By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
On Saturday, May 3, a vital tradition was observed: the swearing-in ceremony for the newest members of the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors. Surrounded by family, friends, and fellow community members, Ryan Miller and Deborah Parker took the oath of office and officially began their term in tribal leadership.
Speaking shortly after being sworn in, Miller expressed gratitude for the community’s trust in him and outlined a hopeful outlook for the future.
“It feels amazing. I feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to represent our community and hopefully make our community stronger and members’ lives better. It’s an incredible honor,” he said.
Miller emphasized key priorities for his tenure, including housing, quality healthcare, a strong government, and education. He stressed the importance of collaboration with fellow board members and tribal members to strengthen Tulalip, noting the ongoing challenges in housing.
“Housing is a huge issue. We don’t have enough for our members, and we need to be strategic on how we do that. It’s not just low-income members who need a place to live; middle-class tribal members also need a place to live. We are looking for different partners and finding innovative ways to get housing for our members,” he said.
In addition to housing, Miller highlighted the importance of addressing healthcare and mental health needs.
“We have got to find ways to make sure tribal members are getting the healthcare they deserve. Every single tribal member deserves quality healthcare. We need to hold the federal government accountable for that. They haven’t done their job holding their trust responsibility to the tribes; we are chronically underfunded.”
He added that improving mental and behavioral health services would also be a significant focus, referencing a shared concern with Parker.
“Deborah Parker talked on this, and I am big on mental and behavioral health. I feel it has been left behind for too long. We need to raise the stigma around mental health as much as we can, and make sure that we are allowing everybody to be not only healthy physically but healthy mentally and spiritually.”
Reflecting on the day’s significance, Miller admitted the moment was emotional and humbling.
“Don’t mess up is all I thought. It’s hard; I’m trying not to be emotional, but it’s an emotional day. I carry the weight of my life’s teachings, passed down through generations, along with the sacrifices of my children and wife, who have supported me so I can serve my tribe. It was a powerful moment, marking the start of a new journey. My first thoughts in the morning were, ‘Oh, it’s real. It’s happening! I won, and I’m on the Board now. I have to get the work done.”
While Miller embarks on his first term, Deborah Parker returns to the Board of Directors with deep experience and a steadfast commitment to advocating for Tulalip’s sovereignty, wellness, and future generations. Known for her passionate leadership and advocacy on education, mental health, and cultural preservation, Parker shared the responsibility she feels stepping back into this vital role.
“It feels like an incredible honor to be back on the Board. My heart is in the right place, and I hope to bring a new set of skills to the Board so we can help lead Tulalip in the right direction,” she said.
Outlining her goals, Parker emphasized her focus on education, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.
“My priorities are education, sovereignty, preservation of our culture and language, the health and wellness of our tribe, and making sure our treaties are protected through sound policies. Those are a few things that I want to start with,” she shared.
She also spoke about her new responsibilities with the tribe’s business side, which she sees as an important opportunity to help secure Tulalip’s economic future.
“Now that I have been assigned to the business side of the tribe, I will focus on business enterprise. I will dig deep into how we will do trade and commerce. It’ll be a new adventure to be part of the team that grows our economic prosperity.”
As Parker looks ahead, she stressed the importance of unity and healing as key components of successful leadership and community strength.
“I hope our members know that together we are stronger. Whatever differences we have, I firmly believe we can work through them. Healing together is a critical part of our strength. It will take every one of us bringing our best selves to enhance the tribe,” she said.
In closing, Parker reflected on the honor and responsibility of serving Tulalip. “I consider it a big honor. It’s a high calling and I don’t take it lightly.”
With their terms officially underway, Miller and Parker now focus on the vital work ahead. Together with the rest of the Board, they will help guide Tulalip’s future while honoring the trust and expectations of the community they serve.