Tulalip News

Tulalip Resort Casino first tribal hotel to be honored with “Outstanding Property of the Year” award

Press Release, Ken Kettler, President & COO, Tulalip Resort Casino

TULALIP, Washington –Tulalip Resort Casino is honored to be the first tribal hotel to receive the “Outstanding Property of the Year” award from The Washington Lodging Association (WLA). With the receipt of this accolade, Tulalip will qualify to be considered for the “National Outstanding Property” award by the American Hospitality Lodging Association.

“This tribute really belongs to our incredible hospitality team, for their passion and continuing dedication to creating an exceptional experience for our guests,” says Kenneth Kettler, Tulalip Resort Casino President and COO. “The WLA’s recognition is a perfect complement to the acknowledgement the hotel has received from AAA with the presentation of the Four Diamond award.”

Tulalip Resort Casino is located on the Tulalip Indian Reservation near Marysville. The 12-story, luxury hotel opened August 15, 2008 and includes 370 guest rooms with numerous specialty suites, such as the 3,000 square-foot Tulalip Suite, the 2,000 square-foot Player’s Suite; the Technology Suite; and two Asian-themed suites. All standard rooms at the hotel sport granite countertops, dark African wenge-wood trim, 47-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, triple-headed showers and floor-to-ceiling windows. Authentic tribal art, valued at more than $1 million, is incorporated into the hotel’s interior design.

The Washington Lodging Association, incorporated in 1920, is the non-profit trade and professional association dedicated to the interests of the lodging industry in Washington State. They are a resource for news and events, member benefits and programs, directories and publications. WLA members are represented by hoteliers and hospitality professionals from the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about Tulalip Resort Casino visit www.tulalipresort.com. To learn more about the Washington Lodging Association, visit www.walodging.org.

About Tulalip Resort Casino

Award winning Tulalip Resort Casino is the most distinctive gaming, dining, meeting, entertainment and shopping destination in Washington State. The AAA Four Diamond resort’s world class amenities have ensured its place on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold and Traveler Top 100 Resorts lists, as well as Preferred Hotel & Resorts membership. The property includes 192,000 square feet of gaming excitement; a luxury hotel featuring 370 guest rooms and suites; 30,000 square feet of premier meeting, convention and wedding space; the full-service T Spa; and six dining venues. It also showcases the intimate Canoes Cabaret; a 3,000-seat amphitheater; and Seattle Premium Outlets, featuring more than 110 name brand retail discount shops. The Resort Casino is conveniently located between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. just off Interstate-5 at exit 200. It is an enterprise of the Tulalip Tribes. For reservations please call (866) 716-7162.

By Kim Kalliber; photos by Matika Wilbur

SEATTLE, Washington – Photography can have such an impact on our lives. Discovering nature’s beauty and exploring new cultures and opening minds to new ideas, these concepts are all found in the work of Matika Wilbur. Her emotionally complex photographs examine how Native people face cultural dualities and the connection between their culture and contemporary pop culture.

Matika is from the Swinomish and Tulalip Tribes. Her work has been shown in regional, national and international venues, such as the Royal British Columbia Museum of Fine Arts, the Nantes Museum of Fine Arts in France, the Seattle Art Museum and the Burke Museum.

Now you can find Matika’s latest project on Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. Kickstarter is an online site full of independent, ambitious and imaginative projects that are brought to life through direct support of others.

Matika’s project on Kickstarter, 562 A Photo Project Documenting Native America, is currently accepting donations. The goal is to create a publication, exhibition, and lecture series documenting all 562 Tribes in the United States, although the ultimate goal is education. Matika will be traveling the United States in a photo studio equipped RV, paying a visit to all 52 states, and all 562 Federally Recognized Tribes. She will be using these donations for travel expenses, film and darkroom supplies and website development.

“I am so excited about my upcoming journey,” said Matika. “I feel as though all of the work that I have done up until this point has prepared me for a project of this magnitude.”

Matika goes on to describe events in her life that led her to explore Native cultures through the camera lens.

“When I was 17 years old I got sober, and have remained sober for the last 11 years and it was because of this experience that I had the courage to pursue higher education at The Brooks Institute of Photography. After I graduated, I took my first internship with Round Earth Productions photographing indigenous people in South America, where I realized that I hadn’t ever photographed my own people – so I came home, and began ‘We Are One People,’ a series of character study portraits documenting Coast Salish Elders. ‘We Are One People’ hangs in the Tulalip Admin Building, and has been shown at several museums. The success of ‘We Are One People’ catapulted my career into projects that explore our “indian-ness.”

“All of those experiences led me back to Tulalip Heritage High School to teach photography, where I learned so much working with our youth, and really had the opportunity to re-connect,” Matika continued. “I didn’t realize that all of that travel, exhibition and teaching would lead me to this- but I’m glad that it did. I’m so grateful for all of the support that I’ve received from my family and friends, I feel so blessed.”

Funding levels vary on Kickstarter and each pledge level offers the backers specific items in return. For instance, with a pledge of $10 or more, backers will receive a digital copy of the “562” book, while a pledge of $2,500 or more will entitle backers to join Matika on the road for two days as she explores Indian Country, along with receiving the awards offered at the $1,000 level.

Matika will be having an “End of Kickstarter” bash on October 28th in Seattle, with live music performed by Kore Ionz and Bakra Bata. Visit www.matikawilbur.com for more information and location of this event.

This project will only be funded if at least $30,000 is pledged on Kickstarter by Novemer 1st. For information and to become a backer, visit www.kickstarter.com and enter 562 under “search projects.”

For more information on Matika Wilbur, visit www.matikawilbur.com.

Building relationships through open communication

Totem Middle School teachers reach out to parents

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Teachers are always looking for ways to better communicate with their students, and now they are reaching out to the parents. Community Partnership, a new program at Totem Middle School, is simply designed for teachers to meet one-on-one with parents outside of the classroom, at their homes or any other location of the parents choosing.

These out-of-classroom visits enable the teachers and parents to form better relationships and build trust. Questions such as, what are your child’s hopes and dreams, bring both teachers and parents to a common understanding about the kids needs and academic standing.

Daniel Natividad, Native Equity Access Specialist and Interim Associate Principal for Totem Middle School is elated with the progress the program has made so far. In the few months that the program has been in operation, school staff has seen an improvement in attendance and test scores and a decrease is suspensions and expulsions, along with less vandalism around the school.

“It’s been a positive program,” said Daniel, referring to the positive changes in the children’s behavior.

Staff is striving to make 60 home visits to parents by the end of the first quarter of school. 25 visits have already been made, ten of these to tribal member families.

Teachers have received warm welcomes from the families, many of which give thanks to Totem Middle School staff for taking the time to show they care about their child’s education.

“It’s all about building a relationship, and once we have that relationship, everyone is going to be successful,” said Daniel.

Staff are available to meet with parents after school and weekends. For more information, contact Daniel Natividad at 360-653-0608 or email, Daniel_natividad@msvl.k12.wa.us.

Watch D.O.G.S. brings dads to school

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Something exciting is happening at Totem Middle School. New to the school this year is Watch D.O.G.S. – Dads of Great Students –a program that encourages fathers to get more involved at their child’s school. Father, grandfathers, step-dads, uncles, and all father figures are encouraged to volunteer at the school to provide positive male role models, and work with the kids to enhance their learning environment.

These mentors assists in a variety of ways, such as monitoring the school lunch room, helping out in classrooms, and other activities assigned by the school’s administrative staff. Their presence also provides an extra set of eyes and ears, which reduces signs of bullying.

Daniel Natividad, Native Equity Access Specialist and Interim Associate Principal for Totem Middle School is one of the dedicated employees working to get this project underway. As an advocate for Native American kids, David feels that this positive program helps kids grow socially and academically, creating a solid foundation for their future.

“We are in the opening stages of this program. We had 21 dads sign up for different days throughout the school year, to help out in the classroom, lunchroom, and on campus,” said Daniel.

Through the Watch D.O.G.S. program, these role models are asked to volunteer for at least one full day during the school year

“We are trying to increase male positive role models on campus. Kids can feel like they are cared for, especially the kids who don’t have a positive role model at home,” Daniel continued. “The first dad is coming in this month, and he’s going to help out with the classroom and buses.”

Daniel encourages all tribal and non-tribal parents to participate in the program, saying, “One the big goals this year is to make sure the community understands that education is not a one sided street. It’s not a one person process, it requires everyone, the teachers, students, and lastly the parents.”

Watch D.O.G.S., an educational initiative of the National Center For Fathering, has been in operation since 1998, helping children thrive through father and father figure involvement at schools across the nation. For Totem Middle School it means a step in the right direction to enhancing children’s lives, especially for kids dealing with challenging issues at home like poverty, drug abuse, abuse, and the lack of parental guidance.

For information on volunteering at Totem Middle School, contact Daniel Natividad at 360-653-0608. For information on the Watch D.O.G.S. program, visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs.

WrapAround is not a service but a process

Article and photo by Sarah Miller

TULALIP, Washington— The WrapAround process is a fairly new service provided by Family Haven. With WrapAround, a facilitator works with an individual or family to develop goals, build on strengths and it gives them support to enhance family life. According to WrapAround Coordinator, Cherol Fryberg, it’s not a program or a service, but a way to put you back in the driver’s seat of your own life.

“It’s a way to get the client’s voice heard,” Cherol said. “Some people work with a lot of different services and counselors with Behavioral Health and they don’t always get to be heard. We want to give them that control.”

People using the WrapAround process are encouraged to form a team to help them out. This team can be family members, counselors or therapists. WrapAround uses four phases to help clients out. Phase one is an engagement of team preparation in which the concerns, needs, hopes, dreams and strengths of the client are addressed. Phase two is the initial plan development. During this phase, the clients will collaborate with their teams to identify the strengths as stepping stones to meet needs. Phase three is plan implementation. Based on accomplishments, the team can assess and see if the plan is successful and make adjustments if need be. Phase four is transition. During this phase, the team will view the success.

“If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or have multiple goals you want to accomplish, WrapAround is here to walk with you while helping you put your life back together,” Cherol said. “A WrapAround team of your choosing, with my support, will help you meet your dreams, needs, hopes and concerns.”

In addition to the four phases, WrapAround also uses ten principles to help keep people on track and help them achieve. The first principle is family voice and choice. This focuses on needs and wants. Second principle is to individualize. With this principle, the team will tailor this service to the client’s strengths and needs. Principle three and four, team based and collaboration, resolve individual challenges. Principle five is natural supports, which is about strengthening the connection of the family. Phase six and seven is about being strength based and culturally competent. These principles honor the individual or families culture with a positive approach. Principle eight is community based. The WrapAround team will implement services and support strategies that focus on the family receiving services in the community. Phase nine is persistence. With this principle, the team will persist towards the goals. Principle ten is outcome based. The WrapAround team is accountable to assist in setting and achieving measurable goals with this
principle.

“This service is available for anyone who is tribal or has a tribal member in their family,” Cherol said. “They must also live in Snohomish County. They do not have to have any kind of addiction, they don’t need to have had their kids taken away, and they can just come in to get back on the right track with their lives. It’s not about having severe problems; it’s about making a better life.”

If you think that you or someone you know is in need of WrapAround process for support, you can call Cherol at 360-716-4401 or email her at cfryberg@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Tribal member voted homecoming king

Article by Jeannie; photo submitted by Misty Napeahi

TULALIP, Washington – Tulalip tribal member Justice Napeahi was recently voted senior homecoming king of Marysville Pilchuck High School. Nominated by his teachers, Justice was then voted in as king by the student body.

Honored by his nomination, Justice exclaimed, “This can’t be true, no way, this is such a cool feeling!”

A down-to-earth kid with a great attitude, his motto in life is to always be nice, it will get you further in life.

“I have a lot of friends at school and each friend I have a different hand shake for. It’s cool to have something unique with so many people,” said Justice.

Those who know Justice are aware of his passion for music. He plays percussion ensemble drums at high school, and after school, he practices with his band, Tomorrow May Fail, which was formed three years ago.

Justice gets his inspiration from his role model, Matt Greiner, a drummer for the band August Burns Red. He advises fellow students to, “Use your inspiration as fuel to succeed, it makes you whole.”

Misty and Jay Napeahi are the proud parents of Justice.

David Spencer Sr. shares his passion of poetry

David Spencer read poetry at Hibulb Cultural Center

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – The Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center, known for its artistic and educational series of workshops which highlight storytelling, lectures, culture and film, have added a new series that features poetry.

Tulalip Tribal elder and author, David Spencer Sr., read a series of poems on October 4th at the Hibulb center, capturing the audience with his ebb and flow of words. Events that he witnessed in his life and the poets and teachers who inspired him to write poetry inspired these poems.

“I took four courses at the UW from Nelson Bentley. He guided me on how to write poetry, to take one form all the way through the poem,” said David. “Poetry is like painting.”

Writing poetry since 1973, he reconnected with his grandparents’ first language, and began his writing process anew in 1997 by using the Lushootseed language as a creative outlet. This transformation brought new meaning to his poetry that he had not found while writing in English.

Poetry helped David through dark periods in his life, especially after his wife passed away. Sylvia Plath and Ted Hues are just a couple of poets he admires. He read their poems over and over to absorb their words and meaning.

In the poem, “The Sacred Smoke,” David describes a traditional memorial burning, the feeling of being on-edge, being reborn, and having no temptation of worldly needs.

David’s first memoir, “Lifted to the Edge: the Reflections of a Tulalip Grandson,” is a skillfully written exploration of his life. You can find a copy of his book at theTulalipHibulbCulturalCentergiftshop. Visit www.hibulbculturalcenter.org for information and a schedule of events.

Tulalip child found unresponsive in car, mother arrested

By Kim Kalliber

On October 8, 2012 the Tulalip Police Department received a call about an unresponsive infant found inside a parked car. Emergency services were dispatched to the 1000 block of Marine Drive. A 17-month-old girl was taken to Providence Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Her two-year-old sister, also found in the car, was taken to Children’s Hospital in Seattle where she is expected to recover.

The girls’ mother, a Tulalip Tribal member, is being held at Snohomish County Jail, facing possible charges of endangerment and failure to care for the children.

Community members at Tulalip describe the mother as a “good mom,” despite the fact that within the past year, she was under investigation by the Department of Social and Health Services for allegations of abuse involving the younger girl. DSHS had closed its investigation for undisclosed reasons, but due to the death of the child after closure of the investigation, their fatality review board will review the case.

The incident is being investigated by the Tulalip Police Department in coordination with the FBI. An autopsy was performed, but the results are unavailable while the investigation is underway

Raising awareness to save lives and give hope

Legacy of Healing presents interactive play based on domestic violence

Article by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Domestic Violence happens more often than people realize. Behind closed doors, many victims fall pray to abuse. Without help, these victims are controlled by their abuser and live in a world of isolation, helplessness, fear, intimidation, denial, coercion and threats that usually turn into violence. Many battered victims are afraid to get help in their vulnerable state of mind.

There is help for victims of abuse. Tulalip Tribes Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House advocates are here to listen and offer assistances to victims and help them understand they are not alone.

To end domestic violence, it is important to educate the community. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Tulalip Tribes Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center is recognizing the rising epidemic of domestic violence. In an effort to address this matter, they have collaborated with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence in presenting “In her shoes,” an interactive play based on real-life experiences of women with abusive partners. Participants will move, do, think and experience the lives of battered women.

Deborah Parker, Tulalip Tribes Vice Chairwoman and spokesperson for the Violence Against Women Act, will provide the traditional opening, along with a meet and greet of Legacy staff, and Traci Underwood with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence will facilitate the interactive event.

“In Her Shoes” will be presented on two days; October 18^th will be for Tulalip Tribes employees and October 30^th is open to employees and community members. Both showings will be held in room 162 of the Tulalip Administration Building from noon-3:00 p.m. and lunch will be served.

Are you are living with domestic violence? The most common form of domestic violence is physical violence. The signs of domestic violence include being hit, slapped, kicked or punched by your partner, including threats, injury to pets, jealousy and destroying of property.

Battered victims are reluctant or unable to report the abuse, but advocators at Legacy of Healing offer a safety plan that might help the victims feel safer before an incident, in the midst of a violent incident, and if victims decide to leave. When the battered victim is ready to leave, they can call an advocate staff at Legacy of Healing to address their needs.

Call to talk with an advocate at Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House for question or concerns at 360-716-4100, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or for immediate help call 911, DVS 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 425-252-2873, or Washington State Hotline 800-562-6025.

Deborah Parker teaches youth about Native history, culture and voting

Article and Photos by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – With the 2012 Presidential Election upon us, attention has turned to Native American voting. Political analysts say the Native voters could easily affect the presidential race this year.

Historically, Native Americans have one of the lowest voter turnout rates of any ethnic group. Considering the fact that Native Americans were the last group in theU.S.to get the right to vote, in some cases at late as the 1960’s, it’s no wonder that campaigns and organizers are struggling with ways to reach Native Americans. This year, tribal leaders are speaking out more than ever, encouraging tribal members to vote.

Deborah Parker, Tulalip Tribes Vice Chairwoman spoke to students at TotemMiddle Schoolin Marysville, on October 11^th about Tulalip Tribes culture, history, and government and the importance of why Native Americans should vote.

“It’s important for our people to vote because we need leaders inCongress,U.S.Government, state, and local governments that understand who we are. If we get the wrong person [in office] that doesn’t understand our treaties and way of life, we could lose what our ancestors gave up and what our people have worked many generations to preserve and protect, as a sovereign nation,” said Deborah.

As Chairwoman, Deborah talks with the United States Government about treaty rights and agreement s with the federal government. She even shook hands with President Obama, reminding him to not forget about the U.S. Constitution and the treaties.

By meeting with students, Deborah aims to teach them about the true history of Native Americans, something she feels is still largely ignored in today’s curriculum.

“I went to speak at few years ago at a high school in Lynnwood, and some students raised their hands, and said they didn’t even know Indians existed,” said Deborah. “Our government and our schools do not educate our people about what took place in Native American history. I encourage each and every one of you to educate your mind, it makes you a stronger person.”

Deborah also encouraged the students to search the internet to discover true facts of United States history and learn more about their history, to not only expand their minds, but to understand how the past links to the present and the future, and the importance of making your voice heard in the electoral process.