Native American women veterans celebrate president’s inauguration

CBS News January 21, 2013, www.cbsnews.com

PUEBLO WEST, Colo. – About 2,800 groups applied to be part of the Inaugural parade on Monday. The president’s inaugural committee chose 60, including one with deep roots in this land.

They often perform to a sound of pageantry centuries old. They are the first Native American Women Warrior color guard: all veterans, all proud of their ancestry and the nation they serve.

Mitchelene BigMan is the group’s founder. Sgt. Big Man served 22 years in the Army, including two tours in Iraq.

“We’re like the heartbeat of America,” BigMan said. “We’re Native Americans. We’re still here, and I think we’re even stronger now than we were before.”

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Nearly 5,000 Native American women have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. BigMan’s grandmother served in WWII.

“She was small,” she said. “She was only five feet and maybe 100 pounds but they said she was one of the meanest ones they had.”

BigMan laughed and admitted she wasn’t that different from her grand mother.

BigMan was born and raised on the Crow reservation in Montana. Unemployment was high. Alcoholism and domestic violence were chronic. So, she enlisted at age 21 and went on to become a mechanic supporting a combat battalion.

Mitchelene BigMan served as a mechanic in the Army. / CBS News

“It was an all-male battalion,” she said. “When I showed up, they were really disappointed, and the tension, I could just see it. First of all I’m female, a minority and a Native American. I had to prove myself three times as hard sometimes.”

And she did. When she retired after two decades, she formed the Native American Women Warriors. The group includes all ranks and branches of service. They promote diversity and equality in the military and on reservations.

In today’s parade, they displayed their badges of military service on their native warrior dresses — dresses worn during a traditional dance for prayer and healing.

“I think it’s time for us to heal, not only as veterans but as a nation,” she said.

“Healing” for the warriors and for the nation they served is something worth a dance about any day including today, each said.

Mayor to present State of the City address on Jan. 25

Source: The Marysville Globe, http://www.marysvilleglobe.com

MARYSVILLE — Mayor Jon Nehring will give this year’s State of the City address at 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, during the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours monthly breakfast.

The presentation will take place in the Canoes Lounge of the Tulalip Resort Casino, located at 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.

Nehring plans to review Marysville’s accomplishments over the course of the past year, and look at what lies ahead for the city in 2013. Among the highlights, he will discuss the upcoming downtown revitalization initiative and public participation opportunities, as well as budget measures that support new walkway and road improvements, trails and public safety. The Smokey Point manufacturing and industrial center, which Nehring deems key to stimulating job growth and promoting economic development, will also be on the agenda.

The program will be videotaped to air the following week from Feb. 1-8, with simulcast viewing times of noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Marysville TV 21 on Comcast, and TV 25 on Frontier.

For breakfast cost and reservation information, contact the Chamber by phone at 360-659-7700 or via email at admin@marysvilletulalipchamber.com.

Burn bans lifted for King and Snohomish counties; Stage 1 burn ban continues for Pierce County

JANUARY 21, 2013. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lifting the air quality burn bans in King and Snohomish counties, effective at 1 p.m. on January 21, 2013. A Stage 1 burn ban continues for Pierce County until further notice.

“We are lifting the burn bans in King and Snohomish counties because winds are picking up and temperatures are warming,” said Dr. Phil Swartzendruber, agency forecaster. “But Pierce County is still under the influence of cold and calm conditions, which could cause pollution to build up in areas where wood-burning is common. We need to keep a Stage 1 burn ban in effect to protect air quality in those communities.”

 

“We encourage everyone who doesn’t rely on wood heat to use instead their home’s cleaner source of heat until weather conditions change.”

Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.

 

During a Stage 1 burn ban:
  • No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
  • No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
  • Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.
It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

 

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

 

For more information:

Tulalip snowboarders head to competition, Jan 27-28

Article by Kim Kalliber and Jeannie Briones, Tulalip News staff

TULALIP,WA – For 19-year-old Tulalip Tribal member, Moses Williams, snowboarding is all about sportstmanship, teamwork and fun, and not to mention, speed, cool tricks and no limitations on style.

Moses is a member of the First Nations Snowboarding Team (FNST) of Tulalip. FNST Tulalip is an off-shoot of FNST Canada, and was selected as the first U.S. team to represent the Nations. What began with staff at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club seeking ways to keep kids engaged in sports, has grown into a 50+ member team in their second year of competition snowboarding.

FNST Tulalip operates in three divisions: High Performance, Jr. Elite and Beginner. Moses, a six-year snowboarding veteran, is one of 19 members competing as the High Performance Team. The competition will take place January 27-28 at Mount Hood, Oregon. Winners of this competition may be eligible for the National competition in Denver, Colorado.

“You have to be on the High Performance Team to be able to compete. You have to be good enough to ride on your toes, heels, and go off jump,” said Moses, who competed in the Nationals last year.

Boarders may compete in any of three styles: slope, which consist of tricks in the air, on rails, and boxes; boarder cross, which is speed racing; and half pipe, which they can perform tricks on. Moses plans to compete in the boarder cross and slope style snowboarding categories.

Moses also devotes his time as a coach for the team, helping fellow teammates achieve their goals. “I like helping and teaching the younger kids to get better at snowboarding,” said Moses.

FNST, an international team of athletes training to compete in the Olympic Games, is the only snowboarding team operated solely by Native Americans. For more information about FNST, visit http://www.fnriders.com/

Jeannie Briones: 360-716-4188; jbriones@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Hundreds rally to protect gun owners’ rights

 KIRO TV news, kirotv.com, Saturday, January 19, 2013

OLYMPIA, Wash. — More than a thousand advocates gathered in Olympia Saturday to fight for the right to bear arms.

The rally was part of a national movement in support of the rights of gun owners.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Horne spoke with a few advocates at the rally.

David Taylor, of Yakima, told the crowd that he plans to introduce legislation to protect the rights of gun owners in the state.

“Our rights come from God. Not from the government,” said Taylor. “The government did not give us those rights, and it cannot take them away. This is our line in the sand. We will not go quietly into the night.”

Many other gun rights advocates took a stand and delivered their message that the right to bear arms is sacred.

“But I feel it’s something that’s being exploited by gun prohibitionists to try to take away the rest of our important rights,” said Andrew McConaghy.

Taylor, a state legislator, promised to take the fight to his colleagues and will soon introduce the Firearms Freedom Act.

“And that legislation includes the statement any federal rule, law regulation or order attempting to ban or register firearms or magazines, unenforceable in Washington state,” said Taylor.

Supporter Linda Siler was glad to be a part of the rally.

“Ever since these shootings have happened, it’s really taken away from the preamble of the second amendment, which says that our second amendment is about keeping our government from infringing on us,” said Siler.

Similar rallies were held around the country on Saturday.

In Texas, a lawmaker proposed legislation that would block any federal ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. If it ever became a law, it would violate the U.S. Constitution.

In New York, thousands voiced their opposition to a federal weapons ban. People rallied because they wanted federal lawmakers to reconsider the recent policy change concerning weapons.

Idle No More Art: Posters Promote A Revolution

Idle No More CanadaBy Jesse Ferraras, The Huffington Post B.C.

riseArtists have become a vibrant part of Idle No More, illustrating the movement in bold colours as it sweeps across Canada.

The work of Emily Carr student and Kwakwaka’wakw member Lou-Ann Neel has gotten the most exposure.

Her work “Our Home on Native Land” altered the Canadian flag by replacing the maple leaf with a traditional raven design and by attaching mountains and trees to the red borders. She later added the “Idle No More” slogan and the design was printed on bags, hats and T-shirts.

Neel’s design got a big platform when it appeared on a T-shirt worn by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado. She tweeted a picture of herself with the message, “‘Canada- Our Home On Native Land’.. I couldn’t agree more.”

nelly furtado

Winnipeg-based Dwayne Bird designed posters known as the “Indigenous Rights Revolution” series.

The posters generally show a hand holding an object in a rousing gesture. The object is a feather in a few photos, while in others it’s a sign or a smartphone.

Bird’s designs inspired the work of Comox, B.C.-based artist Andy Everson, who is known for his indigenous take on Star Wars’ characters.

Everson’s Idle No More designs show hands holding feathers against various backgrounds such as an eagle rising or a medicine wheel.IdleNoMore

Burn bans continue: Stage 1 bans in effect for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties

Please rely on your home’s cleaner source of heat until air quality improves

JANUARY 19, 2013 The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lowering the air quality burn ban in Pierce County to Stage 1, effective at 12 p.m. on January 19, 2013. Existing Stage 1 burn bans continue for King and Snohomish counties. These bans are in effect until further notice. 

“Unexpected winds last night helped clear out some of the pollution that has been building up during this air stagnation, which is why we’re downgrading the Pierce County burn ban to Stage 1,” said Dr. Phil Swartzendruber, agency forecaster. “Cold and calm conditions will continue this weekend. In neighborhoods where wood-burning is common, air pollution levels could easily reach the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS category.”

“We encourage everyone who doesn’t rely on wood heat to use instead their home’s cleaner source of heat until weather conditions change.”

Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:
  • No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
  • No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
  • Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).
The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

 

For more information:

Stillaguamish tribe joins investigation of 4 bald eagles shot

Article By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

Four bald eagles have been found shot dead in the Granite Falls area; three of the eagles were adults and  the other a juvenile.

The Stillaguamish Tribe, state Fish and Wildlife, the Humane Society of the United States and Conservation Northwest have banded together to offer a $13,750 cash reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for shooting the eagles.

The Bald eagle population has improved enough that they were removed from protection status under the federal Endangered Species Act several years ago and were counted to have an estimates 840 occupied nests in 2005. However, they are still protected under other state and federal laws.

Killing an eagle is a misdemeanor under federal law and also a state crime with a maximum penalty of $1,000 and 90 days in jail with a $2,000 fine per eagle.

Brutal beating leaves shoeprint on 12-yr-old’s forehead

kirotv
Posted: 9:34 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

 

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — A Marysville middle school student was beaten so brutally that the boy’s attackers left a footprint on his forehead. News of the attack spread like wildfire on Facebook, and many people in Marysville fear the beating may be part of a gang-related initiation. Police said the attacked appeared to be random.

Faint signs of Austin Calvin’s beating are still pressed into his head. But the 12-year-old looked much better Wednesday than when his father first heard his friends yelling a few blocks from their house Saturday night. Two cars full of high school-aged boys saw Austin and his two friends walking to the movies around 8:30 p.m.

“My friends, they ran. I tried to, but I didn’t get away fast enough,” said Austin.

He went down under a hail of punches, kicks and stomps that were so ferocious that tread marks were imprinted into his forehead.

“I was terrified — just speechless, and I didn’t know what to do,” said Austin.

He blacked out.  His parents rushed him to Children’s hospital in Seattle   He had three facial fractures and several chipped and fractured teeth. Doctors still haven’t cleared Austin to play football after his concussion and say he could have been injured far worse.

“I just don’t understand why kids are doing this, said Austin’s father, Scott Calvin.

While Austin has been recuperating, they’ve heard the same group of boys has been involved in two other violent attacks. Police have made two arrests so far and are continuing to look for others involved in the beating.

 

Watch the video coverage here:

http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/high-school-boys-pummel-12-year-old/vnjx9/

Tribal member heads to regional poetry competition

 

Tribal member Braulio Ramos places first in a poetry recital.
Tulalip Tribal member Braulio Ramos will be competing in the Poetry Out Loud regional competition.

 

By Jeannie Briones and Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News staff

MARYSVILLE, Wash – Braulio Ramos, Tulalip Tribal member, and senior at the Bio-Med Academy located on the Marysville Getchell High School campus, never realized that he could excel in public speaking, especially poetry recital, until he joined Poetry Out Loud, a nation-wide high school program that encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation, while mastering public speaking skills and building self-confidence.

Ramos, along with six other students, participated in the second finals for the national Poetry Out Loud contest in December, held at Marysville Getchell. With his confidence and natural flare, Ramos won first place, making him eligible for the regional Poetry Out Loud competition in March.

Ramos chose to read ‘Bilingual/Bilingue’ by Rhina P. Espaillat and ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll, stating that Alice in Wonderland is one of his favorite books.

Each year over 300,000 students take part in the national poetry recital contest. 2012 marked Marysville Getchell’s first year entering the contest, which is funded by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowments for the Arts.   Participating students must choose two pre-approved poems from the Poetry Out Loud online poem anthology; one that has fewer than 25 lines and one that was written before the 20th century.

“By trying news things, you find that you are good at something that you never thought you would actually do,” said Braulio. “Two days it took me to memorize one of the poems. I would read it and listen to it and see if I could recite it without any help. A method my teacher showed us was to write down and compare what you know, and compare it with the actual poem itself.”

The judging panel for the December competition consisted of the Mayor of Marysville, John Nehring, Marysville School District Assistant Superintendent, Gail Miller and MSD Board of Directors Vice President Wendy Fryberg and Board member Pete Lundberg. Student’s scores are based on six main criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding and overall performance.

The Regional Poetry Out Loud competition will take place January 30th at the Burlington Library, located at 820 East Washington Ave. Winners of that competition move on to the state contest, which takes place in March, and then on the nationals, held in April.

These events are free to the public. For more information on the regional and state competitions, contact Nancy Menard at nmenard@newesd.org.

 

Jeannie Briones: 360-716-4188;jbriones@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov