Volume 24
January 2024
In this issue:
Sweats for wellness p4
Youth Council Elections! p8
Honoring Tribal Elder & Cook Eanie Abler Kelp forests returning p11 Also ... Language Program to host information night p5 Community Health resets p10 Elders Holiday fun p12, 13
No. 1
Suquamish News
2 | January 2024
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Community Calendar Meetings
Community Events
Suquamish Tribal Council meets Jan. 8 & 22. Agenda and links sent via Weekly Update & SUN texts.
Culture night. Jan 10 & 24, 5-7pm. Join us in making a necklace. Bring in clean mason jars and receive a raffle ticket. Drawing Jan. 24.
Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Lunch & Learns: How to prepare for meets Jan. 9 & 23, 9:30-11am at the a power outage. Jan. 17, 2024, noonSuquamish Museum. Contact Angela 1pm, Tribal Council Chambers. Bring Brainerd at (360) 394-8652 for details. your lunch. Games & fun. Raffle. Suquamish Warriors meet Jan. 2, Youth Council Elections, Jan. 24, 5:30pm at the Warriors Vet Center. noon to 4pm at Family & Friends Suquamish Seafoods Board meets Jan. Center. Applications due Jan. 19 at 16. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 39410:30am (see page 8 for details). 8512 for details. Paddle to Ahousat. Suquamish PME Board meets Jan. 17; subsidiaries Canoe Family Meeting, Jan. 30, 2024, will meet Dec. 20. Contact Emily Sato 5-6:30pm at Old Tribal Center. at emilysato@clearwatercasino.com for details. New worship Center
Suquamish Museum Board meets Jan. 18, 10am-noon, at the Museum Education Room. For more info call (360) 394-8499.
opening
Beginning Jan. 14, a new worship center, the “Clearwater Awakening,” will have their first worship service at 3pm. The very first message brought Elders Council meets at Elders Lodge Jan. 16, 2-4pm. Call (360) 394- by Elder Lea McMillan will be “God Speaks to all Cultures.” All are wel8417 for details. come. The services will share the old Hearing on Tribal Transportation Suquamish Courthouse building with Plan, Jan. 17, 6-7:30pm in Tribal the Food Bank at 18513 Augusta Ave., Council Chambers and via Zoom. Suquamish, 98392. (See page 9).
Suquamish Babies!
Suquamish Museum
January Events at the Suquamish Museum Jan 8 - 27 Glass Float Find - Scavenger Hunt! Jan 9 Tues, 3pm. Behind the Scenes Tour Jan 13 Sat, all day. FREE Museum Admission Jan 13 Sat, 10am - 1pm. Beading Workshop with Jo Citali
Did you have a baby in 2023? We want to see pictures! Please send Jan 14 Sun, 10am - 3 pm. us 1-3 photos, full name, date of birth, Native Makers Market parents’ and grandparents’ names. Jan 17 Wed, 3pm - 4 pm. We’ll print them in the February and Book Reading: Learning My Rights With March Suquamish News, and showcase Mousewoman, by Morgan Asoyuf them during General Council. EMail to Jan 17 Wed, 1pm - 4pm. Object Identification communications@Suquamish.nsn.us. Jan 20 Sat, 10:30am - 1pm & 1:30pm - 4pm. Thank you! Cedar Hoop Earring Class with Lisa Jackson
For more info or to register for any of our programs, contact the museum at (360) 394-7105, or jreynolds@suquamish.nsn.us
Save the Date!
Feb 13, 2024 Language Program Information Night 5:00-6:30 p.m Old Tribal Center
Suquamish News
Suquamish Tribal Council
Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
Leonard Forsman
Chairman
Josh Bagley
Vice-Chair
Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
Irene Carper
Secretary
Denita Holmes
Treasurer
Letters should include the writer’s full name, address, and home telephone and may be edited for clarity and space. All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
Rich Purser
Member
Sammy Mabe
Member
Luther Mills, Jr.
Member
On the Cover
Della Crowell and Luther “Jay” Mills, Jr. wrap Suquamish Elder Eanie Abler in a blanket at the Elders Holiday Luncheon in December in honor of her years of service cooking and baking for Suquamish Elders events and at other special events for the Tribe. See details on page 3. Photo by JoAnn Joe.
Production Staff Leonard Forsman Catherine Edwards Sarah van Gelder Jon Anderson JoAnn Joe Georgia Browne
Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor Managing Editor News Editor Photography/Design Layout and Design
Editorial Policy
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.
Reproduction of Suquamish News, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Suquamish Tribe is strictly prohibited.
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Suquamish News
January 2024 | 3
Community
Tribal Elder Eanie Abler honored for years of service ‘Love is her secret ingredient’
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anie Abler wasn’t quite sure what she was doing when she made her first geoduck chowder. She had just started working as a cook for the Suquamish Tribe back when the tribe first started offering childcare services in a converted home. “There was a veterans powwow happening, and I was asked to make geoduck chowder for it. I’d never made a chowder before. But I had some ideas and just put something together. Well, I must have done something right,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. By the time the meal was over, three different men had come looking for “whoever had made the chowder” with a proposal for marriage. Some three decades later, Abler is still cooking for the tribe. And still earning high praise for her nutritious and delicious meals prepared by her loving hands each day in the Elders Kitchen. “Love really is her secret ingredient,” says Elders Program Coordinator Della Crowell. “That’s why her food is so amazing — she puts love into everything she does.” Crowell says her favorite Elders Kitchen meal is Abler’s shepherd’s pie. “All her soups are the best. And, her geoduck chowder is the best ever!” But Abler also takes time to talk with any Elder or other visitors to the lunchroom. “She’s always there to listen to people — she’s such a good listener — or just be there for them in her own quite way.” Abler says she was drawn to the kitchen right from the start. “My earliest memories are in the kitchen. I just loved to be in there watching and learning.” Her stepfather Francisco DeMain, who was a cook in the Navy — serving meals in submarine galleys to the admiral’s mess — was a particular mentor to her
Eanie Abler’s Proposal-Worthy Geoduck Chowder Serves four
Ingredients 1 lb ground geoduck 4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces 1-2 carrots, peeled and diced 3-4 celery stalks, diced 1 onion, diced 3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces ¼ cup corn starch mixed in bowl with a few tablespoon of cold water, so just thick enough to pour 4-5 tablespoons clam base 2 tablespoons of butter
culinary aspirations. “He didn’t mind me asking questions and he was an awesome cook and baker. I learned so much from him,” she says. In addition to cooking for the Elders Lunchroom, beginning back when it first opened at the Old Tribal Center, she has also provided countless meals for tribal gatherings — from funerals and parties and powwows to official events and informal functions — her quiet labor of love is usually invisible to most, but appreciated by all. Abler was honored for her years of above-andbeyond cooking, baking, and fellowship-making for the tribe in a blanket wrapping ceremony during the Tribal Elders’ holiday party Dec. 2 at Kiana Lodge. By Jon Anderson
Instructions Fry bacon in a pan until done. Remove bacon. Reserve two tablespoons of bacon fat to use later and keep enough bacon grease in the pan to cook geoduck. Add geoduck to pan and cook on medium heat for about five minutes. Don’t let it cook too long, just enough to release all the juices. Remove from heat. In a large pot, bring about a half gallon of water to a simmer. Add vegetables, let simmer long enough to get tender, but not mushy. About 10-15 minutes. Add geoduck, bacon, and reserved bacon fat. Bring to a boil. Add cornstarch mixture gradually and then clam base. Continue cooking until thickened to your preference. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and mix in until melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with bread and side salad. For desert, Eanie prefers a simple cut up honeydew melon or cantaloupe. Enjoy!
4 | January 2024
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Culture
The Suquamish Community Sweat Lodge Nurturing Wellness and Recovery
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t’s a cool Sunday afternoon and a fire is cracking at the center of a small clearing, not far from the Suquamish shoreline and a short walk into the woods near the Old Tribal Center. As people quietly gather around the fire, dozens of melon-sized rocks are glowing red hot under the blaze. Chuck Wagner welcomes each person as they arrive with a smile. Inipi Little Brave, who has been carefully tending the fire for more than two hours, places a drum near a small alter between the fire and the small cedar lodge entryway. Here in the heart of the Suquamish tribal community, sweat lodge tradition thrives, offering a space for healing, recovery, and spiritual connection. Wagner, a longtime Suquamish tribal community member and former director of the tribe’s Wellness Center, has been helping organize the weekly sweats for years. Wagner is also one of small group of “pourers” who are responsible for guiding sweats. Others include Justin Grace-Hawk, Santana Niluka, We-Laka Chiquiti, Tayna Chiquiti, and Charles Lawrence. Through much of the 1970s and ‘80s, the Suquamish sweat lodge was closely associated with the American Indian Movement. AIM activist Leonard Peltier was a regular participant when he ran an auto body shop in Seattle, says Wagner.
Back then, the lodge was built in the plains style with bent willow branches and heavy blankets. By the mid 1990s, however, the Suquamish lodge shifted to a cedar construction that is more authentic to the lodges traditionally used by Coast Salish tribes, says Wagner. While the current Suquamish sweat lodge was initially built to offer ceremonies for those in recovery, it’s now open to anyone in the community seeking health and wellness. The Suquamish lodge offers a judgment-free space, says Wagner, where individuals can find healing and support. Indeed, sweats can provide a transformative experience, he says, noting its detoxifying effects and historical roots not only among Native American tribes, but across many ancient cultures. “The Viking did sweats, the Germans, the Scots, all have their version of a sweat lodge. That’s because sweats help you physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially,” says Wagner. “And everybody down at our sweats are very supportive of recovery.” Wagner says the Sweat Lodge has become an integral part of his approach to recovery. “I’ve been
sober over 32 years now and the sweat lodge has been a big part of that, along with mental health counseling, support groups, Healing of the Canoe, Native American Church, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. It all works together for me.” He credits the late Steve Old Coyote and the late John Chiquiti with training and mentoring him in
the ways of the Sweat Lodge, and he now tries his best to pass on their wisdom and teachings to the next generations. The sweat ceremony is usually split into four rounds, or doors, as they’re called. Participants sit around a small pit at the center of the lodge.
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
January 2024 | 5
Language Program to host Information Night
On this day, Little Brave — whose first name, Inipi, means sweat lodge in the Lakota language — lifts the heavy stones from the fire and carries them into the lodge at the beginning of each door. After they’re carefully placed into the center pit, heavy blankets are dropped down to cover the entryway. The red-glowing stones offer the only light as Wagner pours water onto them and the lodge fills with steam. Wagner offers a “Four Directions” pour, with each round centered on a different focus for prayer, traditional songs, and reflection. The four doors typically continue for about two hours, with each round providing a short break for water and cool air as fresh rocks are brought in. While participants are encouraged sit through all four doors if they are able, there are no hard rules and it’s not uncommon for some to begin later or sometimes leave earlier. It’s the intensity of the heat and steam, enduring the physical hardship as your body sweats out, combined with the spiritual and communal aspects, that all contribute to a unique and transformative experience. It is a physically demanding experience, to be sure, but one that for many also provides a profound sense of catharsis, spiritual connection, and mental clarity. A sweat is usually offered every weekend, with additional sessions scheduled for specific groups or individuals facing personal challenges. The Suquamish Community Sweat Lodge Facebook Group serves as a hub for information about upcoming sessions. “Wherever you are in your recovery or healing journey,” says Wagner, “I hope you’ll consider coming to see what sweats are all about. It can very literally change your life. It definitely did for me.” For more information contact Chuck Wagner at (360) 633-6236 on join the Suquamish Community Sweat Lodge group on Facebook. By Jon Anderson
haʔł sləx̌il (good day.) Cassy George tsi dsdaʔ. My name is Cassy George. I started working in this new position as the Language Program Coordinator on August 1st, 2023. I am very excited to be able to facilitate Lushootseed speaking in our community. Currently, the program has two full-time workers, me, and Joey Holmes, the multi-media specialist. It is important that the Language Program has goals and quantifiable metrics to measure the program’s effectiveness. Joey and I have been working diligently to restructure our program, develop and expand our staff, and find our role within the new Cultural Resources Department that was created in July 2023. We will share more information about our Language Program projects, program plans, and Spring Hybrid Classes for tribal households at our Language Program Information Night on Tuesday Feb. 13 at the Old Tribal Center from5.6:30pm. łuʔəłəd čəł. We will eat! həwadł čəł łulabdubułəd ʔal tudiʔ. We hope to see you there. By Cassy George
Tribal Holiday Party Enchants at HOAC Santa made a special appearance in Suquamish Dec 14 when Tribal households gathered at the House of Awakened Culture to celebrate the holiday season together. Organized and hosted by the Cultural Resources Department, with support from the helpful elves at Human Services and other volunteer staff, it was an evening of delicious food, engaging activities, and joyful fellowship.
6 | January 2024
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Tribal Government
Chairman’s Report Suquamish Chairman Leonard Forsman was among the tribal leaders invited to the 2023 White House Tribal Summit December 6 & 7, where issues affecting Indian Country were discussed with Biden Administration officials.
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he Suquamish Tribe’s government-to-government relationships stretch from our local cities and counties to the White House in Washington, D.C. Tribal Council members met with Commissioner Christine Rolfes, our newest Kitsap County Commissioner, to discuss issues on and near the reservation including traffic improvements, stormwater upgrades, law enforcement, and zoning. Commissioner Rolfes is a familiar person to the Suquamish Tribe after serving on the Bainbridge City Council, the State House, and the State Senate, and she has consistently been engaged in tribal issues. December was also the time for the Biden/Harris Administration’s annual White House Tribal Leaders Summit in Washington D.C. We were back in the Department of Interior’s auditorium for the meeting that included live appearances by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was under the weather and appeared by video stream. The President signed an executive order entitled “Executive Order on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self Determination.” The President said at the summit that the order will: “reform the federal funding system for Tribes, cutting that red tape so you can deliver for
your communities faster and better. It requires federal agencies to streamline grant applications, to co-manage federal programs, to eliminate heavy-handed reporting requirements. It gives Tribes more autonomy to make your own decisions. Not to mention, it’s more efficient.” President Biden also announced his backing for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy lacrosse team to compete as an independent nation at the 2028 Olympics in lacrosse. The confederacy includes the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas who invented the game of lacrosse. Other events during the summit included a dinner and cultural presentation by the Navajo Nation and a White House Holiday Event that I had the pleasure of attending with my wife Jana and a few other tribal leaders. We also are working with other tribal governments to protect our sovereignty, increase needed funding, and preserve and restore our natural resources. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Executive Board held a virtual meeting to get an update from our Executive Director Amber Schulz-Oliver on our operations. The mid-year conference is proposed to be hosted by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe Indians at their Seven Feathers Casino and Resort. The annual meeting is proposed to be hosted by the Cowlitz Tribe at their Ilani Casino and Resort.
The Association of Washington Tribes held a meeting to discuss reestablishing the organization as a forum for discussing state-tribal issues and other policy discussions. We will be adopting bylaws and appointing officers at our next meeting. State Representative Deb Lekanoff joined Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire in hosting a listening session entitled, The Fentanyl Crisis in Washington State Native Communities, at the Lummi Silver Reef Casino. Tribes continue to request that the state of Washington and the federal government help the tribes address this epidemic, which has affected so many of our families and friends throughout Indian Country at a higher rate than the general public. I testified in-person to the challenges facing our tribe and what can be done to help address the issue. More funding for treatment/detox, housing, and wrap-around services, including employment, are key to recovery of addicted individuals. We are also hoping to see more investment in addressing the causes and reducing the negative impacts that drug abuse and addiction cause in our respective nations. The state and the tribes of Washington are making progress in improving tribal education in our public school system. The Tribal Leaders Congress of Education met virtually and discussed the upcoming legislative session. We hope to get increased support for implementing tribal culture and history curriculum into the public schools. Tribes need more support to develop curriculum supporting the Since Time Immemorial curriculum, which provides a general understanding of our tribal history from a statewide perspective. More localized curriculum is needed. The Chief Kitsap Academy School Board met in the new auditorium with CKA Principal Jeff Williamson and Education Superintendent Brenda Guerrero to hear presentations regarding new assessment tools that staff can use to track graduation progress and student skill attainment. The University of Washington Board of Regents did not meet in December, but we did have an
Tribal Council Schedule Tribal Council meets Jan 8 & 22. Watch for SUN alerts and Weekly Updates for details.
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Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting with the Provost to discuss our presentation planned for the January meeting. We also met with the UW intergovernmental team to discuss progress in developing a tuition waiver bill for Native American students. That bill is under review and in need of tribal leader input. The Suquamish Tribal Cultural Resources Department held a retreat at Kiana Lodge to discuss the future plans and initiatives of our new team. Kate Ahvakana, Culture Department Director, joined other team members to discuss language revitalization, traditional foods, ceremonies and events, song and dance, canoe journeys and other topics. I also contributed to a video being developed by the Bremerton Kitsap Access Program on the history of Chief Kitsap for airing at a future date. Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe Chairman
Suquamish Police activity on the Port Madison Reservation Suquamish Police Chief Mike Lasnier is now compiling a monthly overview of Police Dept. activity during the previous month. The reports will be posted, as they are received, on the Suquamish Tribe website at: https:// suquamish.nsn.us/spd-blotter/
January 2024 | 7
General Council Preview 2024 Forums Coming Soon Beginning in early 2024, you will be invited to a series of forums on services provided by Tribal government. The forums will take place monthly during lunch, and will be online only. You’ll have a chance to ask your questions and get to know staff member. If you have comments or suggestions for topics you’d like covered, please email communications@ suquamish.nsn.us. We’ll send out details early in 2024 via the Weekly Update and SUN text alerts.
Tribal Council seeks comment on tribal code on garnishments The Suquamish Tribal Council is seeking written comments on a proposed revision of Suquamish Tribal Code Title 5, Chapter 10, Garnishment. Please submit written comments by February 1, 2024. The proposed changes can be read online here: . Or a copy may be requested from the Office of the Tribal Attorney. Submit comments to: Office of the Tribal Attorney, STC Chapter 5.10 Comments, P.O. Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392, or by email with the subject line “Chapter 5.10 Comments” to bbrueseke@suquamish.nsn.us.
General Council will take place March 16-17, 2024, at Kiana Lodge, and preparations are underway.
Tribal Council Elections
Three Tribal Council positions are up for election at the March 16-17 General Council: • Position #1 currently held by Rich Purser • Position #2 currently held by Sammy Mabe • Position #3, currently held by Luther “Jay” Mills, Jr.
If you would like to submit a candidate statement for publication in the February or March edition of the Suquamish News, please email it anytime before Feb. 15, 2024, to Communications@Suquamish.nsn.us. You are welcome to include a photo. Statements and photos are optional.
Clearwater Resort rooms are now available
Rooms at the Clearwater Casino Resort are now available at a discounted rate for Tribal members coming from out of town to attend General Council. To book your room, call the Reservations Department at 866-609-8700 and ask for the Suquamish Tribe General Council 2024 Block. If you prefer to book your reservations online, use the following link: https://reserve.clearwatercasino. com/suquamish#groupSignIn and use group code 23360.
8 | January 2024
Suquamish News
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Community
Youth Council Elections Happening January 2024 All positions are open! Suquamish youth are invited to run
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uquamish youth 12+ are invited to run for positions on the Suquamish Youth Council. Members of the Council have fun being in leadership, meeting new people, planning and hosting activities, giving back to the community, fundraising, volunteering, expressing concerns, and traveling(!!). All positions are open! Voting will take place on Jan. 24, 2024, noon to 4pm, and the newly elected Youth Council will be announced at 5pm. Applications and speeches are due by 10:30am on Jan. 19, 2024. Stop by or call the Family and Friends Center at (360) 394-8576 to complete a “Intent to Run” card and to pick up an application. Or email fandfcenter@suquamish.nsn.us. Who is qualified? Suquamish Tribal member of youth living in Tribal Households age 12 and up who are currently enrolled in school or graduated. To run for Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary or Treasurer, you must be 13-18. Youth 12-18 can run for Male and Female Representatives or Historian. Youth Council members must remain drug and alcohol-free at all times during their term. Good behavior is expected of all Youth Council members at all times. This rule applies outside Youth Council meetings and functions. Youth Council members are expected to participate in Youth Council functions, meetings, Tribal Council meetings, community projects/activities, and work and communicate with Advisor(s). For more information, call Jana, Jenn, Ryan, Barb, or Vincent at (360) 394-8576, email fandfcenter@suquamish.nsn.us, or stop by at the Family and Friends Center to learn more.
Grant to Family & Friends will fund language bots Congratulations to the Family and Friends Center for being awarded $5,000 mini STEAM grant from Mentor Washington. The Family & Friends Center is excited to work with The Steam Connection. The Steam Connection, owned and operated by Danielle Boyer (Ojibwe-Sault Tribe), will provide SkoBots, a small wearable robot that teaches language. In partnership with the Suquamish Language program, the project aims to encourage language use and retention in the Suquamish community. For more information on The Steam Connection organization, and SkoBots, visit www.steamconnection.org.
Suquamish News
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Public Notice: Long Range Transportation Plan
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he Suquamish Tribe is in the process of updating the Tribe’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The plan identifies, prioritizes, and estimates costs for transportation projects proposed for the next 20 years. One part of the LRTP is the Transportation Improvement Plan (TTIP). Based on priorities set by Congress, the BIA funds new roads and maintenance of existing roads within or adjoining the Port Madison Indian Reservation and on other reservations around the United States. Funding is also available for non-motorized walk and bike lanes and trails, however, these trails must be open to the public to be considered for funding and the project must be included in the Tribal Transportation Improvement Plan (TTIP). This updates will add roads to the TTIP so funding could be available from the BIA if needed. You are invited to read the proposed plan and respond in writing. Copies of the draft TTIP are available at the Community Development office located at the Tribal Administration Building. Comments on the plan will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2024. A public hearing will be held Jan. 17 from 6-7:30pm in Tribal Council Chambers. For those wishing to participate remotely there will be a link in the weekly SUN Update. Questions regarding the draft TTIP may be addressed to Tom Curley, GIS Program Manager, at (360) 394-8503. By Tom Curley GIS Program Manager
Guess Who?
Honoring our Elders and Ancestors
Who are these two children, seen here berry picking around 1950, who grew up to serve on Suquamish Tribal Council? Find out on page 11.
January 2024 | 9
Suquamish Police Dept. helps lead annual holiday “Shop with a Cop” event
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or the 19th year in a row, the Suquamish Police Department helped lead the Kitsap “Shop With a Cop” event, which is held the first Saturday of December every year.
Ten lucky Suquamish youth were whisked away — along with kids from the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and Bainbridge Island Boys and Girls Club — on a beautiful yellow chariot provided by the Chief Kitsap Academy with a police escort. The group then met up with kids from the Bremerton School District. Laughs, smiles, stories, and a magical experience were shared by the kids and their shopping buddies. Our Suquamish Police later helped with a much smaller “Shop With a Cop” event in Port Orchard to support the Port Orchard Police Department. This year, 15 tribal, city, state, and military
law enforcement agencies in and around Kitsap County participated. Suquamish Police are grateful to the Kitsap Shop With a Cop organization for making this event possible, the Chief Kitsap Academy for providing transportation, and Suquamish TCW for selecting the kids and assisting with the event. Due to unpreventable circumstances, a few kids missed the event, but were later taken shopping by Suquamish Police officers with the assistance of the Blue Bridge Project, which allowed every child selected by TCW to be provided for by our Suquamish Police. Kitsap Shop With a Cop is a non-profit organization with a board made up of active and retired police officers and their families. Through the year, this group raises funds to host the event during the holiday season. My wife and I are among the founding board members. By Mark Williams Suquamish Police Deputy Chief
Suquamish News
10 | January 2024
Suquamish.nsn.us
Community
Community Health resets for new year
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he Suquamish Tribe Community Health Program is packing up from the Healing House clinic and returning to our roots at the main Administration building. WIC and Nutrition are under our wing and are excited to be making this move with us. Have you checked out our revamped section on the Suquamish website? It's now packed with smiling photos of our amazing staff. It's a onestop, digital spot to get to know Community Health better! Our New Community Health Program Manager is Jeff Riggins, a proud member of the Suquamish Tribe with Jackson and Napoleon lineage. He is the grandson of Betty Pasco, and his mother serves as chair of the Tribal Gaming Commission. He has been with Community Health since 2022 and has had many healthcare roles ranging from working in large hospitals, to healthcare insurance, non-profits, and other community-based work that all make him an excellent fit for this role. We have a new Community Health logo too! Designed by Riggins, it’s a raven that serves as a symbol of healing, wisdom, and transformation. It represents the bridge between healthcare providers and our beautiful community members. It’s more than a logo; it’s a story of who we are and what we stand for. Community Health has a new budget for 2024. Although it may be lower, that does not mean we are slowing down. We have some great things planned for this year, and you will see no reduction to any of our services we offer. Reach out to Jeff Riggins if you have any questions, concerns, or needs: (360) 394-1336. Here's to a year of health, transformation, and community spirit! Let's make 2024 a year to remember in Suquamish!
Barbara Hoffman hired in new role as Public Health Manager
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arbara Hoffman is our new Public Health Manager, and will oversee the Community Health Division. Barbara has been with the tribe for over 20 years and has guided many of our tribal members through a vast array of their medical journeys and needs. She has been a leader in helping our tribe make the best decisions in regards to nutrition, health, vaccines, and many issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to holding a doctorate in nursing, Barbara served as the Suquamish public health officer during the COVID-19 outbreak. In this new position, Barbara will be advising the tribe in the best practices for preventing communicable disease spread and ensuring the health and safety of the tribe. The new role is also responsible for keeping up to date with CDC priorities and handling reports of public health emergencies. Other responsibilities include reviewing and taking appropriate action on notifiable conditions, threats to public health, and disease outbreaks. The Public Health Manager oversees the Community Health Program as a whole, although day-to-day operations in Community Health will be handled by Community Health Program Manager Jeff Riggins. Our community has received funding specifically allocated for creating this public health position, and we are excited to see both the tribe’s vision and Barbara’s expertise come together in forming our future public health goals. Please reach out to Barbara Hoffman with any questions: (360) 394-8468.
FREE WILL DRAFTING Available for all Suquamish Tribal Members and owners of Port WILL Madison Reservation Trust Land FREE DRAFTING Free document drafting is availableTribal for Suquamish Tribal and Available for all Suquamish Members Last Will and Testament Membersof andPort owners of Port Madison ReservationTrust Trust Land. owners Madison Reservation Land For appointments, please We can prepare: inherit yourhelp property (includes trust and fee land). A document to specify who you want to
Durable Power of Attorney
contact Shilene George at (360) 394-8501 or
• A document Last Will and Testament. A document to specify who you to specify a person you would trust shilenegeorge@suquamish.nsn.us to make your financial and healthcare decisions For appointments, please want to inherit your property (includes trust and fee land). A document to specify who you want to in the event you are disabled.
Last Will and Testament
inherit your property (includes trust and fee land).
contact Shilene George at
•Healthcare Durable Power of Attorney. A document to specify a perDirective (360)and 394-8501 or you towould trust to regarding make your financial healthcare Ason document specify your wishes A document to specify a person youlife would trust shilenegeorge@suquamish.nsn.us end-of-life care and support. decisions in the event you are disabled. to make your financial and healthcare decisions
Durable Power of Attorney
Burial Directive in the event you are disabled.
• Healthcare Directive. A document to specify your wishes regarding care and disposition of end-of-life your remains, your funeral or life support.
document to specify your wish for the HealthcareA Directive
services burial. A document to specify your wishesand regarding
care and life support. to specify your wish for the • Burialend-of-life Directive. A document disposition of your remains, your funeral or services, and Burial Directive burial. A document to specify your wish for the
For appointments, please contact Shilene George at (360) 394-8501 or shilenegeorge@suquamish.nsn.us.
disposition of your remains, your funeral or services and burial.
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
January 2024 | 11
Natural Resources
Kelp restoration happening now off Doe-Kag-Wats
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ave you seen the return of the floating bull kelp forest in the waters off of Doe-KagWats/Jefferson Head? These giant seaweeds stretch from the sea bottom, growing quickly up to the surface in a single year creating an underwater forest that provides important habitat and food for numerous forms of sea-life from shellfish to salmon to marine mammals. Kelp forests contribute greatly to the productivity and biodiversity of marine ecosystems as well as absorbing excess CO2 and nutrient pollution and cushioning shorelines from storm waves.
These floating kelp forests were once a common summer sight in the waters off of Doe-Kag-Wats/ Jefferson Head according to historical Tribal member accounts and corroborated by scientific kelp surveys from the past. But kelp abundance in the Salish Sea and especially in Central and South Puget Sound has unfortunately experienced sharp declines and the perennial floating bull kelp forests off the shores of Jefferson Head had disappeared entirely by the early 1990s. The disappearance of this kelp forest was alarming to Tribal members and researchers alike. In 2010, Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PRSF), spurred on by the suggestion from Chairman Leonard Forsman and support of the Tribe began its Bull Kelp Restoration Program in hopes to bring back the kelp to Suquamish waters and other areas of Puget Sound. Restoring a threatened kelp forest is a challenging prospect. The causes of the declines in Puget
Sound kelp abundance is not certain though we know bull kelp is very vulnerable to changing water conditions. Warming water temperatures and deteriorating water quality including increased nutrient and sediment load into the Sound from runoff and shoreline development may be the main stressors negatively impacting our kelp. Helping reverse the declines in kelp abundance will require a multi-pronged approach. PSRF’s kelp project includes several different approaches to saving our kelp including enhancing existing or recently existing kelp forests, preserving bull kelp genetics from throughout the Salish Sea in a seaweed “seedbank”, and monitoring the remaining kelp forests in Puget Sound. Tribal knowledge and leadership is a vital part of the restoration effort and is helping to build a broader understanding of the critical role kelp forests play in the health of marine systems. In partnership with the Tribe, Doe-Kag-Wats was chosen as the first site of PSRF’s pilot bull kelp outplanting experiment. This work is being done in the waters where the bull kelp forest historically occurred and involves transferring and anchoring of “seeded” lines of rope containing the baby bull kelp to the sea floor in the early spring. These baby kelps hold on to the lines or other hard surfaces as they grow towards the surface suspended by their floating bulbs. As the kelp matures in late summer it begins to reproduce, sending spores of the next generation into the surrounding water. If conditions are favorable, the bull kelp may grow all the way to the surface in one year creating a floating canopy for this underwater forest. The PSRF project at Doe-Kag-Wats has done just that and for the last four years since 2019 the kelp forest, with a little encouragement, has grown from seafloor to sea surface. This project has proven to be successful in regrowing the kelp forest off of Doe-Kag-Wats and has been critical in developing new kelp outplanting methods. The true goal of the restoration program will be a persistent kelp forest off of Doe-Kag-Wats that needs no help to thrive. The long-term health and abundance of kelp in Puget Sound is not ensured by outplanting alone it will require tackling pressing water quality issues and impacts from developed shorelines. Nik Matsumoto Suquamish Tribe shellfish biologist
Did you know? The “Guess Who” photo is of Linda Holt and the late Robert “Bob” Alexander, Sr. The photo is from the Dora Henry Collection in the Suquamish Museum Archives.
Suquamish News
12 | January 2024
Suquamish.nsn.us
1
Lunchroom Menu
JANUARY 2024
Tues
Mon 2
Tomato Soup Tuna Fish Sandwich on Whole Wheat Closed Bread Happy New Year! Steamed broccoli Fresh Fruit
22
4
5
Goulash (ground beef, tomatoes, green beans) Brown Rice Tossed Salad Wheat Roll Fresh Fruit
Chicken A La King Brown Rice Steamed Spinach Yogurt Parfait w/ Fruit
Indian Tacos (meat, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, sour cream) Cottage cheese and Peaches
11
12
BBQ Chicken Fresh Veggie Tray Corn Bread Cottage Cheese w/ Fruit
Geoduck Chowder w/ oyster crackers California Veggie Blend Fresh Fruit
16
17
Beef, Barley & Vegetable Soup Tuna Sandwich Cucumber Tomato Salad Fresh Fruit
Baked Chicken Germany Blend Veggies Apple, Celery & Pineapple Salad Pumpkin Cookie
23
24
Split Pea Soup w/ Chicken and Dumplings w/ Mixed Ham Vegetables Egg Salad Sandwich Apple, Celery and on Whole Wheat Pineapple Salad Bread Oatmeal Cookie
30
Chicken Adobo Brown Rice Asian Blend Veggies Tossed Salad Fresh Fruit
Minestrone Soup Turkey & Cheese Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread Spinach Blueberry Salad
ast Breakfnch! u L r o f Egg, Vegetable & Cheese Frittata Oven Roasted Potatoes Oat Bran Muffin Yogurt Parfait w/ Fruit
18
25
BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad Winter Squash Wheat Roll Fresh Fruit
Tossed Salad SF Pudding
29
Fri
3
y Birthda 9 10 ation! r b e l e c Sweet & Sour Pork Baked Potato Bar Sloppy Joe on a Brown Rice w/ Chili, Broccoli & Whole Wheat Bun Calif Veggie Blend Germany Blend Cheese Sauce Veggies Tossed Salad Kale Salad Tossed Salad Fresh Fruit Fresh Fruit SF Pudding Birthday Cake & Ice Cream
Closed Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Thurs
Wed
8
15
Elders
Elders
Tribal Elders
Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy California Veggie Blend Tossed Salad Corn Bread
W
hat a festive Elders holiday party held this year at our Kiana Lodge! We had over 300 tribal members & guests attend our celebration, with delicious food & festive red gift bags. We thank the chefs & servers and Brittany Bakken! We had elders from out of state to share the joy, Robin Camacho (Gemmell), from NV, and Lori Wolfe (Gemmell), from CA. Tribal Elder Lisa Ellis (Gemmell), and her singing partner Linda Bracamonte entertained with spectacular vocal renditions of holiday melodies. We wish to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers, Antonia Joe, Ah-nika-leesh Chiquiti, JoAnn Joe, Elder Tracy Tabafunda (Belmont), Faith Reese & Connor Lund, and our care givers.
19
Salmon Sweet Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Pachado Bread Pumpkin Cookie
26
Ham Hocks w/ Beans Brown Rice Steam Kale Tossed Salad Pachado Bread
31
Shephard’s Pie (meat, green beans, potatoes) Tossed Salad Wheat Roll Fresh Fruit
Corner
Beverages : Choice of 1% Milk or Lactose Free Milk. Occasional substitutions may be necessary
Elders Kitchen: (360) 394-8407. Please call to inform the kitchen if you would like to cancel home delivery for the day.
Our Elders Annual Ceramics Painting activity was a hit, with 19 artists in attendance. Turtles were the big item this year, along with ornaments. A new “swirl” technique was learned. In the past two months, we have been blessed with two new Suquamish babies, Laura Bakken’s (Mills) new grandson Hendrick, and David Sigo’s new great-granddaughter Gabriella. Welcome to the world! Elder Sandra Powers (Alexis), flew from Texas to attend her sister’s birthday party in Little Boston. She is the Auntie of Patty Medina (Alexis) and Karyn Keller (Alexis). Sandra dropped into the office to say hello and share a few laughs. Patty & Rick Medina celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary on Friday, Dec. 8, at the Beach Club Lounge in the Casino. Rick thought PME was having a party for them, LOL… Actually, PME hosted a great spread that day, which included cheeseburgers,
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Action Needed to Receive Medicare Reimbursement
S
uquamish Tribal Elders ages 65 and older and enrolled in Health Benefits will not be able to get Medicare Premium Reimbursement until Health Benefits has received your new 2024 Social Security letter. The deadline to do this is Jan 31. Due to Medicare Premiums changing each year, Health Benefits must have your annual Social Security Letter before you can be reimbursed. Social Security sends this letter to you every December or January. Once we receive this letter from you, you will be reimbursed the Medicare Monthly Premium that is deducted from your monthly Social Security check. These reimbursements are sent by Finance with your monthly Elder payments. If you have misplaced your letter, or have any questions, the Health Benefits team can help! Call (360) 394-8424 or email health_benefits_email@Suquamish.nsn.us. Or just stop by the Health Benefits office.
pulled pork sandwiches, salad, fruit, cookies, & eggnog. Our PME CEO, Rion Ramirez was there to hand out envelopes of goodness. Richard Purser our GM and CFO Irene Carper (who looked charming dressed up in her elf costume) were there to greet us, while board member Andrew George passed out candy canes and hugs. We Elders are blessed with the gifts and goodwill received from PME and our Tribe, throughout the year. We were taking Elders home after Tuesday Movie Night & saw some beautiful holiday lights/decorations on Julia Widen’s home and Troy Mabe’s home. Oh my gosh, make sure to drive by our museum, it looks so magical with all the lights, just beautiful! We wish many blessings to our Elders and their loved ones in the upcoming year, while we hold our hands up to those Elders who have passed in 2023. May your hopes, dreams & resolutions become a reality in the coming year. Cheers to 2024! Yes...2024! Della Crowell & Melissa Lund
January 2024 | 13
Tribal Elders celebrate the season at Kiana
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uquamish Tribal Elders gathered for their exclusive holiday party at Kiana Lodge on Dec. 2. Hosted by Human Services, the party featured a delicious dinner of salmon and prime rib, raffles and special gifts – including gift cards and holiday truffles. Professional singing duo Tribal Elder Lisa Ellis and Linda Bracamonte delighted with a performance of holiday song favorites. Elders were also the very first to receive the new 2024 Suquamish Tribe calendar.
Suquamish News
14 | January 2024
Suquamish.nsn.us
Sports & Fitness
Sports & Recreation wraps up fall basketball and gets ready for winter
T
he fall season has ended for our boys and girls. Our teams continue to grow and have progressed nicely throughout the year. This fall season we focused on our younger youth and middle school age boys and girls groups in getting them ready for their upcoming school basketball seasons. The youth did an outstanding job showing up and putting in the extra time in the gym with the coaches, and it really paid off. We have a number of youth playing for the respected school programs from the high school and middle school teams. Upcoming Youth Basketball: January – March This year we will be having 12 youth teams ages 5-13 years participating in both the Kitsap County Pee Wee Association and Poulsbo Park and Recreation leagues. The Pee Wee games will be played on week nights Mon–Fri at gyms throughout Kitsap County. Poulsbo Parks and Recreation leagues will be played on Saturdays at gyms in North Kitsap. Schedules will be available in early January. For information please contact the Sports and
Recreation staff: Craigmiller@suquamish.nsn.us (360)-394-8574 Mturrieta@suquamish.nsn.us (360)-509-9512 Wchiquiti@suquamish.nsn.us (360)-536-7171
New Hires & Transfers
January 2024 Monday Monday
Functional Fitness: 7-8am Spin: 12:05-12:45pm Functional Fitness: 5-6pm
Thursday
Elders: 10:30-11:30am Elders Chair Volleyball 11:30am-12:15pm
Tuesday
Wednesday
Personal Training block Functional Fitness: 7-8am Sign up required Toning/Mobility: 12:05-12:45pm 6-7am | 7-8am Yoga: 2:45-3:45pm Elders Fitness: 10:30-11:30am Functional Fitness: 5-6pm
Friday
Functional Fitness: 7-8am | 5-6pm Commit Dance 12:05-12:45
Saturday
Functional Fitness: 9-10am Ask about BINGO Commit Dance: 7:45 am-8:45am ( 1st sat of the month only)
Contact: Fitness Center: (360) 394-7142 Personal Training inquiry's (360) 979-6942
Name Nicholas Mabbutt
Title Carpenter
Department DCD
*Katelyn Carper
Admin Assistant
Cultural
Alexis Muro
EHS Assistant Teacher Childcare Teacher
ELC
Cultural Activities Coordinator On Call CKA
Cultural
Care Coordinator
HS
CPS Investigator
TCW
*Carol Nakhuda Denita Holmes Juliana Cook *Quel-isha Brealan-Bayes Todd Grogan
* Tribal member **Tribal Descendant
ELC
Education
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
January 2024 | 15
Birthdays
y r a u n a J January 1 Brandon Emmett January 2 Charlene Renquist Charlie Brown Dakota McConaghy Isabelle Chiquiti Marion Ives January 3 Alyssa Johnson Cha-la-kwa-tud Chiquiti Maya Purser Melvin Colomb Mikayla Madayag William Alexander William Sigo III January 4 Brandon Dryden Bruce Belmont Christopher Underhill Debra Dunning James Mabe Jamie Loneia Jorden Lawrence Mary Adams Tyler Mabe Vicky Doyle January 5 Miya Smith Rose Anderson
January 6 Andrea Nellenbach Kellen Baker
January 14 Geraldine Joe Tiger Lily Duthie
January 7 Alira Hill Anthony Mabe Mary Lou Salter Thaddeus Duthie
January 15 Aleccia Pratt Angela Clark Edward Midkiff Sr. Phoenix George Shilene George Stephanie Power Taren Haynes
January 8 Samantha Salas William Swift January 9 Brittney Lerdo Devan Crow Raellen George Viviana Serrato January 11 Andrew Pondelick Baily Moss Benjamin Goodwin Bennie Armstrong Crystal Sigo David Schuler Trevor Adams Troy Mabe January 12 Christopher Puckett Henry Jackson Jr. Makaha Lawrence Phillip Contraro Seth Mabe January 13 Barbara Santos Frederick Sigo Kwll-kwull-tu Williams
January 16 Cheayvone Swift Elizabeth Napoleon Kimberly Kumpf Michael Narte January 17 Aaron Purser Calvin Medina January 18 Sutah Purcell William Jackson January 19 Aiana Medeiros Denali George Jacinda Lawrence Kourtney Lawrence Lorraine Brice Susan Bambino
January 20 Brandy Sherman January 21 Austen Jenkins Gail Coyne Jacob Sigo Marlene Brown Robert Gemmell Timothy Jackson January 22 Eric Lindell Eric Webster Frank Chavez George Adams Gloria Smith John Rubeck January 24 Gray Crowell Jr. Honorato Rapada Peato Linda Immken January 25 Autumn Colomb Bakolah Williams Belinda Hommel Dillan Ashenbrenner Leonard Forsman Steven George Thomas Cordero Sr. Tory Dotson
January 26 Floyd Dollar Robert Cordero Jr. January 27 Harriet Webber Jamie Gooby Joaquin McClurg-Santos Kristen Mabe Peter Werbelo III Shilo Christensen Tami Jefferson January 28 Betty Pasco Nicholas Leva Rachel Pineda January 29 Allicia Knapp Daniel Santos Thomas Bailey January 30 Ryliee Boyd January 31 Edward Widen
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Tacoma WA Permit 548