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Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News Volume 22
January 2022 | 1
January 2022
No. 1
Celebrating Culture Across the Generations In this issue: New Agate Dreams Opens -- p3 Elder’s Beach to reopen -- p4 11 Tips to Thrive in 2022 -- p14 Interior Dept VIPs visits Suquamish — p3
Lessons from 60 years of love — p6
New Year’s Wishes — p14
2 | January 2022
Community Calendar
Suquamish News
Events & Meetings
Contact
Suquamish Tribal Council Tribal Council meets Jan. 10 & 25. Links are sent to Tribal members via SUN.
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
Suquamish Warriors Suquamish Warriors meetings are on 1st Tuesdays @ 5:30pm at Suquamish Warriors Vet Center. For information, contact Jean Belmont at (360) 601-7918. PME Board Meetings are online and in person on Jan. 12 & 26 @ 9am. Contact Emily Sato, emilysato@clearwatercasino.com (360) 598-8703. Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Meets online Jan. 13 & 27. Virtual only. Contact Angela Brainerd at (360) 3948652 for details. Suquamish Seafoods Board Meets online Jan. 14. Seafoods Retail is open Thurs-Sun. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 394-8512 for details. Suquamish Museum Board Meets Jan. 20 @ 11am in Council Chambers. Contact Janet Smoak at (360) 394-8499 for details.
Suquamish Elders Contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472 Suquamish Police Dept Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Emergency: 911 Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558
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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Please respond with your opinions ... Distributions & Giveaways: How can they be improved?
Healing of the Canoe for adults: What do you want to see?
As the Suquamish Tribe continues with distributions and giveaways, we would like to better understand dates, times, and distribution items that work best for you and your family. Please point your phone’s camera at this code to fill out a quick survey to help us improve future tribal distributions.
Healing of the Canoe is working on an adult version of the Youth Curriculum. This survey will help us better understand what adults in the Tribe want to see included. Please point your phone’s camera at this code to fill out a quick survey to help us better expand this program.
On the cover...
Tribal Council member Luther “Jay” Mills, Jr., and grandson, 8th grader Luther Mills IV were part of Chief Kitsap Academy’s Ocean to Table project. This photo was taken in the new smoke house built at CKA by Junior Santos.
Suquamish Tribal Council Leonard Forsman
Chairman
Wayne George
Vice-Chair
Windy Anderson
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 Communications Associate
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 2022 | 3
News
Top Interior Dept. officials confer with Suquamish leaders I t isn’t often that an official from the U.S. Department of Interior visits Suquamish. But when that happens, it’s not only an honor, it’s an opportunity to resolve some of the difficult issues in the relationship between key federal agencies and the Tribes. The recent visit by Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs and a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwa), was such an opportunity. Newland, who serves under Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, spoke of his commitment to moving forward with restoring Tribal homelands. The Dec. 7 meeting at Kiana Lodge included Suquamish Chairman Leonard Forsman, PME CEO Rion Ramirez, and members of the Tribe’s legal department, along with BIA Regional Director Bryan Mercier (a citizen of the Grand Ronde Tribe) and Senior Counselor Rose Petoskey (a citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians). During the visit, Forsman raised questions around the transfer of property and jurisdiction. Land purchased by individual Tribal members or by the Tribe itself requires a lengthy process to be put
land ownership may have been what saved the land from development in prior years, Forsman pointed out. And that land -- as undeveloped beach and wetlands -- is a spiritual, cultural, and ecological treasure for the Tribal community. Suquamish has new land purchases to put into trust – like the A&A Tree Farm, which is on the reservation boundary, as well as property recently purchased in Bremerton. The federal government could do better at placing these sorts of purchases into trust, as well as permitting changes in the boundaries of the reservation. In spite of the frustrations, Tribal attorney Maryanne Mohan pointed out there has been some improvements in the process with Interior.
Fisheries funding Newland, for his part, spoke to the funding that will be available to support fisheries and broadband Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman, right, orients Interior Dept. Assistant internet thanks to President Biden’s Secretary Bryan Newland during a visit to Suquamish. (Photo by Jon Anderson) infrastructure bill. More could be available if the Biden Administrainto trust, and the process is often can make it difficult for the Tribe to tion’s Build Back Better bill clears the Senate. Newland anticipated slow, costly, and lacking in clear arrange a sale of these lands, makconsulting with the Tribes on how guidelines. ing it difficult or impossible to defederal spending will take place, and When land is owned by multiple velop the lands. In some cases, like on what consultation itself should people, Interior Department rules at Doe-Keg-Wats, this “fractured” look like. The standard of “free, prior, and informed consent” (FPIC) laid out New Agate Dreams store opens at White Horse Golf Club in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People may be too gate Dreams opened a second rehigh a bar, he said. Instead, he spoke tail outlet at the White Horse Golf of seeking consensus with Tribes on Club. matters most affecting them. Tribal members attended a soft Newland recently completed seropening on Dec. 7, providing a first vice as president of his Tribe. glimpse at the store’s offerings and a Prior to that, he served as Chief chance to celebrate the success of this Judge of the Bay Mills Tribal Court, tribal enterprise. and from 2009 to 2012, he served as Agate Dreams is a retail cannabis a Counselor and Policy Advisor to chain operated by the Suquamish Evthe Assistant Secretary of the Interiergreen Corporation, a wholly owned or for Indian Affairs. subsidiary of Port Madison Enterprises, an agency of the Suquamish Tribe. By Sarah van Gelder
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4 | January 2022
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News
Chico Bay on track to reopen to tribal clam diggers this summer Elders’ Beach, Suquamish Seafoods Oyster Farm, among sites to resume harvesting
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reat news! That’s how Suquamish Tribe leaders are hailing the recent announcement that a popular section of Chico Bay may be reopening to shellfish harvesters in the coming months after two long years of closure. The eastern portion of Chico Bay along Erland’s Point was closed to harvesting in 2020 after Kitsap Public Health District (KPHD) water sampling monitors detected elevated levels of bacteria in the area. In addition to closing down dozens of acres of clam beds managed by the Tribe, the closure also shut down Elders’ Beach, one of the only dig sites in the area easily accessible to Suquamish Tribal Elders. The closure also forced Suquamish Seafood’s Oyster farm on the bay’s shoreline to suspend operations. Even before the area was closed, experts with the Tribe’s Fisheries Department’s Shellfish Program were hard at work with county and state Health Department officials identifying pollution sources and eventually helping facilitate mitigation efforts. As their work continued, they soon figured out it wasn’t just one culprit, but a variety of issues combining to cause the spike in bacteria, says Suquamish Tribe shellfish biologist Paul Williams. “Leaky septic systems were the main issue as well as storm water runoff from roads. Fecal bacteria from dog and farm animal waste were also contributing,” says Williams. Now that most of those issues have been taken care of, bacteria levels have dropped to the point where the KPHD announced during a recent meeting of the Washington state’s Puget Sound Ecosystem Coordination Board that Chico Bay could reopen this summer. The Washington State Department of Health (WDOH), responsible for the area’s reclassification process, is waiting for end-of-year surface water quality data and the final KPHD report on Chico Bay to inform the process. If the data and report indicate that water quality has sufficiently improved and meets the criteria, WDOH will start the reclassification process early in 2022. “That’s great news,” said Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman, who was co-hosting an online panel when the announcement was made. “I wish, of course, that it was sooner, but I really appreciate the effort that has gone into trying to find the sources of pollution.” Forsman thanked the Tribe’s Fisheries Department for their efforts to help turn things around at Chico and said he’s “learning to be more optimistic.” When he first began serving on Tribal Council more
A tribal member digs for clams near Elders’ Beach before that section of Chico Bay was shut down in 2020. (Photo by Jon Anderson) than 30 years ago, Forsman said pollution on beaches along Dyes Inlet and Liberty Bay were so bad “we thought they’d never reopen.” But with hard, focused work, the Tribe and area partners have helped turn those beaches around. “These clam digging beaches are very important to our people,” said Forsman. “They provide a real opportunity for people to make a living in their traditional way and be outside on the beach with their friends and family having a great experience. And that’s been increasing over time.” Tribal officials say it will take continued vigilance to ensure Chico Bay remains open to clam digging. “The area was developed 60 or 70 years ago before modern septic design rules, and the county doesn’t have records for many homes,” says Williams. “Many of these septic systems are far past their lifetimes, so there will be more failures. With the clay soils and heavy rains, it will take constant vigilance to prevent future failings.” Tribal officials from the Fisheries Department have been working with the KPHD and other agencies to help
find funding for low-income residents near the bay with failing septic tanks. With septic replacement often costing as much as $40,000, there are low-interest loan programs available, but residents have to be able to make the payments. There is also a USDA grant program but you have to submit a $2,000-4,000 repair plan to apply for that. “There are several homes with failing systems whose owners don’t have the money to qualify,” says Williams. “The Health Department can condemn the properties but sometimes they don’t want to. A disabled, 81 year old, widowed woman lives in one place with a failing septic, and they don’t want to make her homeless.” This is not an isolated issue. “There are thousands of septic systems that could start failing. We need a program to fill that gap for people who are too poor to qualify for assistance,” says Williams. By Jon Anderson
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January 2022 | 5
CKA’s Ocean to Table program puts culture at center of education
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he Suquamish people have lived off the abundance of marine life since time immemorial. But today, there are fewer opportunities to fish and dig clams, and to enjoy the self-reliance and nourishing foods that were part of everyday life for Suquamish ancestors. This fall, Chief Kitsap Academy revitalized an Ocean to Table traditional food curriculum that had been part of the school before the move to the new campus. As part of the school’s effort to put culture at the center of education, the curriculum connects study of marine biology to the Healing of the Canoe teachings, with a focus on the catching, preserving, and gifting of salmon. Serene Williams and Luther “Jay” Mills, Jr. led the effort that began for 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students with learning about the life-cycle of chum salmon and the history of Grovers Creek hatchery. The students helped catch and process enough fish for more than 300 cans of half smoked salmon, plus additional dry smoked salmon. The Ocean to Table project drew on the contributions of many Tribal citizens – Junior Santos, with CKA maintenance, built a brand new smoke house on the CKA campus, funded by a grant from the state Office of Public Instruction. Fisheries director Rob Purser issued a permit, and Tribal Elder Kevin George, his son John Paul George, and Ka-el Williams set a beach seining net in Miller Bay with the help of CKA students and staff. Suquamish Seafoods’ Jim Boure took the 31 CKA students and eight staff to Miller Bay in the Seafoods landing craft, where they caught well over 100 chum. “When they started pulling the net in, you can see the nets start bubbling up with fish,” says Mills, Tribal Council member and Elder. “The kids got excited and then were asking, how many fish did we get!” said Mills, who is well known for his traditional cooking and smoking techniques. The students filleted the fish at the Seafoods plant, with the help of Shellene Kurtz and Gary Severson, some using the plant’s fillet machine, and others using a more traditional method with a knife on a table covered with sword ferns. CKA’s science teacher, Hank Hayden, was on hand to help them identify the heart, gills, liver. The students then brined the fish, and brought them to campus to hang in the smoke house. “Our 8th grade girls were all hands in, all the time,” Serene Williams said. Mills noticed the same thing: “The young kids had their arms all the way into the slimy water, rinsing off the salmon, and just doing what
How the generations learn the joy of giving
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s the Ocean to Table participants gathered around at the CKA campus and sang a prayer song, I started thinking, man, the history of this teaching! I was lucky enough to be in that generation where I could learn from Great Grandma Cecilia Jackson and my Great Uncle, Oliver Jackson. We had a smoke house at Phinney Bay that could hold 200-250 fish, and my cousin Henry Jackson would go to the hatchery and fill up the whole back of his pick-up truck, and we’d just put tables right behind the truck to process the fish. It was a family function. You had aunts and uncles and cousins, one filleting, and one cleaning and another brining — you just had so many people. We’d fillet a fish and then send it down the line. When everyone is involved, it’s so much easier. This generation is not accustomed to having to rely on family. I was born in the ‘60s, raised in the ‘70s, and (Cont. on page 11) during the winter, we lived off the half-smoked salmon
that was canned or put in the freezer, or dry smoked. And you’d give it to friends and family. You knock on the door of your aunts and uncles and cousins and hand them a bag full of fish. That’s what I used to look forward to. I tried to explain to the students: giving is what gratifies more than receiving. That’s what fills your heart. I started thinking about the six generations of my family — Great Grandma Cecilia Jackson, Grandmother Alice Jackson, my mother Delores Mills, my son, Luther Mills III (JJ), and grandson, Luther Mills IV, who really stepped up during the Ocean to Table project, even though he is only in 8th grade. That warms your heart and you hope it will continue with the next generation. When I got a knock on the door and the kids handed me dried and canned salmon, it was pretty neat! By Luther “Jay” Mills, Jr.
6 | January 2022
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Community
Secrets of Success from 60 Years of Life and Love Suquamish Elders share what it takes a make a marriage work and go the distance
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ou never know when your life will change forever. Myra Jane Taylor it was when her car broke down on the side of the road in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was the summer between her sophomore and junior year of high school, and she’d traveled out to the Cornhusker State to spend her break with her sister and brother-in-law, who was stationed there in the Air Force. When their car broke down that fateful day, it was a young Suquamish Tribe member named Larry “Skip” Elevado who happened to drive by. Skip was in the Air Force as well and recognized his squadron mate on the side of the road and stopped to offer them some help. Skip didn’t know it, but his life was about to change forever as well. But not for another two years. Because that’s all Myra and Skip saw of each other that summer. But Myra didn’t forget Skip. And Skip did not forget Myra. And so, two years later, after Myra had graduated high school and moved to Lincoln to work at the local telephone company, they happened to meet again. This time, she and her roommate were getting coffee at a local diner. And that’s when Skip walked in. “There he was, the man who had rescued us from the side of the road. I looked right at him and said hi.” Some small talk soon led to a date. And then some more dates. And before long, they were engaged in June and married in November. That was 1961. 60 years later, the couple seems as in love as when they first said “I do.” So, what’s their secret to success? Skip says it’s pretty simple. “We share everything and we do everything together,” he says. It’s true, says Myra. “We’ve always done everything together. We go grocery shopping together…,” she says, just as he adds, “… we cook together. We wash clothes together,” and then she jumps back in”…and we clean house together,” and then he wraps up with a knowing nod to her “…and we love to garden together, too.” Indeed, talk with the couple for any length of time, it won’t take long before they’re even finishing each other’s sentences together. Myra says she really learned to appreciate and be grateful for his presence because life in the Air Force meant he could disappear with little-to-no notice.
things. When he’d come home, the kids would still come to me. It was difficult for him,” she says, as he nods.
Skip and Myra Elevado recreate their engagement photo after sixty years of marriage.
A crew chief for KC-135 refuelers – the flying gas stations that top off other aircraft while in flight – and the big B-52 “Stratofortress” long-range bombers, Skip spent most of his career working for the Strategic Air Command. He was often deployed around the world, and during the Vietnam War flew bombing missions there. “There were times when I might have felt he was in the way or something, but then he gets that call and he has to go. And he might be gone for months. And then you realize how nice it is to have him home. The deployments gave both of us an opportunity to realize how much we really appreciated the time we did have together,” she says. Raising three kids, reintegrating their lives together after long stretches away could be difficult. “With him gone so much, I just learned to take care of
Hard Times “The first time he came home from Vietnam, our daughter was two, she cried because she didn’t know him. That hurt.” But the pain fueled their thankfulness for the time they had and their determination to always make the most of it. That’s not to say that was always easy. “We don’t always agree, and sometimes we might get angry, I guess you could call it,” she says. “But that’s when we just drop it and don’t say anything for awhile. And in my mind, I might say, I’m not going to speak to him all day. But before I know it, I’m talking to him again. Staying mad just doesn’t work.” They give each other the space and often the humor they need to get through the tough times. “He’s ornery sometimes, but that’s okay, so am I,” she says with a laugh. Skip says success also comes from finding ways to serve each other. “There’s no one boss. I can tell her what to do, and she can tell me what I need to do, too. That’s how we serve each other’s needs,” he says. And that full sharing, includes money, too. “It’s never been my money-your money. It’s always been our money. We share everything,” says Myra. “So many people fight over money matters, but we never had much, so there was never much to fight over,” she says. Relationship advice “Just be good to each other,” she says. ”I can’t stress that enough. You don’t need to be mean and nasty and sarcastic. There’s always going to be some things about your spouse that may bug you a little bit. But don’t ever go into a relationship thinking you’re going to change that person,” says Myra. “So many say something like, ‘well, he does this, this, and that, but I’ll take of all that later.’ You’ve got to let people be themselves and work with it. Not try to change them.” They both agree, it doesn’t seems like it’s been 60 years. “It just doesn’t seem real that we’ve been married this long. And I’ll tell you something, the older you get, the faster it goes,” she says. You never know when you’re life is going to change, they say. And if at times it seems like things have taken a turn for the worse, it just may mean you’re about to get rescued. By Jon Anderson
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Suquamish News
January 2022 | 7
Youth Basketball jumps into season
Sports & Rec Delivers Christmas Trees to Tribal Members
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he Sports and Recreation Department picked up and delivered 65 Christmas Trees for their annual Christmas tree giveaway for Tribal member households. The department has been purchasing the trees for over 13 years and would like to thank Jerry and Tim
Reid of Alpine U-Cut Tree Farm for their continuing support on this annual event. Thanks to the Suquamish Tribe Grounds Crew and Sports and Recreation staff for picking up and distributing the trees. By Craig Miller
The youth basketball teams are underway. The girl’s middle school Poulsbo Park and Recreation started the season off by winning their first games of the season before Christmas break. Their season will run through the month of January and then the Middle School season will begin. To all our young ladies athletes trying out for various school teams, we wish you all the best. Parks/Recreation and Pee Wee Association have also began having practices and will begin league play in the middle of January. This year we will be having two teams playing at the C team level, boys and girls in pee wee league (ages 10 and under), and three teams playing in the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation league. The Boy’s team participating in the Parks/Rec league will consist of Middle School grades and 5th graders. The girls will be 2nd and 3rd graders. The Parks and Recreation team’s games will be played on Saturdays at various gym in the North Kitsap school district, and the Pee Wee Association games will be played on week nights at various school gyms throughout Kitsap County. For more information please feel free to contact Craig Miller, Magdalena Turrieta, or We-laka Chiquiti at the Suquamish Fitness Center front desk at 360-394-7142 By Craig Miller
8 | January 2022
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Government
Chairman’s Report
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he Suquamish Tribe engages in government-to-government relations with federal, state, local, and tribal governments in a spirit of diplomacy. We need to have these relationships to achieve our mission of protecting treaty rights and providing for the needs of our tribal citizens. Our ancestral leader Chief Seattle established a tradition of diplomatic relations with the fur traders, missionaries, early settlers, and eventually the United States at the Treaty signing. Local government officials hosted the annual Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council hosted their annual Legislative Reception on a virtual platform. State legislators from both parties reported out on their accomplishments, last year’s legislative session, and what their expectations were for the upcoming 60-day legislative session. Congressman Derek Kilmer joined the call and reported out on the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will help fund local transportation projects. I joined Port Madison Enterprises in
our annual presentation to this year’s Leadership Kitsap class. Every year we join the presentation on the economics and government day, and provide background on our history and culture and our current economic activities to the class members who work for local governments, non-profits, and businesses. I continue to be active in oversight of the development of the Seattle Waterfront as a member of the Friends of Waterfront Seattle. We held our monthly meeting where we discussed funding and operational issues at the new waterfront park. I also attended an in-person event at the new Climate Pledge Arena where Amazon announced a $5 million gift to the waterfront project. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Mayor-Elect Bruce Harrell were present to acknowledge the gift. State relationships strong Our state relations continue to be strong and productive. We hosted another intertribal meeting with Governor Inslee where we reviewed his salmon recovery bill enti-
tled the “Lorraine Loomis” Act in honor of the late President of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and Swinomish Elder. We also reviewed the proposed tribal consultation language that will replace language in Climate Commitment Act that was vetoed last session. We met with representatives from the Washington Department of Transportation to review and analyze impacts from construction of the Totten Road and Highway 305 roundabout to lands owned by the Suquamish Tribe and individual citizens. Construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2022.
system had a great impact on our ancestors. Many of our grandparents and great grandparents were forced to attend the Tulalip Boarding School in the early 1900s. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) announced the Boarding School Initiative to investigate the federal government’s boarding school policies to determine the extent of the harm done to Indian children. This initiative was inspired by the discovery of unmarked graves at Indian boarding schools in Canada. Interior officials held a virtual meeting with tribal leaders to get their comments and suggestions on the type of research and investigation needed to determine Federal consultations the extent of the impacts of this system We continue to maintain our relations on our ancestors. with key federal agencies including the We are also working with state legislaU.S. Navy and the Department of the tors in efforts to improve success of our Interior. tribal students. We held a virtual meeting with the new A group of tribal leaders and policy leader of Naval Base Everett, Command- experts are exploring ways that the eduer Joshua Menzel. We discussed our cation system can be reformed and made fishing activities in and around the base more culturally sensitive to tribal citizen and also heard about their present and students. We hope to introduce legislafuture operations. tion that will support the effort. We had the honor of hosting the AsThe Tribal Leaders Congress on Edsistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan ucation met virtually and discussed simiNewland (Bay Mills Ojibwe) at Kiana lar strategies in their December meeting. Lodge. We hope to engage the organizaThe Assistant Secretary “assists the tions that develop education policies to Secretary of the Interior in fulfilling the achieve many of the same goals of the Department’s trust responsibilities to smaller group. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/ The Chief Kitsap Academy School AN) tribes and individuals.” Board, consisting of the Tribal Council, Representatives of the Suquamish met with Principal Rex Green to hear Tribe and Port Madison Enterprises about CKA operations. provided background information on the They are proceeding with capital Suquamish Tribe’s culture and history. improvements, including construction of We also spoke about our current chalan assembly room. lenges, including the need to streamline I had the honor of speaking at a lunthe fee-to-trust process and other realty cheon at the University of Washington processes. held by the Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, a group of Leading advocate in education American Indian, Alaskan Native, and The Suquamish Tribe is a one of the First Nation faculty members and staff. leading tribal advocates for improving The Center graciously acknowledged Indian education. We must look back at my recent appointment to the University our history to be able to make plans for (Cont. next page) our future. The Indian Boarding School
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(Cont. from previous page) of Washington Board of Regents. Protecting sacred places The Biden Administration has made a commitment to improve protections for sacred places in Indian Country. Indian Tribes possess a unique and strong relationship to places within our ancestral homelands that are under threat of development. The Advisory Council on Historic Places hosted a virtual meeting with tribal representatives to receive guidance regarding the Administration’s commitment to conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and water by 2030. I provided opening comments. Known as the America the Beautiful Initiative, this effort is being reviewed by the ACHP, which is seeking to receive direction on how sacred sites should be protected during implementation of this program. The Suquamish Museum Board held our monthly meeting. Attendance is starting to pick up, and our Museum store has had good sales. We look forward to increased business and programming in the new year. Meaningful climate change action Climate Change is the greatest threat to our natural environment. We have been working on meaningful climate change action with the state and federal government and with intertribal organizations. State Senator Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle) is a leader on implementing climate change legislation, and we met to discuss implementation of the Climate Commitment Act over the next year. The State Department of Ecology held a webinar describing the Act’s provisions, including a siting process for future projects. Potential projects include bio-refineries, solar and wind farms, and tidal facilities. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest
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Indians (ATNI) and Native Americans in Philanthropy are working together to assist tribes with the funding and direction necessary to participate in climate change policy development and implementation. The two groups held a meeting with tribal leaders to educate us on the opportunities that private foundations will be offering for tribal involvement in this serious issue. ATNI and other intertribal organizations are important for developing policies to protect our way of life and unify our messages in the Northwest and beyond. The National Congress of American Indians held their monthly executive board meeting where staff provided updates on Capitol Hill activities affecting Tribes, including the congressional budget and the Supreme Court rulings on Indian law. The ATNI Executive Board also held a meeting in Portland to review our 2022 budget and work plan. Our Winter Convention will be virtual. The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission held their monthly meeting here in Suquamish at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort. The commission held their election for Chairman, last held by the late Lorraine Loomis. Ed Johnstone of the Quinault Nation was elected Chairman. Looking ahead As we begin the New Year, I want to wish the Suquamish people, as well as our government staff and enterprise employees, all the very best in the months ahead. The two-year storm of this pandemic has been tough on all of us, but I’m proud of how we have pulled together and taken care of one another. May 2022 continue to strengthen our community, invigorate our culture, and bolster our efforts to protect our lands and environment. By Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe Chairman
January 2022 | 9
New Hires & Transfers Name Title Kali Chargualaf* Interim Assist. Principal Lisa Jordan Early Head Start Teacher Melita Zaiss* Childcare Teacher Kristina Simons* Admin Assistant Brent Kempster Police Officer Susannah Hart Stephens Mental Health Counselor * Suquamish Tribal citizen
Department CKA ELC ELC Fisheries SPD Wellness
LEGAL NOTICE
FORCED SALE SUQUAMISH ALLOTMENT 11 Legal Notice is provided to Antoine J. Jansen (Muckleshoot), Destiny A. Jansen (Muckleshoot), Joey Jansen (Muckleshoot), and Vivian L. Jansen (Muckleshoot) of the Suquamish Tribe’s request under Section 205 of the Indian Land Consolidation Act, 25 U.S.C.§2204 (a) to purchase your undivided interests in Allotment 11- Big John. The Tribe owns over 50% of the allotment and under federal law this purchase does not require your consent. You do have the right to appeal the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ decision. Please contact Bill Holway, Trust Realty Officer, at 360-6893536.
Tribal Council Dates 1st Quarter 2022 Suquamish Tribal Council will meet on the following dates during the 1st Quarter of 2022: January 10 January 25 February 7 February 22 March 7 March 28 Tribal Council agendas are sent to Tribal members via SUN email. If you are not already receiving SUN texts and emails, please sign up at https://suquamish.nsn. us/home/news/suquamish-updates-now/ Contact Rebecca Purser for more information: rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us
10 | January 2022
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Tis the Season of Suquamish Cheer Despite the hardships of the year, the Suquamish People ended 2021 with smiles on their faces, the joy of the season in their hearts, and the gift of giving to those around them. May the New Year bring hope, health, and happiness.
Special thanks to all those who helped make the Suquamish Holiday Giveaway, PME Christmas Tree Lighting, and Shop with a Cop possible!
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Ocean to Table (cont. from page 5)
needed to be done and not complaining. Having fun.” Williams planned the project, coordinating with other teachers and staff. CKA Principal Rex Green got involved from the beginning, and even brought down the entire Middle School basketball team to help pitch fish. “They jumped on the boat in their basketball shoes, and pitched fish out of the boat and into the tote,” said Williams. “It was great!” During school days, different crews of students checked on the smoke house to monitor the fish and keep the fire going. After hours, Williams, along with her husband, Ka-el Williams, stayed on campus in their camping trailer so they could check on the fish. Most of the fish were pulled when they were about half smoked, and taken to the Old Tribal Center for canning with Azure Boure. It was a big job to process so much fish. The crew started at 8am, and didn’t finish until eight that night. The result was 320 jars of half-smoked fish. The remainder of the salmon remained in the smoke house to get dry smoked, and was then packed in vacuum bags. The students were excited to be part of the process. “We had a lot of students really wanting to be involved. We had some juniors show up where we were processing fish and they’re like, ‘Well we just want to help!’” “We loaded up our vans with fish and
went to the Elders lunch,” Serene says. All who were there got a can of fish. The students went on to deliver cans of salmon to Elder staff members, home-bound Elders, to and to those living in Elder housing and in some other parts of the reservation, Serene said. Elders posted photos on Facebook, saying, “Thank you CKA!” The following day, the school held a celebration. Mable Price cooked a meal for staff, students, and the Ocean to Table crew, and honored and gifted the fishermen, the Seafood workers, and everyone else who helped, and every CKA student and every staff member was given a can of fish to take home for the holiday. “We still have fish here on campus to give away throughout the year,” she said. Eventually, the project will result in an Ocean to Table curriculum that will allow students to earn the Career Technology Education credits needed to graduate. But building community is really at the core of the work, Serene says. It was beautiful. And the most important lesson to come out of it was about what it means to work together, she said: “At the beginning, I circled up everyone who was participating, and I talked about how we’ve all got to come together. We’ve got 8th graders working with 10th graders, some of whom don’t know each other. Everyone plays a role. If everyone comes together as a community, then the project will run smoothly.” By Sarah van Gelder
Struggling new mom? WIC is here to help Do you know a mom with young children who is struggling to make ends meet? Or maybe someone who is pregnant or having trouble with breastfeeding. Help is available at the Suquamish WIC Program. “Please tell them about WIC!” says program coordinator Rachel Parsons. WIC is a nutrition education, health screening, community referral, and food benefits program for women who are pregnant, or recently had a baby, or have children up to age five. “There are income guidelines to qualify, but most households receiving Provider One medical benefits do qualify, and each participant receives about $50-$100 in food benefits per month on a WIC debit card,” says Parsons. That can be used for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, yogurt, milk, cheese, eggs, dry or canned beans, peanut butter, and whole grains like bread, pasta, or tortillas, baby formula, and more. Appointments are currently virtual. “If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about WIC,” says Parsons, “please call or text me today to make an appointment. I look forward to meeting you!” Parsons can be reached at (360) 621-5839.
January 2022 | 11
12 | January 2022
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Elders’ Corner We would like to welcome Eric Webster and Edward Widen as our new elders for this January. Happy Milestone Birthdays to the following elders born in January: Merle Hayes, Charlene Renquist, Linda Immken and Leonard Forsman. A big WOW to “Skippy” and Myra Elevado; they just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. What a milestone! We are sending you many blessings and look forward to your 65th together. This time of year is the time to remember all the goodness of people. We have many thanks to employees of our Tribe. Remember to say “Thank you” as these employees work hard for us to make our lives a better. This month our thank you awards go to our contracted tenders and divers, fishers, employees of Seafood Enterprises and Fisheries Department, and let’s not forget our deer and elk hunters, too. These are the folks who keep us fed with our traditional foods (they feed “our Indian”). We raise our hands to all of you! And what would we do without the help of our volunteers? We wouldn’t have been able to have all of our planned events this year without the following volunteers; Dickie J, Jim F, Georgia G, Kippie J, Willy J, Skippy & Myra E, Lorraine B, Ardy L, Larry L, Tracy T, Lena M, Randi (Cont. next page)
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(Elders, continued)
S, Marilyn W, Tina J, Mary W, Ray L., Linda O. Our other helpers (who are employees) are Neah P, Antonia E, Janelle M, Nehreen and her Human Services Crew and Kate Ahvakana, James Abler, and all their students who made beautiful Valentine and Christmas cards for our elders. Please forgive us, if we forgot anyone, and if we did, we send a big thank you to you, too! We want to remember those Elders, who have crossed over to the other side during 2021, and the loving families of Ron Villanueva, Nancy McPherson, Winona Mabe, Richard Belmont Jr, Sharon Parrett, Cheryl Mabe, Margaret Duggan and James Wilson. Until we meet again. Many hugs are being sent to these families. Now, that was a holiday extravaganza that occurred for our families down at the parking lot at the House of Awakened Culture, where all the departments and volunteers worked so hard to make this happen. They stood in the cold with shouts of Merry Christmas, wonderful gifts, colored lights, and Santa sitting in a fire engine yelling Merry Christmas to all. As this year comes to a close, we wish everyone the warmth of the Christmas season, the time to celebrate and a time to reflect. May this New Year remind us of the joy of everyday life and renew our sense of humor with lots laughter and love. By Della Crowell and Donna Sigo
January 2022 | 13
Winter Squash Soup for Tradition and Comfort
T
he Suquamish Traditional Food and Medicine Program is kicking off 2022 with confidence. Azure Boure, and all her helpers, ended last year with a big success, freeze-drying and packaging 100 squash to give to the Tribal community. A vegetable high in both vitamins and minerals, squash was a part of x̌ʷəlč (Salish Sea) people’s diet because of its sweet taste and many benefits. Studies by dietitians have shown it to be an anti-inflammatory that can help reduce menstrual pain, control blood sugar, and aid in healthy digestion. Squash typically has a shelf life of around three months, but when freeze-dried and stored correctly, it can last at least a couple of decades longer while hanging onto all its nutritional qualities and flavor. The freeze-dried squash processed by the Food and Medicine Program was roasted, peeled, and mashed before being loaded into the machine so that it came out in powder form. It was then packaged and gifted to the membership by the Healing of the Canoe Program at last month’s Holiday Drive-Thru Distribution. You can use the powdered squash as a base ingredient in many dishes, including curries, soups, and even fritters. Here is a recipe from the Suquamish Traditional Food and Medicine Program:
Roasted Squash Soup
(Gluten & Dairy Free) 3 lb squash, your choice 2 T olive oil ½ onion chopped 3 cloves garlic minced 1 tsp ginger (optional) 1 T Madras Curry 2 cups broth – chicken or vegetable plus 1-2 cups for thinning soup to desired consistency at the end or 1 can of coconut milk or coconut cream 1 T maple syrup or brown sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F 2. Slice squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and place the halves cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Rub 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the outside skin of
Traditional Heritage Specialist News Welcome to the New Year, 2022! Hoping everyone had a safe and healthy Holiday Season. I plan to complete as many interviews as possible this year and get to understand how everyone is getting through this COVID-19 situation and all the changes in our lives. Please remember to mask up and stay safe when out and about. The cold weather is still with us. Check on family and friends, especially our Elders.
I would really love to hear from you, by either phone, email, or a visit before or after the Elders’ Lunch. We can talk about anything that is of interest to you and that you feel is important to have recorded for future generations. These times are very different and the next generations will have many questions about what our lives were like during this COVID-19 time. I would like to hear from as many people as possible about your life experiences and both the good and bad. I know that I have been writing
the squash and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes (or until almost tender). 3. Allow squash to cool, peel the skin off, and cut squash into 2-inch cubes. Set aside. 4. Heat remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté onions and garlic for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly brown, adding a pinch of salt as they cook. Stir in ginger and curry and cook for 1 more minute. 5. Add stock, brown sugar (or maple syrup), and squash and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes (or until the squash is very tender). 6. Puree stock with a stick blender or puree in batches in a regular blender or food processor, adding additional stock slowly until the soup reaches the desired consistency. 7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
By Heather Purser
things down from time to time, and it helps to get through the days when it feels so hard and sad. A good way to release and share thoughts with someone is a way to release emotions and help to relax sometimes. You can have your interview marked restricted and not read or listened to for a number of years if you wish and that will be done, to respect your privacy. Please, if your wish to work with me contact me at (360) 394–8526 direct line, (340) 340–0206 cell phone or email mjones@suquamish.nsn.us. By Marilyn Jones
14 | January 2022
Suquamish News
Building a life of meaning and satisfaction 11 Tips for Thriving in 2022
There are times when it seems all we feel are painful emotions. Everything seems to affect us. We’re stuck in a rut and can’t remember feeling okay. We see things through a negative lens that our wise mind determines is not beneficial or helpful. How we feel might be understandable because of circumstances but not necessarily useful, and we are in danger of doing something that will likely make the situation worse. How can we reduce emotional vulnerability? It’s necessary to re-learn how to live a life that isn’t entirely dominated by the day-to-day struggle to survive and endure. There are ways to shift the focus from enduring or fending off negative experiences/ emotions to seeking out positive experiences/emotions and gratefully acknowledging the joy surrounding us. Here are 11 ideas to consider: 1. Examine overall emotional health. We cannot regularly and reliably feel (or see) good if we are not taking care of ourselves. 2. Treat any physical illness and follow all prescribed medical treatment plans. 3. Identify and balance eating, sleeping, and exercising habits for what’s right for you. 4. Avoid mood altering substances. Develop a list of essential habits you know optimize your effectiveness and faithfully implement daily (medications, praying, meditating, etc.). 5. Build emotional hardiness and self-confidence by doing something slightly hard all the time (mastery). Overcome obstacles and avoid giving up. 6. If positive events do not regularly occur in your life, you may need to make changes so positive events happen more often. Accumulating events that build a satisfying life is like saving pennies in a piggy bank. Build a bank account of positive emotional experiences. They can offset the negative and provide a belief that things will get better. 7. In the short term, proactively find things that are pleasant and enjoyable (listen to music, go to the ocean, soak in a bathtub, create art, etc.) Short-term pos-
itive events mean they are possible to do NOW and can (and should) be done daily. 8. For the long term, begin to build what is for you a fulfilling, meaningful life (a life you value and want to have, containing things you value) that can regularly contribute to feeling good and effective (achieving goals important to you, e.g., going to college, improving a social or environmental issue, seeking satisfying employment, volunteering). 9. Repair, build, and maintain relationships with supportive, healthy people. Don’t let your entire happiness depend on one or two people or groups. 10. Be unmindful of worries that hold you back; Do not “steal your own joy” by thinking about when something will end, whether you deserve it, or how much might be expected of you. 11. Be mindful as you begin to experience joy. Don’t diminish, dismiss or curtail the good feelings that result from your efforts. You deserve to thrive!
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Suquamish Wishes for 2022 We asked Suquamish tribal members for their thoughts and hopes for 2022. Here are some responses.
A Prayer for 2022 I’m walking into 2022 with a prayer deep in my heart to focus on being fully present in my relationship with my family and friends. To be love and be a part of what makes our world better. I want to represent what can be wonderful, for our earth, nature and all living things. Rebecca Ballard-George
Embracing change
“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, many people prefer suffering that is familiar.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh As we begin a new year with constant exhortations to identify our New Year’s resolutions, it is important to remember that change is difficult, especially if we want the change to be long lasting. Change involves not only recognizing there is a problem, but coming up with a plan, sticking to it, revising the plan as we encounter obstacles, until the change we seek is automatic. Can I withstand some initial discomfort to experience a better outcome in the long run? What do I want to be different, and what is my plan? In what ways can I “build my bank account of positive experiences?” What are short and long-term goals to reduce emotional vulnerability and begin to build a “life of meaning and satisfaction?” By Lori Glover
Faith Morton Looking forward to ... The Chief Seattle Days clam bake/salmon bake at Jeff Head JimBob Armstrong
Cindy Webster-Martinson
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January 2022 | 15
Birthdays
y r a u n Ja January 1 Brandon Emmett January 2 Charlene Renquist Charlie Brown Dakota McConaghy 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 13 Barbara Santos Frederick Sigo Kwll-kwull-tu Williams
January 6 Andrea Nellenbach Kellen Baker
January 14 Geraldine Joe Tiger Lily Duthie
January 7 Anthony Mabe Mary Lou Salter Thaddeus Duthie
January 15 Aleccia Pratt Angela Clark Edward Midkiff Sr. Phoenix George Shilene George Stephanie Power Taren Haynes
January 8 Samantha Salas William Swift January 9 Alira Hill Brittney Lerdo Devan Crow Raellen George 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 Phillip Contraro Seth Mabe
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 Jacinda Lawrence Kourtney Lawrence Lorraine Brice Susan Bambino January 20 Brandy Sherman
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 Dillan Ashenbrenner Leonard Forsman Steven George Thomas Cordero Sr. Tory Dotson
January 26 Floyd Dollar Robert Cordero Jr. January 27 Harriet Webber Jamie Gooby Joaquin Santos Kristen Mabe Peter Werbelo III Shilo Christensen 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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Suquamish Tribe is Hiring! To find current career opportunities with the Suquamish Tribe, please check out the regularly updated job posting on the Tribe's website at:
www.suquamish.nsn.us/careers For more information call the Job Hotline at: 360-394- 8414
Kent, WA Permit No. 71