Sports & Recreation

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 Culture Camp!

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

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

Children Are Sacred xaxaʔ tiił wiw’su

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.

Education and Rec. Funds available to tribal Families

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.