Tulalip News

Tribal member promotes Tulalip Community Watch at Tulalip

Tulalip tribal member, Stan Jones III discussed his plans for the new Neighborhood Community Watch Program.

Jeannie Briones, Tulalip News staff writer

TULALIP, Wash. – Tulalip tribal member Stan Jones III has lived on the reservation since 1994 and has seen firsthand the increase in crime and drugs. In an effort to combat this rising problem, he organized a neighborhood community watch to urge the community to work together to help make Tulalip stronger by fighting against crime and drugs.

“It started off as a Facebook group, trying to get people together as far as awareness in the area,” said Stan. “I want the community to be aware of the problem that is occurring and to stand up against it.”

Stan decided to get the community more involved by establishing monthly neighborhood watch group meetings, where community members gather to provide each other with direct support, encouragement, and discussions on current issues in the community.

The first meeting, held November 17, 2012, at the Tulalip Administration Building, consisted of guest speakers, educational information on safety, discussions on crime tips and feedback from the community.

“The last meeting went well, we had two tribal police officers there and Ross Fryberg was able to give out a ton of information,” said Stan.

The foundation of these meetings is to bring awareness to community members and to work together to re-establish control over the neighborhood by being aware of unusual activities and reporting crimes, promoting an increase in safety, which reduces crime and drugs in the area.

“Meetings cover education, prevention, help or resources, empowerment, and safety and even these small steps push out a level of organized crime,” said Stan.

Another goal of the watch group is to educate the community on ways to report suspicious activities and basic home maintenance, such as installing security lights, updating locks, and installing a home alarm system.

“Burglars want to spend no more than a minute breaking into a home. A simple thing like dead bolting the door is important, as are putting a piece of wood in the window, clearing shrubs and bushes around your home, and replacing dead light bulbs, “ said Stan.

Community participation in neighborhood watch groups is a positive way for community members to play a part in the fight against crime and bond through community involvement. Community members can make a difference and see a decrease of opportunities for criminals to commit crimes and drug use.

The next Neighborhood Community Watch meeting will be held January 22^nd at the Mission Highland Community Center at 5:00 p.m.

For more information about the group and how to get involved, please contact Stan Jones III at 425-750-2331. You can request to join Tulalip Community Watch on Facebook to receive helpful tips to help keep you and your family safe.

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

Seattle Based ANAE exhibits energy technologies at Dubai Exhibition

Alekson Native American Enterprises LLC Press Release

Jim Alekson

CEO of Alekson Native American Enterprises

(206) 898-5869 | Email: jalekson@aleksongroup.com

Seattle, Washington – The USA Regional Trade Center Exhibition officially opened today in Dubai, UAE and Alekson Native American Enterprises LLC (“ANAE”), a 100% Native American owned enterprise, was among the showcased exhibitors.

The USA Regional Trade Center, endorsed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, facilitates and encourages trade and commerce between U.S. Businesses and the MENA Regional Market encompassing the Middle East and North Africa. USARTC levels the play field and lowers the barriers to U.S. Company entry into the MENA Regional Market.

In 2009, ANAE began directing its business development attention toward green energy technologies and assembled a collection of elite technologies from around the world. This collection came to the attention of the USARTC and two months ago, they extended an invitation to ANAE to exhibit several of its energy related technologies and business initiatives at the Dubai Trade and Commerce Exhibition.

The innovative technologies and initiatives showcased by ANAE include SACHEM Hi-Energy Wood Pellets, a substitute for thermal coal; AIRE-FOIL^TM vertical-axis wind turbines; ECO-LOGIC^TM LED smart lighting systems; FARM-OF-THE-FUTURE^TM hydroponic food-crop cultivation systems; and CASTAGRA^TM industrial coatings for protection against corrosion in the oil and gas industries as well as other energy related technologies.

ANAE aligns itself with world-class inventors and mechanical and electrical engineers to secure and bring revolutionary technologies to the United States. All of the exhibited technologies have been commercialized and have years of field-proven success. They have been developed within the United States as well as elsewhere in the world. Sachem Energy Solutions^TM, an operating division of ANAE, is responsible for advancing technologies commercialized outside of the United States.

“We are very honored the USA Regional Trade Center invited us to participate in this prestigious event.” “We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to showcase and advance Indian Country participation in the world’s green energy revolution.” stated Jim Alekson, CEO of Alekson Native American Enterprises LLC.

“We are pleased to have ANAE participate in our Trade and Commerce Exhibition and represent business development opportunities in Indian Country.” “Innovative technologies advanced by ANAE and its Native American Partners represent a real step toward reducing the world’s dependency on fossil fuels to meet its ever increasing energy needs.” comments Kim Childs, Vice President of USA Regional Trade Center

Alekson Native American Enterprises LLC

Alekson Native American Enterprises LLC and its Sachem Family of Companies are 100% Native American owned by Members of the Citizen Band of the Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma and their Native American Partners. ANAE is steadfastly devoted to advancing initiatives that bring about economic diversification for Native American Communities across the United States. Our mission is to advance innovative technologies and initiatives that create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship and advance 21^st Century educational and job training opportunities in Native American Communities. For additional information visit: www.aleksonnae.com and www.nativeamericanenterprises.blogspot.com. ANAE is also on Twitter.

USA Regional Trade Center

USA Regional Trade Center facilitates and encourages trade and commerce between U.S. Businesses and the MENA Regional Market encompassing the Middle East and North Africa. USARTC provides U.S. Companies, educational institutions, individuals, federal and state agencies, trade groups, professional associations, think tanks and legal, accounting and banking institutions with an integrated business platform for exploration of trade opportunities and facilitation of U.S. exports to the MENA Regional Market. For additional information visit: www.usartc.com

Mayor of Marysville establishes new Youth Council

Press Release, Office of the Mayor, Dec. 3, 2012

Mayor establishes new Youth Council; seeks student members to give young people a stronger voice in their community’s future

MARYSVILLE – The voice of Marysville’s youth needs to be a bigger part of the dialogue when talking about how the community builds for tomorrow.

Mayor Jon Nehring is establishing a new Youth Council to create that essential link among Marysville’s teens, the community and city government.

The Youth Council will advise the Mayor on issues affecting young people in Marysville and provide youth perspective on a range of community issues and topics. The Council will also provide a forum to engage with City leaders, participate in a community service project, and connect with their peers, and learn about civics and city government.

“I’m hoping that we get young people to become involved from a variety of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are ready to share their valuable views with city government,” Nehring says. “My goal is that every young man and woman will leave the Youth Council with a better understanding of civic duty and a moral responsibility to our community.”

Nehring also believes young people willbenefit from involvement in the Youth Council through developing their personal and employability skills.

The Youth Council is open to Marysville teens ages 14-18 and enrolled in public or private school, or home-schooled (at the City’s discretion and under some circumstances, 13-year-olds may be permitted to join). Parent or guardian signature required for all ages.

Interested applicants are invited to download the application from the City website at http://marysvillewa.gov/youthcouncil. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. Return in care of Youth Council/Doug Buell, Marysville City Hall, 1049 State Ave., Marysville, WA 98270. Or scan signed copy to dbuell@marysvillewa.gov.

The Youth Council will be structured to meet monthly for one-hour, after-school meetings in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. However, as a substitute for sitting in meetings, field trips such as the Police Department, a Fire Station, Municipal Court, Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, and a spring community service project, could also become part of the annual agenda, as well as other recreation activities.

For more information contact Community Information Officer Doug Buell, Youth Council Liaison, at (360) 363-8086 or email dbuell@marysvillewa.gov. You will be notified of a kick-off meeting to be scheduled later in January 2013. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Pink Salmon Broodstock Spawned to Protect Elwha Run

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe hatchery technician Keith Lauderback sorts through pink salmon eggs at the tribe’s hatchery.

Source: Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Pink salmon are the most abundant salmon species in the Northwest, but the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe didn’t want to risk losing the Elwha River pink population with the current removal of the river’s two fish-blocking dams.

The deconstruction of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams are part of the massive project to restore the Elwha River after nearly 100 years of blocked flows and degraded salmon habitat. One result of the project is that high levels of sediment once trapped trapped behind the dams are now flowing downriver.

“We weren’t sure how the pinks were going to be affected by the dam deconstruction activity, so we wanted to take precautions to protect them,” said Larry Ward, the tribe’s hatchery manager. “The historical population of pinks in the Elwha River was 400,000 to 600,000. The current run is 200, making it a chronically depressed stock of fish.”

While pinks have a lower commercial value, they play an important role in a properly functioning ecosystem by providing food for other animals and contributing nutrients to the watershed.

“The habitat in the lower river for pinks wasn’t great when the dams were in place, but they were using it,” Ward said.

Pinks returning to the Elwha River in 2011 were collected and spawned. The fertilized eggs were incubated at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Hurd Creek Hatchery, then sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Manchester Research Station, where they were reared to adults. The fish, 300 males and 132 females, were then brought back to Elwha in August for spawning.

A portion of the fertilized eggs from this fall’s spawning will go back into the pink salmon broodstock program, while the rest will be reared to smolts and released from the Elwha Hatchery into the river in spring 2014. The broodstock program is expected to continue through the 2015 pink salmon cycle.

The tribe’s partners in this program are NOAA, WDFW, Olympic National Park, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and citizen volunteers.

It’s bingo time at the Senior Center

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Wash. – Tulalip tribal elders and community members started New Year festivities early on December 31st, with a game of bingo where the top three winners won cash prizes.

“We come down to have breakfast, socialize, and to see everybody,” said Tulalip elder April Moses.

The staff at the Tulalip Senior Center work to put together daily meals and provide a safe place for elders to feel comfortable.

For more information about activities, schedules, or other question, please call the Senior Center Main Line at 360-716-4684.

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

Chief Spence urged to end hunger strike for her health

Article by Monica Brown

As Attawapiskat’s Chief Theresa Spence’s 17th day of her hunger strike over bill C-45 comes to an end she is being urged by the federal health minister and first nation’s leader to end her hunger strike since they fear for her health. They are suggesting she meet with Aboriginal Affairs Minister, John Duncan whom she has refused to meet and speak with stating that she wishes to meet with Prime Minister Harper. Chief Spence has only had fish broth and water for the last 17 days as she is camped out in a teepee on the island which is considered by the Anishinabe to be traditional territory.

In support of Chief Spence flash mobs of round dance protesting have begun all over Canada and recently across the globe urging this problem be addressed. People have been invited to support and join Chief Spence in her hunger strike for a four day fast.

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus has said that Chief Spence’s hunger strike has entered a deadly phase and is reaching out to other chief’s in order to solve what has become a national crisis. Stating that, “This is much bigger than Theresa Spence, it’s much bigger than an individual community, this is across the country now and it really needs the prime minister to take action.”

Plans for protests across Canada and the U.S. are still in the works for the coming week and hopes are that this will meet an agreeable end.

Tulalip fishermen spruce up their vessels for 2013

Tribal members Joe Hatch Jr and Joe Hatch Sr working together to install a rebuilt motor.

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Wash. – For Tulalip Tribal fisherman Joe Hatch Sr, fishing is in his blood. For 30 years he has fished the waters around Tulalip and is passing down his line of work to his son Joe Hatch, Jr. On December 28th, both father and son were in good spirits at the Tulalip Marina as they worked on transporting the rebuilt motor that the F/V WinterHalter will be sporting when it carries in the next catch of geoduck, clams and halibut.

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

MOHAI reopens in new location

Article by Monica Brown

The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is reopening in its new location on the weekend before the New Year. The new location is at Lake Union Park within a restored facility which offers 50,000 square feet of exhibit space.

The two permanent exhibits comprise of, True Northwest: The Seattle Journey which features thousands of artifacts and images which tell the regions history and Waterways to the World a maritime gallery with artifacts from the MOHAI and Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. The two temporary exhibits will on display are; Celluloid Seattle, examines Seattle’s relationship with film and how it has developed over history on display till Sept 8^th, 2013 and Punctum/Poetry, will help bring to life MOHAI’s historic photo collection through poetry and spoken word produced by Seattle high school students and will be on display till May 27^th, 2013.

Exhibits soon to come are; Still Afloat, Seattle’s Floating Homes and The Center for Innovation an exploration and showcase of the region’s history of innovation.

The MOHAI is located at:

860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Hours of Operation:

Open daily from 10am to 5pm and Thursdays 10am to 5pm, except Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Admission prices:

Free for youth, 14 and under (with adult)

$14 for adults
$12 for seniors (65 and older), Students and Military

Admission is free the first Thursday of every month.

For inquiries please either visit their site MOHAI or call at 206-324-1126

Paine Field possibly going commercial

Article and Photo by Monica Brown

The question on many minds of the residents in the Snohomish county; is Paine Field going to have commercial flights? On December 4th the FAA announced that they found no significant impact that would prevent Paine Field from taking on commercial flights.

In 2008, studies began to assess whether Paine Field would be able to support commercial flights. The study was so extensive it assessed the effect it would have until the year 2018 on subjects from noise to the economy. The Washington State Department of Transportation did an Economic Impact Study and estimated that the potential of commercialized flights at Paine Field would directly and indirectly produce 65,430 jobs and $5.5 billion in income.

Tulalip Tribes, along with other nearby tribes, were notified of Paine Field’s intention of establishing commercial flights and asked if they had any concerns they would like to address. The Tribes were assured if during construction for a new runway that any cultural findings came about further construction would be halted, but that the land intended for construction was “pre-disturbed land”.

Airlines interested include Allegiant Air and Horizon Air. The planes would seat 75 – 150 and would land and depart only a few times an hour. Before they can take on commercial flights parking will need to be expanded and another runway built. The Environmental Assessment found that air quality, noise levels, traffic would not be reason for concern.

Monica Brown: 360-716-4198; mbrown@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

EPA Awards $65,000 to the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma to Improve and Protect Its Water Quality

Release Date: 12/21/2012
Contact Information: Jennah Durant or Austin Vela, 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov.

(DALLAS – December 21, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma $65,000 to provide continued support for the tribe’s water pollution control program. The funds will be used to take samples to assess surface water quality on tribal lands, compile data which may show changes over time and determine if a more thorough watershed management program is needed. Sampling data will determine whether water quality standards are being met, note any changes in the quality or condition of the tribe’s water, and provide planning tools to improve the function and health of stream ecosystems.

The mission of the EPA is to protect public health and the environment. The EPA supports efforts to improve the quality of tribal land watersheds. This cooperative spirit supports work to protect water quality that ensures the health of watersheds that cross state and tribal boundaries.

Additional Information on EPA grants is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html