Month: December 2016

Mapping the future with Geographic Information Systems

 

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

Each year during the month of December, maps are displayed at the Tulalip Administration building.  The maps aren’t in preparation of a long road trip nor for a treasure hunt adventure, instead they hold a more significant value to Tulalip tribal members, employees and the community.

A necessity to governments, especially sovereign nations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a huge role in preserving resources for future generations. GIS is the technology that allows the tribe to monitor, question, analyze, and interpret geographically referenced data to understand relationships and patterns throughout the reservation.

The GIS team creates a variety of maps to study a range of topics including historical events as well as natural and cultural resources. The tribe uses GIS to track salmon during spawning season to find how far they travel.  During this process the tribe often finds blocked culverts and alerts Washington’s Department of Transportation. The GIS team uses this information to assist with the Culvert Replacement project the State recently passed.

 

Other maps displayed the progress of the Qwuloolt Estuary Project, traditional names of local cities, neighboring Salish tribes who also speak Lushootseed, and a map depicting how far each tribe had to travel to sign the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855.

GIS specialist Michelle Totman was available for personal tours, giving detailed descriptions and teaching community members how to read and analyze the maps. She states, “It’s a unique way to see the world and a great way to understand how we are connected to each other.”

During its eleventh year, the map and technology expo attracted plenty of curiosity. The event included live land-surveying demonstrations and activities. Several departments that collaborate with the GIS team were present to speak about the importance of GIS in tribal government. Community members dropped in throughout the day to learn about GIS and how the technology is assisting the tribe’s vision for a thriving environment for future generations.

For further information about Tulalip’s Geographic Information Systems visit http://GIS.TulalipTribes-nsn.gov

Lady Hawks bounce back with another blowout win

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

After their season opening 74-6 victory over the Marysville Getchell Chargers c-team, the Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks (1-0) traveled south to play another out of league game vs. Tacoma Baptist. The game was played on Saturday, December 3, and it did not go well for the Lady Hawks. They were outscored by 40 points, losing 23-63. Tulalip quickly shook off the loss and put their attention to their next opponent, the Bears of Chief Kitsap Academy.

On Wednesday, December 7, the Lady Hawks hosted the Bears at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium. The Chief Kitsap team is a young squad comprised of only two upper classmen to go with three 9th graders and two 8th graders. While on the other side, senior guard Aliya Jones was making her home court debut for the Lady Hawks.

Just like their last home game, the Lady Hawks came out firing on all cylinders from the opening tip. They girls were locking up on defense, forcing turnovers, grabbing nearly every rebound, and executing their offense. Aliya wasted no time going into attack mode and scored 12 points in the opening quarter. Tulalip went up 16-0 before making a four player substitution. The Bears didn’t score a field goal, but did manage to get on the board with a pair of free-throws late in the 1st quarter.

The home team was up 20-2 going into the 2nd quarter. With the starters back in the game, the Lady Hawks again controlled every facet of the game and pushed their lead to 32-2. Sophomore Claudia Parker went on an 8-0 run of her own, including the only two 3-pointers of the game, thanks to well-timed passes from her teammates. The Bears were held scoreless in the quarter and at halftime the Lady Hawks led 44-2.

The 2nd half was more Tulalip domination. Aliya and Keryn Parks combined to quickly score 14 points to start the 3rd quarter before hitting the bench after their team took a 64-5 lead. When the game ended, the Lady Hawks had won by 59 points, 66-7, upping their record to (2-1) on the young season. Aliya led all scorers with a game high 24 points.

The Lady Hawks hit the road for one game before returning for back-to-back home games on Friday, December 16, vs. Lummi Nation and Tuesday, December 20, vs. Summit Sierra.

 

Training for a Better Tomorrow

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

 

On Monday, December 12, fourteen Native students were honored with a graduation banquet at the Hibulb Cultural Center for their commitment to training for a better tomorrow. The fourteen students, six of whom are Tulalip, were the latest cohort to complete an intensive three-month pre-apprenticeship construction trades program offered by our TERO Vocational Training Center (TVTC).

As far we know, the program, which is managed by the Tulalip TERO department, is the first and only state and nationally recognized Native American pre-apprenticeship program in the country. The program is accredited through South Seattle Community College and Renton Technical College, while all the in-class, hands-on curriculum has been formally approved by the Washington State Apprentice and Training Council.

The three-month program provides curriculum that teaches a variety of construction trades and skills that can last a life time. Upon completion, the graduate’s dedication to a better future is rewarded with a wide-range of new employment opportunities now available to each graduate as they navigate the construction trades career path. In addition, students are trained and awarded certifications in flagging, first aid/CPR, and OSHA 10-hour safety training. Upon completion of the program students are ready to safely enter the construction work environment and demonstrate everything they’ve learned.

 

 

 

Tulalip tribal member and Rediscovery Coordinator for the Hibulb Cultural Center, Inez Bill, opened the graduation ceremony with words of encouragement and guidance.

“Accomplishing this graduation day is a great milestone for the students. They worked hard to get here. I’d like to thank them for the benches they made that will be a part of our longhouse. Also, the three tiny homes they made that will be donated to the Seattle homeless is such a good cause. The work that they’ve done is real world work and it will add to the Tulalip and Seattle communities. I raise my hands to that quality of work. The teachings and values of our work is to do things in a good way, to help and add to our community, and I think you all have met those traditional values. You have honored our ancestors by putting your best foot forward and doing the best you can. I’m truly happy to be a witness to what you all have achieved on this special day.”

Under the supervision of instructors Mark Newland and Billy Burchett, the students constructed three tiny houses for their final class project. These houses, which are approximately 120-square-feet, are being donated to homeless families located throughout the Seattle area. The insulated houses will be a major upgrade for their soon-to-be residents as they offer electricity, heat, a much safer environment and, most importantly, a measure of stability for their new residents.

 

Tulalip TERO was recently awarded the ‘Housing Hero” award by the Low Income Housing Institute for donating the most tiny homes to the Seattle Homeless. Including the three to be soon delivered, Tulalip TERO has constructed and given a total of eleven tiny homes to those in most need.

The TVTC construction trades pre-apprenticeship program is a unique, nationally known model that supports tribal members from sovereign nations across the United States. The program is not dependent on tribal hard dollars. In fact, zero hard dollars are used to fund it. Instead, due to the dedication and commitment of so many individuals the TVTC program continues to grow and gain more recognition while being funded by the graciousness of the Tulalip Charitable Fund, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ladder of Opportunity, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Since the Fall of 2013, when TERO took over the program, 108 students have graduated the pre-apprenticeship program. Of those 108 graduates, 43 have been Tulalip Tribal members, and 11 have either been Tulalip spouses or parents. That’s 54 graduates from Tulalip and 54 fellow Native Americans from all over the region who have opted to train for a better tomorrow and complete the construction training program.

 

Francis Napoleon of Quinault (left) communted from Tacoma every day for the opportunity to graduate from the TERO program.

 

Among this graduating class are two members of the Northern Arapaho tribe. Nick Brown and Weston Shakespeare both journeyed from their reservation in Wyoming to attend the heralded TVTC class. Also among this cohort of graduates is 18-year-old Francis Napoleon of Quinault. After just graduating Aberdeen High School, Francis was informed of the Tulalip TVTC class and was determined to open up more possible career paths for his future. He packed up a few essential belongings and moved in with family just outside of Tacoma (the closest relative he had to Tulalip), and then proceeded to wake up every day at 4:45 a.m. so he could drive himself to class in Tulalip by 8:00 a.m. Following class he’d hop back in his car and drive back down to Tacoma, where he’d usually arrive at 6:00 p.m. Every day for three-months he endured a monster commute and marginal free time in order to obtain the one-of-a-kind pre-apprenticeship certification offered by Tulalip TERO.

“My immediate plans are to move back to Aberdeen and hopefully go to work for a construction company close to home,” says Francis, who had zero previous experience with construction tools prior to the class. “I’d recommend the program to any Native American. I loved it. The learning experience, the instructors, and my fellow students made it a great three-months.”

 

 

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Tulalip Bay Fire Annual Santa Run

 

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 16-18 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.,  Santa Clause and the Tulalip Bay Fire Department will be coming to your neighborhood.

Every year we go around and collecting canned food donations and/or cash donations. 100% of donations go to the Red Church to help feed families this holiday season who might have gone without. Friday night we will be going to the Potlatch area, 56th-62nd, 64th all the way down Mission Beach and also the Lloyd Hatch area. Saturday we will be going to the Larry Price area, Walter Moses, Mission Highlands, Silver Village and Hermosa Beach. Finally Sunday we’ll be stopping by Madison Estates, Tulare, Spee-Bi-Dah, Tulalip Shores and Arcadia.

Come out and see Santa and the Fire Department, get a couple candy canes and thank you in advance for your generosity. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Cecil Patrick Maahs (1941 – 2016)

 

Dec. 23, 1941 – Nov. 28, 2016 Pat was born on December 23, 1941 in Everett, Washington, the third son of Robert and Anita Maahs. He passed away peacefully at home on November 28, 2016 with his wife by his side. Pat enjoyed spending time with his family, numerous grandchildren, going to baseball games, crabbing, fishing, hunting, camping, and selling fireworks at Boom City for 28 years. He worked at Tiz’s Door Sales for 35+ years of his carpentry career. He leaves behind his wife, Patty; his daughters, Tammy (Tim) Dehnhoff, Brenda (Don) Durand, Pam Dei; step-children, Ken Nobach, Lisa Nobach, and Michael Nobach; as well as fifteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 40 years, Philemena (Joseph) Maahs; parents, Robert and Anita Maahs; three brothers, Jim, Robert, and William Maahs; and special Aunt and Uncle, Mona and Bill Lutz. Funeral services will be held on December 10, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marysville, Washington with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Messiah Lutheran Church and Preschool. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/heraldnet/obituary.aspx?n=cecil-patrick-maahs&pid=183033703&fhid=2242#sthash.4LijJj1F.dpuf

Should you become a plumber?

By Jeanne Steffener, Tulalip Tribes Higher ED

Like any career path, there are a number of steps you will have to take to get to the top of the ladder. In the plumbing trade you would begin with an apprenticeship. According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, “an apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction under the supervision of a journey-level trade professional in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. After completing an apprenticeship program, the worker’s journey-level status provides an additional benefit of nationwide mobility at journey level scale”. The three (3) main levels of the plumbing trade are apprenticeship, journeymen and master plumbers.

High school graduates have the best chance of getting into an apprenticeship program because of the English, math and applied physics skills they have gained which will help them in taking the plumbing aptitude test. If you do not have a high school diploma, a GED certificate will be fine in the vast majority of apprenticeship programs. Applying to an apprenticeship program is the next step.

In addition to your high school diploma/GED, there are other requirements needed which include a minimum age of 18 years, a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and possible drug screening for admission into an apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, and/or employer associations but come under various state and federal regulations affecting the conduct of their training program.

The Seattle Pipetrades Education Center is the Washington state approved apprenticeship program for plumbers and refrigeration fitters in the King & Snohomish County areas. http://www.ualocal32.com/about/training.php

Would you like to have the opportunity to improve your skills, gain a trade and increase you income? At little or no cost the members of the Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters have teamed up with the Mechanical Contractors Association to contribute to the JACT (Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) fund to provide educational training for all UA1 Members. http://www.ualocal32.com/~local32/about/career-opportunities.php

Wages are up to $52.81 through the union. (varies by trade)

Benefits: Medical, dental & vision coverage, Training & Education Opportunities, Up to three (3) retirement PLANS (varies by trade), Vacation pay (varies by trade)

If you are looking for a new career in plumbing, steamfitting or refrigeration, check into Local 32 and all they have to offer. The job possibilities for someone with additional training and skills are limitless. Please call Higher ED staff at 360-716-4888 or email us at highered@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to find out more information.

 

1 1  Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA or United  
    Association) is a labor union which represents workers in the plumbing and pipefitting industries in the United States and Canada.

Snohomish County Camano Association of Realtors© selects  Marysville School District Superintendent as Citizen of the Year

 

Source: Marysville School District 

 

Marysville, WA – Honoring her work in Marysville schools and time spent in the local community, the Snohomish County Camano Association of Realtors© has selected Marysville School District Superintendent, Dr. Becky Berg as their 2016 Citizen of the Year. 
 
Dr. Berg’s nomination comes as a result of her strong advocacy for Marysville students, and her ­­­­unique ability to see that a child’s success depends on much more than the education provided to them in the classroom. It takes a ‘whole community’ to support the whole child. 
 
More than 1500 members representing companies across Snohomish County and Camano Island dedicate time each year to recognize a non-Relator citizen who works toward the betterment of their local community through public service and private actions.
 
“Superintendent Berg understands the role local community dynamics and support, family structure, and simple economics play in students’ lives,” said the 2017 President of the Snohomish County Camano Association of Realtors, Natasha Zieroth. “She has made it her goal to help each child by giving them the tools and resources they need to accomplish anything they set their mind to. Dr. Berg also continues to open her door to parents so their voices are heard, and they can work together to build positive change.” 
 
Dr. Berg was honored today at the 2016 Realtor Awards and Installation Luncheon at the Tulalip Resort.  Past recipients have included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Snohomish County Executive John Lovick, State Representative June Robinson, and Everett City Councilmember and Cocoon House CEO, Cassie Franklin.