dxseEeb syeceb
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
June 2021 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 21
June 2021
No. 6
Suquamish Vaccination Clinics Draw to a Close
In this issue: Sport betting is coming -- p7 Gather dandelions & camas -- p10 Healing of the Canoe for adults -- p6
Tribe mourns former Chairman — p3
Congratulations Class of 2021 — p4
RIP Ted George — p15
Suquamish News
2 | June 2021
Community Calendar Events & Meetings
Regular Hours
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 Suquamish Warriors Emergency Utilities: (360) 710-3223 For information, contact Jean Belmont at Finance: (360) 394-8432 (360) 601-7918. Fisheries: (360) 394-8438 Health Benefits: (360) 394-8424 PME Board meets online and in person Human Resources: (360) 394-8409 on June 16 at the Resort (Whale Room). Human Services: (360) 394-8465 SEC meets on June 30 at 9am, PMECC/ IT Help Desk: (360) 394-8485 PMCC at 11 am in the Whale Room and Maintenance: (360) 394-8590 online. Contact Emily Sato, emilysato@ Tribal Child Welfare: (360) 394-8480 clearwatercasino.com (360) 598-8703. Tribal Court: (360) 394-8697 Suquamish Tribal Council Tribal Council meets June 2, 14 & 28. Links are sent to Tribal members via SUN or ask Rebecca Purser, (360) 900-8031, rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us.
Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Meets online June 3 & 17. Call Angela Brainerd at (360) 394-8652 for details.
Suquamish Elders — contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472
Suquamish Seafoods Board meets online on June 15 @ 2pm. Seafoods Retail is open Thurs-Sun. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) 394-8512 for details.
Suquamish Police Department lobby is available for government-related paperwork. Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Emergency: 911
Suquamish Museum Board Meets June 17@ 11am-1pm online. Call Jennifer at (360) 394-4847 for info. 2021 Tribal Distributions will take place on Nov. 5. If you want to receive your payments through Direct Deposit, contact Finance_Info@suquamish.nsn. us. If you have an address change, please contact Enrollment.
Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416
Suquamish News •
Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
•
Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us
•
Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
•
Letters should include the writer’s full name, address, and home telephone and may be edited for clarity and space.
•
All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
Suquamish.nsn.us
On the cover
Tribe wrapping up vaccination clinics
S
uquamish 14-year-old Mikayla Madayag shows off her “I got my COVID-19 Vaccine” sticker shortly after getting her first Pfizer shot at the Youth Vaccination Clinic jointly hosted by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and Suquamish Tribe in Little Boston on May 17. Madayag was one of dozens of Tribal teens and other North Kitsap youth the tribes vaccinated during two day-long clinics in May. The special clinics also helped mark
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.
the end of Suquamish Tribe’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccination clinics. With vaccination options now readily available across Kitsap County and Washington state, Tribal officials decided the time was right to begin ramping down. “As of June 16, the Community Health program will be suspending its Covid Vaccinations clinics,” said Tribal Health Officer Dr. Barbara Hoffman. “Vaccination available from a variety of sources, many that do not require appointments.” The Tribe’s last clinics will be June 2, June 9, and June 16. “On these dates we will be giving second doses to anyone who has not completed the series. We can give first doses also, however second doses will need to be completed elsewhere,” said Hoffman. Hoffman said the Tribe will be monitoring potential follow-up shots as health officials adapt vaccines to new variants. “We will most likely need to have boosters in the fall, and we will let you know when those will take place, “said Hoffman. For anyone who would like assistance finding a vaccination, please call Mickenzy Cordova at (360) 394-7717 or Hoffman at (360) 394-8468. Photo by Jon Anderson
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.
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
June 2021 | 3
Community
Tribe mourns loss of former Tribal chairman Richard Belmont Jr. remembered as fierce advocate for Native rights
I
n the early 1940s, Richard Belmont Jr. was a little boy growing up on the shores of Neah Bay, where the Straight of Juan de Fuca meets the Pacific Ocean in the rugged and remote northwesternmost tip of Washington state. Later in life, he would tell the story of the mustang stallion known as Midnight Star, with the white flash on its black forehead, who led a herd of wild horses that roamed the nearby prairies. The big stallion would come roaring through Belmont’s village from time to time with a trail of mustangs following behind. “One day I was outside next to a little fence we had, and all of a sudden Midnight Star came running through,” Belmont once told a group who’d gathered to hear his stories. “Mom was just terrified, she didn’t know what to do. And all those horses went over the fence and right over the top of me. And just kept on going on down into the prairie.” Maybe it was that day that Belmont first caught a glimpse of what it meant to lead. Maybe it was that moment that lit some fire that would inspire him to take on obstacles big and small as he led his own people to better places. Whatever it was that fueled him — his family, his friends, and no doubt his Tribe, all kindled and contributed to that fire as well — he will be remembered for years to come as a man who was equal parts fierce ad-
vocate, gregarious friend and fisherman, and trailblazing Tribal Chairman. Indeed, Belmont served three terms as chairman of the Suquamish Tribal Council, with each passing year laying more and more groundwork for the Tribe’s current prosperity. Under his leadership, the Tribe created its very first museum, built its first Tribal Center, and launched its first fish hatchery. “Richard served as chairman of the Suquamish Tribe in the early to mid-1970s during a time when the Tribe was facing challenges to our sovereign rights from many directions,” said Leonard Forsman, current chairman of the Suquamish Tribe. Forsman pointed to attempts to undermine the Tribe’s criminal jurisdiction over non-natives on Port Madison Reservation, confrontations with Kitsap County about land use planning in Suquamish, and important early efforts to protect treaty rights to harvest salmon and shellfish. And Belmont was in the middle of it all, on several occasions even traveling to Washington, D.C., to press the Supreme Court for better protections of Tribal lands and rights. “He was a gifted speaker and was known for his inspiring speeches,” said Forsman. “Richard and those who served with him on Tribal Council provided their time and leadership as volunteers, motivated by a sense of justice and love for their people. Chairman Belmont did the
work of chairman while holding a full-time job at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and raising a family.” Belmont was born at Neah Bay on July 24, 1939, the son of Richard and Lily Belmont. He was the fourth of five children and the only son. His four sisters are Ivy Cheyney, Maureen Sather, Dicky Johnson, and Sharon Ogilvie. When Richard was about five years old, his family moved to Bremerton where he grew up and went to school, eventually earning a two-year college degree. After a tour of duty in the Coast Guard, serving aboard a 350-foot, big gunned cutter based in California, Belmont returned to Bremerton where he soon began work as radiographer x-raying repair patches on nuclear submarines at the shipyard. Retiring after 26 years of service there, his hard work was far from over, especially his service to his Tribe. And while he worked hard, he also played hard. He loved to play pickle ball and softball. Well into his sixties, he was still winning awards as a competitive sportsman. His true passion, though, was fishing. Even into his seventies you could still find him casting for trout on Kitsap County’s many lakes and hand-throwing his salmon nets on Sinclair Inlet. Known as a hardworking, kind, and generous person, Richard would stop to help neighbors and strangers alike. He had an infectious laugh and a wicked sense of humor. Belmont passed away on May 19, 2021. He was 81. Richard is survived by his wife of 26 years Kathryn Belmont, his children David Zurflueh, Michelle Lanning, Maureen Belmont-Covington, and Marta Heath, his stepchildren Samantha Bluhm and William Mumma, his 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Richard’s memorial services will be July 24, 2021, at The House of Awakened Culture. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Suquamish Tribal Museum and the Alzheimer’s Foundation. “Richard had a big personality and was liked by many. His presence will be greatly missed. His suffering now ended, he is with the Creator, his ancestors, and his beloved dog Lord Ish of Belmont,” said the family in a statement. And maybe, perhaps, he rides a horse named Midnight Star. By Jon Anderson Photos: Left, from the Suquamish Museum archives, Right, at Chief Seattle Days 2019 (by Sarah van Gelder)
Suquamish News
4 | June 2021
Suquamish.nsn.us
Education
Congratulations Class of 2021! Suquamish Tribe Salutes our Tribal Members, Descendants, and Chief Kitsap Academy Graduates
Joshua Bagley, Chief Kitsap Alana Chiefstick, Chief Kitsap Academy Academy
Ah-nika-leesh Chiquiti, Chief Kitsap Academy
Isabella Cordero Laguna, Mount Si High School
Zoe Fritz, Chief Kitsap Academy
Ana Garcia-Bernal, Chief Kitsap Academy
Cassady Hill Jackson, CKA Deandra Johnson, Chief Kitsap Academy (Valedictorian)
Charlotte Paddock, Chief Kitsap Academy
Teresa Paddock, Chief Kitsap Academy
Tyton Purser, Chief Kitsap Academy
Kailyn Usman, Chief Kitsap Academy
Floyd Dollar, Kingston High School
Makayla Featherston, Filer High School
Tyler Marquez, Chief Kitsap Academy
Jenavieve Old Coyote-Bagley, Chief Kitsap Academy
Celia Williams, Kingston High School
Alonzo Wilson, Chief Kitsap Academy
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
June 2021 | 5
Chief Kitsap Academy names Valedictorian, Salutatorian
C Kaiden Finkbonner, Chief Kitsap Academy
Noelani Old Coyote-Mabe, Chief Kitsap Academy
Austin Wion-Rathbun, CKA (Salutatorian)
hief Kitsap Academy congratulates the Class of 2021. It’s been a challenging year to be a high school senior. In spite of the uncertainties and the challenges of remote learning and pandemic fears, 17 determined students are graduating this year from CKA. Every single one of them stuck with it, making us proud, and we are so excited to see what they do next. CKA is proud to announce two 2021 graduates whose exceptional performance qualifies them to be Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Valedictorian Cassady Hill Jackson is a Suquamish Tribal member who began attending Chief Kitsap Academy in the 6th grade. She was a player on the first volleyball team at CKA, and helped start the first girls’ basketball team. She has been Miss Chief Seattle Days, Miss Renewal, serves on the Youth Council, and participates in Song and Dance. Cassady attends Running Start at Olympic College. She has been accepted to more than half a dozen top-level universities, but in the fall she’s decided to attend Stanford University. Cassady aspires to be a child custody attorney. Reflecting on her time at Chief Kitsap Academy, Cassady said, “I was able to cre-
ate a bond with my teachers that wouldn’t have been possible at bigger schools. This made it easier to learn. I loved the small class sizes and being surrounded by friends. This made coming to school a lot easier.” Cassady is the daughter of Adam Jackson and Tanya Hill. Her grandparents are William and Paula Jackson. Great Grandparents Oliver and Irene Jackson, and David and Norma Morris. Salutatorian Austin Wion-Rathbun has attended CKA since 6th grade. He brought his high energy to the first-ever MS basketball team and later to the CKA high school team, where he was a four-year varsity player. When not on the basketball court, Austin worked at JC’s Market, sang with CKA Song and Dance, worked out in Running Club, and participated on Canoe Journey. Austin started Running Start at Olympic College his junior year, and will be earning his AA Degree alongside his High School Diploma. After receiving offers from multiple colleges, Austin will attend the University of Washington, his first choice. Austin future plans includes being a professional sports photographer for the NBA or NFL. When asked what makes CKA special, Austin says, “I value the small classes, making it easier for me and others to learn effectively. I value the culture, which the school is based on, and the staff who have had a tremendous impact on my life.”
6 | June 2021
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Wellness
Healing of the Canoe to begin adult programs T
he Healing of the Canoe (HOC) — a curriculum that connects Tribal youth to their culture — will soon be available for adults. This new phase of the project came about when adults, who saw the positive impacts on young people, asked to have a similar program available to them. “Some adults don’t have knowledge about their culture; an adult curriculum will give them the opportunity to learn and pass it on to the next generation,” Tribal member Lisa Jackson points out. Jackson is the one staff person on this project, coming to this work after previously working in marketing at Port Madison Enterprises. From age 16-18, Jackson was a youth peer educator with HOC, so helping bring this vision to a reality is a natural for her. The curriculum is still being planned, and may include wellness, communications, and parenting skills, and tips for setting boundaries and creating healthy relationships — especially across generations. Like the youth program, HOC for adults is designed to support well being and connecting to culture. The plan is to design the curriculum to appeal to all learning styles, according to Jackson. Some enjoy social interaction. Others prefer creative activities and learn better when their hands are engaged. The project is led by a committee made up of Robin L.W. Sigo, Albie Lawrence, Stella Spivey, along with Jackson. The team turned to focus groups — made up of Tribal Elders, members of the Tribe’s Cultural Committee, and Tribal Council members — to create the content. Past HOC trainers and trainees also helped. The focus groups discussed such questions as: What words do you want people to use to describe the Suquamish Tribe? What traditions did you once see that you would like to see practiced again? The culture only lives when it is shared, and too often, especially during difficult times, knowledge slips away, Jackson says. This happened when it was illegal to practice traditions, and during the boarding schools time, when children were allowed little time with parents. “For so long, we weren’t able to practice our traditions, and we had to hide them,” she said. Alcohol also got in the way. More recently, COVID has made it difficult to gather in person, making the exchange of knowledge more difficult. Prosperity also can erode traditions. In several of the focus groups, the top concern was how we get people to give back, to volunteer, to help out Elders and build up the community. “Our tribes have done well enough, so now everyone expects to be paid,” Jackson said.
“For me, growing up, if an Elder was struggling, you help them. Youth are not being taught to go to an Elder and ask, would you like me to get you your plate? Elders in the focus group said they were having difficulty finding youth willing to volunteer their time for events,” she noted. “How do we make people feel good about volunteering their time and giving back to the community and the culture?” By the end of September, and the first grant cycle, the team hopes to have the HOC curriculum completed. Next year, the HOC team will set goals for rolling out the program and for training trainers. The plan is to eventually work with other Tribes to adapt the curriculum for adults in their own communities, as many are now doing with the youth HOC, building on their own values and traditions. “It’s exciting to think that HOC has the potential to help us dig into what our traditions were and to build our community back to what it used to be.”
“The dream would be to have healthier adults — mentally, emotionally, physically, culturally — where we are talking about all aspects of what it means to be human and how that relates to our Tribal culture,” Jackson says. That means adults who feel comfortable talking about who they are, talking about their feelings, having healthy conversations, and healthy disagreements — “being comfortable putting your opinion out without feeling like you’re going to be put down,” Jackson says. And ultimately, those adults passing along those healthy habits to youth and Elders, and everyone around them. HOC could, in other words, “help us come back together as more of a community.” By Sarah van Gelder For more information on Healing of the Canoe, contact Lisa Jackson, lisa@healingofthecanoe.org
Suquamish health and wellness staff gather at Kiana
Staff from the Suquamish Tribe’s Wellness Center, TCW, Community Health, Health Benefits, and Human Services departments gathered in May to explore collaborative ways to assist Tribal member clients. (Photo by JoAnn Joe)
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
June 2021 | 7
Business
Suquamish Tribe moving forward with sports betting
A
fter several months of negotiations with the Washington State Gambling Commission, the Suquamish Tribe is nearing completion of a project to modernize its Gaming Compact and to add Sports Wagering at the Clearwater Casino Resort. The Tribe has reached a “Tentative Agreement” with
the State Gambling Commission on proposed 4th and 5th Amendments to the Tribe’s Gaming Compact, and those Amendments are now working their way through the review and approval process. A few features of the new Amendments are: • Addition of sports wagering. The Amendments would enable Clearwater Casino to open a sports book similar to the sports books found in many Nevada gaming properties, as well as multiple sports wagering self-serve kiosks, and wagering on mobile devices within the premises of the Casino Resort. The Casino’s goal is to be ready to take bets on sporting events in time for week one of the 2021 NFL season in September. Sports wagering is a new activity in the State of Washington, and so far 12 tribes have requested sports wagering compact amendments on the model negotiated by a group of tribes led by Suquamish, with three other tribes using their own model for sports wagering. • Funding of charitable activities and healthy gaming. The Amendments increase the Tribe’s commitment to fund services and projects in support of responsible and healthy gaming, as well as local charitable activities and local projects to address the impacts of gaming. • Modernization. The Amendments update the Tribe’s Gaming Compact to add features that other
Tribes have recently added to their own compacts, such as authorization of a second gaming facility, increased betting limits, extension of credit to qualified players, and improvements to the gaming employee licensing process. Chairman Leonard Forsman and Port Madison Enterprises CEO Rion Ramirez presented the Amendments to a joint legislative hearing of Washington State senators and representatives on May 19. The Washington State Gambling Commission will meet on June 10–11 to review the Amendments, and will then vote on whether to recommend these Amendments to Governor Inslee. After the Governor and the Tribal Council formally approve the Amendments, they will be forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior for final review and approval as required by federal law. In the meantime, the Suquamish Tribal Gaming Commission and Port Madison Enterprises will continue working together to establish the Tribe’s internal rules and procedures for these new activities. Port Madison Enterprises is excited to add sports wagering and other new and improved gaming activities at Clearwater Casino Resort, and looks forward to offering them in the near future. By Devon Tiam
Frequently asked Suquamish housing questions Question: Why am I ineligible for HUD Low-Income Housing due to my Income? How is that calculated? Answer: Suquamish Housing is subject to federal requirements that an applicant’s total household income cannot exceed 80 percent of median annual income compared with families of the same size in Kitsap County. Applicants must have an income in order to be eligible for the program. Each year HUD releases income limits by state and county areas for the entire country. For 2021 in Kitsap County the 80 percent of Median Income is in this table. Question: I have already filled out an Application, Why must I update once a year to remain eligible for a Tribal House?
Answer: In today’s digital age, applicant information (such as phone numbers or mailing addresses) can change quite frequently. Applications must be updated at least annually to remain eligible for both the HUD Low-income and Fair Market Rental Programs. Applicant data is very important to the Tribe and its planning. When new housing developments are being designed and built, the data provided, such as house size and type, is always part of the consideration so that the Tribe builds to the needs of the membership. Applications are available. Contact: Rachel Nellenbach (360) 394-8418 or rnellenbach@suquamish.nsn.us or any housing team member.
Question: I am currently living in a Fair Market Rental; can I still apply for the HUD Low Income Program? Answer: If you meet the eligibility criteria for the HUD Low-income program you can definitely apply for the HUD Low-Income Housing Program. We suggest that applicants fill out applications for both programs if they are eligible, as waitlist times vary for both programs. Do you Have Questions for Suquamish Housing? If any Suquamish Tribal Member has a housing question they’d like to see answered in a coming edition of Suquamish News, please feel free to email Lois Sullivan, Housing Coordinator at lsullivan@suquamis.nsn.us or call (360) 394-8416.
What is 80 percent of Median Income in Kitsap County? Persons in Income limit Family household must not exceed $52,750 1 2
60,250
3
67,800
4
75,300
5
81,350
6
87,350
7
93,400
8
99,400
8 | June 2021
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Government
Chairman’s Report
Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman discusses COVID-19 vaccination developments with White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci during the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians mid-year conference.
W
elcome to the beginning of summer 2021! Our work continues as we start to see a slow economic and social emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. The rate of our recovery is directly related to our vaccination rate. If you have not received a vaccination, please do so. I have been fully vaccinated, as have many of our Tribal citizens. We need to work together to protect the health of the Suquamish Tribe. The Treasury Department held a call to discuss the distribution of the American Rescue Plan funding to Tribal governments. Treasury officials described the formula for distributing the $20 billion appropriated for Indian Country from the “State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.” Treasury announced that the fund would be appropriated based 65 percent on population and 35 percent on enterprise employment and activity. This approach is not as favorable for small Tribes in the Salish Sea like us. Speaking of economic development, we continue to work to enhance our gaming operations and protect our Tribal/State gaming compacts (see page 7). I joined Rion Ramirez in testifying before a joint meeting of the state Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs and the House Commerce and Gaming
committees on Tribal gaming compact amendments. This was an opportunity for us to inform the committees on our proposed changes to our gaming compact regarding higher limits, regulatory fee changes, and other issues. We also had our monthly meeting of the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA), which continues to monitor legislative activity and public views of our gaming industry. We also met with the acting director of the Washington State Gambling Commission to receive updates on their activities affecting Tribal operations. The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance held a digital meeting with speakers discussing the economic forecast for Kitsap County. The speakers made two important points: the economy will not fully recover until the people feel comfortable returning to their normal activities; and that the real estate market in Kitsap is not a bubble like the one in 2007-2008 because the loan market is not inflated and high prices will not come down quickly. We had a little breather from the intense round of consultation from the federal government directed by President Biden. The White House did hold a short meeting to announce the nomination
of attorney Lauren King (Muscogee Creek) to the Western Washington District Court. When confirmed she will be the first Native American female on the federal bench. *** Intertribal organizations are important to setting policy priorities on a regional and national basis. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) held their monthly executive board meeting where we received updates on the American Rescue Plan and other federal initiatives. NCAI announced the hiring of a new executive director, Dante Desidero (Sappony), the former director of the National Finance Officers Association. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) held their virtual midyear conference. Primary topics were climate change legislation, COVID-19 funding, telecommunication policy, education, and economic development. I had the honor of interviewing Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Biden, during the ATNI conference. We talked about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, the timing of a new Moderna vaccine booster injection, and the long-term effects of the virus on infected patients. The state of Washington and Tribal Leaders Social Services
Council also had a meeting to discuss streamlining the consultation process for state health programs and Tribal governments. Protection of treaty resources continues to be an important part of our role as Tribal leaders in western Washington. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) passed the state Legislature this session. This legislation authorizes a cap and invest system for reducing carbon in Washington state. Polluters must pay if they pollute over a certain set cap, and the money goes into an investment fund that will pay for carbon reduction projects, restoration, and other initiatives. There is a set-aside for Tribal government projects. The legislative process consumed a lot of our time as we worked with our state legislative allies to get enough votes for passage. Once passed, we learned that Governor Inslee vetoed the Tribal consultation sections of the bill because of his concerns about the constitutionality of the language. This was disappointing to the Tribes. I expressed our displeasure to him and he has agreed to hold a summit with Tribal leaders to develop language that can hopefully satisfy both sides. Tribal leaders joined other advocates for the health of Puget Sound during a virtual Puget Sound Days on the Hill, with federal officials and leaders, including Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Adam Smith updating us on their efforts to protect and conserve our ancestral waters. I joined King County Executive Dow Constantine in a conversation regarding stormwater management in the central Puget Sound. This was part of a virtual conference entitled, “Aligning Across Watersheds: A Regional Stormwater Summit,” which brought together policy and technical staff to explore ways governments can work to address this challenging problem, which is poisoning our salmon. The Puget Sound Regional Council held their annual general assembly with state, county, local, and Tribal leaders approving the annual budget and work
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
Suquamish educators, historians, and culture keepers hit an important milestone this month with the creation of new “Since Time Immemorial” lesson plans for 7th graders. From left: Cassandra Fowler, Tom Curley, Barbara Lawrence. (Photo by Brenda Guerrero.) plan that helps direct growth in the four-county region (Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap). We have also been working with the Kitsap County Regional Coordinating Council on development of countywide planning policies that address how growth and transportation are regulated. We are especially concerned about the Suquamish Limited Area of More Intense Rural Development (LAMIRD) designation. There is an effort to call the LAMIRD by another term that makes it eligible for transportation funding. We are still negotiating with the proponents to assure us that the density in the Suquamish LAMIRD is not impacted. The Western Sound Partnership for Ecosystem Recovery (WSPER) met to discuss the progress of a variety of local restoration projects, including a marsh restoration project at Point No Point. Naval Base Everett held their annual consultation with the Suquamish Tribe. We discussed notification processes
for ship movements that disrupt Tribal crab fisheries, cultural resources, and potential future growth at the installation. Tribal Council also held their annual meeting with the Tulalip Board of Directors to discuss management of the upcoming crab season in the Everett vicinity. *** Our cultural presence in the City of Seattle, highlighted by the ancestry of Chief Seattle and his Suquamish predecessors and contemporaries, requires extensive consultation with the city government. Thatcher Bailey, the Executive Director of the Friends of Waterfront Seattle, came to Suquamish to discuss the present conditions and the future of the Seattle waterfront. The Salmon Homecoming Alliance met to discuss this year’s celebration at Pier 62 and 63 in Seattle. There is no decision yet on whether we will have an in-person event this year due to health and safety concerns.
We will make a decision on the scope of the event at our next meeting. We are also working with the City of Bainbridge Island on a public art project as well as exploration of a Tribal place name initiative. The annual Cultural Resource Summit, usually hosted in Suquamish, was held virtually again. The Summit had a good turnout, and I was happy to provide a welcoming statement. The Suquamish Museum Board held its monthly meeting. We are increasing our visitation limits as COVID-19 restrictions loosen around the region. I also attended two memorials. One for the Vice-Chairman of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Kurt Grinnell, who tragically perished in a car accident. The other was an online ceremony for Tribal Elder Nancy McPherson, who passed away after being struck by a car in downtown Suquamish. The education of our youth and our young adults is a top priority. We need
June 2021 | 9
to have Tribal history curriculum in our schools, more native teachers, and more culturally relevant assessments. The Chief Kitsap Academy School Board met to get an update on capital construction projects proposed for the school, including a new multi-purpose room and retrofitting some of the classrooms. I have been working with Rex Green, Barbara Lawrence, and others on a 7th Grade geography curriculum that includes a map of our ancestral Suquamish villages. Our language program is helping us with the Lushootseed translations of the village names. The Tribal Leaders Congress on Education met on a virtual platform to receive updates from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), including information regarding the requirement for school administrators to receive training on Tribal sovereignty. The University of Washington held their annual UW Tribal Leaders Summit on a virtual platform. Tribal leaders expressed to President Ana Mari Cauce that the completion of the second phase of the Intellectual House should be a top priority. Tribal Elder Marilyn Wandrey joined me in a presentation to the Fulbright Students/Alumni Chapter on Tribal history and culture. The students of this program seek to study abroad to broaden their cultural understanding. *** Tribal Council held a series of work sessions to discuss agenda items that needed more attention after our council retreat. These included discussions of housing initiatives, police and other public safety issues, and our human services programs including the Wellness Department and the Tribal Child Welfare Program. We also held a public hearing on an amendment to our exclusion ordinance that would allow for exclusion of Tribal members. We received some good testimony from the Tribal members present and are reviewing the draft ordinance in response to the comments. By Leonard Forsman Chairman Suquamish Tribe
10 | June 2021
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
Traditional Foods
In Praise of Dandelions
Dandelion Drop Biscuits
No need to get out the poisons or the blow gun. These “weeds” are worth harvesting.
Y
ou see them everywhere: Dandelion Taraxacum officinale. In Lushootseed: dandelions are sčabəlb. Dandelion is a nutritious food and a powerful medicine. This common “weed” thrives in sidewalk cracks, grassy lawns, well-tended gardens, abandoned city lots, and even mountain meadows. It is surprisingly easy to misidentify. Many look-alike plants have similar leaves, but dandelion leaves are hairless. They have toothed edges, hence the French name, dent de lion, lion’s tooth. There is only one flower per stem. Stems are hollow. What most people think of as a single dandelion flower is actually hundreds of flowers growing together on a single base. These open to the sunlight and close in dark, rainy weather. Each dandelion can produce more than 5,000 seeds per year in the form “wish balls,” easily blown away with the slightest breeze or breath. Individual seeds with parachute-like hairs have been known to travel on the wind as far as five miles! Dandelion helps to improve soil quality. Roots draw minerals up from deep
layers of earth, concentrating them in the whole plant. When the plant dies back, it deposits these minerals on topsoil. Roots also aerate hard packed soil and create pathways for water to enter. Dandelion flowers are pollinated by over 90 insects. A delicious food Dandelion leaves are high in vitamins and minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A, B, and C. Pinch off the young tender leaves from the center of plants. Rinse and keep cool. Add them fresh to salads or try steaming, sautéing or boiling them. Older leaves become intensely bitter as they are exposed to increasing amounts of sunlight. Dandelion buds can be eaten like capers when they are still tight little buttons. To remove bitterness, wait until the sepals have unfurled and pinch them off. The buds look like little watermelons and can be eaten fresh, cooked, or pickled. Dandelion flowers are high in Vitamin A and have a sweet mild flavor. The base of the flowering head and the green sepals are bitter. You can pull the flowers
off and use them straight in salads or add them to cooked foods like quiche, pancakes, muffins, and fritters. Medicine Dandelion is one of the oldest documented medicinal herbs. The leaves are used as a diuretic, meaning they help our kidneys to excrete excess water Dandelion root supports our liver and kidneys in getting rid of waste products including dietary toxins, drugs, hormones, and metabolic waste. In the fall, dandelion root is sweeter and is high in a carbohydrate called inulin, which is excellent for gut health and insulin balance. Dandelion flower’s high nutrient content makes it a popular addition to facial cleansers and creams. The milky white sap from the plant is used to get rid of warts by dabbing the wart with sap once or twice a day for a couple of weeks. By Azure Bouré Do you need some medicinal tea? Contact Azure Bouré at aboure@ suquamish.nsn.us for supplies of teas and information on their uses.
This recipe is quick, easy and completely satisfying. I have also used wheat-free flour baking mix or gluten-free flour mix with delicious results. 2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour) 2-½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried herbs such as rosemary, marjoram, thyme, basil or chives 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 cup milk ½ cup dandelion flowers – pulled off the base without sepals Preheat oven to 450°. Mix dry ingredients, then add butter. Work mixture with your hands until the batter is the size of coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in milk, herbs, and dandelion flowers. Do not overwork. Batter should be moist and sticky but not smooth. Use a spoon to form about ¼ cup scoops. Place on cookie sheet 1-2 inches apart. Bake until the bottom is browned and the edges are just starting to brown, about 12 minutes
Suquamish.nsn.us
The Hunt for Camas
S
pring is a busy time for the Suquamish Tribe’s Traditional Foods Program. Azure Bouré, the Tribe’s Traditional Foods and Medicine Coordinator, recently led a six-week training program on spring edibles, including nettles and dandelions. Zoom is really hard, she says. “You can’t smell, touch, or taste the foods.” So a field trip to Glacial Heritage Preserve, bringing a group made up of Ryan Boure, Joey Holmes, Tina Jackson, and Lisa Jackson, to harvest camas, was a special treat. Except for Bouré, it was their first time digging camas roots. Camas is a traditional food that grows in prairies, like at Eby’s Landing on Whidbey Island. Prairies are open grasslands with an abundance of plant species, supporting a diverse ecosystem. Traditionally, these lands were kept clear of trees by burning. When you harvest, you take the whole plant, Bouré said. That way, you can check for the purple flowers and make sure you haven’t accidentally pulled a look-alike plant, known as “death camas.” The bulb is an edible starch, almost like a spring onion, with layers, but tasting more like a potato. “The first time I came home from digging camas, I was so excited, I put out this social media blast, ‘Do you have a camas digging stick? Do you know what it looks like?’” she said. “And no one had one!” She checked out the one traditional camas digging stick in the museum, but she wanted a tool she could take with her when she went out gathering. She reached out to Tyleeander Purser, who carved five digging sticks from ironwood. “He sent my son Ryan a photo saying, ‘This is the first Suquamish camas stick that has been made in decades, and I want it to go to your mom’,” she said. “That was cool!” “Going out filled my cup,” she said. “Having that particular group of people with me was really powerful.” Traditionally camas is pit cooked in layers: rocks, leaves, camas, more leaves, more hot rocks. It took from hours to days, depending on how much was being prepared. The cooked bulbs could be added to soups and stews. Today, many use a crock pot, with the same leaves and just a little water, so you still get the same flavor, she said. It tastes sweet cooked with salal leaves and cedar. By Sarah van Gelder
Suquamish News
Lushootseed Phrase of the Month
If you have questions or requests, please email lmaloney@suquamish.nsn.us or cfowler@suquamish.nsn.us. Suquamish Language Program 2021
June 2021 | 11
12 | June 2021
Emergency Rental Assistance Available for Suquamish Tribal Members in Washington
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented hardship on Tribal families and households. To alleviate some of the hardships and challenges, the Suquamish Tribe is providing Emergency Rental Assistance Program Funds awarded by the U.S. Treasury Department to assist eligible Tribal families with rent and utility assistance. These funds are for those at the risk of eviction, homelessness, or losing stable housing. Assistance must be for the applicant’s primary dwelling, which includes a rental agreement, Mutual Help Ownership Agreement (MHOA), rent to own agreements, or mobile home park lot lease. This Program does not provide assistance for homeowner mortgage or utility payments. Eligibility requirements: 1. Enrolled Suquamish Tribal member 18 years of age living in Washington state 2. Head of household caring for an enrolled Suquamish youth living in their home in Washington state 3. Enrolled Tribal member of federally recognized Tribe renting a home on the Port Madison Indian Reservation 4. Assistance must be for household’s primary residence 5. Applicant Household income must be at 80 percent of median income for their housing area. Assistance Available • Payment for past due rent, late fees, or penalties incurred after March 13, 2020, not to exceed 12 months of assistance • Assistance paying up to three months of future rent. For assistance beyond three months; the applicant must reapply for the program • Payment of past due utility bills incurred after March 13, 2020 (water, sewer, garbage, power, heating fuel, and internet) to the primary residence of the applicant. • Relocation assistance due to COVID-19 temporary or permanent displacement for security deposit assistance and rental application processing fees. • Payment of past due parcel lease and/or utility bills incurred after March 13, 2020 for mobile/manufactured homes. Application Requirements Applicants are required to complete a “Suquamish Housing Emergency Rental and Utility bill Assistance”
Suquamish News
Ask the Police
Question: I am concerned about the presence of some of the non-Tribal homeless people in our community. At least two of them seem to be very unstable, and I am afraid to walk after dark now and even sometimes during the day. It seems like these people do not have access to the services they need, and I feel they pose a potential risk to our community. Are the police watching them? Do we have to wait for one of them to do something to be arrested before they can be offered services? Do you know where they are coming from and if we can expect more in the future? What can community members do to keep themselves and their families safe around some of the more threatening individuals? Answer: I waited to answer this question because the exclusion of both individuals you mention was being proposed to Tribal Council. Your question was presented to the Council as part of the impacts their presence was having on the perception of safety in the community. Both have extensive criminal activity, and committed recent violent or sexual crimes against chil-
application and submit necessary supporting documentation as outlined in the application. Applications are available by request through any of the Suquamish Housing Team members. We are here to answer your questions and assist Tribal members regarding this emergency assistance: Rachel Nellenbach, (360) 394-8418 rnellenbach@suquamish.nsn.us Lois Sullivan (360) 394-8416 lsullivan@suquamish.nsn.us Shenowah Purser (360) 394-8423 spurser@suquamish.nsn.us Vicki Cole (360) 394-8419 vcole@suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish.nsn.us
dren in neighboring communities. Both resolutions for exclusion have been passed by Tribal council, and are on their way to Tribal Court. If the Tribal Court finds legal justification under Tribal law, the individuals will be excluded. Our Crisis Intervention Team Sergeant, Tom Nance, has reached out to Kitsap Mental Health Designated crisis responders repeatedly to seek assistance and services for these individuals. We received the usual response; no assistance was forthcoming. Unfortunately, the best (and really only) way to get help for people like this is for them to be arrested, and even that frequently doesn’t work. (They have both been arrested many times.) We do not anticipate more will replace these two. The police keep an eye on individuals with these types of challenges, but we can’t follow them all day. One has family in the area, the other is not from our area. Families can stay safe using the usual precautions; avoiding dangerous or disturbed people during outbursts, and calling 911 if they are breaking the law or being threatening. These two should be excluded by the time you read this. Police Chief Mike Lasnier (360) 340-0695 If you have a question for the Suquamish Police, email Communications@suquamish.nsn.us. Your question will be forwarded anonymously to Chief Mike Lasnier.
Suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
June 2021 | 13
Elders’ Corner A
warm welcome to our newest Suquamish Tribal Elders! In May, Sean Mabe, Duane Napoleon Jr, George Hill Jr, David Zurflueh, and Bernard Adams became Elders. And in June, Bernadette Loneia and Ruth Lindell will join the Elders’ ranks as well. Meanwhile, Camilla Pratt celebrated a new decade. Happy 80th Birthday dear Camilla! Only 10 more years before you get to join the 90 Year Young Club. Speaking of which, we want to send congratulations and well wishes to our Elders who just turned 90 years young (yes, 90 years young!) Susan Williams turned 90 in March, and Dolores Mills joined the 90 Year Young Club in May. A very Happy Birthday to the both of you! In April, we had 25 pairs of feet attend out “Footcare Friday” at the Elders’ Lodge. That’s 250 toes! Elders who participated all went home with very happy feet! Please remember, if you are diabetic it is really important to have your toe nails trimmed by a health professional. Please call Della or Donna for an appointment. Also in April, we enjoyed our first virtual bingo. It went very smoothly and was a lot of fun. The three big winners: Linda O’Connor, Kippie Joe, and Nanette Adams. Hope you can join our next virtual bingo in June. Tribal Elder Sandra Powell from Texas and her daughter, Cynthia Power from Oklahoma, came home for a visit. Their cousin Patty Medina hosted a delicious fry bread dinner for them, joined by Sandra’s sister, Mary Lou Fulton. The Elders wish to thank our hunters and fisherman who provided the elk & crab during our Give Away on May 19. We thank Kim Kumpf who helped organize this affair and all the Fisheries staff who participated — Bill Alexander, Sylvia Charles, and Trentin Moss, along with all the helpers. Our hand are up to all of you. We are asking for prayers, love, and good thoughts for our Elder Gloria Mills, who is in the hospital in Florida. We send prayers, love, and peace to our families who have lost love ones recently: Nancy McPherson’s family, Ted George’s family, and Richard Belmont Jr.’s family. By Donna Sigo and Della Crowell Suquamish Tribe Elders Program
Suquamish News
14 | June 2021
Suquamish.nsn.us
Birthdays
e n u J
June 16 Joshua Bagley
June 7 Janis Marquez
June 1 Charles Dryden Kai Williams Michael Matz June 2 Angela Tate Brian Belmont Heather Traucht James Anderson Paul Peck June 3 Bernadette Loneia Bradley Jackson Kamiakin George Michael Cordero Tutau Abraham June 4 Clayton Winnie James Zimmerman Karyn Keller Lance Purser Laura Yaeger Rebecca Castillo Robert Rubeck June 5 Darrel Hoffman David Hoffman Ignacio Santos Jr. Ruth Lindell Wade Williams June 6 Joel Sigo
June 8 Amber Jackson Kyle George Porcha Vaught Raymond Forsman Shoshanna Bayes
June 17 Ayanna Jones Danielle Demain Samantha Kimmel June 18 Breanna Moore Michael Smith Quanaisja Rubeck
June 9 Jessica Fisher Shawn Hawk Sr.
June 19 Edward Bradwell Mitchell George
June 10 Anthony Agibinik Kayla George-Purser Richard Belmont
June 20 Camillia Keller Gabriel Rubeck Levi Mabe
June 11 Alexander Potts Cookie Boyd
June 21 Avianna Lawrence Ivy Cheyney Stormi Vivian
June 12 Bardow Lewis Oya June 13 Beatrice Berlin Hazle Pacquette Isaac Covarrubias Jami Swayze Lisa Ellis June 14 Corey Manley Jace Joe Todd Belmont June 15 Angel Freeman
June 22 Adam Edelstein Bearon Old Coyote Joshua Smith Julie Haubrich Maiya Jeffers Rhett Mills Sydney Purser June 23 William Crowell June 24 Anjelica Rodriguez Isaiah Pondelick
June 25 Ariana Taitingfong Awasis Williams Michael Julian Armstrong Nancy Reynoso-Purser Noah Ortiz Peggy Snow Reyna Nolan Shane Clark June 26 Beverly Adams Christian Lawrence Nancy Young June 27 Ann Forsman John Vollenweider Jr. Lewis George June 28 Maureen Sather Sharon Parrett Stephen Lawrence Sr. June 29 Niomi Pavlock Sarah George June 30 James Porter Lucas Nichols
Suquamish News
Suquamish.nsn.us
June 2021 | 15
In Memoriam: Theodore “Ted” George (1928–2021)
A life-long passionate education advocate, Ted played a significant role in the closure of Indian boarding schools nationwide, formation of Office of Indian Education
T
The Suquamish Tribe mourns the loss of our esteemed elder Ted George. Ted was born and raised on the Port Madison Indian Reservation and was a major cultural, social, and spiritual influence here in Suquamish. He was a mentor for not only his family but for all of us. Yet his impact was felt well beyond our reservation, through his remarkable career in education and federal service, where he implemented cutting edge Indian policies benefiting Tribes across the nation. After retirement, Ted continued to make history through his work fighting racism and supporting progressive causes on behalf of both the Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes and the greater community. He was also a big sports fan. He was the head scout for our championship softball team and kept tabs on our Tribal youth as they competed in a variety of athletics. Our prayers go out to all who miss him, and we thank the Creator for the time he spent with us. — Leonard Forsman
heodore “Ted” George passed away on May 13, 2021. He was 92. Ted was born in 1928 to Martha and Bennie George. Martha was a Suquamish member and Bennie was Port Gamble S’Klallam, which meant their 10 children—including Ted—could choose which tribe to enroll with. Ted became Port Gamble S’Klallam and would go on to graduate from North Kitsap High School in 1947 at a time when many tribal youth dropped out of school due to unending harassment by their white peers. In 1951, Ted became the first Port Gamble S’Klallam member to graduate college. With his degree in education from Western Washington University, he hoped to teach at Indian Schools. Unfortunately, as these schools were controlled by white administrators, he would not get a job in his chosen field until the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. While Ted did fulfill his dream of becoming an educator for Tribal youth—including a stint as a summer youth program counselor for the Port Gamble S’Klallam—he would take his passions to an even bigger stage. Starting in 1967, Ted would help advance education for Tribal youth on a national level, first as an appointee to the Bureau of Indian Affairs Education Committee under President Lyndon Johnson. In this role, Ted had the opportunity to visit a number of Indian Boarding Schools across the U.S. and, in 1968, became a leading voice to Congress advocating for the closure of the boarding school system. Under the Nixon administration, Ted headed the committee to search for a director of the then-newly formed Office of Indian Education. After presenting several qualified candidates, each were rejected without review. Fearing that the department’s mission would go unfulfilled without qualified leadership, Ted eventually forced the
administration’s hand and the committee’s top choice was appointed For 16 years, Ted served as the Regional Director of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), responsible for awarding grant money to further the economic, social, and cultural development of tribes in eight western states. He said of the work his agency did: “We’re a piddlin’ little agency of about $30 million, but our money has probably turned more corners and has been on the cutting edge of a lot of Indian issues.” During Ted’s tenure, the National Congress of American Indians named the ANA the U.S.’s Best Domestic Assistance Program. After he left the ANA, Ted held several appointments focused on pushing forward tribal issues and concerns. In 1987, as the chair of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia’s First Nations Committee, he contributed to an apology issued by the Church directed to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. This document became an example of how such institutions should address these issues and the original letter is enshrined at the Church’s headquarters in Switzerland. In 2018, the Theodore “Ted” George Legacy Award was established, recognizing Port Gamble S’Klallam members who demonstrate a lifetime of dedicated service to the advancement of education, cultural preservation, sovereignty, and/or treaty rights protection. Ted was, of course, the first recipient. Ted is survived by his wife, Karlene; brother, Robert; eight children (Randy, Wayne, George, Kevin, Kyle, Lisa, Matt, and Andy), 14 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. A community-wide Celebration of Life for Ted George is planned for Friday, June 11 at 1 pm at Kiana Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ted George Student Financial Aid Fund managed by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71