Native Horsemanship Program back in the saddle!

TheSuquamish 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.

Join us in honoring our wellness this month for MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH!

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.

Seeing the road ahead

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

New Hires