Author: Kim Kalliber

Tribal members hard at work remodeling the TRC Conference Center

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

Early last year, the Tulalip Resort Casino (TRC) underwent an extensive renovation to its hotel tower, guest rooms and suites. Keeping in line with its AAA Four Diamond status means staying ahead of the curve and constantly looking for new ways to keep guests coming back. Currently, that same attention to detail and refreshing look that went into the hotel renovation is being given to the TRC’s Conference Center, which is the southern part of the property where the Orca Ballroom and Chinook rooms are located.

“With almost ten years of extremely high utilization the Conference Center space needed a refresh. Everything from technology to tile were starting to show their age, and as well maintained as they were, there is only so much life you can get of a facility before it needs to be updated,” explained TRC General Manager, Sam Askew. “The need gave us the opportunity to really make the space much more representative of the Tulalip Tribes in look and feel, while also addressing the needs of the guest. When completed next month, guests will have the same type of Tulalip experience both in rooms and in the Conference Center.”

Rising Sun Development, a general construction business owned by tribal member Harold Joseph III, was awarded the remodel contract. Harold takes great pride in hiring his fellow tribal members, especially recent high school graduates who are looking for career pathways. On this specific job there are plenty of familiar faces who have only called Tulalip Reservation home.

“I started my company so we could start hiring tribal members and give the younger generation an opportunity to work alongside professional tradesmen and to learn those on-the-job construction skills,” said Harold. “We’ve had about twelve to fifteen younger tribal members on the last couple jobs, seven of them are recent high school graduates. They are learning and doing drywall, tile and carpet installation, and steel-stud framing. They are coming to work every day putting in eight to ten hours, learning from guys who have made a successful career out of construction.”

Learning the importance of an honest day’s work is huge for any young person transitioning into adulthood. Especially so for the millennial generation who are most often associated with the term ‘entitlement’. But for these tribal members, recently minted as grownups, the opportunity given by Rising Sun Development and TRC Conference Center remodel allows them to fully comprehend what it means to get dirty, work hard, and earn their keep.

“Working for a tribal contractor, I feel we are offered more to learn and there are less barriers preventing us from succeeding,” added 19-year-old tribal member, Darion Joseph. “There’s a sense of pride, too, in knowing we are building something and leaving our mark on a business that means a lot to our people.”

Artist renderings of the rennovated Conference Center.

Once the remodel is completed, the Conference Center will have a stronger influence of Tulalip culture than the previous design. It seems only fitting that Tulalip tribal members (as contractors and their hard at work employees) are those doing leaving their mark behind the scenes while completing the Conference Center’s transformation.

“Sharing the culture of the Tulalip Tribes has always been an important part of the resort experience since its opening,” continued TRC General Manager, Sam Askew. “Door handles go from being a plain stainless steel bar to being a bronzed paddle. Now when I open the door to a Chinook Meeting room, I’m literally touching the culture. The flooring is likely to be most striking to visitors as we wanted to tell the story of life on, and within the waters of Tulalip Bay and The Salish Sea.

“Ultimately, having tribal members performing the work being done to bring about this great transformation only adds to the value of a design we created to best represent the Tulalip Tribes. Seeing young tribal members not only working but learning new skills and trades as well means that there is a bright future for Tulalip. In 7 or 8 years, when they walk through the TRC with their own families, they’ll be able to share not only what the elements of the spaces mean with their children, but that they are tied to it in very profound way because they helped make it a reality.”

31st Ave Campus now home to Justice Department, Police, TGO Hiring and Training Resource Center

Tulalip Police Department.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Justice Department is getting settled in and acquainted to their new home at the 31st Ave campus, located almost directly across the street from their previous location. Back in November, the Justice crew got a head start to the holiday craziness by doing what many people often dread, moving. And although many Justice employees were exhausted from having to go from packing, moving and unpacking to shopping, wrapping and unwrapping, the team is now refreshed in a new building at the start of the new year and excited to utilize all of the space the 31st Ave building has to offer.

“The impetus for the move was that the old courthouse had been at its prior location for over fifteen years and had a lot of wear and tear,” explains Tulalip Tribal Court Director, Wendy Church. “The other reason is that the Tribes will be building the new [Quil Ceda Creek Casino Hotel] at the previous courthouse site.”

Tulalip Justice Department.

Located at the south end of the 31st Ave building, the Justice Department consists of many divisions including Tribal Court, Prosecutor’s Office, Probation Office, Public Defender’s Office, Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid, Wellness Court and the Tulalip Police Department. The building features two courtrooms and individual offices, which allow more privacy for the tribal justice clients. The recently re-located Police Department is in a separate corridor of the building.

“The space is a lot more than we previously had, which provides us room for additional growth,” states Tulalip Police Commander, Kenn Johnson. “We’ve received a lot of compliments from visitors about how much nicer it is, but we’re still adjusting to the space. Having a conference room and training room in our own facility is really nice because we didn’t have that in our old building. Overall the staff likes it. The patrol officers like the new patrol room, which has four separate workspaces, where they can take care of their stuff instead of fighting over the one space that we had before. And they’re really happy about the kitchenette, as long as they make sure to keep it cleaned up.”

As many divisions that create the Justice team, the department still isn’t large enough to fill the 70,602 square foot building. The Justice Department, in fact, shares the spacious campus with the Tulalip Gaming Organization (TGO) Hiring and Training Resource Center, which is located at the north end of the building. The Resource Center moved to the campus in August of 2017 and is furnished with furniture and carpeting previously featured at the Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Creek Casino, giving the Center a luxurious vibe. The Resource Center hosts trainings for the entire TGO team and, as of recently, for Quil Ceda Village as well. The TGO hiring team is located at the Center to conduct interviews and tests for positions at the Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip Bingo and Quil Ceda Creek Casino.

Tulalip Gaming Organization Hiring and Training Resource Center.

“This location benefits both the community and employees,” states Lisa Olver, Training Manager for the Tulalip Resort Casino. “It created a one-stop shop for the employees and new hires, so when they come in they have the ability to get hired, trained and licensed through [the Tribal Gaming Agency].”

Non-gaming Tulalip employees and Tulalip tribal members should note that both the Central Drug and Alcohol Compliance Department as well as Central Benefits are now located at the TGO Hiring and Training Resource Center. The Resource Center also hosts a week-long training, on a monthly basis, for tribal members called the Job Ready Program. The training teaches guest service and cash handling skills that, upon successful completion, would count as experience for tribal members trying to obtain a TGO position with those minimum requirements.

As the Tulalip Tribes continues to expand, the Justice Department and TGO Hiring and Training departments find themselves in a new location with a fresh perspective and a readiness to continue offering their services to the Tulalip community.

“Our new building is much more dignified and has much more space,” says Wendy. “We appreciate the Tribes relocating us to the new courthouse. The move itself was not without some hiccups, but we transitioned nicely into the new building with little interruption to the community. Overall we are pleased to be at the new building. Quil Ceda Village, the Tribes, the Tulalip Resort Casino and TDS were all instrumental in assisting us with the many details of such a large relocation.”

For additional information about the Justice Department please contact (360) 716-4773. And to find out more about the TGO Hiring and Training Resource Center please call (360) 716-1562.

Tulalip Boys and Girls Club teaches life fundamentals through basketball

By Kalvin Valdillez. Tulalip News 

“I always tell the kids, the number one thing you should do while you’re on the court is have fun,” expresses Tulalip Boys and Girls Club Athletic Director, JP Miranda. Currently in mid-season, the Boys and Girls Club athletic program is teaching the Tulalip youth the fundamentals of basketball. The Tulalip club participates in an eight-week long basketball season in which they compete in weekly games against nearby Boys and Girls Clubs such as Arlington, Granite Falls, Everett and Mukilteo.

The Tulalip league consists of eleven teams starting with a co-ed kindergarten team. With the exception of the kindergarten squad, every team is based on which grade the child is in. The teams begin with students who are in the first and second grade, a boys’ team and a girls’ team respectfully, and range all the way up to seventh and eighth grade teams. Due to popularity, there were enough participants this year for an additional team of boys first and second grade students as well as boys third and fourth graders.

“Kids are going through a lot, not just home and family, but at school. Bullying is a big issue right now,” says JP. “All children crave the most is support from their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Right now there is a decline in sports for boys and girls, that cut off in participation is around fourth and sixth grade due to either a poor coaching experience or lack of support. But on the other side of that, some kids who play select sports are getting burned out and stop participating because they feel they didn’t have the time to just be kids. Also technology, phones, laptops, game consoles are really taking a lot away from their participation. When kids come into the gym and are looking at their phones I tell them to grab a basketball and start dribbling.”

Throughout the season the little ballers learn the basics of basketball. While the younger kids learn essential knowledge and skills such as shooting, passing, dribbling and rebounding, the older kids work on plays, footwork, screens and cuts. All the kids however, learn the importance of defense, communication and accountability by learning how to play as a team.

“It’s the fundamentals they have to know, even in the NBA they still practice the fundamentals,” states JP. “The biggest fundamental I stress is dribbling. If you’re not able to dribble, you’re not able to get the ball down the court the right way; you’re not going to be able to get set up, pass or shoot.

“The more you practice, the better you get,” he continues. “I like watching them grow and watching them excel on a team and realizing that being part of a team is fun. You have to be able to work as a team to get anywhere.

JP states that although attendance during home games is great, the kids would greatly appreciate more support at away games.

“Any volunteers are always helpful,” he expresses. “It’s amazing to see a child when one of their relatives comes in to volunteer. You hear the excitement when they introduce them, it seriously brightens up that child’s day. And it’s amazing to see a kid who’s out on the court and sees their aunt or uncle on the sideline, they start to play harder cause they know they’re there to watch them. I tell them all the time, when you’re out there on the court remember who you are, where you come from and what your family name means to you because that’s who you represent. You represent yourself, your culture, your tribe, your Native American background and you represent your family. Be proud of who you are and don’t act a fool on the court.”

For more information and to find out how to become a volunteer, please contact the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club at (360) 651-3400.

Women’s March 2018

Deborah Parker, Tulalip tribal member and committed cultural advocate, gives an opening speech at the Women’s March in Olympia.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News; photos courtesy Theresa Sheldon and Matt Remle

On January 21, 2018, tens of thousands filled the streets of Seattle and Olympia to participate in the Women’s March. Many heard a rallying cry to action that Saturday morning, which coincided with the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Women’s March is a women-led movement bringing together people of all genders, races, cultures, political affiliations, and backgrounds to affirm our shared humanity and pronounce a bold message of resistance and self-determination. Occurring in its second consecutive year, the highly anticipated Women’s March 2.0 created a powerful campaign to ignite thousands of activists and new leaders.

Theresa Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes Board of Director, (second from left) at the Women’s March.

Indigenous women led the marches in Seattle and Olympia, highlighting the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). The Indigenous presence, featuring hundreds of proud Natives wearing their traditional tribal regalia supporting families of MMIW victims in attendance, sought to bring awareness to the widespread cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and colonial gender-based violence in the United States and Canada.

“To my dear relatives, welcome to the Coash Salish territory. Thank you all for being here,” stated Deborah Parker, Tulalip tribal member and committed cultural advocate, in her opening speech. “We stand together united. We stand together with one heart, one mind. We will be singing the Women’s Warrior Song that comes from our First Nations sister’s in British Columbia. During the last verse we raise our fist in solidarity. We raise our fist and we honor the missing and murdered indigenous women from all over these lands. We remember our lost sisters, daughters, aunties, mothers, grandmothers and cousins.”

Indigenous women leading the march in Seattle.

Women’s March 2.0 marked one full year of the U.S. under Trump’s administration, which coincidentally was also the day the federal government shut down because of a budget impasse. The last 365-days has been a year filled with battles over women’s rights, immigration, and health care issues, but also gave rise to the #MeToo social media movement that aimed to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment.

“Absolutely amazing organizing Native women did across Turtle Island in bringing forth the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and bringing forward the families and loved ones of MMIW for support, healing, encouragement,” described Lakota tribal member and local Native American activist, Matt Remle. “I personally witnessed many tears shed, hugs shared, songs of encouragement sung and good medicine put forward. It was pretty emotional when the families who have had loved ones murdered or go missing were brought on stage to be acknowledged and lifted up. That’s how it should be, supporting, uplifting, encouraging and helping however best one can. That’s powerful and I have absolute love for our [women] across Turtle Island for doing this.”

Across the nation, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in city streets to peacefully demonstrate the power of women and showcase a desire for change. The issues, from reproductive rights to better representation of women of color to awareness for missing and murdered Indegeous women, were as varied as the sign-waving, pink-hat-wearing attendees. However, the​ ​implication was clear: women are poised to take power and they intend to.

Klayton Sheldon urged his mother, Theresa, to join the march.

“Tulalip Tribes was well represented in today’s Women’s March that was dedicated to our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Thankful to see leadership so active,” said Theresa Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes Board of Director, who was urged by her young son, Klayton, to attend the march. “This is the weekend we are remembering and commemorating our 1855 Point Elliott Treaty which was signed on January 22. It’s only appropriate that we take the time to acknowledge our ancestors and those who are still negatively impacted by all the forced federal policies that did not work, but caused great harm. We are resilient and we are healing and growing!”

Joseph Duane “JOJO” Dias (1949 – 2018)

Joseph “JoJo” Duane Dias, 68 of Tulalip, WA, went to be with his creator on January 17, 2018. He is now with his wife, Noma Dias; his son, Joseph Jr., and his other siblings. He was born September 2, 1949 in Tacoma, WA, where he grew up and graduated from high school. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was a commercial fisherman. JoJo was the eldest of the family and the rock that held them together. JoJo is survived by his daughter, Tanya (Jeff) Tompkins; siblings, Bobby Dias, Bruce Dias, Cat Berrey, and Debbie Habitch; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home with an Interfaith Service to follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Tulalip Gym. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Tulalip Gym with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.

Make your home safer by properly disposing unused/expired drugs and sharps

By Kelvin Lee, Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy Director

I am pleased to announce the new Expired/Unused Drugs and Sharps disposal services at the Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy.  We installed two secured aluminum kiosks inside the pharmacy consultation area to take unused/expired drugs and used sharps from our patients at no charge ($5 disposal fee for non-customers).  We hope the new service  will help remove these hazardous items from your homes and prevent unnecessary accidents from happening.

Patients who wish to use this service please ask for assistance at the pharmacy counter before putting any disposal items into the kiosks.   To ensure proper disposal, we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to the following policies:

Expired/unused drug disposal kiosk

Acceptable disposal items:

  • unused or expired prescription medications (including controlled substances)
  • over-the counter medications
  • pet medications

Unacceptable disposal items:

  • Illegal drugs
  • Inhalers
  • Lotions/liquids
  • Aerosol Cans
  • Needles
  • Hydrogen Peroxide

All drugs must be in their original containers/vials.  Loose pills cannot be put into the kiosk.

Sharps return kiosk

All sharps must be disposed in an approved sharps container that can fit into the chute opening of the kiosk (8” X 14.25” X 11”), approx. 8.2 Quarts.    Tulalip Clinical Pharmacy will not accept loose sharps, unapproved or oversized sharps containers.