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Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
January 2021 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 21
January 2021
No. 1
Surviving Pandemics, Past & Present
In this issue ... Tribal Council picks Vaccine – p5 General Council Planning – p7 Looking forward to 2021 – p8 New housing going up – p9
Masks of Resilience – p4
Celebrating Merle Hayes – p10
Suquamish News
2 | January 2021
Community Calendar
Suquamish.nsn.us
Events & Meetings
Regular Hours
Holiday Hours
COVID-19 Vaccination Forum with Tribal leaders & health experts, Jan. 5, 2:30-3:30pm.
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
All Tribal government offices will be closed for the holidays, December 21Jan. 1, with the following exceptions.
General Council will take place March 20 & 21, 2021 (see page 7). Suquamish Tribal Council Tribal Council meets Jan. 11. Links sent to Tribal members via SUN or ask Rebecca Purser, (360) 900-8031, rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us. Suquamish Warriors For information, contact Jean Belmont at (360) 601-7918. PME Board of Directors meets online on Jan. 13. The SEC/PMECC/ PMCC Board meetings will be Jan. 27. Contact Emily Sato, emilysato@ clearwatercasino.com, (360) 598.8703 Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Meets online Jan. 7 & 21. Call Angela Brainerd (360) 394-8652 for details.
Suquamish Elders — contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472 Suquamish Police Department lobby is available for government-related paperwork. Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Emergency: 911
Suquamish Seafoods Board meets online on Jan. 12. Seafoods Retail is open Thurs-Sun. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 394-8512 for details.
Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416
Suquamish Museum Board Meets Jan. 21 online. Call Janet Smoak at (360) 394-8499 for info.
COVID-19 Tests and Flu Shots, free to Tribal members and families, Tribal employees, and PME employees, Mon.-Fri., 8:30am to 12pm
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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Letters should include the writer’s full name, address, and home telephone and may be edited for clarity and space.
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All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1 Community Health Nurses will be on standby by for emergencies and they will continue following any Tribal members or staff members in isolation or quarantine. They will not be conducting Covid-19 testing. See bit.ly/ KitsapTest for a list of confirmed sites that will be testing. Medical transportation will not be available. Elders can call Della Crowell at (360) 394-8417 Emergency Management will be on standby to assist in any emergency incidents. Please contact Cherrie May at (360) 394-8507 cmay@suuamish. nsn.us or Eric Quitslund at equislund@ suquamish.nsn.us. ʔiišədalʔtxʷ ʔə ti suq̓ʷabš (Family and Friends Center) will be closed. If needed,
contact Barb Santos, director: bsantos@ suquamish.nsn.us (360) 340-2338. The Fitness Center will be closed. No proxy access will be available. Health Benefits will be closed. Please call 360-394-8424 for urgent issues. Human Services will be closed. Call (206) 920-0748 for any emergencies. Police Patrol Operations will remain active. The Police lobby will be closed to the public Dec 24–Jan 3 and will not be accepting deliveries. Suquamish Seafood Retail Store hours are as follows during the Holiday: Dec. 23, 9am- 5pm Dec. 24, 9am-2pm Dec. 25- 27, Closed Dec. 31-Jan. 3, 9am-5pm. TCW main phone line (360) 394-8480 will be routed to the on-call worker during the shutdown. TCW case managers will still be available for their clientele’s urgent needs.
On the Cover Tribal Elder Aggie Pratt at the House of Awakened Culture (see page 3). Photo by Jon Anderson
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
January 2021 | 3
Tribal Elders on Holding Each Other Up During Pandemics
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uquamish Elder Aggie Pratt remembers the stories. Stories of the dark times, of suffering and death, but also stories of survival and resilience. These were the stories she heard from her mother and her grandmother about how the People of the Clear Salt Water found a way through the last terrible pandemic. And, she says, they are stories that can help us get through our own dark times. The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe in modern history, killing an estimated 50 million worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 675,000 people died in the United States alone. “My mom was five or six at the time, and she said there were so many funerals. In those days there was a funeral every week,” says Pratt. “There are mass graves up there,” she says with a nod to the Suquamish Ceme-
tery, “because of the flu.” “It was very hard on us to lose people, sometimes entire families. It had a deep impact on us.” One story that sticks with her: It was January. There had been another death from the flu. But the ground was frozen, so it was hard digging the grave. Back then, a priest had to come all the way from Seattle to preside over funerals. “When he came over and he saw that the grave wasn’t finished, he got mad,” says Pratt. “He said ‘you’re calling me over here, and you’re not ready?!’ “It was real rude of him. We got treated like that, like we were less than. They grew up with that hurt in their hearts.” The Tribe, she says, had to adapt to that kind of bigotry even as they struggled through the heartbreak of loss. October of 1918 is believed to be one of the deadliest months in U.S. history, with some 200,000 deaths due to the virus. The death tolls were the worst in areas where people gathered together and didn’t wear masks. A Long History of Unfamiliar Diseases While this was a new kind of trauma for most Americans, it was just the latest to hit Native peoples. “You go back a little further, and there was measles and smallpox. We were decimated. Our Tribes up and down the coast were much more populated than they are in modern times. We had no resistance to those diseases,” says Pratt. People learned to stay apart, she says, when it became necessary, adapting so they could overcome. “We are social people — we need that,” she says. “But we are also adaptable.” “It’s hard for people to change habits that are ingrained in them. But we can learn to adapt. And in adapting we can strengthen ourselves.”
“How were we raised? To respect each other and take care of each other.” — Mike Rodgers
“I’m asking you, from my heart…please listen to us Elders.” — Della Crowell
We got hit hard when the settlers first came. What we learned then, is our lesson today.
Continued on page 14
“I want to tell my great-grandchildren the story of how we ALL beat this.” — Donna Sigo
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Culture
Masks of Resilience and Protection: Sovereign Style, Pandemic Edition
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he 5th Annual #SovereignStyle took the form of a documentary film this year, allowing the Tribal community to participate while remaining safe. “I hope you are inspired and warmed by our incredible artists,” said Tribal Council Treasurer Robin L.W. Sigo as she introduced the artists who created the masks featured in the film. “We need these moments to witness and tell stories, so generations from now, people will be able to share these
moments and lessons,” said Sigo, who also serves as director of the Suquamish Foundation. “Please share this film,” Sigo added. “Support the artists by purchasing their art and crediting their work when sharing.” The film was produced for the Suquamish Foundation by Stefan Collins, of Nesquick Visuals, with art direction by Margeaux Lewis. Watch the film at http://bit.ly/SovStyleMasks.
Brandy Boure, Suquamish/Blackfeet I got inspiration from the great flood that happened generations ago. The creator told everyone to pack everything up to survive on the water. They all prepared for what was coming. In the painting you can see that they are alone, just like we are today. The pandemic reminded me of the stories taught to me, and inspired me to incorporate them into today’s life. I like to incorporate our past art with our modern-day art. Resilience means to me bringing something of your culture with you — always. Instagram @Sspopii-aakii
Emma Noyes, Colville Sovereignty influences my artwork in that mainstream media and culture and education really promotes the erasure of indigenous peoples. My artwork and what I create for Sovereign Style is focused on really being able to create this visual universe of indigeneity. This pandemic has made me recognize what a rich inner world artists create when they’re working in solitude. It also made me focus on what we can do to stay healthy together in our communities. Instagram @expertink
Joey Holmes, Dena’ina, and Denita Holmes, Suquamish We get our inspiration for these cedar face masks from natural plants. The designs we use are the designs you see in our wool weaving and our basketry. The pandemic has allowed us to focus more on our work. We spent a lot of time last spring gathering cedar and the other materials we use. It’s been a blessing to spend more time with our family. We’ve been able to share our knowledge with our children, and that’s been a beautiful thing — sharing the teachings our elders taught us. This mask was inspired by the Suquamish Tribe. We’re the People of the Clear Salt Water. The abalone represents the water. Instagram @holmes_syayaye Continued on page 12
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January 2021 | 5
Government
Suquamish Government Picks Moderna Vaccine for Distribution to Tribal Community Now Entering Critical Period to Prevent Spread of Disease
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he Suquamish Tribal Council, following the recommendation of the Tribe’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Barbara Hoffman, has decided to provide the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Tribal members and staff as it becomes available. The Moderna vaccine is expected to gain approval for emergency use from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late December. While it remains unclear how quickly mass vaccinations will begin, Tribal officials expect the first small batches of doses to begin arriving shortly after the New Year, with additional supplies arriving over the following weeks. Tribal officials have prioritized vaccinations to Elders and those most at-risk from COVID-19, as well as continuity of government to ensure leaders and critical staff are able to keep distribution moving. COVID Precautions Still Needed “We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that tunnel is still pretty long,” says Emergency Operations Manager Cherrie May. “It will still be several months before we can get everyone vaccinated.” That’s why it is so important for everyone to continue staying focused on preventing the spread of the virus. “Wear your masks, keep your distances, and please — please — don’t gather outside your immediate households,” Mays says. “I know that will be hard during the holidays, but it is so important. We really can pull together right now, by staying apart.” Kitsap County and the Suquamish Tribe, like much of the country, is seeing a surge in positive cases and hospitalizations. The spike is largely attributed to extended families and friends gathering together for Thanksgiving. “Let’s not make that same mistake here over Christmas and New Year’s,” says May. “The risk is too big. The consequences are too severe. The lives of our
loved ones are at stake.” Choosing Moderna Tribal staff are hard at work preparing for vaccine distribution. The Tribal Council had the choice of two vaccines — one offered by Pifzer and the other by Moderna. “In close consultation with our medical experts, we determined the Moderna vaccine provided the best option for our community,” says Hoffman. The vaccines are more similar than they are different, with the exception of how they are stored The Moderna vaccine is about 95 percent effective. It requires two doses, about a month apart, to achieve that high level of effectiveness. This is a new type of vaccine that helps people create virus-fighting antibodies without actually infecting them with COVID-19. Some people will feel the same shortterm, flu-like side effects from either vaccine. Health experts at the FDA and CDC stress that most side effects are a sign that the vaccine is working as intended. Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, which has more demanding frozen storage and distribution protocols, Moderna’s vaccine can be stored at four degrees below zero, which is a standard freezer temperature. After it’s thawed, it can be administered for up to 30 days. “The logistics of providing the vaccine to the entire Tribal community will be unprecedented for us,” says May. “A lot of work is going into planning and preparing for that, so getting the increased flexibility that Moderna offers is huge.” Side effects are a good sign They may not feel like it at the time, but most side effects from the vaccine are a good thing, say health experts. “They show the body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing,” says Suquamish Tribe’s Public Health Officer
Dr. Barbara Hoffman. “It shows that your immune system is working by creating the antibodies you need to fight off the disease.” Potential side effects include pain or swelling at the injection site, muscle and joint aches, fever, nausea, and headache. “The most common side effects noted in vaccine trials were pain and swelling at the injection site,” says Hoffman. “For
most study participants, side effects were mild to moderate and subsided within one to three days. But don’t worry if you don’t feel those side effects, she says. “It’s still working. The vast majority of those who get both doses – and it’s really important everyone gets both doses – will be protected.” By Jon Anderson
Suquamish Youth Council Focuses on Homelessness, Climate Adaptation
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he Suquamish Youth Council is making plans to distribute essential supplies to people in Seattle who are homeless, and to help develop a climate change adaptation plan for Suquamish. Youth Council Chairwoman Cassady Hill Jackson: “I’m excited to be doing it and looking forward to making a change.” Chief Kitsap Academy student Kailyn Usman Choy: “I enjoy coming together and discussing about climate change. I believe this is a great way to engage this generation with creating solutions and taking initiative about our environment.” Youth Council Secretary Tionna Hawk: “This project is a great opportunity. I am excited to learn more about what climate change is and am very interested in doing my part to help stop/ease climate change! I am very thankful for this opportunity.”
Suquamish Youth Council hold a virtual meeting. Pictured are Chairwoman Cassady Hill Jackson, Female Representative Tehya Ledesma, Treasurer Mackenzie Crow, and Vice-Chair Shyan Zaiss and Tribal Council Treasurer Robin L.W. Sigo.
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6 | January 2021
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Government
Chairman’s Report
a 2021 budget for the organization. This has been a challenging year for ATNI and I, as ATNI President, am grateful for the work of our ATNI staff, including Executive Director Terri Parr (Coeur d’Alene), and our Executive Board Mel Sheldon (Tulalip), Sharon Goudy (Yakama), Jeannie Louie (Coeur d’Alene), Jon George (Grand Ronde), Taylor Aalvik (Cowlitz) and Delano Saluskin (Yakama). ***
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wish everyone a Happy 2021 and I’m looking ahead to better times as we put 2020 behind us. We will not forget the sacrifices we and our families and friends had to make in 2020 to keep the pandemic at bay. We must stay vigilant as we wait for the new vaccines to get distributed. I’m looking forward to when we can come out, gather together, and express ourselves in our traditional ways. Hopefully that will happen, at least at some level, later this year. *** We finished 2020 engaged with congressional efforts to adopt a new COVID-19 relief package. We also worked with our intertribal organizations in consultations with the Biden-Harris Transition Team. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has been leading much of the effort in negotiating with Congress on COVID-19 aid to Tribal governments. The contentious issue of whether Alaska Native Corporations are eligible for Tribal relief funding under the last Cares Act Coronavirus Relief Fund legislation was the subject of much discussion. Appropriators and Tribal
representatives are seeking a compromise in the new relief package that was still under negotiation at this writing. I attended a meeting to discuss fishery relief under the CARES Act from both federal and state allocations for Washington and Oregon Tribes. The NCAI Board, where I serve as the Northwest Area Vice President, has met several times to discuss NCAI operations and our 2021 budget. NCAI also hosted a meeting to review Indian Country’s budget recommendations to incoming Administration and Congress. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) has held several meetings, with the full membership and with the executive board, to develop and present Tribal priorities and potential appointees to key posts from Indian Country to the Biden-Harris transition team. I also independently attended meetings with the Biden-Harris transition team to advocate for many of the same priorities and some specific asks, including the 30 x 30 Plan to preserve 30 percent of U.S. land and water from development to combat climate change. ATNI has also met to discuss the COVID-19 relief package and to develop
We continue our efforts to protect our natural resources — our water, our air, our lands and forests, and all the animals, plants, and fish that rely on a healthy ecosystem. I was honored to join Governor Inslee and legislative leaders for a press conference rolling out his climate change legislative proposal. This plan will reduce our carbon footprint and provide funding for critical climate change resilience projects. The Suquamish Tribe is a leader on government-to-government engagement and places great value on diplomatic relations with the United States, State of Washington and our neighboring local governments. We had our first meeting with the Colonel Alexander Bullock, Seattle District Commander, United States Army Corps of Engineers, to discuss our mutual responsibility to protect the Suquamish Tribe’s treaty fishing rights from construction impacts. Col. Bullock grew up in Snoqualmie, WA, and is well aware of the trust responsibility of the federal government. This year’s Centennial Accord was conducted virtually with Governor Jay Inslee who was recently elected to his third term. The major topics were related to natural resource protection, COVID-19, and social and health services. Governor Inslee remains committed to meaningful Tribal consultation and the fundamentals of the Centennial Accord. I joined fisheries staff in a meeting with King County Executive Dow Constantine to discuss King County’s efforts to combat climate change and improve their stormwater and wastewater treatment systems. Executive Constantine
presented their updated King County Strategic Climate Action Plan, which lays out actions over the next five years. We also met with representatives from the City of Seattle on two projects; one that is complete and another that is just beginning. I joined a virtual celebration, hosted by Friends of Waterfront Seattle, of the completion of Pier 62 on the Seattle Waterfront. There will be a new area for public access to the waterfront and for groups to have events, such as Salmon Homecoming, in the future. We also received a report from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) on plans for the repair of the West Seattle Bridge. The high bridge began cracking earlier this year, requiring it to close. SDOT will be making repairs to the low bridge (Spokane Street Swing Bridge) to allow for freight and transit traffic to continue to use that span. The Gorst Coalition Executive Committee continues to meet with the aim of improving traffic at the head of Sinclair Inlet. The Port of Bremerton, State Senator Emily Randle, Congressman Derek Kilmer, the U.S. Navy, Kitsap County, and several other jurisdictions are engaged in determining solutions and getting the plan funded. The Kitsap County Coordinating Council held their last meeting of the year. Housing affordability and availability is a major issue for local governments. Balancing the need to accommodate a growing population and protecting our environment and quality of life is becoming more and more challenging. *** Economic development has been a struggle for many due to the pandemic. The Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) meeting included our usual legislative report and update on sports wagering. WIGA has experienced some stabilization in its finances, which reflects some stabilization in the gaming industry. The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance held their annual meeting. Housing issues were a major discus-
Suquamish News
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January 2021 | 7
Ar e s e Oppor
sion item as was the growth in tenants at the Port of Bremerton. Concerns about sprawl were expressed and the future of the rural environment is at risk if we do not proceed cautiously as a region. We continue to support education both here at home and on the state level. The Tribal Leaders Congress on Education met to hear reports from the State Office on Native Education on their programs to improve student success. We also discussed bills proposed for the upcoming legislative session and a proposal to build a longhouse at Western Washington University. Tribal Council, which serves as the CKA School Board, held a meeting to discuss their 2021 budget, which includes a new position to staff their resource room classroom and funding to construct the carving studio and classroom. The Suquamish Museum Board held their last meeting of the year and reviewed end-of-year finances, which suf-
fered due to the pandemic. We have been awarded a COVID relief grant that will help us address our deficit and probably stay within budget. We are considering an agreement with the Burke Museum to have them store an archaeological collection that WSDOT has offered to give to us. This collection is from a site excavated near Port Orchard. The Suquamish Tribe, as the original people of the Kitsap Peninsula and the Central Puget Sound, are often sought by the greater community to provide knowledge and direction on social issues. We have been approached by Fishline, a local non-profit, to have more Tribal involvement in their oversight, expressing their desire for a Tribal member to serve on their board. I also contributed to the annual Kitsap County Human Rights Conference by providing some opening remarks about our long presence here and the need for more effort to combat racial bias. Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe Chairman
Boards and Commissions Update
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uquamish Tribal Council announced new appointments for Executive Boards and Commissions at their December 14, 2021 meeting. A complete list will be printed in the February newsletter. Meanwhile, Tribal Council is recruiting a TCW committee member. This position will be a one-year term replacing a member who stepped down. Tribal Council is also recruiting for a youth to fill the youth position on the Culture Committee. Letters of interest can be submitted to Rebecca Purser at rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us.
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General Council 2021 Plan Public Hearing Set for February 11, 2021 at 5 PM
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he Tribal Council is working on preliminary plans for holding the annual General Council meeting over the weekend of March 20-21, 2021. As we face a continued surge of COVID-19 infections throughout the country and in Kitsap County, our primary concern is the health of our members as we plan to hold General Council. With public health in mind, the Tribal Council is considering holding the meeting over two days with a virtual component and an in-person election. The following is a proposed schedule, but no final decision will be made until after a virtual public hearing is held (details below). GC Schedule The preliminary General Council plan includes a virtual meeting on Saturday, March 20, open to all Tribal Members. The Chairman will open the meeting virtually, followed by a presentation of reports, approval of the 2019 General Council Meeting minutes, consider-
ation of any General Council Resolutions, nominations from the floor, and candidate statements. Moving nominations and candidate statements to Saturday will provide more flexibility in ensuring a safe and socially distanced voting process on Sunday. On Sunday March 21, the Chairman will open meeting virtually at 8:30 am and voting will likewise begin at 8:30 am at the House of the Awakened Culture. To provide the safest means for voting, the Tribal Council is planning on both a drive-thru voting station and an in-person walk-up voting station. It is important to note, that no election voting will be conducted virtually, so should you want to participate in the election you will need to do so in person. Primary voting will be conducted from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Votes will then be tabulated virtually, and results announced. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes per position will move on to the General Election. The General Election polls will open at 1:00 pm and
close at 5:00 pm. The votes will then be tabulated virtually, results announced, and the candidates will be sworn in virtually. The meeting then will adjourn. Your input on this plan We are providing this preliminary schedule to the community for input. Article V, Section 5 of the Suquamish Tribe’s Constitution provides that “All election disputes. . . will be resolved by the General Council.” Our hope is that the General Council members will provide input and support for conducting the March 2021 General Council meeting in the safest and most efficient manner. With that in mind, the Tribal Council will be hosting a virtual public hearing on General Council planning on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 5pm. Please plan to participate if you have feedback about the preliminary plan for the 2021 General Council meeting. By Maryanne Mohan, Tribal Attorney
8 | January 2021
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Government
2020 Was One for the History Books What Will 2021 Be Like? Three Tribal Leaders Share Their Plans and Predictions
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s we come to the end of 2020 — a year many will be glad to see in the rearview mirror — we asked three Tribal leaders to look ahead and share what they see coming in 2021. Jamie Gooby and Scott Crowell were asked to step in as acting co-executive directors last March, just as the pandemic was picking up steam. Both continue their regular responsibilities — Gooby as director of Human Resources and Crowell as director of Community Development — while also managing the operation of government. Chairman Leonard Forsman leads the Tribal Council’s response to the pandemic and the rapidly changing challenges of government to government relations, on top of the normal work of Tribal chairman. Vaccination Sometime between next spring and next fall, vaccination will make it safe to resume life as normal. (See the approach Tribal Council is taking to the vaccination roll out on page 4.) Until then, we need to continue to be patient, said Forsman. The virus continues to spread through Kitsap County, Washington state, and across the nation, and the darkest days of the pandemic may still be ahead of us. “I’m looking forward to seeing the positivity rate declining and knowing that families will be safe,” said Gooby. Meanwhile, though, the impacts continue to be felt by those who have fallen ill and by their families, and by the much larger number who are dealing with online school, scarce child care, lost jobs, and isolation. “I’m concerned about the long-term mental health impacts on the community and staff,” said Gooby. “Comradery and connection are ways
we stay well,” she said. The separation has been hard. Continuing to serve the community Even as the health and economic impacts of the pandemic are felt, Tribal government continues to function — providing services to Tribal members, applying for COVID relief funding, building homes and tribal facilities, and keeping all functions of government moving. And that will continue into 2021 and beyond. “I feel confident our teams will continue to provide the high quality level of services that the community deserves,” Gooby said. “All the teams in Tribal government have risen to the occasion,” she said. “It feels like we’re a team working together for the community, making sure people get what they need.” Online learning continues at CKA. Educators organized Study Tables so students have support for completing their assignments. And the Early Learning Center has been open for much of the year, accepting children of Tribal parents
who need child care in order to work. On the hot seat during this pandemic has been Tribal Council. “I’ve been attending Tribal Council meetings for 30 years,” said Crowell. “And there has not been another council that has had to meet so many demands.” “It’s been a trying year for Tribal Council,” said Crowell. “They have had to make decisions to temporarily close down government, shut down the financial life line of the Tribe — the Casino, postpone General Council, and a lot more,” he said. “They did not ask for this. How uncomfortable!” The success of the new vaccines means there is an end to the pandemic in sight. Still, much is unknown. The 2021 budget, approved by Tribal Council, reflects the uncertainties. Tribal Council opted to continue the 2020 budget, with some changes, and review the 2021 budget each quarter as conditions change. As to General Council 2021, “We will have an election this year come hell or high water,” Crowell said. A proposal for the March 2021 General Council will be
reviewed by Tribal members at a February 11 public hearing (see page 7). Project that will be completed In spite of the pandemic disruptions, much has been accomplished that will bring benefits in the new year. Legacy Park is complete, and will open next year. The COVID Surge clinic will be built of modular components, and — assuming necessary building components and equipment are available — the clinic should open later in the year. The development of the Tribe’s fiber optic and Wi Fi technology continues, with plans for these services to extend to Tribal facilities and neighborhoods throughout the reservation. A new Emergency Operations Center building is in the works, including offices and space to store emergency supplies. Plans now call for it to be built in place of the auto repair garage in downtown Suquamish, which is slated for demolition. Space in that new building will also be
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available for the food bank, which will move from the temporary building that has housed it for many years. Chief Kitsap Academy’s 5000-squarefoot multipurpose room will be built this year, allowing CKA to have space for assemblies, lunches, concerts, and other gatherings. The buildings that will make up Tiny 2.0 have arrived and are awaiting utilities and concrete pads. Three other homes are under construction. “Construction crews have been slowed by the pandemic,” according to Crowell. “They can’t be in the same room at the same time, so contractors have to be scheduled so they can stay distanced.” Events Canoe Journey was canceled this year, and Chief Seattle Days was reduced to a single speaker at Chief Seattle’s gravesite. The Renewal Pow Wow, Veterans Day Pow Wow, and so many other things couldn’t happen. “I look forward to ways we can start traditional activities again,” said Forsman. But it may still be some time before that’s possible. The 2021 Paddle to Tla’amin has been canceled by the hosts. There’s some discussion of a small, regional canoe journey, but it’s not clear when it will be safe for people to gather. “Maybe there can be some canoe races, viewed online, just as we did a Song and Dance event online,” Scott said. Some changes are permanent Not everything will go back to the way things were prior to the pandemic. The Tribe has learned a great deal about re-
Suquamish News mote work and virtual meetings, and both are likely to continue into 2021. “There’s less need for a lot of the travel that was required in the past,” said Forsman. “Less time traveling will be safer and better for the environment,” he said. “And virtual meetings allow more rural and isolated tribes, and those with fewer resources, to participate.” Just make it through the holidays Things should begin opening later in 2021, when vaccines are available and gatherings are finally safe. But there are still weeks and months to go, and the virus remains dangerous, especially for Elders and others with underlying conditions. “Don’t lose the game in the forth quarter,” Crowell urges. “I feel terrible for the guy who dies right before the end of the war.” Set aside a time for a Zoom get together and open gifts, he suggests. Drive by the lights around Suquamish. Break out Grandma’s old cookie recipe. Remember how families managed during simpler more basic times. “It’s a challenging time to be away from families and loved ones. That’s not our way,” says Gooby. “But to continue to keep everyone safe, we have to follow the safety guidance,” she said. “My grandmother, Dolor Mills, says ‘Take it one day at a time’,” Gooby recalls. “That’s how we’re getting through everything right now.” “Practice self-care through the holidays so your spirits can be fulfilled. Hopefully things will look different next year,” she said. “Meanwhile, take it one day at a time.” By Sarah van Gelder
January 2021 | 9
Today’s Hardship is Tomorrow’s History
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elcome to the New Year, and to I hope healthier one. 2020 saw Covid-19, people hording toilet paper, food, medicines and being crazy by not wearing masks. We are looking forward to vaccinations that will help us be safe and stop Covid-19. Please stay safe and wear masks, do not gather in large groups and do not hoard things. I am hoping to be able to get back to full time work; I have to listen to my Doctor and Physical Therapist on what I am allowed to do and not do at this time. I would like to encourage everyone to write a journal or do something during this time to keep yourself busy and remember things. Each of us will have different points of views of what we experienced during Covid-19 and 2020, so in the coming year to share with others will be helpful in healing. I would like to when we are allowed to gather again that we can share these stories with each other either in recordings or on videos. History needs to know and understand our point of view and ways we survived. Please think about sharing with me, in the future. Please again be safe and wear your masks. By Marilyn Jones Traditional Heritage Specialist
Above Left: Chairman Leonard Forsman at the 2019 General Council and acting Executive Directors, Jamie Gooby and Scott Crowell. Above: A cedar mask, created by Denita Holmes. Below: Construction of Tribal Housing continues, despite COVID-19. Pictured below, from left, the Suquamish Building Crew, including Victor Chee, Chris Santos, and Tim Beckwith.
10 | January 2021
Suquamish News
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Culture
What Does It Mean to Feed the People? Some teachings needed now more than ever during this pandemic
“N
ephew, tell me. You tell me what it means to feed the people,” Tribal Elder, Rob Purser says, sharing the story one of his own elders had told him when he was young. “You tell me what that takes,” his uncle had said. The story Rob tells comes from the Lummi Nation and is one that contains an ancestral teaching shared by the Suquamish and many of our other relatives. It is also his carefully chosen and blended response when asked about the character of his friend and fellow Tribal member, Merle Hayes, as well as that of the Suquamish Community Health Nurse, Barbara Hoffman, who has gone out of her way to care for him throughout the pandemic.
“Well,” Rob says, continuing the story, “Feeding the people is when you go out, and you hunt and gather the food to give to them,” the nephew said. And the uncle just shakes his head. He looks at his nephew and says to him, “Go on then, get out of here if that’s what you think it means to feed the people. You come back when you know.” So he turn ’around and he leaves, confused and a bit hurt, but determined to figure out the answer to what he’d decided was a trick question. The nephew thought about it a couple weeks, and when he thought he had the answer he went back to his uncle’s house and told him, “Alright, here is how you do it. You gather up all the best cooks, and all the best hunters and the berry pickers, and all the other gatherers, and do everything in the good way, the way we’ve been taught. You make sure the food is prayed over and …,” but his uncle cut him off. “That’s enough!” his uncle said, “If that’s all you got, you can leave. You’re not getting it. Go on leave and don’t even bother coming back. And so he lit on out of there real mad.
Rob laughs. “That crazy old fool,” he told himself. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Although it was only in 2018 that Merle retired from both the Northwest Indian Fish Commission and his job as Fisheries Policy Liaison for the Suquamish Tribe, by 2019, his increasing struggle with dementia took a dangerous turn. He began wandering off on his own, lost and confused, with no way of anyone knowing where he’d gone or if he was ever coming back. He’d been living with his daughter, Bonita, and her husband Jacob Palafox, who were both working full-time jobs and raising their three children. The couple became increasingly frightened for Merle’s safety and their ability to protect him. It was with tremendous sadness they placed Merle in a memory care unit that could give him the round-the-clock care they’d been trying their best to provide. “He was always there for me,” Bonita says fondly of the man, who, although he wasn’t a blood relative to her, continued to be a father to her even after he and Bonita’s mother split when she was very young. “He raised me even though he didn’t have to. He never stopped being my dad.” “He lifts everyone up around him, that’s just his way,” says Rob, who first befriended Merle out on the fishing grounds back in the 1970s. Having served on the Suquamish Tribal Council from 1979 to 1994 then later as Suquamish Commissioner for the Northwest Indian Fish Commission, Merle received the Billy Frank, Jr. award upon his retirement in recognition of his lifelong commitment to and achievements in protecting Tribal fishing rights, and the health of the Puget Sound. In his years of service Merle, became well known among the Tribes and state officials for bringing a certain calmness and much needed laughter to even the most tension-filled policy discussions between the Tribes and state.
“Even when he disagreed with someone, he lifted them up and made sure they came away feeling respected,” says Rob who served with him on the NWIFC and was also his boss at Suquamish Fisheries. “He taught people to be respectful to one another and work through negotiations in an honorable way.” The care facility where Merle now resides, is within walking distance of Bonita’s home. Up until the start of COVID-19 restrictions, she would visit her father
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frequently and even made weekly trips to administer the shots her dad needs to manage his diabetes, a service the facility does not provide, Bonita says. The outbreak changed everything, and she was suddenly no longer permitted to enter the building to give her dad his medicine. Not knowing what to do, she turned to Dr. Barbara Hoffman, who has worked for the Tribe for nearly two decades within the field of community health. Even though she isn’t required to do so by her job, Barbara, who is permitted to enter the facility as a health care professional, immediately jumped in and took it upon herself to give Merle his weekly shots. For six months, Barbara has traveled every Saturday from her home in Bremerton out to Poulsbo to take care of Merle and perk him up with jokes. It is something she says she will continue to do until the crisis is over. Having been involved in the Suquamish community for so long, Barbara speaks of her fondness for the government, the Tribal community, and especially the Elders she has taken care of and grown close with throughout the years. “I feel like they are my Elders now, too,” Barbara says, reflecting her attitude of reverence for the people and displaying her commitment to the health of our Tribe. “OK, Uncle. I can’t figure out what the heck you’re trying to teach me.” Rob says, preparing to conclude his story, “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. It’s really bothering me. I love you, and I don’t want you to be mad at me. Please just tell me what it is you want me to know,” he begs. “Well, yeah,” his uncle says. “Come on and sit down then, and I’ll pour you a cup of coffee.” So he sits down and his uncle pours the cup. “I’ll give you an example. Say you’re walking down the street, and you see a guy coming from the other direction, and he looks all out of sorts and down on his luck. It’s obvious that things just aren’t going good. “As he gets close to you, he bumps into you, and you’re both startled and jump back. You look at him and wonder what’s up with him, but you don’t say anything and each of you keeps going your separate ways.” Then the uncle looks at his nephew and says, “You just walked away, and when you did that, you hurt that guy.”
Suquamish News
The nephew looks up, “I don’t understand what you’re saying.” “Oh yeah?” the uncle says. “Well, I’ll give you another example. Let’s say you’re walking into this house full of all your people. You’re all there to celebrate and share a meal. It’s so full of the people you have to kind of squeeze through everybody until you find a place to stand around and hang out. “You see a man sitting there, and he too looks sad and down on his luck. You bump into him as you go by and startle each other. He looks up at you and realizes you were not smiling, not trying to get his attention, not trying to talk to him. You were just passing through, and bumping into him was an accident, so he hangs his head back down and continues to be out of sorts, obviously going through a rough time, and he continues to be alone. “When that happened, you missed your opportunity and you don’t get it back. You could have talked to him, been kind, and given him encouragement. When that happened you missed your opportunity to feed the people.” That story reflects our values,” Rob says. “It’s about lifting each other up, taking the opportunity to feed people’s spirits. To be there for each other when they need us and not to be negative or neglectful toward one another. That’s what our ancestors knew we needed to survive. “That’s Merle.” “And it’s Barbara, too.” Rob says. As a non-Native who wasn’t raised in our culture, Barbara did not grow up learning these lessons through stories like many Suquamish through various and different intersecting forms, but it is something she fully embodies anyway. “Just like Merle, she operates from the heart,” says Rob. “You don’t need to be Native to carry yourself with the teachings.” “Some people have that gift. They either pick it up throughout their lifetime or they are born with it.” He explains, “People like Merle and Barb, well they were born with this gift. It comes to them naturally and we need to lift them up for it and learn from that.” By Heather Purser
January 2021 | 11
Suquamish News
12 | January 2021
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News
Ask the Police
Is the Suquamish Police Force Short Staffed?
Masks of Resilience & Protection Continued from page 4
QUESTION: Is there a staff shortage in the police department? Are Marine Enforcement officers allowed to detain people? Chief Mike Lasnier: Yes. Our patrol division is currently lean. At full staff we have 11 employees protecting the land area and residences of the Port Madison Reservation if we count the Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of patrol. We were recently down by three officers; one hire was delayed by the COVID-19 situation, and the other two were officers that transferred to other agencies. We had some normal employees absences (illness, vacations, etc) so there have been weeks where we were down to four employees providing 24/7 coverage to 8,000 residents and the businesses on the Port Madison Reservation. We have been able to hire three employees to replace the vacant positions; one is a Suquamish Tribal member. One is an experienced officer that we hired away from a different agency, so he needs four months of field training to learn how we do business here at Suquamish; he’ll be able to work by himself in February. The other two are new officers, so they will need to attend a basic academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in New Mexico for four months, and then they will go through five months of additional field training
with an experienced instructor officer when they return. As a result, we will be short staffed until the summer. We are filling the gaps by pulling our detective and chief out of their normal jobs to cover patrol shifts. This means investigations may take longer to complete, and it is more challenging to get our officers training and to engage in community-oriented projects. However, our first and most critical priority has to be the safety of the community, and we are still focused on preventing crime, investigating crime, and keeping things safe. One Marine Division officer was interested in exploring transferring over to patrol, and he worked some patrol shifts to see if it was a good fit for him. Our Marine Division officers have the same training and authority as any other officer in the Suquamish Police Department; they are simply assigned to protect our Tribal natural resources and treaty activities. All Suquamish officers have a background and criminal history check, polygraph (lie detector), psychological exam, fitness test, physical exam, credit check, and meet all of the same standards as any other State or Federal Law Enforcement officer. Thank you for your question! Do you have a question for the Suquamish Police? Send question or comment anonymously to Communications@Suquamish.nsn.us.
Tessa Sayers, Turtle Mountain Chippewa My goal is to inspire other people. I use my challenges and my stories to inspire. It was when I got sick that I began to incorporate the practice of beading into a more spiritual practice. When I was feeling sick and depressed, art and beading were the only things that made me happy. It was very peaceful and meditative. When I started feeling better, I began incorporating stories into my beadwork. I created a flower called the courage flower, and I created another one I called the resilience flower. Learn about Tessa Sayers work at www.mysoulcuriosity.com Watch the Masks of Resilience & Protect film at the Suquamish Foundations website, http://bit.ly/SovStyleMasks.
FREE COVID-19 TESTING Free drive-up COVID-19 testing is available for Tribal members, Tribal employees, and PME employees. Mon.-Fri., 8:30am to 12pm
Dec 21-Jan 1, testing is closed Please check https://bit.ly/KitsapTest for test sites recommended by our nurses. Mickenzy Cordova, RN 360-394-7177 Barbara Hoffman, RN, (360) 394-8468
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Suquamish News
January 2021 | 13
14 | January 2021
Lushootseed suEabSucid Phrase of the Month ̓ sx̌udx̌ud ̓ st ̓ədəłx̌ud, dəčuʔ dəčuʔ x̌ʷul ̓ čəxʷ x̌udx̌ud One sentence. One Word. Just Speak It. duh-ch-oh stud-uth-hud, duh-ch-oh s-hoh-d-hoh-d, hw-ul ch-uh hoh-d-hoh-d hik’̓ʷuʔ Thank You (to female) hay-kw-oh hima Thank You (to male/neutral) hay-mah
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ELDERS — Continued from page 3 “Our ancestors went through tremendous assaults on their culture, on their language, and on their health, but a lot of them found ways to survive by being inventive, taking care of one another.” And so, her hope for this chapter in the Tribe’s history is that it will continue to adapt. She’s sees it already. In the online Tribal Councils and other virtual gatherings. In the new SUN text messages from Tribal government that help everyone stay connected. In the consistent encouragement to stay safe by wearing masks and staying apart for now. “What I see is that we already have a foundation of community. And that has never left us. You see it in our gatherings, you see it in our ceremonies, you see it in our funerals. We come together and hold each other up,” says Pratt. “Now in this dark time we can go a little further with that sense of community. And make it stronger.” The Tribe can pull together, she says, by staying apart. “It will be a lesson for those who come after us. They’ll say, ‘what did they do when that happened? How did they handle that?’” That story is already being written. “We can encourage each other to stay safe and be mindful of each other,” she says. “People can call each other. I would encourage grandkids to make cards for your grandparents, your uncles, your aunts. Those are little treasures they can keep. Pour all your love into those messages. And just wait and be patient.” These dark times will end eventually too, she says. And, if we hold on and keep doing what has kept us safe, the Tribe can emerge stronger and more resilient than ever. By Jon Anderson
Suquamish News
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January 2021 | 15
Birthdays
y r a u n a J
Phillip Contraro Seth Mabe
January 1 Brandon Emmett
January 2 Charlene Renquist Charlie Brown Isabelle Chiquiti Marion Ives January 3 Alyssa Johnson Cha-la-kwa-tud Chiquiti Melvin Colomb Merle Hayes Jr. Mikayla Madayag William Alexander William Sigo III January 4 Brandon Dryden Bruce Belmont Christopher Underhill Debra Dunning James Mabe Jamie Loneia Jorden Lawrence Mary Adams Tyler Mabe Vicky Doyle January 5 Miya Smith
January 6 Andrea Nellenbach Kellen Baker
January 7 Anthony Mabe Mary Lou Salter Thaddeus Duthie January 8 Samantha Salas William Swift January 9 Alira Hill Brittney Timmerman Devan Crow Viviana Serrato January 11 Andrew Pondelick Baily Moss Benjamin Goodwin Bennie Armstrong Crystal Sigo David Schuler Trevor Adams Troy Mabe January 12 Christopher Puckett Henry Jackson Jr. Makaha Lawrence
January 13 Barbara Santos Frederick Sigo Kwll-kwull-tu Williams January 14 Geraldine Joe Tiger Lily Duthie January 15 Aleccia Pratt Angela Clark Edward Midkiff Sr. Phoenix George Shilene George Stephanie Power Taren Haynes January 16 Cheayvone Swift Elizabeth Napoleon Kimberly Kumpf Michael Narte January 17 Aaron Purser Calvin Medina January 18 Sutah Purcell William Jackson January 19 Aiana Medeiros Denali Cordero Jacinda Lawrence
Kourtney Lawrence Lorraine Brice Susan Bambino January 20 Brandy Sherman Winona Mabe January 21 Austen Jenkins Gail Coyne Jacob Sigo Marlene Brown Robert Gemmell Timothy Jackson January 22 Eric Lindell Eric Webster Frank Chavez George Adams Gloria Smith John Rubeck January 24 Gary Crowell Jr. Honorato Rapada V Linda Immken January 25 Autumn Colomb Bakolah Williams Belinda Hommel Dillen Ashenbrenner Leonard Forsman Steven George Thomas Cordero Sr. Tory Dotson
January 26 Floyd Dollar Robert Cordero Jr. January 27 Harriet Webber Jamie Gooby Joaquin McClurg-Santos Kristen Mabe Peter Werbelo III Tami Jefferson
January 28 Betty Pasco Nicholas Leva Rachel Pineda January 29 Allicia Knapp Daniel Santos Thomas Bailey January 30 Ryliee Boyd January 31 Edward Widen
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