In this issue:
Boarding Schools: Road to Healing – p10
Native Horsemanship Program
Returns p11
Meetings
Elders Council meets at the Elders Lodge third Tues. of the month, 2-4pm. Contact Della or Melissa at (360) 394-8417 for details.
Suquamish Tribal Council
May 1 & 15. Agenda and links sent via Weekly Update & SUN Texts.
PME Board Meets May 17, 9am. Contact Emily Sato at emilysato@ clearwatercasino.com to connect.
Suquamish Museum
Will meet 3rd Thursday of every month @ 10-11:30am at the Museum Education Room. For more info contact (360) 394-8499.
Suquamish Seafoods Board
Meets online May 16. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 394-8512 for details.
Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm.
Meets May 16 & 30 @ 9:30-11am at Suquamish Museum. Contact Angela Brainerd (360) 394-8652 for details.
Suquamish Warriors
Meets on first Tuesdays, 5:30pm at Suquamish Warriors Vet Center. Contact Bill Gemmell (360) 536-0007.
Community Events
MMIWP Awareness Day May 5 from 1-4pm.Walk from Admin. to HOAC honoring families of MMIP. See page 9 for details.
Wisdom Warriors May 10, 2pm, Tribal Council Chambers. Azure Boure will talk about plant teachings on Alders and Rachel will present on “rethink your drink.”
Giveaway Workshop for Canoe Journey Every Thurs. thru June 8, 11am-6pm at Old Tribal Center 15838 Sandy Hook Rd. Open to all.
Coming Up ...
2023 Annual Canoe Journey
July 24–28, Suquamish Canoe Family paddles from Lummi to Suquamish July 28–29, Suquamish hosting July 30, Muckleshoot landing.
North Kitsap School District
Native American Honoring-June 21 Suquamish Graduate Honoring-June 27 (see page 16)
Beginning May 1, Covid testing is available by appointment only. Call (360) 394-1350 with your insurance information.
Covid vaccinations and boosters are available Wednesdays from 1-4 pm by appointment. Call 360-394-8469 to schedule.
Booster Update: A second Covid bivalent booster is now authorized for those 65+ or immunocompromised. Must be four months since last booster.
Tribal families and tribal government staff are eligible.
haʔlid ʔə ti pədhədəbil
• Wee Wun: May 2–6
• Woolly Dog: May 9–13
• Sackman: May 16–20
• Eaglemere: May 23–27
• Indianola: May 30–June 3 Tues–Sat., 9am–4pm.
Accepting household trash, furniture, appliances, tires, electronics.
Elders’ assistance available.
Contact: Josh Mabe or Christian Lawrence (360) 516-8012
At the 2023 Sovereign Style fashion show, this year held at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Kainoa Sipai wore a cedar-woven headband with a beaded medallion designed by Calina Lawrence, and Katelynn Pratt wore wool regalia created by Suquamish artist and master weaver Danielle Morsette. Suquamish tribal member Katelynn is currently in her third year at Northwest Indian College. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Leonard Forsman Chairman
Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us
Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
Letters should include the writer’s full name, address, and home telephone and may be edited for clarity and space.
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Josh Bagley Vice-Chair
Irene Carper Secretary
Denita Holmes Treasurer
Rich Purser Member
Sammy Mabe Member
Luther Mills, Jr. Member
Production Staff
Leonard Forsman Editor-in-Chief
Catherine Edwards Executive Editor
Sarah van Gelder Managing Editor
Jon Anderson News Editor
JoAnn Joe Photography/Design
Georgia Browne 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.
strictly prohibited.
Scott Crowell has visions. When he looks out his office window, at the crossroads of Division Ave. and Suquamish Way, he sees the past, the present, and the future.
He remembers when there was only a patch of woods where the Suquamish Museum now stands. He remembers when the building he now works in was a restaurant in a strip mall and the building now housing the police station and Wellness Center was a grocery store.
The future he sees in places like the patch of woods and the open field located at the other corners of the same intersection.
As director of Community Development, Crowell’s job is to have a vision for those spaces and others like them across the Port Madison Reservation. Celebrating his 30th anniversary working for the tribe in April, Crowell says he’s proud of how far the tribe has come and excited for the future it is building.
Shortly after Crowell began working for the Suquamish Tribe he was faced with a pivotal life decision. It was the spring of 1993, and he had just graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in planning. The tribe was one of the first places he’d looked to put his training to work.
There weren’t any openings in the tribe’s small government at the time, but then-Tribal Chairman Emerson George carved out a job for him anyway as a planning technician, paying $8 per hour.
“I will always be thankful to Emerson because he saw that I had worked hard to get my degree and he worked hard to get me working for the tribe.”
Within a few weeks, however, he started receiving job offers from Washington State Ferries, Boeing, the City of Port Townsend and elsewhere.
“Those places offered me jobs making more than double what I was making at the tribe, $18 to $20 per hour,” he recalls.
Crowell sought advice from his father, John Crowell, who suggested he stay with the tribe where he would get more experience and get promoted faster. And the tribe would always be there for him. It was his opportunity to give back
to his people.
“It was painful, but it was the right thing to do,” he says. And almost immediately, early mentors were helping him build his vision.
Crowell remembers being sent to see Tony Forsman, who was director of the Fisheries Dept. at the time, “to learn the history of our fishing rights, the Bolt Decision, and how to operate inside tribal government and how to be a tribal member in tribal government. About how to live in a fish bowl and not have it consume you.”
Crowell also credits his early mentors, Marcia Reed and George Wilson, “who taught me everything they could. They had a vision for me and what I could do for the tribe.”
Indeed, less than two years after he started working for the tribe, Crowell was named director of Community Development at age 23, overseeing a staff of ten. A few years later, he was filling in as interim executive director of tribal government, a role he would take on several times while continuing to oversee Community Development.
One of Crowell’s very first projects was renovating a building in Indianola to become the tribe’s first Early Learning Center. His kids were among the first to go to daycare there.
A few years later, as money from the newly built casino started coming in, he was tasked
with creating the Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center. “Now I’m hiring people who went to daycare there,” he says.
With the influx of income from the casino came several housing developments and parks, the Suquamish Dock, the Suquamish Museum, the House of Awakened Culture, Youth & Fitness Center, and Suquamish Ball Field.
The Wee Wun neighborhood was particularly satisfying, he says.
“It was a dark time. Some of non-Indians in the area didn’t want us to build a housing development on our own reservation. The hate was venomous.”
The tribe ultimately overcame, of course, “but it was a fight to make it happen.” And while Crowell is proud of the neighborhood itself, he may be just as proud of the name he gave it.
“We submitted a couple of different names to Kitsap County for approval,” he said. But all of the initial submissions were already used or sounded too similar to other roads nearby.
“So, we got a little flippant, and gave them a list that were all kind of smartass names. Unbelievably, the very first one on the list was the one they approved,” he says with a laugh. “I seriously didn’t think they’d pick it; it was my play on We Won. It was just joke, but turns out it was the perfect name.”
Despite such landmark achievements, Crowell says one of his most significant contributions has been his “almost fanatical approach to hiring and promoting tribal members.” By his count, he’s hired 65 tribal members over the years.
“Because it was done for me, it’s now my job to hard target tribal member talent and get them working for the tribe and into positions of authority,” he says. “There is no self-determination if we, the people of the Suquamish Tribe, are not running the Suquamish Tribe. We need to be the ones in positions of power and authority and moved up and educated.”
Crowell tells any tribal member who asks about the basics of competitive pay and benefits. “But then I ask them: what do you want to do with your life? Do you want to do something that
(Continued on p11)
Thousands of drivers and pedestrians coming to Bainbridge Island by ferry every day are welcomed by Suquamish artist Kate Ahvakana’s two-story display filling the massive window of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Ahvakana’s display is just the start. Inside the museum are a wide range of Suquamish and other Salish Sea artists featured as part of BIMA’s Indigenous Strength & Wellness exhibit running until June 4. Co-curated by Suquamish Foundation Director Robin Little Wing Sigo, the exhibit showcases the work of Denita and Joey Holmes, Peg Deam, Danielle Morsette, and Toma Villa, just to name a few.
Indigenous Stories and Performances
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
May 13 – 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm-4:30pm
Suquamish Tribal Elder Barbara Lawrence shares the Suquamish Tribe’s Creation Story, followed by performances from Git Hoan Dancers and Seattle Cape Fox Dancers.
Tickets: Free
Two Spirit: Portraits of Pride
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Jun 14 – Jul 2, 2023
This pop-up exhibit, sponsored by the Suquamish Tribe and PME, will feature the work of local artists and photographers examining the concept of Two-Spirit peoples within Native communities, and challenges western ideas of gender.
Tickets: Free
great-grandmother intricately beaded regalia. Wendy Boure showcased her own traditional regalia, featuring a vibrant red background and her grandfather’s signature along the bottom.
Boure’s regalia was designed and created by Serene Walker of the Southeastern, Lower Perdido Bay, Muskcogee Creek, with a belt made by Boure’s grandfather, Percy Bullchild.
The tradition of passing down regalia “binds our ancestors to us and future generations, the sacred web,” Sigo explained. “The disruption of this web through the termination and assimilation eras was devastating. This could have been the end of these ancestral teachings but no, we had our own cultural warriors, who crept into our history and found the clues and lessons of our ancestors.”
fit made by Denita Holmes. The piece, called “In the Sun” featured sun-bleached wool with subtle shimmering colors.
Kate Ahvakana created the outfits for her daughters Shyla and Nettle, while their dad, Toma Villa, wove their hats.
OnApril 22, the Suquamish Foundation showcased the tribe’s culture, creativity, and couture with its annual Sovereign Style fashion show, hosted this year at BIMA.
After pandemic cancellations, and a shift to online-only presentations, Sovereign Style returned to the runway with a roar.
“This will be a different fashion show than you’ve seen before,” said Suquamish Foundation Director Robin Little Wing Sigo opening up the show. “This is one that’s not about the runway, it’s about the journey the Suquamish People have made over the last 100 years to survive, preserve, protect, heal, reawaken, and celebrate ourselves.”
All of the models and designers this year were from Suquamish families.
In a new twist, Suquamish models wove their way along a serpentine runway, showcasing their wearable art through the Indigenous Strength & Wellness exhibit now featured at museum. The models will be “close to you our guests, so you can get a macro and micro perspective of the beauty and strength that we had to lay to rest due to colonization, and now we get to bring back.”
Chelsea Jones showed off a purple-woven ribbon skirt she designed and created in honor of her grandmother Mima, who made Jones’ first fancy dance outfit.
Wendy Boure and the Purcell Family displayed their heritage of both Suquamish and Blackfeet ancestry. Teiyanna Young-Boure modeled her
Suquamish Tribal Elder Peg Deam was celebrated during the show as one of those cultural warriors, as well as an artist, matriarch, and mentor to many in the tribe.
“Peg researched and recreated replicas of regalia from photographs in the archives. She taught others these techniques and awakened the Suquamish Song & Dance Group,” said Sigo, as Deam received a rousing round of applause.
Rebecca Purser continued the show, wowing onlookers with cedar regalia by Deam, along with jewelry made of dentalium and other seashells.
Crystal Purcell dazzled onlookers with an out-
“Our children are often the reason that we start making regalia and delving deeper into our culture,” said Sigo. “The joy of seeing our children bathed in the clothing of our ancestors is overwhelming.”
Kynoa Sipai wore a cedar-woven headband with a beaded medallion by Calina Lawrence, and Katelynn Pratt wore wool regalia created Suquamish artist and master weaver Danielle Morsette.
Illyauna Purser showed off another Danielle Morsette creation, featuring a twill woven dress with twined mountain design. First worn by Illyana’s sister Katelynn in 2011 when she was crowned Miss Chief Seattle Days, the piece was recently featured by the Seattle Art Museum and Vancouver’s Indigenous Fashion Week.
In closing, Sigo told the audience, “You are witnesses to this reawakening. You are now responsible to share the important work Suquamish has done and continues to do, as we walk in sovereignty. In our own sovereignty. On the land of our ancestors since time immemorial, we walk with Sovereign Style.”
By Jon AndersonCheck out more Sovereign Style in our online gallery of the event by scanning the QR code or visit the website https://suquamish.nsn.us
Treaty rights protection, especially regarding increased access to hunting grounds; public safety; Washington State legislative news; Education Department; Human Resources, including a discussion on our internship program and promotions policy; Finance Department; Human Services, including a discussion on an emergency housing program; Community Development; and a discussion of downtown Suquamish redevelopment. We also made our selections for Tribal Council Liaisons (see page 7).
Design is nearly finalized on the Enetai Housing Project. Suquamish Tribe Community Development met with the project’s architecture and construction consultants; we are looking forward to construction commencing soon.
Suquamish will host the Tribal Canoe Journey July 28-30, 2023. We look forward to welcoming the canoe nations and families. Subcommittees are meeting to plan meals, camping, protocol, and other important functions needed to host this important cultural event.
The Suquamish Elders Council held their monthly meeting, the first with the current council, which was elected — and in most cases re-elected — at our General Council meeting. There were updates about the upcoming elders’ trips, the National Indian Council on Aging conference in Cherokee, N.C., and opportunities to attend cultural arts workshops. Thank you to Charlene Renquist, Tracy Tabafunda, Dickie Johnson, Bill Stroud, Jim Henry, and Donna Sigo for your continued service on the Elders Council. Thanks also to Pat Medina, who stepped down and to Kenneth Potts, who recently joined the Elders Council.
The Suquamish Museum Board met to hear updates from staff regarding their roles within the museum. Tribal member Lisa Rodriguez is serving as acting Museum director and is implementing a training program for existing staff to sharpen their skills.
The Tribal Council and key staff held a retreat in Renton, WA to review past accomplishments and set goals for the year. Subjects included:
Museums, universities, and other facilities that house human remains and sacred objects have been reaching out to Indian tribes to share inventories of their collections as required by the federal Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The Suquamish Tribe is expecting to repatriate some ancestral remains in the near future from excavations within Kitsap County. More information will be provided when the notification process is complete. A reporter has contacted us to learn more about NAGPRA and the Suquamish Tribe’s experience in seeing the law and regulations enforced.
The Burke Museum hosted a ceremony to honor the workers who manage their collections department. Members of the Burke’s Native American Advisory Board participated.
The West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery held a virtual meeting to discuss how local governments are working together to achieve salmon recovery and improve habitat. There was a presentation on the mobile pumpout vessel, which addresses the gap in managing boater sewage waste. Pierce County leads the South Sound Mobile Pump-out program that services docks, anchorages and marinas that do not have pump-out services. WSPER approved a $10,000 grant to pilot the service to the West Sound during weekends this summer. Service is proposed for Blake Island, Liberty Bay, and Eagle Harbor, and also for events like Tribal Journey and Viking Fest.
Tribal leaders met with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission to get an update on the Treaty Rights at Risk initiative that seeks resto-
ration of salmon fisheries to Washington waters. The late Billy Frank Jr. inspired the initiative. Leadership acknowledged that we have made some progress in getting state and federal investment in hatcheries and habitat restoration but agreed that we need more investment and more action to regulate impacts to our salmon habitat.
Our government and enterprise attorneys met to discuss a resolution to be introduced at the National Congress of American Indians MidYear conference that will improve opportunities for our construction company to acquire federal transportation contracts. The resolution seeks to level the playing field for tribally owned corporations like PMECC to compete for contracts with other vendors.
The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance held their annual meeting and economic forecast at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino and Resort. The forecast suggests the potential for a recession but indicators are hard to predict. The presenters quoted Yogi Berra at the beginning of their presentation “it’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Labor force shortages, unemployment, interest rates and inflation are all in play. Housing prices are outpacing wages, creating housing challenges. KEDA works to attract and retain new companies to increase the quality of life in Kitsap County.
Council members and PME staff met with Clay Roberts to discuss the growth and popularity of the sport of pickleball. The game was invented on Bainbridge Island and has been immensely popular. Clay is looking to grow the sport locally and inquired about our interest in possibly building a facility. More research is needed to test its feasibility.
The Friends of the Waterfront Seattle held their monthly meeting in downtown Seattle. Staff gave us an update on the progress of fundraising for the waterfront park project and their plans for raising remainder of their goal. We were also briefed on the public programming efforts that have been very successful with a variety of well attended events at Pier 62/63.
I joined Sammy Mabe in attending the Port of Bremerton’s grand opening of Amelia’s Hanger restaurant at Bremerton National Airport. The restaurant has great food and a great location, and
I encourage all to visit and dine at the new diner. The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children held a regional hearing at Daybreak Star in Seattle. The U.S. Congress created the commission in 2016 and “is charged with conducting a comprehensive study of the programs, grants, and supports available for Native children (including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children), both at government agencies and on the ground in Native communities.” I had the honor of welcoming them to Seattle and providing a statement on our efforts to support our youth through education, cultural programs and group activities.
The Suquamish Tribal Council and Education Division staff have been in consultation with local school districts to learn about and analyze their services and programs for Native students. A site tour with staff and tribal students at the new Central Kitsap High School and Middle School included tours of their new auditoriums for music and theater. The students at CK are proud of their heritage and are active in promoting art and culture.
We also had a public consultation meeting with the North Kitsap School District Board of Directors. Council members and staff discussed the tribe’s priorities for improving the student experience at North Kitsap Schools and pushed back on a proposed cancellation of the annual honoring of native students. The board has since rescinded the decision to cancel the event.
Tribal Council Treasurer Denita Holmes testified during the Bainbridge Island School District’s (BISD) hearing on the renaming of Wilkes Elementary. The Suquamish Tribe proposed renaming the school Halilts in reference to the petroglyph at Agate Point. The BISD Board of Directors unanimously approved the tribal name.
We continue to be represented and active in intertribal organizations that advocate for the greater recognition of tribal sovereignty and tribal initiatives.
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Executive Board is planning an informative meeting hosted by the Coeur D’Alene Tribe.
The National Congress of American Indians Executive Board is also planning a mid-year
conference, which will be hosted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The NCAI Executive Director provided updates on the organizational reforms being instituted in the Washington, D.C., office, which are progressing well as we are filling more open employee positions.
The Washington Indian Gaming Association meeting was a hybrid meeting held in Nisqually. The State Legislative Session is wrapping up with little or no gaming legislation proposed. We continue to monitor the Washington State Gambling Commission’s actions to make sure that they are following state policy regarding recreational gaming.
The Indian Health Service held a consultation session with tribal leaders on their Small Ambulatory Grant program. This program provides smaller grants to help tribal health clinics meet their respective missions. The IHS. is proposing shifting responsibility for distribution of grant funds to the IHS areas where the projects are located, rather than having the IHS headquarters manage distribution.
By Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe ChairmanTribal Council meets May 1 & 15 and June 1, 14 & 26. Watch for SUN alerts and Weekly Updates for details.
Tribal Council has established the following liaisons for tribal government:
Constitution Comm: Irene Carper
Community Police Advisory Board: Josh Bagley, Sammy Mabe
Culture Comm: Denita Holmes, Luther Mills
Education Dept: Josh Bagley, Irene Carper, Rich Purser
Elders’ Council: Leonard Forsman, Josh Bagley
Enrollment Comm: Irene Carper
Fisheries: Leonard Forsman, Josh Bagley, Sammy Mabe
Health Clinic: Josh Bagley, Denita Holmes, Sammy Mabe
Higher Education Board: Denita Holmes
Housing Board: Rich Purser
Human Services Dept: Sammy Mabe
Investment: Irene Carper, Denita Holmes, Rich Purser
Legal Dept: Leonard Forsman, Josh Bagley, Sammy Mabe,
Museum Board: Denita Holmes
N/GC/PME Board/IGA: Sammy Mabe
Northwest Indian Health Board: Leonard Forsman
Seafoods Board: Josh Bagley
Foundation Board: Leonard Forsman, Denita Holmes, Luther Mills
TCW Comm: Denita Holmes
Tribal Court: Josh Bagley, Sammy Mabe
Tribal Gaming Commission: Josh Bagley
US v WA ENV: Leonard Forsman, Josh Bagley, Sammy Mabe
Wellness Dept: Sammy Mabe
WIGA: Leonard Forsman, Sammy Mabe
Suquamish Tribal Council Vice-Chair Josh Bagley is among the elected tribal leaders who took part in a new program, the Elected Tribal Official Academy Training, by the Evergreen State College.
The training, which took place in Tulalip in early February, focused on tribal sovereignty and intergovernmental relations.
“The training was awesome,” said Bagley. “I learned a lot about how important sovereignty is to all tribes. I did some networking. And it reinforced some of the things I already knew about leadership.”
Indeed, Bagley has been learning fast since being elected to Tribal Council in 2022 at age 44. He had previously served as Suquamish Seafoods board president and vice chair of the Gaming Commission.
Now, as Tribal Council vice chair, he is immersed in multiple issues, building on his prior experience and learning quickly.
One of his lessons – set priorities. “Before I was on council, I was willing to step up for everything and anything. Now I do pick my battles,” he said.
“A lot of people told me before I came in, you’ll want to make lots of changes, but it doesn’t happen the way you would like – or as fast.”
Bagley said he’s learning all he can from more
seasoned tribal leaders.
“I’m learning from the generation that is ahead of us, picking up where they left off, and pushing us forward to the future – wherever that’s going to bring us.”
“It’s a little overwhelming. I want to do things, but being one person on council, you can’t make the changes unless you have everyone’s acceptance,” he said.
“I’m still that same person as I was before I got onto council. I still want to change things. I understand how to do it better now.”
His advice for young people who want to get involved in tribal government?
“A good way to do it is to get on smaller boards first so that you get first-hand experience of being a leader.”
Along with Bagley, in attendance at the training were elected leaders from The Tulalip Tribes, the Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Tribe, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the Cowlitz Tribe, the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Colville, the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, and the Squaxin Island Tribe.
You can learn more about the Evergreen College trainings for tribal leaders from their tribal liaison Lyn Dennis at lyn.dennis@evergreen.edu or (360) 819-7028.
sxudxud ʔə tiił xaxaʔ - Phrase of the Week
Week 1 – pədč’aʔab – Time of Digging “May”
Week 2 – hiił sk’ʷuyəłdat – Happy Mother’s Day
Week 3 – łuʔibəš čəd ʔal kʷi swadač - I will walk the beach
Week 4 – ʔulaxdxʷ čəł ti tustubtubšədəʔčəł –We remember our fallen warriors
Week 5 – pədstəgʷəd – Time of the Salmonberries “June”
QR to May Playlist:
Scan the QR code for a pronunciation guide
pədč’aʔab – The time of digging “May”
say it is one in three of us Native women. However I have yet to find the other two who haven’t suffered some type of abuse. In becoming objects, we become non-human, and when a young woman goes missing, she isn’t looked for because, well, she doesn’t live what is called a desirable, upstanding life. Maybe she has turned to dancing to entertain people and earn a living. Maybe she parties, looking to have fun and find love. Maybe she’s a young girl on the internet with a man telling her he is 16 and he wants to marry her and they should meet in person. Maybe she’s an addict and she wants to get high.
This is a difficult topic – as we were testifying in Alaska recently, one of the tribal leaders was notified that her family member had been murdered. I watched as she finished her testimony and began her grieving.
men and children we have lost. We will pray for the day when there is no longer the need for the red handprint on the face.
I’ll conclude by borrowing some famous words: “I have a dream” that one day my daughters and granddaughters will live in a world where they won’t have to walk to their cars at night in fear, with keys between their knuckles – that we can use our tribal funds for things like education and community gardens instead of women’s self-defense classes, special VAWA projects, and security cameras for women.
I want to talk about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) this month, since May 5 will be proclaimed as MMIP Day both by the Suquamish Tribal Council and the White House.
This month’s column may be hard to read – this is a hard topic. Somewhere, at this moment, a woman is afraid for her life or is being forced to do things she doesn’t want to do. Our women and girls are targets because of our vulnerabilities, and because we were dehumanized. Yes, it happens to boys too.
In Native communities we cry out because our missing relatives do not get the coverage and oftentimes don’t even get law enforcement attention. Our children and others who are vulnerable are targeted for drug, sex, and labor trafficking.
I can’t begin to imagine the pain of waiting for a daughter to come home from the store, never to see her again, and what it must be like to wonder if she is alive or not.
As you may or may not know, I am a tribal leader for my tribe, the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and one of the areas I work on is MMIP and domestic violence. I have spent countless hours testifying on this topic, along with many other tribal leaders.
I have also worked as a caseworker and guardian ad litem. In my work with tribes, I know the alarming rate that our young girls and boys are targeted via the internet and lured into getting into vehicles of complete strangers or other dangerous situations – and their families never see them again.
I learned that, at any moment, including this one, a woman is being abused, beaten, or stolen. They
The crisis of MMIP is an extension of colonization. It resulted from the systemic denial of the full authority of Indian Nations to self-government and from the withholding of federal government resources essential to lifesaving services. It is also a result of society’s tolerance of disrespect and violence toward women.
On May 5, a proclamation will be made, and the nation will once again grieve the epidemic and crisis of the MMIP in our communities. Many will paint a red handprint over their face, and prepare to march and rally. We will give speeches, we will cry, we will mourn the women,
It’s time for the federal, state, and local governments that are writing proclamations to not only help us find our daughters, mothers, aunties, granddaughters who didn’t come home, but to tell those people who target them that we – all of us – will be looking for them, and we will hold abusers, traffickers, and murderers accountable.
It’s time to tell those mothers who are waiting for their daughters or sons to come home that we care and we are going to look for them. It’s time to begin to see and notice our “invisible” populations.
Catherine Edwards Suquamish Tribe Executive Director
To learn more, check out the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center at https://www.niwrc.org
We walk in Honor and Memory of our MMIWP Relatives
Gather at Suquamish Admin and walk to HOAC. Gather with us inside the HOAC to receive information and hear more about MMIWP
Madam Secretary, Assistant Secretary, esteemed elders and Tribal leaders, and all those in attendance.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. My name is Denita Holmes. I am treasurer of the Suquamish Tribal Council. I speak to you today as a tribal leader, but also as a teacher and a mother of three.
Many of our elders’ stories about their experiences in boarding schools were lost or never told. However, we were fortunate to interview several elders that were forced to attend Tulalip and other boarding schools, and these interviews from the early 1980s
More than 160 tribal members took time during General Council to complete a survey that is now helping to shape and improve the tribe’s communications work.
As a thank you, four survey respondents chosen at random received a raffle gift.
Among the survey highlights:
Preferred sources - SUN Texts, the Weekly Update mailed every Friday, and the monthly Suquamish News were the ways most tribal members get their news on the Suquamish Tribe.
Content - 64 percent said they’re getting the right amount of information in a timely manner on tribal government, tribal culture, health & wellness, and upcoming events. But only 40 percent said they felt like they were getting enough of information on outside issues impacting the tribe, such as Indian Child Welfare.
“Our hands are up to everyone who took the time to complete our survey,” said Communications Manager Sarah van Gelder. “We read every comment, and are discussing ways to continue improving.”
Focus Groups and Story Ideas – Many tribal members checked the box saying they are willing to further share thoughts and opinions. The Communications team will be reaching out to explore next steps. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts or would like to recommend a story idea, you can reach out to communications@suquamish.nsn.us.
are stored in our museum. We know that many of our families suffer from the long-term consequences of the boarding school experience.
We appreciate your leadership in recognizing and addressing these harms. As the report compiled by your department shows, this system sought to erase our culture, religion, and way of life, and was part of a broader effort to take our lands and resources.
I want to focus my comments on what can be done for the children today and for future generations. How can the federal government act to heal the harms of this era and to support the tribes’ continuing work to rebuild our communities and our cultures?
First, we support the establishment of a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools. We need to know how many children were forced to attend the schools, and the nature and scale of the abuse.
We need to know how many died or went missing, and as much as possible, where they are buried or what is known of their fate.
And we need a clear-eyed assessment of the long-term impacts on tribal children and their families and communities.
This information is critical for our understanding of what took place, and also is critical for the people of the United States to know what occurred.
Second, the U.S. government should act aggressively to support the recovery of Native American lands. As your report shows, the boarding school system was part of a broader goal of “territorial dispossession.”
For the Suquamish People, the taking of Old Man House village by the military in 1905 happened during the time our children were forced to attend boarding school.
Also during that time was the passage of 1906 Burke Act, which allowed forced sales of our reservation lands. That law followed other laws that led to the taking of our lands. As a result, we struggled to get by on a fraction of the land reserved for us under the Treaty of Point Elliott.
Today, our people lack housing – we have dozens of families on waiting lists. When housing becomes available, we see tribal members return-
ing home to the reservation, and families finally able to live in safe and affordable homes.
The Suquamish Tribe will be pressing for investment in land restoration as part of the relief owed to our tribe for the suffering and long-term impacts of the Boarding School era.
Third, the U.S. government should support the work of tribes to restore our language and culture. We agree with your report’s call for investments in language preservation and revitalization to counter the impacts of assimilation efforts.
Also important is support for the broader effort to restore our culture and ways of life, and to restore our land base.
Finally, we urge the U.S. government to maintain the protections in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules. ICWA has prevented the kinds of family separation and abuse that were rampant under the boarding school system. It is a law based on our sovereignty – our right to care for, raise, and protect our own children.
We need policies and laws that assure our children will remain protected under the care of our nations, where our social services and family ties can keep them safe.
Madame Secretary, as you know, reckoning with this traumatic legacy is difficult for our people. To turn this trauma into healing, there must be full disclosure and acknowledgment of what took place.
But we need more than that. We need to prevent another wave of family separations, as could happen if ICWA is overturned. And we need the federal government’s support of our work to restore our land, language, and culture.
Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for the opportunity to speak today. I am available to answer any questions you or your team may have. As we work together to address the legacy of Indian boarding schools, we can honor the memories of those who suffered and ensure that future generations of Native Americans can thrive and flourish. Thank you.
Denita Holmes Suquamish Tribal Council TreasurerTheSuquamish Tribe-sponsored Native Horsemanship Program is taking new students again. All ages and abilities are welcome to sign up for classes in Indianola.
There is no cost to participate.
Current students and program alumni are also encouraged to volunteer to be photographed for the 2024 fundraising calendar.
Help wanted – The Native Horsemanship Program is looking for someone to work on weekends doing ranch clean up, basic carpentry, and composting. Pay is $30/hour.
For more information, or to sign up, call Lynne Ferguson at (360) 440-5975.
Suquamish Tribe Wellness invites you to participate in supporting wellness with culture. All activities/events are open to the Suquamish Community. Please see online calendar QR code below) for details.
Weekday Wellness Activities: Each weekday of the month of May, join us in connecting with ourselves and our culture to support our wellness. Monday Meditations, Tuesday Traditional Crafts, Wednesday Walk or Jog, and Thursday Canoe Journey Giveaway making.
Events/Presentations: Please join us in food, crafts, fun field days, storytelling, workshops, and training this month. Fry bread Tacos, Happy box (filled with all the things that can aid you in your personal happiness) and aroma therapy making, Seven Grandfather Teachings for Youth, Nutrition and Wellness Talk, and Mental Health First Aid Training for Adults — sign up required.
Personal Wellness Journey Booklet: Self-guided booklet utilizing evidence-based and cultural-based practices to support holistic wellness (available for pick up at Wellness Center or electronically by request — email oponce@suquamish.nsn.us)
31 Days of Mental Wellness for Youth: In partnership with the ELC and Family and Friends Center, Wellness will support both agencies in 31 days of mental wellness activities that can be done both at the centers and at home.
Watch your SUN Weekly Update for details on all the activities, and scan the QR code for a full calendar of events.
(Scott Crowell, continued from p3) matters? Here you can do something that contributes something of value to your people. You can impact the lives of your children and grandchildren.”
And that work just might be working on the next series of landmarks for the tribe.
Work has only just begun in the reimagining of the 36-acre Suquamish Shores tract of land. Recently reacquired by the tribe after a 50-year lease, that land starts at one corner of the Suquamish-Division crossroads outside Crowell’s office.
A new first-of-its-kind townhome development for tribal members will soon be underway. “The Indians are moving back into Suquamish Shores,” says Crowell.
“Along the waterfront, that entire stretch will become an open space park. The waterfront was taken away from us. So, the Suquamish Shores waterfront will be for all tribal members.”
Moving up for the shore, “we will build more housing. It’s an ideal location particularly for Elders because of it’s proximity to tribal government services and our new health clinic.” Along Suquamish Way, plans call for more government services, including an even larger, full-service health clinic.
While Crowell says he’s got plenty of years of work yet before retiring, he hopes to build an assisted-living facility for Tribal Elders before he leaves. “To start with an early learning center for our children, that just seems like the perfect bookend to finish with.”
Whatever gets developed for the community in the years ahead, his vision for the future is rooted in the tribe’s past and present.
“I want to see us continue to develop in ways that are specifically beneficial to our citizens,” he says. “The people inside – whatever it is we build – are what matter.”
By Jon Anderson
As winter starts to fade and spring rains arrive, here are some helpful home and garden maintenance tips.
• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors
• Check the attic: Inspect for insects, mold, insulation condition
• Repair any rips or tears on window screens and clean thoroughly with soap and water
• Check window and door seals for air gaps, or leaks and cracks, reapply caulk and weather stripping as 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 loose shingles, brush off moss and debris, or hire a cleaner
• Clean out gutters and repair if needed. Ensure downspouts are properly connected so water flows away from the foundation.
• Clear lawn of debris
• Trim trees and bushes away from your home to allow proper airflow and protect your home from insects and other critters
• Inspect around the foundation and crawl space. Check for moisture and seal any holes to prevent insects and mice from making nests.
• Check insulation condition
By Lois “Lane” SullivanLegal Notice is provided to Dora C Johnson, Kent Duane Johnson, Rosemarie Ann Johnson, Nancy Hoekstra and Ruby Crawford of the Suquamish Tribe’s request under Section 205 of the Indian Land Consolidation Act, 25 U.S.C.§2204 (a) to purchase your undivided interests in Allotment 40. The Tribe owns over 50% of the allotment and under federal law this purchase does not require your consent. You do have the right to appeal the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ decision.
Please contact Bill Holway, Trust Realty Officer, at (360) 979-6091.
The Suquamish Sports & Recreation Department recently brought two youth teams ages 8 & under and 12 & under to play in the Alvina Dillion Youth Tournament held in Puyallup. Both teams put in work on both ends of the court, showing great sportsmanship and leadership on and off the court. For a majority of the youth this was their first ever tribal tournament. They had so much fun out there with each other smiling through it all. The 12 boys played hard all weekend. They came up short to get into the championship, placing 3rd out of 14 teams. The Sports & Rec staff are very proud of all the youth who competed over the weekend.
12 & Under
Left to Right: Braylen Boure, Jordan Driskel, Jaryk Belgarde, Janoah Driskel, Kayo Zaiss, Bryson Miller, Ethan Alexander, Shye Yeaman, Silas Old Coyote
8 & Under
Back row left to right: Jack Jack Holmes, Julian George, Vazhia Crombie, Kasen Sullivan, Kaly DeLafuente, Clara George, Tyzaiah Lawrence
Front row left to right: Genevieve Boure, Marian Adams, Leyton Miller, Aj Black
All Stars 12u Left to right Silas Old Coyote, Ethan Alexander
Yusawiac camp, a Suquamish culture and language camp, had 62 youth participating, the highest number in the six years of culture camp. The camp was a collaboration of ʔiišədalʔtxʷ ʔə ti suqʷabš (Suquamish Tribe Family & Friends Center), Traditional Food & Medicine Program, Cultural Activities Program and the Suquamish Language Program. This year we also partnered with the Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center and their Hawk classrooms. We also received support from the Elders Program, Suquamish Museum, the Fisheries and Grants Departments and our sensational volunteers. This spring we concentrated on Suquamish Song & Dance at the day camp, which was held at gʷədᶻadadalʔtxʷ House of Awakened Culture (HOAC).
Why yusawiac for the name of Suquamish Culture Camps? yusawiac is suqʷabšucid meaning Alder Tree (Alnus rubra). Alder’s teachings are Build Community.
“I create fertile ground through partnering with fungi and bacteria in the soil. As I grow, I offer food, shelter, and a home where plants and animals can thrive in community.”*
We believe that culture is like the yusawiac (Alder) as culture is an important part of our community growth in a healthy and reconnecting way.
By Kate Ahvakana
Standup for Kids - Kitsap County works to assist homeless and at-risk kids in their efforts to improve their lives. We want to thank Standup for Kids - Kitsap County for their contributions of 10+ years. Our youth appreciate their snacks. For more details about Standup for Kids - Kitsap County and how you can help, see: https:// www.standupforkids.org/kitsapcounty
There is no excuse for child abuse. That is the principal guiding the Tribal Child Welfare Department’s Child Abuse Awareness Month. Among the activities:
• Family Cultural Night on April 13 at the House of Awakened Culture.
• A series of “Ed Talks” on trauma-informed techniques, attachment styles, de-escalation techniques, and resiliency.
• A canoe pull leaving from Suquamish.
• Blue Fridays, with staff wearing blue.
• Tribal government lobbies were decorated blue
All of these activities are a reminder that children are sacred. Love them, protect them. Our children are our future.
TheSports & Recreation and Family & Friends Center offers financial assistance to cover the costs of extracurricular activities or other specific educational classes.
Eligibility: Enrolled Suquamish tribal members and their descendants who are not enrolled elsewhere.
For details, email fandfcenter@suquamish.nsn. us, craigmiller@suquamish.nsn.us, or bsantos@ suquamish.nsn.us or call Craig Miller, 360-3948574 or Barb Santos, 360-394-7107.
May 1
Jeanette Lawrence
Jewelian Lawrence
Kyle Purser
Rachel Duthie
Sean Mabe
May 2
Dawn Ensminger
Michelle Charette
Robert Pastrana
May 3
Alexia Baldwin
Briann Cloninger
Cindy Nichols
John Jones
Maureen Belmont
May 4
Angela Ives
Brooke Orsen
Duane Napoleon Jr.
Eliana Edelstein
Reada Smith
May 5
Agostinho Cordeiro
Brenda Guerrero
Brooke Edlen
Monique Pastrana
Virginia Gemmell
May 7
Daniel Adams
Jessicca Cordero
Leroy Henry III
No-Yectee-Hemeh Alexis
May 8
Corey Manley
Jasmine Cannon
Karleen Crow
Luke Williams
May 9
David Greer
Joshua George
Shyla Ahvakana-Villa
Toshina Baldwin
May 10
Harold Pratt
Nancy Johnston
May 12
Cathlene Norris
Edward Cordero
Elias Neugebauer
Ryan Sigo
Warren Neugebauer
William Hoffman
May 13
Angee Harrington
Christina Roberts
George Hill Jr.
Seylah McNew
Shardan Stark
Wanda Vollenweider
May 14
Bryna Lawrence
Cecelia Brown
Lori Wolfe
Mackenzie Crow
Michael George
Tu-tai-ud Everhart
May 15
Jennifer Pratt
Lillian Abler
May 16
Elizabeth Lindell
Elizabeth Townsend
James Bradwell Jr.
Koen Smith
Rebekah Nelson
Tyler Tiffany
May 17
Charles Deam Sr.
Eric Glaze
Golden Hawk Jr.
Isaac Johnson
May 18
Dolores Mills
Lily Stockwell
May 19
Benjamin Johnson
Christopher George-
Old Coyote
Phenix Mabe
May 20
Georgianna Ungaro
Marlane Buckner
Oliva Purser
Robert Hagen
Roxanne Cruver
Sara Purser
May 21
Braden Hess
Clyde Brown
David Zurflueh
Kayla Purser
May 22
Alan Lerdo Jr.
Bonnie Brown
Brayden Napoleon
Dylan Crow
Frances Jackson
Mark Pratt
Robin Camacho
Shawn Boushie
May 23
Amie Adams
Callum Purser
Frasier Purser
May 24
Albert Agibinik Jr.
Matthew Hawk
Stephanie Alexander
May 25
Celia Williams
Charlotte Ives
Cheryl Cahill
Duran George
Jimee-Mai Webster
Telisha Hendricksen
May 26
Anthony Howard
Colleen Hickerson
David Sigo III
Destiny Dubois
Madison Pool
May 27
Althea Jones
Daniel George
James Armstrong
Nata-chee Pratt
Orion Keller
Rigel Keller
Zaylee Moss
May 28
Chelsey Hettema
Daniel Smith
Jennifer Willis
May 29
Bernard Adams
Christine West
LeAnne Nilluka
May 30
Amanda Carper
Caleb Stewart
John Webster
Kristina Pearson
Ronald George Jr.
William Lund
May 31
Robert Kumpf-Fleming
