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Suquamish News
April 2022 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 22
April 2022
No. 4
Tribal Council Elections
In this issue:
Grey
New Tribal Council members -- p3
hay-shook-wh
Education’s new hires -- p4 Self-care with Lori Glover -- p6
Youth Basketball Teams finish season strong — p5
Language & Culture — p10
Scenes from General Council — p3 & 9
2 | April 2022
Community Calendar
Suquamish News
Events & Meetings
Contact
Suquamish Tribal Council Tribal Council meets in hybrid meetings through April. Dates and times to be determined. Links are sent to Tribal members via SUN.
Government Offices Communications: (360) 394-7184/7102 Community Dev: (360) 394-8415 Community Health: (360) 394-8468/8594 Emergency Management: (360) 394-8507 Emergency Work Orders: (360) 900-7050 Emergency Utilities: (360) 710-3223 Finance: (360) 394-8432 Fisheries: (360) 394-8438 Health Benefits: (360) 394-8424 Human Resources: (360) 394-8409 Human Services: (360) 394-8465 IT Help Desk: (360) 394-8485 Maintenance: (360) 394-8590 Tribal Child Welfare: (360) 394-8480 Tribal Court: (360) 394-8697
Suquamish Warriors Suquamish Warriors meetings are on 1st Tuesdays @ 5:30pm at Suquamish Warriors Vet Center. For information, contact Jean Belmont at (360) 601-7918. PME Board Meetings are online and in person on April 13 @ 9am. Contact Emily Sato, emilysato@clearwatercasino.com (360) 598-8703. Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Meets April 8 & 22. Virtual only. Contact Angela Brainerd at (360) 394-8652 for details. Suquamish Seafoods Board Meets online April 12 . Seafoods Retail is open Thurs-Sun. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 394-8512 for details. Suquamish Museum Board Meets April 21. Contact Janet Smoak at (360) 394-8499 for details.
Update your SUN Information Suquamish Updates Now (SUN) is the Tribe’s best way to reach Tribal members. Get alerts about emergencies, distributions, clam digs, cultural events, and more. Make sure your are signed up and your information is current. Need to update your phone number or e-mail? Visit https://bit.ly/SUNupdate or point your phone camera at the QR code below! SUN Update
Suquamish Elders Contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472 Suquamish Police Dept Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Emergency: 911 Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416
Suquamish News •
Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
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Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us
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Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
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All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
On the cover... Suquamish Tribal Council poses for a photo after the swearing in of newly elected members at General Council 2022. From left to right: Joshua Bagley, vice-chair, Luther (Jay) Mills III, Denita Holmes, treasurer, Leonard Forsman, chair, Sammy Mabe, Windy Anderson, secretary, and Rich Purser.
Suquamish Tribal Council Leonard Forsman
Chair
Joshua Bagley
Vice-Chair
Windy Anderson
Secretary
Denita Holmes
Treasurer
Rich Purser
Member
Sammy Mabe
Member
Luther Mills, Jr.
Member
Reproduction of Suquamish News, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Suquamish Tribe is strictly prohibited.
Production Staff Leonard Forsman Sarah van Gelder Jon Anderson JoAnn Joe Georgia Browne
Editorial Policy
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Photography/Design Design and Layout
Publishers of the Suquamish News reserve the right to refuse publication of letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submission of editorials and letters is encouraged. However, they represent the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Suquamish Tribe. As such, we reserve the right to refuse to print any letter, for any reason.
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April 2022 | 3
Community
New Tribal Council Members Elected at General Council 2022
Newly elected Vice-Chair Joshua Bagley and Treasurer Denita Holmes at their swearing-in ceremony.
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uquamish Citizens gathered on Zoom for General Council 2022 the weekend of March 19 and 20. Denita Holmes was elected Treasurer, and Joshua Bagley was elected Vice-Chair in an election conducted via drive-thru balloting, much like last year. Once the Elections Committee, made up of volunteer Tribal members, certified the election, the two were sworn in at Tribal Council Chambers. Robin L.W. Sigo, outgoing Tribal Treasurer, thanked Tribal members, staff, and her fellow Council members: “I’m proud that we managed to get a minimum wage increased twice. The housing project has been one of my favorite projects,” she said. “But I think the best part was just watching the Tribe come together in the face of this pandemic. Being at the vaccination clinics was one of my favorite parts.” Sigo, who served for three terms on Tribal Council, did not stand for re-election. Josh Bagley (age 44), elected Vice-Chair, sees himself as part of the younger group of up-and-coming Tribal leaders. Bagley, a former geoduck diver and PMECC laborer, is president of the Seafoods Board and Vice-Chair of the Suquamish Gaming Commission. He volunteered to take these posts in part to prepare to run for Council, he said, and he has learned from the experience about how to run a meeting and to communicate effectively. His reaction to being elected? Excitement and ner-
vousness. Pride. Surprise. “I’ve always wanted to run to be the loud voice that our people need,” he said. His priorities: fishing rights and housing. Bagley is a stay-at-home dad who looks forward to making time for his new responsibilities on Tribal Council. His children are Lani-kai (7), Jerin (8), Joshua Bagley, Jr (19), Mateo Sipai (19), Kynoa Sipai (21), Alijah Sipai (23), and Issaquah Decoteau (24). “I’d like everyone to know that I am very approachable,” he said after being sworn in. “No one has to be scared to come up and talk to me, any time.” Denita Holmes (age 33) said she was “pretty excited and in shock” when she learned she had been elected Treasurer. “My family and I had been preparing,” she said. “There are a lot of the things we are doing we will still do. But some of the things we love, like focusing on weaving, will have to be put on hold.” Her top goals on Tribal Council are to be a voice for the lowest-paid employees, many of whom focus on culture, history, and working with children and youth. “There is a big gap in wages,” she said. “These are the people I want to bring up. They hold so much traditional knowledge about our tribe.” Holmes is excited about having more young people with a different vision move into leadership. “We always talk about thinking of the next generations, but not the ones after,” she said. Holmes has three children, Joseph (12), Jackson (6), and Celila’ litsa (3). She teaches at Chief Kitsap Academy. The Suquamish Tribal Council is the governing body of the Suquamish Tribe, elected by Tribal citizens during the annual General Council meeting. Candidates elected to Tribal Council serve in three-year staggered terms. The election was conducted by MK Elections, which deferred to the Tribe’s Election Committee to decide on questions that arose during the election. The entire process — from bringing the ballot boxes inside to be counted to the examination of each ballot and the final tally — was shared with the membership over Zoom. Gifts for Tribal members who voted will be distributed when the full list is available; those who are out of town will have the gifts mailed to them. General Council’s other business In addition to the elections, the Tribe came together to honor community members who died during the previous year. New babies born into the community were celebrated, as were adults who had reached Elder
status. Tribal enterprises reported on their progress during another year challenged by COVID restrictions, with news of Suquamish Seafoods, Casino Resort operations, Agate Dreams, and PMECC/PMCC. Tribal members also heard from government departments, including those focused on finance, housing, emergency operations, human services, and fisheries, and environmental restoration. By Sarah van Gelder
Above: Elders monitor election results and share refreshments at the Elders dining room during General Council. Below: Outgoing Treasurer Robin LW Sigo was wrapped in a blanket to recognize her three terms on Tribal Council. Photos by Jon Anderson and Sarah van Gelder. See more photos from General Council on page 9.
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Education
Tribe welcomes new – and familiar – faces in Education Department T
he Suquamish Tribe Education Department welcomed both new and familiar faces to staff positions across the department in recent months. Most recent is the addition of Cynthia Savini, who is now leading the Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center. Savini is an enrolled member of the Makah Tribe and also has family in the Jamestown S’Klallam and Quileute nations. She comes to the ELC with more than nine years of experience in early childhood education leadership, said Education Director Brenda Guerrero introducing her to Tribal Council on March 7. Going to the headwaters “I am thrilled and humbled to be here,” Savini told Council. “I am looking forward to doing what I can to bring culture
and language and parenting classes to the Early Learning Center and to families here in Suquamish.” In what has become a favorite question of new hires, Council asked Savini what “favorite geeky nerdy thing” she could tell them about herself. “My big nerd thing is brain development. I am all about the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life,” said Savini. She said she once met Bishop Desmond Tutu, “who is probably the only person I ever really fan-girled about. He has a saying that goes ‘instead of pulling people out of the waters, go to the headwaters to find out why they’re falling in.’ So, that kind of sums up my attitude about children and what we need to do. We need to go to the headwaters and figure out what’s going on so we can have
better outcomes for all of us.” Savini replaces interim ELC Director Cori Silvey, who will focus on some personal matters and spend some well-deserved time with her family, said Guerrero. “Since Cori joined our team 12 years ago, she has been a valuable and well-respected member of our team. The work and contribution, including the extended hours of dedication, are greatly appreciated. We will miss Cori’s leadership, empathy, and strength.” Higher Education Guerrero herself is a familiar face in a new position in the Education Department. Late last year, she was hired as the department’s new director and the Chief Kitsap Academy Superintendent after serving several years as the Tribe’s Higher Education Program Manager. In late January, Matt Y. Hawk came aboard to fill the higher education role, helping Tribal members realize their college and technical school ambitions. Hawk is a Suquamish Tribal member, the son of Suquamish Elder Matt Hawk and Lisa DeCoteau of the Port Gamble S’klallam Tribe. “I grew up here in Suquamish playing basketball, fishing, and clam digging. I spent a lot of time with my family in Little Boston as well. I was lucky to experience such community love from both tribes growing up,” said Hawk. After graduating from Northwest Indian College, Hawk worked with youth across the nation doing fitness and lifestyle work, and leadership development and suicide prevention. “Much of my adulthood has been geared toward youth mentorship and helping Native communities. My most recent work was with United Indians of
All Tribes Foundation in Seattle working with homeless youth,” said Hawk. “My passion is with my people, and I am honored to take this position and help our people thrive in higher education.” Suquamish Elementary Coach Shilene George also joined the Education Department in recent months. A familiar face to many after serving as the front desk receptionist for the Tribal Administration Center, George is now the Tribe’s Academic Coach for Tribal students at Suquamish Elementary School. “I have been a part of this community all of my life,” said George. “I have a 4-year-old daughter who is also growing up within this community. I am extremely excited to be working and supporting our youth and their families towards success with their education.” Guerrero says she’s excited about the future of the Education Department. “I am grateful to work with all the amazing teams in Education,” she said. “I look forward to building more opportunities for staff development while we nurture the growth of the students we serve and continue to expand their horizons.” By Jon Anderson
Suquamish News
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April 2022 | 5
Sports & Rec
Suquamish Youth Basketball Teams Finish Season Strong T CKA Honor Roll–2nd Quarter GPA 3.0-3.49 High School Jewelian Lawrence Sean McGuire Hailee Hess Faith Tom Shayla Sigo Hannah Notah Middle School Ezekiel Beckwith Cheyenne Damian Jr. Gabriella Hayes Hailey Nichols
GPA 3.5-3.99 High School Christian Wion-Rathbun Cayse Gunther Jeremiah George-Bradley Taylon Lowe Jesse Heath Lily Sloan-Nilluka Carlos Henry Middle School Joseph Holmes Taylor Johnson Trey Kumpf Kiera Lawrence Talynn Marquez Justice Zaiss
GPA 4.0 High School Hunter Green Shyan Zaiss Rosie Turrieta
Attendance Superstars 90-94% Attendance High School Taliyah Berg Cayse Gunther Carlos Henry Isaiah Pondelick Shayla Sigo Jesse Yazzie Middle School Ethan Alexander Ezekiel Beckwith Kjell Gunther Taylor Johnson Luther Mills
his year’s youth basketball teams had great seasons both in the Kitsap Pee Wee Association and Poulsbo Parks and Recreation leagues. We had a total of five teams participating in the various leagues, with a total of 75 players participating on weeknights and on Saturdays.
7-8th Middle School Boy s
UPCOMING EVENTS: • Spring basketball league for 7/8th grade boys and 5/6th boys. • Conditioning and weight training classes. • Baseball/Softball hitting and fielding training • Pickleball/Tennis • Archery For more information on upcoming events, please contact the Sports and Recreation Staff: Craigmiller@suquamish.nsn.us Mturrieta@suquamish.nsn.us Wchiquiti@suquamish.nsn.us By Craig Miller, Photos by Brenda L. George
D Team
Left to Right: Magdalena Turrieta, Chris Miller, Ethan Alexander, Billy Jones, Ricky Alexander, Max Roberts, Parker Jones, Luther Mills, Joel Jones, Leland Standley, Jamie Napora, Malachi Purser, We-Laka Chiquiti, Craig Miller Not Pictured: Xzavier Jones, Kyree McGinty
C Team
95-99% Attendance High School Jeremiah George-Bradley Hunter Green Jesse Heath Middle School Kiera Lawrence Talynn Marquez Hailey Nichols 100% Attendance High School Lucas Kinslow Taylon Lowe Middle School Joseph Holmes
Back row Coaches Left to Right: Chris Miller, Magdalena Turrieta, Craig Miller, We-Laka Chiquiti Front row left to right: Tyzaiah Lawrence, Cecil Wion, Clyde Old Coyote, Baylee Mills, Braiden Adams Not Pictured: Boston Korsak, Jerin Bagley
Back Row Coaches Left to Right: Chris Miller, Magdalena Turrieta, Craig Miller, We-Laka Chiquiti Front Row left to right: Kayo Zaiss, Braylen Boure, Kyle Wellman, Silas Old Coyote, Taya Lawrence, Bryson Miller, Shaunie Cordero, Jaryk Belgarde Not Pictured: Sully Korsak (Continued on page 13)
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Wellness
Build Self-Esteem with Challenges and Self-Knowledge One of the most frequent conversations I had during almost 40 years of counseling went something like this: Client: “I don’t think I have very good self-esteem. I think I need to work on my self-esteem.” Me: “What is self-esteem?” Client: “I don’t know. But I know I don’t have it. And I want it.”
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elf-esteem is many things sometimes difficult to put into words. It involves confidence; our ability to pay attention, to think, learn, make appropriate decisions, and respond effectively to change. It is the belief we are worthy of experiencing joy and that we are capable of surviving difficult things. Self-esteem is relatively stable, not impacted by daily fluctuations, yet capable of change over time. Self-esteem can improve with achievable steps for anyone to implement. Although different in meaning, the terms self-image and self-esteem are often used interchangeably. Self-image is how we see ourselves; self-esteem is how we feel about how we see ourselves. As young children, the way we see ourselves is largely determined by messages from the most important people in our lives: our parents and other family members, our caregivers, and adults we see most frequently. Our image of and beliefs about ourselves are formed through recurring experiences and relationships that influence the way we feel about who we believe we are. When the messages are validating and accurately reflect a child’s unique qualities, efforts and skills, a child develops a positive sense of identity. If this is reinforced later by peers and other significant adults, children become confident and positive, a person capable of enduring and overcoming obstacles, setting and achieving goals for themselves, and forming relationships with other healthy people. What happens if the overwhelming messages and experiences received are not accurate or reflective of who the child is, or capable of becoming? Children are
wholly dependent on adults “telling” us (verbally or non-verbally) who we are. What if the messages are not true? Invalidation consists of minimizing, rejecting, judging, or dismissing someone’s internal reality, their feelings, experiences, thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors — denying the essence of who they are. The invalidating experience sends a message that they are insignificant, unacceptable, shameful, or worse. If early inaccurate messages are also compounded or reinforced by peers and other significant adults as a child develops, the result is an adult easily frustrated by obstacles, unlikely to set goals, and often seeking relationships with other unhealthy individuals. Unfortunately, the tendency for many of us is to accept without question and act on the conclusions from a lifetime of invalidation, as if these messages are truths when they are not. When we hear information about ourselves, it’s difficult to unlearn it. This is why you can’t shake the belief you’re bad at art or math because your 4th-grade teacher told you so. Healthy parents and caregivers know that small amounts of stress and frustration within supportive and nurturing relationships are beneficial for developing healthy, resilient adults. Responsible and attuned adults are in charge of knowing when things are too easy or too hard, and stepping in and modifying accordingly. Challenging Ourselves As adults, we must implement this knowledge for ourselves to improve self-esteem. Doing something slightly hard all the time builds confidence that we can face life’s challenges. Efficacy, confidence and emotional hardiness develop when we continually challenge ourselves; we have a reasonable certainty we can overcome most obstacles or ask supportive others for needed help as appropriate. It is a challenging but rewarding process to uncover the authentic self, the person we were meant to be. It is an important element of developing healthy self-esteem and essential if we are to enjoy healthy relationships. We must untangle beliefs about ourselves as to their validity: • Did I arrive at this belief on my own, or have I accepted this unquestioned and unexamined from
Efficacy, confidence and emotional hardiness develop when we continually challenge ourselves my past? Have I accepted someone else’s beliefs over trusting in my own Wise Mind*? • How strongly do I hold this belief? Do I hold the belief intellectually as well as emotionally? • Am I ready to modify/change or give up this belief in favor of a belief about who I am, informed by my Wise Mind, supported by evidence in the present, consistent with who I am now? As adults, we are no longer dependent on others for validation. Instead, we can develop a stronger sense of what we know to be true about ourselves; our wise mind can provide a stable and trustworthy sense of self. When this internal conviction develops, we seek healthier relationships that validate a more accurate reality. *Wise mind is the integration between emotion and reason, a centered, peaceful “knowing,” deep within your being. By Lori Glover
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Suquamish News
Suquamish Wellness New Hires & New Offerings
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he Suquamish Wellness Center, along with Human Service and others, has developed a Crisis Response & Community Care team to reach out to individuals and families who are asking for support but may be hesitant about making big changes. If you have a loved one who you are worried about, we would love an opportunity to try and build a new connection. The Suquamish Wellness Center also offers counseling for substance use disorder, mental health, recovery from trauma, navigating family challenges and transitions, parenting support, and other needs. We offer assessment for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health, as well as Psychological Assessment (particularly for children).
Dr. Brit (above) has been hired as the Supervisor of the Mental Health team. Joseph Montalbo is Substance Abuse counselor (top right) and Kylee Butler is a Peer Support specialist (bottom right).
Our team includes licensed mental health and substance use disorder counselors, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a naturopath, and peer support professionals. All services are available to Tribal members and to the broader community, and we accept most major insurers (including Medicaid/Apple Health). For anyone interested in services, please call our front desk at (360) 394 8558. Other contacts: Abby Purser, Program Coordinator, (360) 394 8550 Britni Dawson-Giles, Mental Health Supervisor (360)394 8643 Brian Burwell, Substance Abuse & CRCC Team (360)394-8553
April 2022 | 7
Catherine’s Column
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reetings Honorable People of the Suquamish Nation. It’s spring! A time of regrowth, renewal, and new life. This year, it’s also a time of moving from the restrictions of COVID to a “new” normal. We can meet in person, and we can take off masks. However, we still strongly encourage everyone to keep gatherings small and to wear your masks when in public spaces as COVID still lives among us. General Council was held, and new council members were elected. We will miss Council members George and Sigo and hold our hands up to them for their dedication and service! And we welcome newly elected Council members Denita Holmes and Joshua Bagley. We are very excited about opening our clinic! There will be a blessing and then a grand opening for the Healing House sometime in the next month. While we are excited about the clinic opening, I want to make sure you know that Tribal members are not going to be required to utilize our services. Still, it’s nice to be able to provide this option. When the Healing House opens, we will be moving some staff over to offices there, freeing up space here in the Tribal Administration Building. We are growing, and space is at a premium, so we will be moving departments to fit their growing needs and, in some cases, to protect the privacy of our Tribal citizens who are seeking services. We are preparing for the annual audit; the Finance Department is getting ready, and we are recruiting for a Senior Accountant. The Suquamish Police Department is interviewing candidates for the patrol officer positions that are currently open. They are also looking for citizens who would like to serve on a community board. If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact our offices to let us know of your interest. Back to General Council — I want to give a shout out to Rosie Bayes, IT staff, Communications staff, Emergency Operations Center staff, and all staff volunteers! They worked hard on our citizens’ behalf to ensure a successful meeting! One last spring tradition, Spring Clean Up! Look for the dates in this newsletter and for dumpsters in neighborhoods as we begin our Annual Spring Clean Up! Happy Spring! Respectfully, Catherine N. Edwards, Executive Director
8 | April 2022
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Government
Chairman’s Report
Suquamish Chair Leonard Forsman (right) consults with Tribal Council member Sammy Mabe (left) and Executive Assistant Rosie Bayes (center) during General Council 2022.
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hanks to everyone for attending the General Council meeting this year on Zoom and for turning out to vote. Now that the pandemic appears to be fading, we can start to have some in-person events, and we are looking forward to a busy summer. The Salmon Homecoming Board met at the Muckleshoot Casino. We are now planning a scaled-down event this year with a canoe welcoming on Sept. 17 in downtown Seattle. I attended a local in-person ceremony acknowledging the renaming of the Bremerton Post Office after John Henry Turpin. Turpin was a World War I veteran and the first-ever African-American Navy Chief Petty Officer. The Suquamish Warriors joined me as we welcomed ceremony participants to our ancestral lands. We continue to engage in intergovernmental meetings to protect our treaty rights and preserve our cultural traditions. The Treaty Rights at Risk initiative, led by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, continues to pressure federal and state agencies to take meaningful action to restore salmon runs. A meeting between Tribal leaders and agency leads determined that, despite decades of effort, little or no significant progress has been made. The state Department of Commerce met with Tribal leaders and staff to invite Tribes to participate in shaping climate change policies initiated by the Governor and the Legislature. We are advocating for investments in climate resiliency, especially ecosystem restoration, as a priority.
Native Americans in Philanthropy held a meeting with Tribal leaders to introduce an initiative that could support our work in ecosystem recovery. The initiative would provide funding for Tribes to acquire lands of natural and cultural importance for restoration and/or conservation. At the West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery monthly meeting, we received updates on funding for near-term actions that can help salmon and shellfish recovery. We also heard reports from local cities and counties on their efforts to improve the environment. Addressing local challenges We held several other meetings with representatives of area governments with whom we maintain government-to-government relationships. I joined Tribal staff in a meeting with Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder and members of the county Public Works Department to discuss traffic safety in Suquamish and snow removal policies. We made a commitment to work together to address these traffic safety challenges. I also met with Mayor Angela Birney of Redmond to provide her with a history of the Suquamish Tribe and hear about Redmond’s efforts to grow in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner. Council members met with the new city of Seattle Tribal Liaison Tim Reynon (Puyallup). Tim is a former member of the Puyallup Tribal Council. He will be working with the Suquamish Tribe and other
Tribal governments that have an historical presence in the city named after our ancestral chief. I participated in two other events in Seattle regarding its future. The annual Downtown Seattle Forum reviewed plans for the downtown business and culture district in the post-pandemic economy. A robust discussion between civic leaders on managing the homeless population in the city resulted in a variety of proposals to address this challenge. There was also a virtual forum held by the City of Seattle and the Seattle Public Schools to get input on construction of the new Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center. Careers for Tribal members We had the opportunity to meet with key members of the federal government, including Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh who met with Tribal leaders at the Tulalip Resort. We discussed the challenges we have in getting our people trained and equipped for work in the trades. Secretary Walsh, a former union leader and past mayor of Boston, Mass., has made a commitment to helping Tribes get good paying jobs for their citizens. I joined a virtual meeting with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service to discuss our broadband needs and federal funding opportunities. The University of Washington Board of Regents’ monthly meeting took place at U.W.’s Bothell Campus; we took action on several construction projects and on reorganizing the cancer research and treatment divisions within the U.W. School of Medicine. I also met with a recruiter for the medical school to discuss the need for medical doctors in Indian Country, and joined representatives, alumni, and supporters of the U.W. Indian Law program to help recruit a new professor in the Indian Law program. I also had the pleasure of attending a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Samuel E. Kelley Ethnic Cultural Center. The Washington Indian Gaming Association held its monthly meeting at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino; Tribal leaders discussed the importance of Tribal gaming to their respective nations. We continue to invest in sharing with the public the positive impacts that Tribal gaming facilities have on employment and the economic development of our communities. The Suquamish Museum Board met to discuss the budget and donations of artifacts to our collections. We are looking forward to opening our new exhibit on the Old Man House archaeological site. Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe Chair
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April 2022 | 9
Government
General Council 2022 photos continued from page 3
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Culture
The Language Belongs to the Land
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e are so blessed here in Suquamish. We are blessed at the rate we are recovering teachings from all the sacred vessels that have carried these teachings to us, right here, right now. They are like guideposts as we each wade through difficult moments of growth, showing us the way to navigate together through dark times — like living in colonized times — while reclaiming our Indian souls. Our comfort is in knowing these teachings are all around us. Reclaiming them is no small task, and I am honored to be on this journey with each and every one of you. The first teaching I learned from our language, about our language, years ago is this: “This language belongs to this land, right here.” (Vi Hilbert) The people only “carry it” for a time. The land has always carried its memory and knows all its words and meanings. The land remembers the sounds of our ancestors and is joyful to hear the language spoken again here in Suquamish. How fortunate we are to be in the exact place where it has always existed! The second teaching is that language is culture, and culture is language. (This is how modern linguists summarize indigenous languages across the planet.) Our ancestors knew the science of countless relationships of things in existence with each other. Because they lived the language, they had no need for this science we study today. The very structure of our language when spoken alters the mindset — the very paths through which our minds route information. This route, this path through our human minds, is sacred. It is the path of our ancestors. It is where untold teachings lie in wait. Please join us on the language journey. Our Tribal Language Program is offering online classes open to all levels of learners. To learn more, email us at, language_program@ suquamish.nsn.us or call Lena Maloney at (360) 689-7200. By Lena Maloney
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Dandelion is a nutritious food and powerful medicine
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Suquamish News
April 2022 | 11
Housing
Spring into Home Maintenance
Suquamish Tribe Spring Cleanup 2022
haʔlid ʔə ti pədhədəbil
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s winter starts to fade and spring rains arrive, here are some helpful home and garden maintenance tips.
Neighborhood Dates: Indianola: April 12 –16 Eaglemere: April 19 –23 Wee Wun: April 26 – 30 Sackman: May 3 – 7 Woolly Dog: May 10 – 14 George Lane: May 17 – 21 Adams: May 24 – 28 Tucker Topsoil: May 31 – June 4
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Ensure your home and families safety in the event of a fire. Check the attic. Inspect for insects, mold, and check insulation condition. Repair and clean window screens. Repair any rips or tears, clean thoroughly with soap and water. Check window and door seals. For air gaps, or leaks and cracks, reapply caulk and weather stripping where necessary. Service HVAC units. Change the filter, check hose connections for leaks, ensure it is draining properly, vacuum dust from the unit and connections. Check and clean your roof. Inspect for any loose shingles gently brush off moss and debris, or hire a cleaner. Clean and repair gutters. Clean out leaves, sticks, and debris, and ensure downspouts are properly connected to ensure water is flowing away from the foundation of your home. Clear lawn of debris. Large branches and other tree debris often fall in the winter; clear your lawn of them to try and eliminate a mossy lawn. Prune plants away from house. Trim bushes and trees away from your home to allow proper airflow around your home and protect your home from insects and other unwanted critters. Inspect around the foundation, and crawl space. Check around for problem areas and seal any holes to prevent insects and mice from making nests. Inspect your crawl space for moisture, check insulation conditions. By Lois “Lane” Sullivan
Days & Times Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 4pm
Reminder: Your BIA Ballots Are Due
If you received a BIA Secretarial Ballot, it must be mailed in so it is received by April 8 in order to count. With unreliable Postal Service, that means mailing it the sooner the better! The Suquamish Constitution & Bylaws, with the proposed changes, are at https://bit.ly/STconst Rules for this election are at https://bit.ly/BIArules
Items Accepted Household Trash Appliances Furniture Tires Mattresses Electronics (TVs, computers, printers, etc.) We are not accepting paints, oils, antifreeze, and similar items during this cleanup. A separate event for these items will be held during the Fall 2022. Elder’s Assistance Contact: Jaime Lawrence, Solid Waste Coordinator, (360) 471-3500
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Suquamish.nsn.us
Elders
Elders’ Corner We welcome two new elders, Jody Miller and Kelly Melson. Happy 60th Birthday to Joseph Bagley and Happy 80th Birthday to James Henry Jr. Lushootseed word game, we had one special submission who took the opportunity (she says for extra credit) and used Donna and Della, and came up with “Donella.” Special shout out to Sharon Ogilvie for that submission. We attended an Alzheimer’s conference at Daybreak Star on March 16. Got to meet and see a lot of people. It was our first get-together with people outside of our community. We learned a lot and were part of a DNA study to determine if we are predisposed for this disease. Had to gather a lot of spit for that one. Most of the activities we participated in came in normal. “Hurray!”
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
April 2022 | 13
Community
Elders Discover Giant Clams
Be sure to be active and eat healthy — all part of keeping your brain healthy. *** Looking forward to more get-togethers with all our Elders. Watch the calendar for Bingo, Weaving, beading, Rock Painting, and “Movie Night.” We are planning a special open house on April 15, a celebration of spring and Easter. Hope you can drop by for fellowship, games and door prizes. Looking forward to seeing you! We encourage you to continue wearing your mask when out in public. Covid isn’t gone yet, but we want it to be. We want you all to be safe and stay healthy! As always, we offer prayers and support to those in need. By Della Crowell & Donna Sigo
(Youth Basketball, cont. from page 5)
5th Parks and Rec Team
Back row coaches left to right: Chris Miller, Magdalena Turrieta, Craig Miller, We-Laka Chiquiti Front row left to right: William Pedroza, Kayo Zaiss, Gabriel Pedroza, Shaunie Cordero, Silas Old Coyote, Malachi Hurt, Bryson Miller, Braylen Boure, Janoah Driskell
W
ow! Look what we found just a little ways away from Dosewallips State Park — a store with giant clams and a giant fork to dig them with. What a great set of pictures! We went to a meeting at the Dosewallips State Park and saw this on the way home, and we had to stop and take pictures. By Marilyn Jones, Gene Jones, and Barbara Lawrence
2nd-3rd Grade Girls Team
Proposal for Water Assistance
T
he Suquamish Tribe has applied for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). This grant would enable the Tribe to offer assistance to low-income Tribal households on the Port Madison Indian Reservation with water and wastewater bills. For Tribal members who live outside the bounds of the Reservation, we will work with individual vendors to provide assistance. The Suquamish Tribe’s proposed LIHWAP Plan can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/ST-LIHWAP If you have comments on this proposal, please contact us at: humanservices@suquamish.nsn.us. By Nehreen Ayub Human Services Director
Back row coaches left to right: Chris Miller, Magdalena Turrieta, Craig Miller, We-Laka Chiquiti Front row left to right: Marian Adams, Aiyanna Cheyney, Emily Sullivan, Teyiah McDonald, Lolli Bayes, Mariya Oliver, Avi Lawrence, Malia Carper, Genevieve Boure, AJ Black
Suquamish News
14 | April 2022
Suquamish.nsn.us
Community
Traditional Heritage Specialist
Take-Back Day for Unwanted Medications
S
aturday, April 30, is National TakeBack Day, a day when people are encouraged to properly dispose of un needed and unwanted medications. How can you participate? The closest point to drop off unneeded medications is the pharmacy located at Central Market in Poulsbo. Suquamish Police Department no longer collects unwanted medicine, but we do have a limited number of pre-paid mailers available at the front counter. You can drop one or two bottles directly in the mail to be sent to a proper disposal site.
C
locks have been set ahead, and spring is here! We are waiting for the Easter Bunny to come and deliver his eggs and goodies to all the children. We are cleaning house and placing files in the web so we have more space in the office and less paper in the building. We’re recycling and moving into the digital age more and more. I am learning how to make my files easier to use on the computer so I can keep less paper in drawers. Good for our environment! Learning how to make things better for the future generations. I am also learning how to make the computer work for me and not me work for the computer. This is something, as an Elder, I have needed for a long time. I will be receiving the Sweet grass gathering permits soon, and I let Della Crowell know so we can figure out early how to get folks ways to gather this year. They are sending the permit with all names on one permit, so I will only send them out if you are serious about going to gather. I will give a copy to Della, so she knows who plans on gathering. You must report to both the Nisqually Refuge and myself how much Sweet grass you gathered, so we can keep track of what is taken. In addition, you must take out what you take into the Refuge, do not leave any garage behind. This is something we treasure, and we want to always be able to be invited back. Please cleanup after yourself. For other gatherings, I will be checking with the folks that arrange them and let you know what I hear. Please enjoy the spring and the gifts it brings! Marilyn Jones Traditional Heritage Specialist
Proper disposal is critical to our environment and to prevent abuse. Unwanted medications washed down the sink, thrown in the trash, or flushed down the toilet find their way into the water and soil. Unwanted and unneeded medications can also be the start of an addiction, so don’t leave these drugs readily available if they are no longer needed. By Mark Williams, Suquamish Police Department
Suquamish Tribe is Hiring! Current Job Openings • Medical Director • Police Officer • Activities Coordinator for youth • Mental Health Counselor
New Hires & Transfers
• IN HOUSE - Shellfish Technician • Hatchery Culturist • Resource Room Teacher (CKA) • Substitutes/Coaches (CKA) • Housing Maintenance Assistant • Carpenter • Childcare Teacher (ELC) • Groundskeeper • Night Shift Custodian • Integrated Victim Services Program Supervisor
For information on all of these openings, please visit https://suquamish.nsn. us/home/careers/ or call the job hotline at (360) 394-8414.
Name Cynthia Savini Jessica Brink Lisa True Emily Larson
Department ELC ELC Finance Legal
Hayden Skeman Terry Johnson Colleen Studinarz Aaron Fast
Title Director Childcare Teacher Grants Contract Coordinator Administrative / Legislative Assistant Night Shift Custodian Visitor Services Representative CPS Investigator Peer Support Specialist
Kylee Butler
Peer Support Specialist
Wellness
* Tribal member
Maintenance Museum TCW Wellness
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
April 2022 | 15
Birthdays
l i r Ap April 1 Awner Gronlund Erica Cardiel Kal-a-Kwah-te Deam April 2 James Henry Jr. Lanikai Bagley April 3 Dawn Adams Dennis Clark Willow Manley April 4 Cori Silvey Faith Morton Jordan Baldwin April 5 Lynn Swanson Savannah Hill April 6 Leslie Crowell Shayla Sigo April 7 David Watson Jalysha Covarrubias Jean Belmont Katelynn Pratt Michael Zaiss Randi Smith Veronica Rhodes
April 8 Ashley Bradley Felix Rhodes Jody Miller
April 9 Breanna Crenna Martin Parkinson Robert Cordero Rosemary Deam Serene Williams April 10 Clae-wha-ah Williams Maxwell Dawes Samantha Webster Sea-ots-ton Jones Jr. April 11 King Stewart Kyah Pugh Niccola Armstrong April 12 Kaikumi Rosario Tara Witcher Tracy Iseminger Trishandra Pickup April 13 Anthony Forsman Brenda Vogel Jonathan Morsette Modoulamin Suso Patricia Ostenberg Tess Cordero
April 23 Cathy Kimmel Nicholas O’Brien
April 14 Alfred Youngblood Jr. Anthony Baldwin Chal-chee-quin Williams Kira Purser April 15 David Adams April 16 Chelsea Jones Marcus Eller Mila Bagley-Morsette April 17 Genevieve Molina April 18 Michael Chee Sierra Jackson
Ralena Maloney April 24 Cameron Younger III Henley Wilson Teri Bayes Travis Silvey April 25 Aleia Talmadge Christopher Purser Hi-Ya-Ton Williams Jesse Silvey Lea McMillan Jr. Sophia Hirschy Steven Anderson
April 19 Connor Maloney Merle George
April 26 Destiny Campana Gabriel Reynolds Joseph Bagley Makayla Featherston
April 20 Kelly Melson
April 27 Jesse Ives
April 21 Ariella Pool Denise Pezzanite Erika Pugh James Wilson Michelle Kerns
April 28 Enoch Scheer Lee Berlin Misty Moran Timothy Aslakson Jr.
April 22 Daria Skundberg Ebony Neal Jacob Hill Mark Crowell
April 29 Andrew Jackson-Nickel Dylan Jackson Edward Schaefer William Lawrence April 30 Alizay Boyd Christopher Beckwith Renee Hommel Willard Pratt
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71
hiił swatixʷtədəłdat. Happy Land (Earth) Day.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
Activity: Draw, paint, color, etc. a circle shape to look like the Earth. Add child’s photo or hand print, or have the child color it in with the things they love about the Earth. Once finished you can hang these on your refrigerator or wall. Courtesy Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center