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Suquamish News
December 2020 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 20
December 2020
No. 12
safe
! In this issue ... Suquamish Art at Ferry Entrance– p3 COVID Funding – p5 Sovereign Style, Masks of Resilience – p7 Gifts by Suquamish Artists – p8 & 9
Ryan Sigo Joins SPD – p11
Georgia George Has No Regrets – p10
2 | December 2020
Community Calendar Events & Meetings General Council will take place in March 2021. Suquamish Tribal Council Meets on Dec. 7 online. Tribal members who are signed up for SUN will receive a link, or you can contact Rebecca Purser at (360) 900-8031 or rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us Suquamish Warriors For information, contact Jean Belmont at (360) 601-7918 PME Board of Directors meets on Dec. 9 at 9am. SEC/PMECC/PMCC Board meeting will take place on Dec. 16 at 9am. For details, contact Brenda George (360) 621-0047 brendageorge@clearwatercasino.com
Suquamish News
Government Offices
Communications: (360) 394-7184/7102 Community Dev: (360) 394-8415 Community Health: (360) 394-8468/8594 Emergency Management: (360) 394-8507 Emergency Work Orders: (360) 900-7050 Emergency Utilities: (360) 710-3223 Finance: (360) 394-8432 Fisheries: (360) 394-8438 Health Benefits: (360) 394-8424 Human Resources: (360) 394-8409 Human Services: (360) 394-8465 IT Help Desk: (360) 394-8485 Maintenance: (360) 394-8590 Tribal Child Welfare: (360) 394-8480 Tribal Court: (360) 394-8697
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COVID-19 Tests and Flu Shots Free drive-up COVID-19 testing and flu shots are available to Tribal members and families, Tribal employees, and Port Madison Enterprise employees, Mon.Fri., 8:30am to 12pm. For information, contact: Mickenzy Cordova at (360) 394-7177 or Barbara Hoffman (360) 394-8468
On the Cover
The Traveling Trio, with masks, on a backdrop from the Suquamish Foundation’s 2019 tree lighting celebration. This year, Winter Cheer, a holiday tree lighting, will be on Dec. 3 (see page 16), and “Sovereign Styles: Masks of Resilience” will be on Dec. 15 (see page 7). Traveling Trio art by Emma Noyes (Confederated Tribes of Colville). Illustration by Georgia Browne.
Suquamish Elders For Elders information contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472
Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Suquamish Police Department meets online Dec. 3 & 17. Call Angela The Police Department lobby is Brainerd for details at (360) 394-8652 available to drop off payments and for other government-related paperwork. Suquamish Seafoods Board Lobby hours: Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Meets Dec. 14 at 2pm. Seafoods Retail Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 is open Thurs-Sun beginning Nov 29. Emergency: 911 Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 3948512 for details. Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 Suquamish Museum Board Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416 Meets Dec. 10 at 11am online. Call Janet Smoak at (360) 394-8499 for info
Suquamish News •
Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
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Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us
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Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
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Suquamish Tribal Council Leonard Forsman
Chairman
Wayne George
Vice-Chair
Nigel Lawrence
Secretary
Robin L.W. Sigo
Treasurer
Rich Purser
Member
Sammy Mabe
Member
Luther Mills, Jr.
Member
Reproduction of Suquamish News, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Suquamish Tribe is strictly prohibited.
Production Staff Leonard Forsman Sarah van Gelder Jon Anderson JoAnn Joe Heather Purser
Editorial Policy
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Photography/Design Editorial Intern
Publishers of the Suquamish News reserve the right to refuse publication of letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submission of editorials and letters is encouraged. However, they represent the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Suquamish Tribe. As such, we reserve the right to refuse to print any letter, for any reason.
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Suquamish News
December 2020 | 3
Welcome Figures by Suquamish Artist Kate Ahvakana Grace Mukilteo Ferry Entrance
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uquamish Tribal member and artist Kate k̓yʔk̓ablu Neayuq Ahvakana’s work will be featured at the entrance of the new Mukilteo Ferry Terminal when it opens to the public on December 29, 2020. Ahvakana created stained glass depictions of traditional Salish male and female welcome figures, which are mounted on each side of the toll plaza to greet travelers. “Throughout the Puget Sound, welcome figures are widely used by many indigenous nations,” Ahvakana noted. hik̓ʷ siʔab, or “Very High Class Man”, has marine-themed design elements commemorating the significance of the landform as the location where the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed in 1855. Other design elements represent the bodies of water that indigenous leaders crossed to attend the historic signing of the treaty. hik̓ʷ tsi siʔab, or “Very High Class Woman”, symbolizes the continuation of Salish cultural growth as women hold the power of carrying culture and educating future generations. Water is used again at the base to represent the importance of water to women. The terminal building is a Northwest Coast-style shed
roof structure with cedar siding inside and out. Coast Salish installations in the gathering hall include a 26foot carved cedar canoe suspended from the ceiling as a reminder that the Coast Salish people are very much alive on the Mukilteo waterfront. Other Coast Salish elements include an eight-foot diameter spindle whorl, Salish design motifs etched on the glass of the twin elevator shafts, and interpretive signage telling the story of the Coast Salish People and the significance of Mukilteo as a camping area and the location where the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed. The December opening will culminate a long process that began in 2005 when public meetings on the proposed terminal began, including the Federal Transit Administration, Washington State Ferries, and Tribes. Tribal representatives expressed concerns regarding impacts to fisheries and cultural resources, and asked for greater input in the project design process. The Washington State Legislature put the project on hold in 2007 while additional studies were conducted to redesign the proposed facilities. The new designs address fisheries issues by reducing overwater coverage of the proposed terminal and pier structure, and by restoring shoreline habitat. On the cultural side, the terminal and associated utilities were designed to avoid direct impacts to the archaeological site. Other cultural concerns related to the significance of the location where the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed. Tribes asked the agencies to incorporate a number of elements into the new facility to honor and respect the history and native people of the land, and the spiritual significance of the place. The Tribes asked that the design focus on the waters of Puget Sound, use Lushootseed language in signage, incorporate Tribal art and Tribal artists, bring indigenous natural landscapes into
the project, use elements of the local native longhouses in the terminal design, and make the structures sustainable. Tribes also asked for interpretive signage to educate the more than 4 million travelers who pass through the facility each year about Coast Salish culture and to demonstrate that vibrant Tribal cultures continue to flourish today. Tribal requests were included in a Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2014 with federal and state agencies by the Suquamish Tribe and other area Tribes. Designs were finalized between 2014 and 2016, and construction of the first phase began in the spring of 2015. Dennis Lewarch Suquamish Historic Preservation Officer
Suquamish News
4 | December 2020
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Wellness
COVID Winter: How to Beat Back the Pandemic Blues
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inter is coming, and the darkness coupled with the pandemic can be a challenge to our mental health. But there are tools we can use to beat back the blues, says the Suquamish Tribe’s naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, Dr. Alex Kraft. We’re now in the tenth month of the Coronavirus pandemic, notes Kraft. “We’re restricted from seeing loved ones. The weather is colder, wetter, and darker, and it’s hard to get outside.” How do we manage the stress, anxiety, or depression that may result? Emotional Forecast “Studies show that there are patterns to the ways people respond to natural disasters and other disruptive events such as this pandemic,” says Kraft. At the beginning of hard times, people typically pull together and rise to face the challenge. At the same time, there is usually a lot of anxiety with difficulty sleeping, headaches, and worry. After the event continues for a few months, and it’s clear it’s not going away, that initial anxiety can give rise to “acting out” or “acting in.” “That’s the phase we were in this summer,” says Kraft. As people feel frustrated and try to cope, some get more aggressive and even break the law,
while others self-isolate and withdraw, he says. There is often a rise in substance abuse. About nine months after the start of the event, when the stress — including the financial strain — continues, there is typically a rise in depression. Here in the Northwest, this period overlaps with the shorter and darker days of winter, the holidays, and for some people the start of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — more commonly called the winter blues. “But knowledge is powerful,” says Kraft. “Knowing this is the natural course of things, we can avoid being caught off guard. We can prepare and make choices to lessen the impact of this depressive swing.” Connect with Community The most important thing you can do now to build your defenses is to safely increase your community connections, while maintaining a sense of purpose, and being flexible to the changes that are required. “While we can’t socialize in person, maintain connections with friends and family through texting, phone calls, or video chats on Zoom. Touch base to see how people are doing, since many people who are struggling don’t reach out for help. Connect with Tribal Elders, with your faith community, your support group, or counselor,” says Kraft. “And keep telling each other ‘We can get through this.’” Eat, Sleep, Get Outside Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, drinking water, and eating healthy food,” says Kraft. Eat meals, with some vegetables, at regular times. If there is sunburst in the midst of an overcast day, seize the mo-
ment and go out for a walk. Even a short time outside can boost your mood and be good for your heart and spirit. Try to maintain a normal schedule to maintain some structure, says Kraft. Come up with a
schedule for getting things done Naturopath, or mental health around the house, and go to bed nurse for support.” and wake up at consistent times By Jon Anderson each day,” he says. Dr. Alex Kraft is accepting new “And if you need more help, patients. Call Wellness front desk reach out to friends or contact at (360) 394-8558 to set up the Wellness Center counselors, an appointment.
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Suquamish News
Tribe’s Clinic, Emergency Planning, and IT Upgrades Supported by COVID Relief Funds
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ince the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Suquamish Tribe has received federal, state, and other funding to assist in responding to the impacts. The pandemic shined a bright light on areas where the Tribe has been underfunded by the federal government and unable to complete projects to improve operations and to services to the Tribal community during an emergency. On August 12, after receiving Tribal member comments, the Tribal Council approved four large COVID-19 projects that leverage federal funds received under the CARES Act ($5,047,846) and other COVID-19 funding sources ($1,996,749). The status of each project follows.
This surge clinic will allow the Tribe to expand access to care for patients who are unable to obtain primary care due to the overburden on the existing healthcare delivery system. The Tribal Council has selected the location for the stand-alone COVID clinic across the street from the Tribal Administration building (see figure). The Tribe’s development team, including Crown Consulting and The Innova Group, are developing the clinic facility plan, including the furniture, fixtures, and equipment requirements. This, along with the business operations plan, will help to define next steps for discussion with Tribal Council.
Stand-alone COVID Clinic A stand-alone COVID Testing Clinic will allow the Tribe to more effectively prevent, prepare, and respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis, while the Tribe is proceeding with development of a larger health clinic. The clinic will be housed in a modular building that will be re-purposed when the permanent health clinic is built. The COVID clinic team will be staffed by a Family Practice Physician or Family Nurse Practitioner and a clinical team for a culturally responsive, patient-centered medical home model. Clinical staff along with Community Health and the IT programs will develop the capacity to provide in-house testing and vital care management, including tele-health for COVID-19 patients and chronic care patients.
Expansion of Community Health Program The Tribe increased the staffing of the Community Health Program by adding a nurse to support COVID testing, case investigation, contact tracing, and community outreach, and to support flu vaccination. Two Community Health representative positions are being added to assist with transports and welfare checks, freeing nursing staff to perform other tasks. Additional COVID testing kits, laptops, outdoor tents, and other equipment have been purchased to respond to the demands of the pandemic. The contract with the University of Washington was expanded to accommodate the current demand for COVID lab tests and future surges. The program is also preparing for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
December 2020 | 5
Expansion of IT Services The IT COVID project will support and improve telehealth and education-related Internet access for Tribal households. It will also facilitate the technical needs of the medical and COVID stand-alone clinics, and ultimately provide broadband access across the reservation. The first part of this project involves the installation of a new Dell mainframe, which will be completed at the end of November. These servers will function as cyber security for the Tribal broadband systems and health record storage for the new medical clinic. Sixty HP laptops were ordered and checked out to Tribal households for children to use for online learning. Integrity Networks is assisting the Tribe to complete mapping for new wireless Internet access at Tribal government buildings. Installation of new wireless access points will provide free, fast wireless in the public areas and parking lots of all government buildings. The prototype of expanded wireless service at Tribal housing will begin in spring and summer of 2021 in the Totten Road housing areas. The broadband project is expected to take five years to complete, and system updates will continue as the service expands to include all reservation areas. Expansion of Emergency Operations (EOC) An operations officer, planning coordinator, and an outreach and volunteer coordinator are being added to the EOC to assist in pandemic preparedness, response, and recovery planning, and for ongoing pandemic support. The EOC continues to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitation/cleaning supplies, and other emergency supplies. Other equipment that has been or will be purchased or leased includes: waterproof storage units to properly store PPE and other emergency equipment; eight generators and two field command generators; a HAM Communication systems; one drone; a Fast Command Communications System; and additional laptops and cell phones. Planning efforts are underway for additional office and storage space for the Office of Emergency Management. Tiny Homes 2.0 In addition to these four projects, the Department of Community Development is constructing Tiny 2.0 Homes on Division Street. These homes will be available for temporary quarantine and/or isolation for Tribal members who may be exposed to or have contracted COVID-19, and for other housing needs. The Tribal government continues to seek additional resources and innovative solutions to ensure that there is the capacity to perform essential services during any future pandemic event and to ensure that Suquamish Tribal members and the community remain safe and strong. By Mel Allen Tribal Attorney
6 | December 2020
Suquamish News
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Government
Chairman’s Report visitors. Have a plan to severely curtail or eliminate outside guests. The Governor announced new restrictions in response to the increase in infection rates and held a call with Tribal leaders to update us on his intentions. The Governor is most concerned with those activities and gatherings where participants are maskless, like restaurants and bars. Our enterprises will remain open with some increased safety measures including a reduction in maximum occupancy in the casino and restaurants.
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ello everyone and welcome to the last month of 2020. I know many of us are happy to see it come to an end! Looking back to the first two months of the year, everything was pretty normal — the presidential primaries were getting started, CKA basketball was finishing the season, and ATNI and NCAI held their winter meetings in Portland and Washington, DC. Then the virus news came, and on March 2 we held our first COVID-19 planning meeting; we have been engaged in adapting to the virus ever since. Tribal Council and staff have been diligently working with local, state, and federal government agencies to ensure that the Suquamish Tribe receives all the equipment, funding, and guidance necessary to respond to this pandemic in a science-based and culturally sensitive manner. COVID-19 The White House continues to have periodic calls reporting on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surgeon General continues to urge everyone to use the three “Ws”: Wash your hands, Wear a mask, and Watch your distance. Cases are rising nationally as well as in our own state and county. Nationally, cases have increased from 55,000 to 155,000 per week with hospitalizations increasing from 5,500 to 10,000 per day. The primary culprit is small household gatherings. Please limit your household gatherings to those in your home and take precautions (the 3 Ws) if you have
Biden-Harris Transition The election of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States presents new opportunities for the Suquamish Tribe to achieve its primary goals. We have joined other Tribes in the effort to have a Native American woman be the next secretary of the Interior, specifically Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) (Laguna Pueblo), who many of the Elders know from her visit with us in Albuquerque back in 2018. I was a guest on National Public Radio on a show called “The Takeaway” in which I answered questions about Indian Country’s support of Biden-Harris, COVID 19, and the Democratic Party’s relationship with Tribes. National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) NCAI held their annual meeting on a virtual platform the week after the national election. The meeting was originally going to held in Portland, Oregon. Even though it was online, the Northwest Tribes still “hosted” the meeting by posting videos with traditional welcomes and cultural presentations. Thank you to our Song and Dance Group and royalty for taping, with the fine assistance of Jon Anderson, videos for the conference. The major work of the conference was editing and adding language to the Biden-Harris transition document that identifies Indian Country priorities for the new administration. Treaty Resources Protection The State of Washington and Tribal leaders met to discuss plans for implementing riparian (river bank) actions to retain and re-establish salmon habitat. Creating buffers to protect rivers that produce the bulk of our salmon stock is greatly needed. This is a challenge
especially in respect to agricultural lands and other private property that need to be reserved for habitat protection and restoration. State and Tribal leadership also came together to get updates on the progress of culvert replacement and removal in the state. The state has completed some great projects, but not on the schedule that we and the courts determined to be necessary to effectively restore salmon habitat. The West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery also met to plan more local efforts to restore salmon and shellfish habitat. Housing development and commercial sprawl continue to pose major threats to the ecosystems that are vital to the health of our fisheries. One of the most effective tools against sprawl is the State of Washington’s Growth Management Act, which funnels growth to urban areas and away from the rural areas. Our membership in the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is a way for us to monitor the implementation of this important legislation. PSRC held a general assembly to approve their 2050 plan, which included an accommodation for more rural growth in Snohomish County. A compromise reduced the original growth rate, but we still voted against the amendment that eventually passed. Tribal leaders also met with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to discuss Tribal hunting. We have many concerns with the present arrangement for Tribal hunting, but unresolved legal issues prevent us from improving hunting management and enforcement systems. Cultural Preservation Preservation of our cultural traditions is ongoing. Language, weaving, carving, canoe travel, traditional food and medicine gathering, and ceremonies are our way of life. The pandemic has made us put many of these activities aside until it is safe to go out and gather again. Next year’s canoe journey has been postponed. We were able to have a small ceremony to rebury the remains of an ancestor found in the waters of Agate Pass. Thank you to Rob Purser and Marilyn Wandrey for leading this important work. I also had the opportunity to visit an archaeological site on the Duwamish River near Kent that is being excavated. This appears to be an old fishing site. In addition, I participated in some outreach activities to share information about our values and traditions. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is educating its employees about Tribal culture and history. PSE sent a crew to Old Man House to record me telling the story of our famous winter house. Law Seminars International held a seminar on Natural Resource Damage Assessment law. I provided an overview of the Suquamish Tribe’s experience in
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managing the 2003 Point Wells Oil Spill at Doe-KagWats beach. The Potlatch Fund held their Gala event on a virtual platform raising money for programs that help Indian Country in the Pacific Northwest. One of the main attractions was our own Calina Lawrence singing one of her original songs for the Gala audience. Wonderful job Calina! Way to make us proud. Seattle, the namesake for our Chief We continue to engage with the City of Seattle to protect our treaty rights and cultural sovereignty. The Friends of the Waterfront Seattle (FWS) is a non-profit partner that helps the City of Seattle build, fund, program, and manage Waterfront Park and ensure its lasting success. I serve on the FWS Board. We are meeting with the FWS staff to help them develop cultural and art programming on the waterfront to ensure our story is told. I also met with the new FWS Director Thatcher Bailey to provide him with the Suquamish Tribe’s expectations on participation with FWS going forward. The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), located on Lake Union in Seattle, is undergoing a change in their permanent exhibit. I was asked to review the exhibit in person during its closure to offer a Tribal opinion on the existing displays and how they could be improved. MOHAI will be hosting a panel of reviewers to discuss findings and collect opinions. Government-to-Government Our government-to-government relationship is recognized by the United States, the State of Washington, and several local municipalities and is an important component of our diplomatic interactions with other governments. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council held their annual legislative reception online. There was a good interaction between the Kitsap elected officials and members of the state legislature regarding transportation, COVID-19 impacts, and systemic racism. The U.S. Navy held their Northwest Navy Tribal Leadership Council Meeting with Tribal leaders. Admiral Stephen Barnett of Navy Region NW gave an overview of the Navy footprint. We also had a presentation on the use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in assessing impacts of federal projects in Indian Country. Thanks to Dennis Lewarch for participating in the panel on TEK. Systemic Racism The Suquamish Tribe continues its engagement in the movement to address systemic racism. The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe hosted a virtual talking circle to discuss issues on systemic racism in our Kitsap
Suquamish News
December 2020 | 7
Lushootseed suEabSucid Phrase of the Month
x̌əqusəbəxʷ čəxʷ Mask up! or, to add more to it ... x̌əqusəbəxʷ čəxʷ, yəhaw̓ “Mask up -- proceed!” or “Mask up -- lets do it!” a rallying call to mask up
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community, creating a good dialogue between elected officials, law enforcement, and community activists. The state legislature is reviewing laws that prevent civil lawsuits against police who are negligent in their use of force. We are working with the state legislature make sure that the state legal system is fair for all. Gaming We are working with the Washington State Gambling Commission on instituting sports wagering, including providing information on our problem gambling programs. We discussed this and other issues at our monthly Washington Indian Gaming Association meeting. Leonard Forsman Suquamish Chairman
Sovereign Style Masks of Resilience
an a pandemic be stylish? Yes, it can. Sovereign Style: COVID-19 Edition is coming to a screen near you! The Suquamish Foundation presents the 5th Annual Sovereign Style: Masks of Resilience & Protection. Native artists have been creating amazing masks that will inspire you and fill your hearts with the strength of our people. These face coverings will make you want to step up your mask game and rock your indigenous style. Here’s how it will work. Go to the Suquamish Foundation page on Facebook, and “like” or “follow.” On Tuesday, December 15, log on at 6pm and watch the 2020 Sovereign Style Short Film — Masks of Resilience & Protection from the comfort and safety of your home. Join Suquamish Foundation president, Chairman Leonard Forsman, and director, Treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo as they welcome you and introduce a 15-minute film on our 2020 artists. Then we’ll end the event with a five-year retrospective of photos from all of the past #SovereignStyle events. Tune in and you might win a prize. Join us! Robin Little Wing Sigo Suquamish Foundation
Suquamish News
8 | December 2020
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Government
Suquamish Holiday Gi� Guide Gifts by Tribal Artists for Everyone on Your List
The Suquamish Museum’s Leota Anthony Museum Store offers a virtual personal shopper and curbside pickup. Call (360) 394-7100 or email suquamishstore@ suquamish.nsn.us to schedule your shopping appointment.
Ar�st: Angee Harrington, Suquamish Buffalo Bone Necklaces $260-$310
Ar�st: Sue Henry, Suquamish Cedar Candle Holders Pair: $220 Each: $160
Ar�st: Charissa Sigo, Suquamish Beaded Loop Earrings $35
Poet: Cedar Sigo, Suquamish Stranger in Town Book of poetry $13.95
Ar�st: Crystal Sigo, Suquamish Turquoise Copper Necklace - $90 Abalone Disc Necklace - $85
Ar�st: JoAnn Joe, Suquamish Beaded Pens & Hair Sticks $15-$20
Ar�st: Don Jones, Port Gamble S’Klallam Wood Carved Ra�le $80
Ar�st: Gloria Smith, Suquamish Cedar Sunglasses $55
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December 2020 | 9
Featured Ar�st: Lisa Rodriguez
Ar�st: Jimmy Price, Port Gamble S’Klallam “Slappo” Print $60
Find more of Lisa Rodriguez’ art at CreativeCultureDesigns.com. Contact her at 360.536.11670 or CreativeCultureDesignsSeattle@gmail.com
Ar�st: Nancy Sigo, Suquamish Small Cedar Baskets $30-$60
Deer Hide Earrings Hand painted deer hide earrings Painted on both sides 3” long $50.00 /pair
Blue & White Cedar Hat Ornament Sinew & pa�ern are customizable. 5.5” diameter by 3” high Made with red cedar & sinew $75.00 each
Creator: Azure Boure, Suquamish Elderberry Syrup Kit - $20 Evergreen Herbal Healing Salve - $12
Ar�st: Jeffrey Veregge, Port Gamble S’Klallam Seahawks T-Shirt $25
Frog Decal Great for Windows, Mirrors, Doors, 6”x 4” sticker is white, there is no background $15.00 each
Cedar Heart Earrings 2.5” Long, 1.8” wide Made with red cedar $45 per pair Illustrations by Peg Deam, Photos by Jon Anderson
10 | December 2020
Suquamish News
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Culture
With Generosity & Grit, Georgia George Supports Family & Tribe Tribal Elder Georgia GeorgeRye holds up one of the many thousands of fish she has caught since helping to secure Tribal fishing rights.
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A lot of times, we might not have had a Christmas
if it weren’t for her,” Shellene George recalls of the kind treatment she and her siblings received from their Auntie Georgia George-Rye, a former chairwoman of the Suquamish Tribe. “Every year, she made Christmas and birthdays special and made sure we never went without.” Georgia, who is now an Elder of the Tribe, is known throughout her family and by those who know her best for far more than just her generous and loving nature. Among many other things, she is renowned for her strength, resiliency, and an inspiring talent to not allow negativity and rumors to get her down. Even in the face of devastating grief at the tragic loss of loved ones and her ultimately victorious battle with cancer for which she underwent four operations, Georgia held onto her positivity as well as an unwavering determination to keep moving forward. “Everything was coming at me,” Georgia says, “and I just juggled every ball and ran as fast as I could to get things done.”
This ability to rise in the face of adversity is a trademark characteristic shared by Indigenous women across the world and something Georgia relied on in pursuit of her many accomplishments. Throughout her efforts during the 1970s Indian rights movements, Georgia and thousands of Native people pushed successfully for Tribal self-determination, thereby wrestling greater control of Tribal governments away from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and giving it back to Native people. Georgia worked alongside legends like Billy Frank to protect Tribal interests and the future of our water resources. She helped in the successful negotiations with the state and federal government for the return of the Cushman Indian Hospital back to the Puyallup Nation. It was a particularly proud achievement for Georgia and her fellow activists. The hospital, which initially started as a boarding school in the 1860s, had locked away generations of Native children, including many Suquamish, and cut them off from their families, spiritualities, and cultures. It was a relief to her when the Puyallup later demolished the building in 2003. “Burn baby, burn.” Georgia had advised of Cushman and other Indian hospitals and boarding schools throughout the United States. In her 25 to 30 years as an activist, Georgia, along with Nancy “Pep” Chiquiti and friend Ramona Bennett and others, saw Suquamish become “among the first if not the first Tribe to successfully challenge the Indian Child Welfare system.” For all of this and more, Georgia’s family speaks proudly of her contributions to the Tribe and Indian Country.
“On Mother’s Day, we call up Auntie Georgia, and our children all call her grandma,” Shellene George says while her sister, Skylene, nods across the room in agreement. The women smile as they recount all the times they grew up witnessing their aunt setting her net out in front of Suquamish and how she could come in, get cleaned up, and quickly transform into the business attired world of professionalism. No matter what she was doing, the two sisters remember, she did it with an air of regality that exuded poised leadership and gracefully commanded respect. “She can brighten anyone up on their worst day,” Shellene explains. “Even her voice is comforting,” says Skylene, who has long observed and admired her aunt’s genuine care and love for her community. Throughout her life, Georgia remarks that an essential key to her success has been the cultivation of a strong network of support with other Native women pushing for the advancement of Indian people. Georgia laughs as she remembers how one of these individuals, Rose Sigo of Suquamish, burned a pioneer-style wagon on ‘the slab’ downtown on the reservation one Columbus Day while holding signs of protest. “She was one of the ones who supported me and loved me,” Georgia says, “It helped a lot when I got encouraging words and hugs from Tribal Elder women instead of the frowns and sarcasm that were judgmental.” Looking back over her lifetime and dealings in tribal politics and activism, Georgia holds an admirably realistic view of herself that all of us would be wise to adopt. “Of course, I had weaknesses. I had dark days during my career, too,” she says, “but I did what I did, and I think I accomplished a lot. I have no regrets. As Joni Mitchell would say, ‘no regrets Coyote, no regrets.’” By Heather Purser
Suquamish News
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December 2020 | 11
What would you ask, or tell, the Suquamish Police?
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ecently, a community member approached us with concerns about the way law enforcement was interacting with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault victims. We took their comments to heart and obtained funding to bring in an internationally acclaimed expert, certified by the Department of Justice, to teach “Trauma-Informed Interviewing of DV and Sexual Assault Victims.” Not only did every Suquamish officer attend, but we hosted the training for the entire region, so nearly 100 law enforcement officers received the training. Community input can lead to swift change, here in the Suquamish Police Department and beyond. We listen. We learn. We are willing to change when it makes sense. In another case, a community member came to us and mentioned that they were aware of a company doing free de-escalation training for Law Enforcement, and gave us some contact information. The entire command staff has now completed the training, and all officers will have completed it before the end of the year; this is over and above the mandated training required by the State of Washington. We are open to good ideas, and especially love it when we get suggestions from our community. With that in mind, we would like to hear your questions, suggestions, and ideas. Ask the Police Beginning next month, we are launching a column called, “Ask the Police.” Send your questions or suggestions to communications@suquamish.nsn.us.
You can ask anonymously if you like — the Communications Team (which publishes this newspaper) can simply pass along your question without a name and email address. We’ll respond here in the Suquamish News. Or we can have a conversation in person in a way that meets the Tribe’s guidance for COVID safety. I can host a meeting online, or meet somewhere outside and socially distanced; I’ll even buy the coffee. You can set the agenda: • What’s important to you? • What do you want us to know? • What do you think the Suquamish Police might do better? • What do you think we already do well?” ... and anything else you would like to discuss about law enforcement, probation or tribal justice systems, law enforcement training, mental health crisis response, de-escalation, use of force, staffing, re-entry, body cameras, traffic enforcement, fisheries enforcement, neighborhood safety, how to become a police officer, etc. The police want to listen, learn, and share information you might find useful. Call me to set up a get-together. My direct cell is (360) 340-0695, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Or email communications@suquamish. nsn.us to ask a question via the Suquamish News. By Mike Lasnier Suquamish Chief of Police
Tribal Member Ryan Sigo Joins Suquamish Police Department
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ello, I’m Ryan Sigo. My grandmother is Jaya Sigo, my grandfather is Dave Sigo, my mother was Christie Higginson, and my father is Romell Chargualaf. I am a Suquamish Tribal member; I was born and raised here on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. The majority of my youth has been spent devoted to my community and to my Tribe. I was Chief Seattle Days Warrior from 2011 to 2012 and again from 2013 to 2014. I was honored to be selected to serve on the Suquamish Tribal Youth Council from 2010 to 2011 and again from 2012 to 2013. In school I was an avid wrestler and played for Kingston High School from my sophomore year through my senior year (2012-2014). I transferred to and graduated from Chief Kitsap Academy. After high school, I worked as a commercial fisherman for three years with my grandfather fishing within our designated U&A. In 2018 I was given opportunity to work as the on-call transport officer for the Suquamish Police Department, and then in 2019 I was hired as the Suquamish Tribal Court Bailiff.
Recognizing the tools and experience I had gained, I decided to further my career and applied for the open entry-level police officer position. I realized while interviewing for bailiff that my long-term goal was to become a police officer for the Suquamish Tribe. Before I realized it, my long-term goal has become a reality, and I have begun training to become a police officer for my Tribe, for our Tribe. I want to be a role model that tribal youth can look up to and, as such, I challenge our youth to follow the path that I have set out on. I care greatly for my people and I want to make a positive difference as a Suquamish Police Officer. I dedicate my life to service and to protecting my People while representing my tribe in the best way I can, not only as a Suquamish Tribal member but also as an Suquamish Police Officer. I understand that when I go to the academy, not only am I representing our Suquamish Police Department but also representing Suquamish as a Tribal Member. I hope to not only make my family proud but to make my department and my community proud.
Suquamish News
12 | December 2020
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Introducing Dawn M. Bruce, New Tribal Child Welfare Director
Duwamish River Parks Renamed to Reflect Culture, History, Environmental Significance
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ort of Seattle commissioners voted unanimously on October 27, 2020, to rename six Port-owned parks and shoreline habitat sites along the Lower Duwamish River in Seattle. Four of the six sites will now have Lushootseed names, reflecting traditional Coast Salish names for the places drawn from the ethnographic record. The vote culminates a community engagement process initiated in June by the Port and the Seattle Parks Foundation. Each of the new community-sourced names reflect the cultural, historical, and environmental significance of each location and have meaning for Tribes and local community members. • Terminal 105 Park will become tu̓ ʔəlaltxʷ Village Park & Shoreline Habitat, named after the traditional Salish village of Herring’s House on the west bank of the Duwamish River and reflecting where herring lived and spawned. • Terminal 107 Park will be renamed həʔapus Village Park & Shoreline Habitat, which was the name of a small stream draining across a flat on the west side of Duwamish River and the location of another ethnographic village. • The small Terminal 108Park/Diagonal Public Access Sites on the east side of the river will now be named sbəq̓ waʔ Park & Shoreline Habitat, the Lushootseed name for the Great Blue Heron that are found there. • The Terminal 117 Public Access and Shoreline Habitat area will become Duwamish River People’s Park & Shoreline Habitat in commemoration of the hundreds of local volunteers who have helped in the habitat restoration efforts.
The prosaic Turning Basin #3 shoreline park name will be renamed Salmon Cove Park & Shoreline Habitat, again recognizing the efforts of community volunteers and the Port to restore important salmon habitat in the area. • Finally, the 8th Ave South St. End Park will renamed ta̓ łta̓ łucid Park and Shoreline Habitat, the ethnographic name in Lushootseed for “where there is something overhead, across the path,” a description of logs or branches located above a path or trail. The Lushootseed names were drawn from research conducted by anthropologist Thomas Talbot Waterman, who worked with Salish elders between 1918 and 1921 to document traditional place names. New names will be included in public signage and Port outreach and linguistic accuracy, pronunciation, and legibility will be assured by consultation with Tribal linguists. In June, the Port and Seattle Parks Foundation formed an eight-person review committee of individuals familiar with the Lower Duwamish River, consisting of Tribal, Port, and local community representatives. The Suquamish Tribal Council named Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Dennis Lewarch as the Suquamish representative on the review committee. The Port and Seattle Parks solicited public input and received nearly 3,500 nominations for names, submitted online, by text, and by voice mail. The Review Committee evaluated all public submissions, submitted the finalists to the public for comment, and sent the final name selections to the Port Commission for approval. By Dennis Lewarch Tribal Historic Preservation Officer •
Dawn M. Bruce, the Suquamish Tribe’s new Tribal Child Welfare director, was born and raised in Belcourt, North Dakota, and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She began her career by serving in the U.S. Army for three years, a�er which she worked in law enforcement as a Peace Officer, a Patrol Officer, and an Undercover Narcotics Agent. In 1998, she graduated with a Bachelors’ Degree in Social Work, and in 2005, she graduated with a Masters’ Degree in Social Work. Her career in Indian Child Welfare spans over two decades during which she has worked in various capacities as a Social Worker, a Social Services Director and a Child Protection Services Director. Dawn is passionate about child welfare and has made it her life’s work to serve Native children and their families. She is dedicated to providing services using approaches that focus on family preservation, as well as the active efforts needed for reunification of families. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Suquamish Tribe including the ability to relocate from North Dakota in a record-breaking span of 2 days.
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Suquamish News
December 2020 | 13
14 | December 2020
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Juvenile Sea Cucumbers at Home in FLUPSY
We Are a Strong People Traditional Heritage Specialist
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he Suquamish Tribe and the Pacific Shellfish Institute (PSI) partnered this summer to learn more about what sea cucumbers like to eat. The institute approached the Tribe about hanging mesh containers full of juvenile sea cucumbers off the Tribe’s Floating Upweller System (FLUPSY) for shellfish in the Brownsville Marina, after discovering that sea cucumbers grow quickly after eating shellfish waste. The Tribe has two FLUPSYs used year-round for growing juvenile shellfish, which are distributed to local beaches as part of the Tribe’s shellfish population restoration efforts. Nearly 100 young red sea cucumbers, speckled with yellow and brown spots, ranging from 1 to 2 inches long and as thick as a thumb, were placed in meshlined baskets so they couldn’t escape and predators couldn’t enter, but algae and shellfish waste could flow through. Some baskets were placed within the FLUPSY, others were hung off the outside of the floating structure. “We are seeing a lot of shellfish poop accumulate in the sea cucumber cages, and some sea cucumbers with full guts, so they are settling in and eating, which is definitely what we want to see,” said Erin Horkan, a PSI research technician. The work is part of PSI’s grow-out trials with the sea cucumber offspring that came from broodstock estab-
lished by the Tribe and Puget Sound Restoration Fund in 2016 and 2017. Sea cucumbers are of cultural and economic importance to the Tribe, and the population has been dwindling for years. The PSI grow-out trials are to determine if sea cucumbers can grow well in an aquaculture setting alongside bivalve shellfish, Horkan said. The PSI scientists learned that sea cucumbers grow well being fed dark red seaweed but grow faster with mussel waste. By Jeremy Johnson
he end of the year is here and we are looking into January 2021 and a New Year. Seems like 2020 was a very hard year with the COVID-19 and all the changes in the world around us. Let us welcome Christmas and the holidays in order to make the best of the end of 2020. We are a strong people and can overcome everything. Please remember to wear your mask, stay safe, and be strong. This will be over if we respect each other and make sure that we do not allow it to spread. Let us end 2020 with no more virus and no more death from it in our community. Bring in 2021 as a new and healthy year. Please be strong and safe. I hope to return to work in the new year and be able to bring updates on Ancestors, gatherings, and other exciting things. I would like start interviewing folks on their experiences in the year of the virus and how they survived it. We can look into what folks did to stay safe and keep their families safe. I wish to thank the Suquamish Tribal staff for all the help they gave to me during my time of recovery from my fall and surgery. I am still in Physical Therapy — learning to walk and build strength in my shoulder, leg, and ankle. Hoping to be out of the wheelchair soon. If you wish to talk with me or have questions for me you can contact me at either mjones@suquamish.nsn.us or (360) 340-0206. By Marilyn G. Jones
Suquamish News
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Birthdays
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December 1 Cameron Lawrence Cassady Hill Jeffrey Carriere Katelyn Carper Meadow Sigo-Carr Mya Smith Zane Peterson Deceember 2 Foster Jones Heather West Koebyn Purser Troy Ayres December 3 Ana Edelstein Grace Alexander Susan Parkhurst December 5 Cheyenne Colomb Haylie Mabe John Villanueva Lewis Bayne Mary Lindell Sammy Mabe Victoria Smith December 6 Guadalupe O’Brien Patricia Chargualaf Tiana Lawrence December 7 Carroll Crowell Dylan Amick
Sandra Power Tamara Thomas Trentin Moss
December 8 Breezy Webster Eliza Kegel Wahim Williams Jr.
December 24 Azeneth Solano-Sigo James Cordero December 16 James Suarez Danielle Morsette Lisa Rodriguez Jason McClurg-Santos Martin Talmadge December 25 Mellissa Pondelick Kyle Dozier Nancy Sigo December 17 Toni Smith Sierra Sorensen
December 9 Andria Golden Kristina Simons Mary Webster
December 18 David Sigo Jr. Felician Belmont
December 10 Deantre Rubeck Samuel Pastrana Sienna Oswalt
December 19 Ashley Boure-Jones Chandra Nease Logan Mabe Pierre Perrot Trey Kumpf
December 11 Garnet Mabe December 12 Adelyn Oswalt Alicia Henry Celeste Loneia Colleen O’Brien December 13 Jeddadiah Adams Shaunie Cordero December 14 Olivia Ferrara December 15 Joshua Timmerman Rebecca George
December 20 Donald Jones Nicholas Alexander December 21 Arthur Brown December 22 Delmont Ostenberg James Mabe Nancy Martinez Richard Purser We-Laka Chiquiti Jr. December 23 Agnes Pratt Julia Hommel Tony Snorteland
December 27 Amiria Lawrence Anissa Ostenberg Hadley Simons Jackson Purser Patricia Blomberg Tyee Lawrence December 28 Lincoln Lawrence December 29 Amber Boure Carsyn Maloney Daniece Williams December 30 Charissa Sigo Jacquelyn Cheek Linda O’Connor December 31 Desean Santos Jerry Porter Randy George Victoria Welch Wayne George
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71
Winter Cheer Join the Suquamish Foundation for a Holiday Tree Lighting! Drive by holiday light displays at the Tribal Center, the Early Learning Center, the Veterans Memorial, and other locations. Thursday, December 3, 2020. Lights come on at 6 p.m. Maps will be sent out via SUN. Please wear a mask and stay in your car. Spread cheer -- not Covid!