Fighting for all of Native America

Tulalip leadership testify in Dollar General case

 

The Quilt Walk for Justice was an effort to bring attention to the Dollar General V. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Supreme Court Hearing. The case has the potential to strip tribes of their inherent sovereignty.Photo/Bonnie Juneau
The Quilt Walk for Justice was an effort to bring attention to the Dollar General V. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Supreme Court Hearing. The case has the potential to strip tribes of their inherent sovereignty.
Photo/Bonnie Juneau

 

By Niki Cleary, Tulalip News 

If you sign a contract with someone, the base understanding is that you have agreed and will abide by the terms of the contract. Seems fairly straightforward and it’s one of the ways that Tulalip reaffirms our sovereignty, by insisting that those who want to do business on our Reservation understand and agree that any legal issues will be heard in the Tulalip Court system. Dollar General, after signing a similar agreement to do business with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, is now arguing that a civil suit brought forward for alleged abuse of a minor, shouldn’t be subject to tribal court jurisdiction. On December 7th, Tulalip Board of Director Bonnie Juneau and Tulalip Youth Council Co-Vice Chairwoman Jlynn Joseph joined Indigenous people from across the nation in protest.

 

Tulalip Board of Director Bonnie Juneau and Tulalip Youth Council Co-vice Chair JLynn Joseph joined demonstrators for the Quilt Walk for Justice, the quilt squares each included a message from survivors of sexual assault to illustrate the real trauma that results from patchwork jurisdiction on tribal lands.Photo/Bonnie Juneau
Tulalip Board of Director Bonnie Juneau and Tulalip Youth Council Co-vice Chair JLynn Joseph joined demonstrators for the Quilt Walk for Justice, the quilt squares each included a message from survivors of sexual assault to illustrate the real trauma that results from patchwork jurisdiction on tribal lands.
Photo/Bonnie Juneau

 

“It’s important for our youth know happens when we travel to D.C.,” said Bonnie, “I want our future leaders to know what kinds of work we do while we’re here and why tribes have to be involved in national politics. Cases like this are why we support candidates that aren’t local, this is why we give campaign contributions, because national politics affect us at home.”Photo/Bonnie Juneau
“It’s important for our youth know happens when we travel to D.C.,” said Bonnie, “I want our future leaders to know what kinds of work we do while we’re here and why tribes have to be involved in national politics. Cases like this are why we support candidates that aren’t local, this is why we give campaign contributions, because national politics affect us at home.”
Photo/Bonnie Juneau

 

“Choctaw is similar to us, Tulalip,” said Bonnie. “They have the ability enter consensual agreements, contracts, with businesses. We’ve done this with Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and all the businesses in Quil Ceda Village. In that contract the business agreed to submit to the civil jurisdiction of our courts.”

The case is deeply concerning for several reasons, explained Bonnie.

“These businesses only want tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty when it benefits their bottom line,” she said. “They want the benefits of our lands and rights without honoring the laws of our land. Their big claim is that they feel the United States isn’t protecting their civil rights in tribal courts. If a U.S. citizen travels to Canada or Mexico, it’s understood that they agree to abide by the laws of those lands. If they don’t, does the Federal Government get involved in those cases? This isn’t a case of someone driving onto the reservation and not knowing they were there. Dollar General knowingly contracted with the Tribe, they knowingly agreed to tribal court jurisdiction.

 

Phylis Anderson Principal Chief of the Mississippi Choctaw was one of numerous speakers fighting for both victims’ rights and tribal sovereignty.Photo/Bonnie Juneau
Phylis Anderson Principal Chief of the Mississippi Choctaw was one of numerous speakers fighting for both victims’ rights and tribal sovereignty.
Photo/Bonnie Juneau

 

“Here at Tulalip, many of our judges have been non-Native and many of our juries include Native American and non-Native jurors, there have even been cases of some of our juries being completely non-native residents or employees of the Tribe. They’re questioning the credibility of our courts. I hope the United States understands that they need to honor the treaties that they made. Those treaties aren’t outdated any more than the Constitution of the United States is outdated.”

Tribal justice systems are sophisticated and include safeguards to ensure due process, Bonnie continued. Tribal jurisdiction, both civil and sometimes criminal, over non-Natives living or doing business on the reservation is vital because Federal law and justice systems are not set up to deal with local cases.

“It’s well known that the Federal court only takes the big cases. Our cases just aren’t big enough for them. Perpetrators have gotten away with crimes in the past, it’s one of the gaps that makes Quil Walkreservations a haven for criminals. It’s one of the reasons that the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) tribal provisions were so important. It also shows us that it’s time to take VAWA one step further to include the protection of minors. The Federal Government cannot give non-Native criminals a free pass to commit crimes against Native Americans on Reservation. By not recognizing the authority of tribal courts that’s, in essence, what they’d be doing.

“This is also about workplace safety,” Bonnie continued. “SEIU (Service Employees International Union) has signed on and even gave their employees in D.C. the day off so that they could participate in the march (December 7th Quilt Walk for Justice). Beyond the jurisdictional issue, this family entrusted their child to this person as a mentor, that’s an immense amount of responsibility. Shame on you Dollar General, justice should be applied equally without prejudice, no matter the age, sex or race of the victim or the perpetrator. This case represents a threat to every Native woman, man and child victimized by a non-Indian.”

 

A square from the quilt that reads:  “The hardest part of sharing my story was not facing the fact that I was raped, but facing the judgment of the police, my friends, family. Everyone I hoped would help.”Photo/Bonnie Juneau
A square from the quilt that reads: “The hardest part of sharing my story was not facing the fact that I was raped, but facing the judgment of the police, my friends, family. Everyone I hoped would help.”
Photo/Bonnie Juneau

 

Hawks drop season opener to MP, 52-58

Hawks1
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

by Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

The Heritage Hawks basketball team opened their season with a home game vs. the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawk JV team on Wednesday, December 2. Last year, the Hawks defeated the MP JV team 70-54 in their season opener, their first win on route to a 13-5 regular season and a deep run into the 1B Tri-District tournament. This season is going to be quite different however, as the Hawks graduated four senior starters last year. Returning to the team is Robert Miles, Willy Enick and Nashone Whitebear. There will be an adjustment period as they are joined by a bunch of new players who are still learning the offensive and defensive sets the Hawks typically run.

Keys to a successful season will be senior Robert Miles continuing to be that do-it-all player for the Hawks, leading the hawks in scoring while anchoring the defense, and for senior Willy Enick to take on a larger role on both sides of the ball. These two will have to lean on key contributions from their teammates and the hope is sophomore Josh Iukes will be able to fill that primary ball handler roll.

 

Hawks2
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

The 1st half was a turnover fest for the Hawks as they tried to force too many difficult passes, choosing to lob passes over the top instead of using a crisp bounce pass. The Hawks overcame the turnovers in the 1st quarter, taking a 9-6 into the 2nd quarter.

When Josh Iukes found himself in foul trouble seconds into the 2nd quarter, picking up three quick ones, it really hurt the Hawks game plan. He had to hit the bench, taking the Hawks point guard off the court. The turnover continued to pile on while MP went on a 21-10 run spanning the quarter. At halftime, the Hawks trailed 16-27.

 

web
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

In the 3rd quarter, the Hawks came out determined to take the lead back. Defensively, it was their best quarter of the game. Everyone was staying active, contesting shots, and going after rebounds. The Hawks got within 4 points, 29-33, late in the 3rd quarter. In the closing seconds Josh Iukes picked up his 4th personal foul moments before MP’s Raequan Battle, a fellow Tulalip tribal member, launched a 3-pointer that swished in.

The Hawks were down 7 points, 29-36, with one quarter left to play. They executed their defensive press nicely, forcing key turnover and finishing layups on offense, allowing them to cut their deficit to only 2 points, trailing 38-40 with a little over five minutes to go. When Josh Iukes fouled out of the game, it become that much more difficult to take the lead. The Hawks continued to keep pace, but weren’t able to pull the victory. MP would take the game 58-52, leaving the Hawks to ponder what could have been if not for all the costly turnovers.

Suicide, anxiety and depression

By Kim H. Newland, Tulalip News

Young children are told not to fear the monsters under their beds and many families hang Native American dream-catchers to capture the dark spirits that haunt their children’s sleep. According to Lakota legend, the first dream-catcher was crafted as a lesson by Iktomi, a trickster and shape shifting spirit who had taken the form of a spider. Using a hoop made of willow, the spider wove his web as a filter that allowed good thoughts to pass through while trapping the evil forces determined to cause harm. Placed above the sleeping area, the dream-catcher served to reassure the child that their good dreams would travel down the feathers to reach them as they slept while the bad dreams and spirits would get caught up in the web and vanish when touched by the morning light.

Tragically, for those suffering from anxiety, depression and suicidal hopelessness, the demons that haunt them are rarely vanquished with the daylight, leaving their loved ones desperate to reach them with a message of reassurance and comfort.

When it comes to communication, Kay Feather, a licensed mental health counselor at the Behavioral Health and Family Services Center advocates for what she calls the “cup of hot cocoa” approach. Sometimes simply being present and “listening with your heart” can make a big difference. “Go for a drive, share a cup of cocoa, step-in and share your concern,” Feather suggests. A gentle, nurturing approach can serve as an effective place to begin a conversation. Even a “presence-filled silence” can serve to validate feelings and offer the “respect of the moment.”

Family and community traditions are the very foundation of holiday celebrations and sometimes serve as a painful reminder of loss and grief, especially for young tribal members who share an enduring connection to their ancestors and larger extended families. While the holidays can be a time for heavy reflection, they also offer an opportunity to positively connect with friends and family to check-in on their emotional well-being.

Being mindful and watching for warning signs of depression or suicidal ideation can help save a life and serve to help weave a web of safety and security for those struggling with the monsters under the bed and the monsters inside their heads.

Suicide warning signs from The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

  • Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves.
  • Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun.
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Talking about being a burden to others.
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping too little or too much.
  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Displaying extreme mood swings.

For more information on depression and suicide contact Tulalip Tribes Behavioral Health Family Services at (360) 716-4400 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. For emergency intervention, dial 911.

Lady Hawks open season in dominant fashion, win 64-22

LadyHawks_MP

 

by Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

Coming off a very forgettable 2-18 season last year, the Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks came into the season with a renewed sense of purpose: returning back to their winning ways and making a run at the District 1B title. The team was revamped in the off season as key additions Adiya Jones, Aliya Jones, Keryn Parks and Desirae Williams joined the team. Coming back from last year is Michelle Iukes, Myrna Redleaf, Cyena Fryberg and Kaenishia Herrera. This year’s team has all the components necessary for a winning season and a deep playoff push.

Starting off the season, the Lady Hawks hosted the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks C-team at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium on Wednesday, December 2. It was obvious from the get go that the Tomahawks C-team, a team of all freshman, didn’t have the experience to deal with a player the likes of Lady Hawks forward/center Adiya Jones. Coming off a year in which she led La Connor High School to the state playoffs and earned All-State First Team honors, Adiya took full advantage of the mismatches she had on offense.

The Lady Hawks came out firing on all cylinders as they quickly took an 18-2 1st quarter lead, a lead they never relinquished. It was impressive to watch Lady Hawks guard Myrna Redleaf hound the ball-handlers of MP all game long. Her on the ball defense made it very difficult for the MP players to pass the ball or even attempt a shot. Nothing came easy for MP, as the Lady Hawks kept active on defensive, jumping the passing lanes and contesting all shot attempts.

In the 2nd quarter, the Lady Hawks continued to dominate the game on both sides of the ball, taking a 36-9 lead into halftime.

 

Keryn Parks
Keryn Parks

 

In the 3rd quarter, Keryn Parks and Aliya Jones both forced multiple turnovers which led to easy layups for their team. Adiya continued to have her way in the paint both offensively and defensively, to the tune of 34 points through 3 quarters and only a handful of shot attempts for MP coming near the rim.

Going into the 4th quarter, the Lady Hawks led 60-17 and gave coach Bubba Fryberg the perfect opportunity to give his bench and role players quality minutes to build up their on-court experience. This time is critical for the long-term success of the Lady Hawks, especially in close games where every player, every play is crucial to earning a W.

When the buzzer sounded signaling end of game, the Lady Hawks had won 64-22.

“It feels really good to be playing my final season of high school ball back at home, for Heritage,” said Adiya following the lopsided victory. “Being able to play with my sister is huge as well. We’re so familiar with each other’s game that it makes it easier to run our offense. There are some areas as a team we’ll look to improve on in practice, but it should all come together soon.”

7th Annual Taste of Tulalip: Celebrating food, wine and tradition

TOT-3
photo/Maria Capili Photography

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News; photos courtesy Maria Capili Photography

The Tulalip Resort and Casino (TRC) routinely displays all the reasons why it has earned the coveted AAA Four Diamond Award every year since 2009. Day and night the TRC staff are hard at work, dedicated to providing excellent customer service. As a Four Diamond Award winner, the TRC consistently delivers a luxurious experience, complete with a high level of service, amenities, and impressive surroundings. But, there is one event, held one weekend of the year where the TRC transforms itself from much, much more than the casino we often think of it as. In fact, this event has little to do with slot machines or table games at all.

The event is the annual Taste of Tulalip, Washington State’s coveted culinary festival of the year. More of a food and wine experience than an event, the two-day Taste of Tulalip showcases gourmet food and an assortment of fine wine hand-selected by Tulalip’s top-notch culinary team, led by Executive Chef Perry Mascitti and award-winning Sommelier Tommy Thompson. This year, the Taste of Tulalip celebrated its seventh anniversary over the weekend of November 13.

On Friday evening, Four-hundred and fifty guests filled the Orca Ballroom for the Taste of Tulalip’s 7th Annual Celebration Dinner. The theme of this year’s dinner was “La Famiglia”, which is Italian for “the family”. In sticking with the theme, the Orca Ballroom was completely decked out in Italian backdrops, tapestry, fountains, and even live performance art. If the visuals weren’t enough to have you thinking you were in little Italy, then the live musicians, from an opera singer to a mandolin player, definitely did the trick.

The evening’s inspiration came from the love of Italian grandmothers everywhere who have a special passion for cooking amazing food every day for their families. In tribute, Tulalip chefs recreated many of their beloved recipes, paired with a global offering of rare, top wines.

Tulalip traditions were also highlighted throughout the evening. Tulalip artists continue to use traditional tools and techniques, while also using computer graphics, power tools, laser cuts and more to bring both traditional and innovative forms of Coast Salish art to the 21st century. That’s why Tulalip artist Mike Gobin was chosen to design this year’s Taste of Tulalip logo. The logo he created was etched and printed onto wine glasses, dinner plates, and various marketing materials.

“The Taste of Tulalip logo was inspired by my father, Thomas J. Gobin, and my twin sister, Marilyn R. Lewis (Gobin),” says Mike of his unique, Coast Salish design. “The salmon represents the people of the Tulalip Tribes, “People of the Salmon’. My father’s Indian name means, ‘Man soars with Eagles’, and my sister’s Indian name means, ‘Aunty to all’. So the eagle represents my father and the hummingbird represents my sister. The eagle is hugging the hummingbird, so, with my father and sister gone now, this design represents my father meeting my sister in heaven and giving her a big hug. I’ve entitled this design, “A Father’s Heavenly Embrace”. I miss both of them a great deal.”

 

TOT-5
photo/Maria Capili Photography

 

Within the Tulalip community, giving has often been an expectation of individuals as a means of sharing and survival. As Tulalip has grown economically and prospered from several business ventures, the tribes’ charitable donation program has continued to grow in kind and gives to nonprofits around the region. On this night, Snohomish-based veteran’s organization Heartbeat – Serving Wounded Warriors received two checks for $10,000 each. Heartbeat provides emergency assistance, therapeutic services, support groups, and morale-building programs for wounded service members and their families in Washington State.

TOT-4
photo/Maria Capili Photography


 “It’s critical that we serve those who gave up so much for our freedoms,” Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon said. “I was a Vietnam veteran, and if programs like this had been around back then, it would have changed everything. This is truly healing medicine.”

Friday evening’s celebration dinner was followed up with Saturday’s gourmet food and wine extravaganza, as more than 2,000 guests came from all over the region to attend wine seminars, cooking demonstrations and, of course, the Grand Taste. Attendees savored flavors of exceptional food and wine pairings from around the globe as they sauntered about lavish food stations by TRC award-winning chefs, countless winery samples from Washington, Oregon and California, craft beer selections, and even two separate lounges featuring their own hand-picked pours.

The only way to adequately describe the Grant Taste is to share photos, which as they say, are worth a thousand words. And if your mouth doesn’t water, then you’re not looking hard enough. The food was utterly fantastic, as every dish was prepared to wow the taste buds. Add in the wine selection, which encompasses the entire spectrum from once in a lifetime to perfect for a normal Tuesday, and we have a creative and fun atmosphere, free of snobbery and pretentiousness.

The two-day Taste of Tulalip is the annual opportunity for the Tulalip Resort Casino to drop the casino part and flex its culinary muscles as the Tulalip Resort, proving itself as a true destination in the Pacific Northwest’s food and dining scene. Both Friday and Saturday’s events sell-out every year, so be on the lookout for information regarding next year’s Taste of Tulalip at www.tasteoftulalip.com

 

 

1st Ever Beef Jerky Outlet Opens in Pacific Northwest

Store opens in Tulalip, bringing jerky back to its Native American Roots

December 2, 2015 Tulalip, Washington – The first Beef Jerky Outlet franchise in the Pacific Northwest celebrates its grand opening December 12  on tribal grounds in Tulalip, Washington. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, a local charity that helps the homeless.

This local Beef Jerky Outlet specializes in more than 200 jerky varieties and sizes, including specialty meats like kangaroo, alligator, venison and elk with exotic flavors ranging from Moonshine to Cajun. Sales of beef jerky jumped 46 percent from 2009-2015, as locals and people throughout the country devour the tasty, cured dried meat snack with a vengeance.

“Beef jerky is the latest food craze with Americans craving high protein, low fat snacks,” says Tom Miller, owner of the new Tulalip Beef Jerky Outlet, one of 45 franchises throughout the country. “We can’t wait to provide people in our community with a unique selection of this popular snack. Plus we’re opening the store on tribal land, where the American Indians and pioneers in the 1800s first smoked, dried and cured beef. We’re bringing jerky back to its roots and our store is a celebration of its heritage.”

Miller spent his career as an executive in the technology industry.  He’s thrilled to be the first to bring the Beef Jerky Outlet to the Pacific Northwest.

“We do a lot of wine tasting here in this area and I can see how beef jerky tastings will be a lot of fun and generate excitement for the store,” he says.  “We also sell seasoning and rubs for jerky and we expect that will be a big hit with those who make their own jerky.”

Grand Opening Celebration!

  • Come out to sample a variety of jerky flavors at the ribbon cutting at our local Beef Jerky Outlet at 8825 34th Ave NE, Tulalip, Washington Saturday, December 12 at 10 AM.
  • One lucky customer will walk away with a $100 gift basket full of jerky. Other giveaways will be handed out all weekend long.
  • Mel Sheldon, Chairman of the Tulalip Indian tribe will be the honored guest at the ribbon cutting
  • 10 percent of all sales Saturday go to the Union Gospel Mission, a local charity that helps the homeless. This after Seattle’s mayor declared states of emergency in Seattle and King Counties to help combat the area’s homeless epidemic.
  •  We will also collect bags of jerky for troops.  Beef Jerky is the number 1 snack choice of the military
  •  Talk to the local Beef Jerky Outlet owner and customers as they try out these new jerky flavors in the brand new store.

History of Beef Jerky:

The word jerky has its origins in the native languages of South America. In the 1800s, the term “jerky” quickly spread across the new world to describe the process of smoking, drying and curing beef. American Indians, cowboys and pioneers made and embraced jerky as an easily transportable and long lasting food source. Jerky has traditionally been the No. 1 favorite snack of the military, and for years, NASA has sent it up to our astronauts in space. 

Today, jerky is selling like crazy with the general population because of America’s demand for lightweight, high protein foods. Jerky is lean, high in protein and nutritional value and low in calories, carbohydrates and fat (jerky is only 3 percent fat).

 IRI, a Chicago based market research firm, reports sales of jerky jumped 46 percent from 2009-2015, catapulting it to a $1.24 billion industry.

• Jerky is in the beef snack category – the fastest growing segment of the snack food industry (Convenience Store Decisions, Nov. 2012).

• Our nation’s health craze is fueling the jerky revolution as runners, weightlifters, hikers and weekend warriors eat it before, during and after exercise.

• Jerky is a popular snack for folks on the trendy Paleo diet, which urges consumers to eat foods from their hunter/gatherer ancestors.

• Jerky is catching on for women too, because the cured, low fat snack provides an energy boost without spoiling the diet. A study at Penn State University found physically active women ages 18–45 consider jerky as more convenient and satisfying than tortilla chips.

 Chefs are now incorporating jerky into their gourmet dishes. You can find jerky on the menus of high end restaurants in Four Seasons hotels and others throughout the country.

 

About the Beef Jerky Outlet: 

The Beef Jerky Outlet is the world’s first national beef jerky franchise that has grown to six founder-owned stores, 46 opened franchise stores, and dozens of more locations opening in the next 18 months across the U.S. The Beef Jerky Outlet specializes in more than 200 jerky varieties and sizes including kangaroo, alligator, venison and elk with exotic flavors ranging from Moonshine to Cajun. The dried, smoked meat has traditionally been the No. 1 favorite snack of the military, and for years, NASA sent jerky up to the astronauts in space. Today, jerky is selling like crazy with the general population because of America’s demand for low fat, low calorie foods that are high in protein. IRI, a Chicago based market research firm, reports sales of jerky jumped 46 percent from 2009-2015, catapulting it to a $1.24 billion industry. For more information, please visit www.independencejerky.com.

 

Tulalip student-athletes at Archbishop Murphy

Archbishop-1
Photo/Judy Gobin

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

There are four Tulalip tribal members who enjoyed a notable winning streak this fall as members of the Archbishop Murphy High School football team, known as the Wildcats. High school junior Jesus Echevarria, senior Darion Joseph, and sophomore Martin Napeahi Jr. are student-athletes who play for the Wildcats, while Martin Napeahi Sr. mans the sidelines as an assistant coach.

Archbishop Murphy, a Catholic college preparatory school located in Everett, went undefeated in their regular season and came into the Washington State 2A semi-final game, played on Saturday, November 28, a perfect (12-0). Needing just one more win to make it to the state championship game, the Wildcats would take on the top-ranked Tumwater Thunderbirds, who were also undefeated on the season.

 

Photo/Judy Gobin
Photo/Judy Gobin

 

The Wildcats were primed to take home the victory after managing to hold off the Thunderbirds for the majority of the game. With less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Wildcats held a 21-17 lead and only needed to run out the clock to secure the W. Unfortunately, Tumwater refused to concede the game and forced a game changing fumble, which ultimately led to a Thunderbird touchdown and a stunning victory. The late game turn of events was undoubtedly shocking for the once undefeated Wildcats, but with a talented team of young players, the Archbishop Murphy football program will look to build on this season’s success and return for another title run next season.

 

Photo/Judy Gobin
Photo/Judy Gobin

Tulalip text information line for closures and emergencies

Tulalip now has an emergency Text line to get the most important information without having Internet, tribal email or when the tribal phone line cannot be updated.

How does it work?

Text STORM to 30644

Opt in to Emergency Group by following prompts

We will not share your cell phone number with anyone, this service is for everyone! You will get some automated responses for Tribal Government Closures, Road Closures or other relevant information. You can also text questions back and we will do our best to reply with timely responses.

Please take the time to text STORM right now to 30644 so that you have it saved in your phone. Do it today and save yourself panic in the future.

Please refer to the map for alternate driving routes

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