from honorary guest, Santa! A firetruck covered in lights and candy canes led the Fire Department parade, as five more trucks and engines followed shortly behind. Families rushed from their houses and stood anxiously by the edge of the road, anticipating their arrival. Children grinned from ear to ear as they ran up to Santa and announced their Christmas wishes. Ole Saint Nick was spotted running up to doors, handing out candy canes, yelling “Merry Christmas,” and asking people of all ages whether they are on the naughty or nice list this year. 

A Santa tracker was available again for this year’s event on the Tulalip Bay Fire Department’s Facebook page, where community members could follow Santa’s GPS location and see which neighborhood he was visiting in real-time. 

Some of the Tulalip areas visited were: 

  • Madison Estates 
  • Tulare
  • Spee-Bi-Dah
  • Tulalip Shores 
  • 83rd Pl Nw
  • Hermosa
  • 43rd St NW
  • Potlach 
  • 56th St NW to 62nd St NW
  • Y-Site
  • Mission Ave 
  • Battle Creek
  • Walter Moses Jr Dr/28th Dr. NW
  • Ezra Hatch RD/ Larry Price Loop Rd
  • Mission Highlands
  • Silver Village

Tulalip Firefighter and Paramedic Lindsay Ross, who has participated in the Santa Run for the past six years said, “This is our community that we take care of daily. We love being able to do this every year, to give back and share these memories with them. We love hanging out with the kids, but we also love visiting the elders. I know they’re a big part of the population and an important part of this community, so visiting and bringing them that Christmas spirit is important to us.”

An abundance of households were prepared to help those less fortunate as firefighters rounded up their canned goods, non-perishables, and monetary donations. 

On December 12, several Tulalip firefighters drove to the Tulalip Church of God to make a special delivery. With hundreds of pounds of food and a $904 check, the Tulalip Church of God was overwhelmingly thankful for everything that was donated by the community. 

“We are so blessed to be partnered with the Tulalip Bay Fire Department and to have such a good relationship with the Tulalip community. Everyone has been so good to us and has made it possible for us to continue helping others. I think this was our biggest Santa Run donation yet!” said the Food Bank Manager Charolette Petrie. 

The food bank is available to community members and is open every Tuesday throughout the year. Contributions from events like the Santa Run help the food bank tremendously and allow more families to get the food they need. Much like the Thanksgiving baskets distributed earlier this year, Christmas baskets will also be given out to anyone in need. If you would like to donate to the Tulalip Church of God, please visit the church at 1330 Marine Dr. NE, Tulalip, WA, or contact them at (360) 653-7876.

TPD Officers and their families celebrate with Santa and Mrs. Claus

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The mission of the Tulalip Police Department is solely based on service to Tulalip’s 2,700 or so citizens who live on the Reservation and the even higher number of non-Tulalips who make up the greater on-Reservation community. The office of the Chief of Police and his many supporting staff considers it their duty and privilege to protect all citizens living within the 22,000-acre sovereign nation that is Tulalip from crime, but also to protect and defend the rights guaranteed under the Tulalip Tribes Constitution.

For all that they do for Tulalip, the entire police department was invited to partake in a special holiday celebration with their families on December 6th in the Orca Ballroom.  

“A huge thank for all the work you do on behalf of this Tribe,” said Chairwoman Teri Gobin. “You each play a critical role in keeping our people safe. We’ve come a long way over the past few decades. As our membership has grown, our business ventures have grown, and our police force has grown. I want to let each and every one of you know that you are valued and appreciated.”

“Like Madam Chair said, I want to thank all of you for being here tonight and allowing us to celebrate you,” added Vice-Chairwoman Misty Napeahi. “We know how much your families have to sacrifice because of your commitment to keep our community safe. This means working the weekends and holidays, missing your children’s game days and award ceremonies, and other special family moments so that you can fulfill your duty to protect and serve Tulalip. My hands go up to every single family member in this room because its through your support that our officers can truly thrive.”

For the officers and support staff who brought their kids along, they were greeted by guest appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children screeched with glee to chat, hug, and take a keepsake photo with their Christmas icons. 

While filling their bellies with an assortment of eats from the 4-Diamond catered buffet, officers enjoyed a rare night off to relax with their families and speak casually with Board of Directors Teri, Misty, and Mel Sheldon as they made their rounds to each table. 

As the evening celebration concluded, Chief Sutter reflected, “This was really a great night for all our unsung heroes. They were able to enjoy the moment with their families. For me, seeing officers laugh and smile with their kids while taking picture with Santa and Mrs. Clause was so cool. Our professional often keeps us from having the time to create these special moments, so it really was amazing to see the simple joys of family and friends having light-hearted fun together.”