The Tulalip Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, or SNAP-Ed for short, is making strong efforts to promote healthy lifestyle choices in the Tulalip community. SNAP-Ed teaches about the importance of good nutrition and exercise, alternating between live cooking demonstrations and guided workout regimens each week for Wellness Wednesdays at the Tulalip Administration Building.
Wellness Wednesday is popular amongst Tribal employees as the program has many participants who attend on a regular basis. However, SNAP-Ed is looking to expand their services to Tulalip community members who may not work for the Tribe as well as for those who aren’t able to make it to the Administration Building on Wednesdays. In an effort to reach more community members, SNAP-Ed recently created the Tulalip Tribes Walking Club and held the first community walk on July 11.
“We are implementing the Waking Club to start at a low impact level to get tribal members and community members to be more fit, get outside and be more involved in physical activities,” explains SNAP-Ed Assistant, Traci Fox. “We want to start a community within the community, for physical fitness, so that people feel like they have support and have other people they can talk to about their journey through physical fitness.”
The Walking Club will host one to two sessions per week and the locations will vary between the Karen I. Fryberg Health Clinic and Tulalip Administration Building as well as other areas throughout the community. Walking Club members are awarded with incentives for their efforts and also have the chance to win prizes at the end of each fifteen to thirty minute walking sessions.
“We’re trying to reach a larger demographic and make sure that all tribal people and everyone in the tribal community can be involved in physical activity and can learn to eat better to have a healthy lifestyle,” Traci states.
For further details about joining the Tulalip Walking Club please contact the SNAP-Ed program at (360) 716-4899.
Coast Salish woman. Photo by Edward S. Curtis, Univ. of Washington Libraries Special Collections No. 289. Courtesy of Whatcom Museum.
Press Release:Whatcom Museum
A newly redesigned gallery in the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher building shares the art, history, and culture of the Northwest Coast people, blending both historical and contemporary perspectives. The exhibit, People of the Sea and Cedar: A Journey through the Tribal Cultures and History of the Northwest Coast, opens Saturday, July 15, noon-5pm in the second floor gallery of the Lightcatcher.
Featuring artifacts from the Museum’s collection, such as Coast Salish artwork and carvings, woven blankets, hand-made tools, clothing, baskets, and cedar hats, the exhibit will show some of the traditional crafts created by the Northwest Coast people. Visitors will have opportunities to learn about the traditions, languages, and stories of these tribes.
“The Whatcom Museum hasn’t had a permanent presence of Coast Salish culture and history, past and present,” said Patricia Leach, Executive Director of the Whatcom Museum. “Now that our state legislature has mandated the teaching of native cultures in our schools, the timing on the creation of this new gallery space couldn’t be better. The Museum is excited to be enhancing the education of our local school children with the ‘People of the Sea and Cedar’ school program, which will actually take place in the new gallery.”
The Whatcom Museum has been offering its popular “People of the Sea and Cedar” program to Bellingham and Whatcom County students for more than 20 years. The new exhibit enhances the school program, which is being redesigned by the Museum education staff and will be in place this fall.
Photo by Kiser Photo Co., Whatcom Museum #1946.24.27
With input provided by tribal representatives, researchers, and educators, the Museum presents an experiential exhibit. People of the Sea and Cedar provides hands-on learning experiences, a Lummi and Nooksack language interactive, and videos showcasing Lummi and Nooksack weavers and carvers. Themes of cultural knowledge, art and symbolism, lifestyles, and community will present the Northwest Coast tribes as vibrant, living cultures who honor their past while building cultural and economic futures for their people.
People of the Sea and Cedar: A Journey through the Tribal Cultures and History of the Northwest Coast will be a permanent exhibit, which will be continually developed with rotating art and artifacts in the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher building, 250 Flora Street. Through its Smithsonian Affiliation, the Museum plans to borrow artifacts from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in future years.
Members are invited to a members-only preview on Fri., July 14, 5-7pm in the Lightcatcher. The public opening on Sat., July 15, noon-5pm will include storytelling by Nooksack storyteller Tamara Cooper-Woodrich from 1-1:30pm in the Lightcatcher.
About the Whatcom Museum. The Whatcom Museum provides innovative and interactive exhibitions, educational programs, tours, and activities about art, nature, and Northwest history for all ages. Its multi-building campus is located in the heart of Bellingham’s downtown arts district. The Whatcom Museum is a non-profit organization operated jointly by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum Foundation. Our collection contains more than 200,000 artifacts and art works of regional importance, including a vast photographic archive. The Whatcom Museum is accredited nationally by the American Association of Museums and is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. For more information about exhibitions, programs, and admission visit www.whatcommuseum.org.
“We were created out of the earth. Well, we’re part of the earth, and that’s what we’ve got to go back to, the earth, to get something to keep this body a-ticking. Just like the tree, of course, and the herbs here, they’ve got sap in em, and we’ve got blood.”
–Tommie Bass (Appalachian Folk Herbalist)
With the current upsurge of gardening, homesteading and eating traditional and homegrown foods, visiting places like Moddejonge’s Herbals and Other Magical Things, with their extensive knowledge for treating ailments the natural way, is a must-do experience. The aromatic blend of spices, oils, and incense, surrounded by the many jars containing teas and powders along one wall, give the place an overall feel that sets you at ease upon entry.
Located on Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, owner Lynn Moddejonge and her knowledgeable staff are there to greet you and offer information, recommendations, remedies and even samples of the day’s tea blend.
“We’ve got over 350 herbs here that are mostly medicinal. We also have magical and cooking herbs, though all the herbs kind of travel between all three genres,” said Lynn. “We’ve got a lot of medicine that is local, like yarrow and St. John’s wort.”
While having heard of the popular St. John’s wort, many folks may not be as familiar with yarrow. Found in the wild throughout the northern hemisphere, yarrow is a member of the sunflower family. Many people use yarrow in teas and tinctures to shorten the duration of colds and flus, as well as relieving cramps, and rashes. Yarrow and mint tea can help ease allergy symptoms.
“I am a folk herbalist. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose,” explained Lynn. Herbalism is the study of botany and uses plants and foods for healing and for building and maintaining good health.
“We’re a compounding apothecary. All of our herbs are organic or wild-crafted,” said Lynn. “If someone comes in and says, this is the trouble I’m having, we will put something together for you on an individual basis.” She went on to explain that if people keep coming in with the same problem or symptoms, she then mixes larger batches of the medicine to have on hand.
Lynn Moddejonge, owner of Moddejonge’s Herbals and Other Magical Things
Other highlights of Moddejonge’s are not only the evening workshops they offer, but also the socializing and collaboration between the staff and patrons. It’s a place to swap recipes and discuss tea blends, infusions and tinctures with other folks. “After coming in a couple times, a lot of our customers feel part ownership. And they are very willing to share and hold conversations about their outcomes.”
You can even bring your own ingredients in to be made into a tea or tincture or purchase only the necessary items to use at home. All bulk items are sold by the ounce and shoppers are encouraged bring their own bottles in, as Moddejonge’s is working towards a zero environmental footprint.
I inquired about bringing my own bee honey into the shop to get something made up and Lynn encouraged me to do so, noting the health benefits of honey. “It is a very good way to take medicine. If you infuse honey with something like elderberry, an immune builder, it builds on the immune building properties of the honey. And I can help you with that.”
Among the large selection of in-house crafted essential oils, soaps and other bath and body products, you can even find calming mists and flea medications for your pets, along with mosquito repellants and other summertime essentials.
Lynn makes all the ritual items in the shop herself, as she explains, “That way I know the intent is what it’s supposed to be, as opposed to buying items online. And the herbs we have for ritual include cedar, white sage and sweet grass.”
If you are looking to conduct a house cleansing, she says, “Right off the top, everybody should smudge when they move in because of the previous owner’s energy, and that kind of moves it all out. People smudge differently so we can talk about that and if they’ve never done it before I sit down and say, this is how I do it. We share; there is a lot of sharing here.”
Many folks turn to psychics for an analysis of overall health or lifestyle related questions or situations. Lynn can also help with finding a medium, to aid with grieving, relationship connections, healing and communicating with angels.
“This is an old area and there are a lot of spirits here. If you’ve got spirits visiting you, we can help with that. We offer energy work and readings here and we have contacts with mediums if you are in need. We offer health screenings. There’s a lot of medicine here; spiritual medicine as well as physical medicine.”
While cold and allergy relief are big sellers at Moddejonges, Lynn points out, “Our top product is information. And that’s for free.”
Peter Ray Woods, 47, of Everett, WA, passed away on July 5, 2017, as a result of an accident. He was born May 2, 1970, in Everett to James and Catherine Woods. He grew up in Everett and graduated from Everett High School. Peter was roofer and painter. He is survived by his four children, Shatona Woods, Brandon Woods, Isaiah Woods, and Marley Woods; siblings, Janie Woods, Larry Woods, Kevin Woods, and Tim Woods; five grandchildren, Amiah Woods, Samariana Wright, Bailey Powers, Russel Woods, and Tealyn Powers. Peter was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be held Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at Schaefer-Shipman with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
April 21, 1936 – July 4, 2017 Levi David Aleck Sr., 81, of Marysville, WA passed away July 4, 2017. He was born April 21, 1936 in Mill Bay, B.C., Canada to Edmond and Sara Aleck. Levi was a logger, fisherman, he ran a green chain and was a fish technician. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Aleck; five children, Tony Aleck, Beverly Hobart, Chrissy Aleck, Mary Aleck, and Levi Aleck Jr.; 21 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death parents and brother, Frankie; and son, Joe Aleck Sr.; granddaughters, Crystal Aleck and Hope Jimicum; five infants – four boys and one girl; and great grandson, Markel Aleck. A visitation will be held Monday, July 10, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Schaefer-Shipman with a Shaker Service to follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Tulalip Gym. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Tulalip Gym with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
The Tulalip Canoe Family, led by the Tulalip Rediscovery Program, is preparing to take to the open waters for the 2017 Canoe Journey to Campbell River, British Columbia. For the past several weeks, the Canoe Family has been meeting on Monday and Thursday evenings to practice pulling a traditional cedar-dugout canoe across the waters of Tulalip Bay.
“We started last month and we’ve been slowly getting a crew. I think this is our third or fourth week where we’ve actually had a full crew,” says Skipper, Harvey Eastman. “What we do is, we come on the water to try to build our muscle memory and get in shape. We want everybody to be prepared and to respect the water because we’ll never know what we’ll have out there. It could be nice and calm but then in a heartbeat it’ll turn on you.”
Training for the unexpected open waters can be a daunting task, especially for new pullers. The key, according to Tulalip tribal member and expert puller, Kayla Joseph, is to remain calm, especially when the waters are not.
“If we hit rollers [waves] like we did [today during practice], it’s important to just keep pulling and keep at it,” Kayla explains. “If you get scared then the canoe senses that you feel that. As long as you keep a good mind, keep going and you keep doing what your supposed to be doing, then the canoe will keep you how you’re supposed to be.”
Each year Canoe Journey offers Coast Salish tribal members the opportunity to reconnect with their culture. The Native American summertime experience has been popular amongst Pacific Northwest Tribes since beginning in 1989 with the Paddle to Seattle. Since then, local tribes have taken turns hosting Canoe Journey in their villages each year. The tribes travel the waters together in traditional canoes, stopping in each village before reaching their final landing destination. After all the canoes arrive, a weeklong celebration takes place, where the canoe families engage in traditional song, dance and story telling.
For decades the Canoe Journey experience has promoted healthy lifestyle choices, as the cultural event is drug and alcohol free. Along with finding self-identity, the youth gain first-hand experience through teachings passed down from previous generations.
“You can learn a lot about your culture from [Canoe Journey]. This is where I started. It’s where I learned most of my songs and my dances and who I was,” expresses Kayla. “I knew I was Tulalip, but until you’re actually part of something like this, where they teach you how to conduct yourself, how to be humble and how to be one with the Earth and the water, it’s good medicine. It brings you a little bit of peace and that’s something we need to bring to our youth.”
On the water, the crew pulls together as one. Relationships are bonded as life experiences are shared, while traveling from tribe to tribe. The event continues to have a positive impact for the youth of Native America by teaching about their ancestor’s way of life and culture.
Skipper, Harvey Eastman
“Its our hope that once were pulling together, the youth will get involved, because they are our future,” states Harvey. “Our ultimate goal is to sustain our culture as Indigenous Peoples; if we don’t have that we won’t have a culture.”
Canoe Journey practice is held at 5:30 p.m. each Monday and Thursday at the Tulalip Marina. The Tulalip Rediscovery Program additionally hosts a Canoe Journey gift-making class, at the Hibulb Cultural Center, every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. as well. For further information, please contact the Tulalip Rediscovery Program at (360) 716-2635.8
If you have a warrant for your arrest on the Tulalip Reservation, you may be able to quash your warrant.
Warrants are issued because you failed to appear at your hearing, or there was a criminal complaint filed against you, also if you have failed to comply with a court order, such as having a probation violation or a missed urinalysis. You may be able to quash old warrants and get a new hearing date.
For first time offenders (sometimes second time offenders), your warrant quash will cost you nothing. If you are a repeat offender, the judge may levy a fee for you to quash your warrant, anywhere from $25, $50 or $75 dollars. The police, prosecution, and probation are then notified that you came to the court to quash your warrant. It is advised to please keep your warrant quash paperwork on you for at least one week.
The Tribal Court encourages you to come in to quash your warrant. It shows you are taking care of business and makes a good impression on the judge.
Warrant quashes are held on Fridays from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (please show up at least 15 minutes early prior to 11 a.m.).
If you have questions regarding warrant quashes, you can call the Tribal Court at 360 / 716-4773.
The skies were clear and the sun was shining on the first day of summer 2017. As the temperature reached the low seventies, the Tulalip Bay waters were glistening, providing both a cool breeze as well as a beautiful view for the Tulalip community as many gathered for the Summer Solstice Celebration. The June 21 event, held near the gardens behind the Karen I Fryberg Health Clinic, is the second of a four-event series, hosted by the Tulalip Diabetes Care and Prevention Program, in which the community honors and welcomes the turn of each season.
During the first celebration, the Spring Equinox, the Diabetes team reached out to honorary Tulalip tribal member, Father Pat Twohy, to bless the newly constructed Medicine Wheel Garden. During the ceremony, the Tribe honored Father Pat by gifting him a pair of moccasins accompanied with a foot-washing ceremony. After the success of the Spring Equinox event, community members requested more time with Father Pat during the upcoming events. Revered by the Tulalip community, Father Pat served as Priest to St. Anne’s Catholic Church for twenty years, according to Dale Jones, Elder Advocate for the Diabetes Care and Prevention Program.
“[Father Pat] is the top dog, but he don’t act like it. He only wants to serve the people,” explains Dale. “Everybody loves him and nobody wants him to leave – ever. He’s been here with the Tribe for about twenty years. I’ve known him personally for forty years. You couldn’t ask for a better guy than Father Pat.”
The Summer Solstice Celebration offered the opportunity for attendees to walk through the Garden Trail and the Medicine Wheel Garden to view the various plants and vegetables growing in the garden boxes, on the longest day of the year.
“The summer solstice is a special time for a lot of Indigenous people,” states Diabetes Care and Prevention Program Coordinator, Veronica ‘Roni’ Leahy. “Here at Tulalip, because of the opening of the Medicine Wheel Garden, we thought that this year we would celebrate the equinox and solstice through prayer.”
During this season’s event, Father Pat met individually with community members and shared an intimate conversation, before providing a prayer. Numerous community members attended the event for the opportunity to visit with Father Pat.
“We asked Father Pat to be here for the Spring Equinox, the Summer Solstice, the Autumn Equinox and he’ll be here again for the Winter Solstice,” says Roni. “Each season he’ll come back and visit with us and pray for the people. We asked him to represent the spiritual side of the medicine wheel. Jennie Fryberg said Father Pat is our medicine; so having him here is really special for the people. His words have an impact on our hearts and minds and gives us fortitude to continue our work and move forward.”
For additional information regarding future equinox and solstice events please contact the Karen I Fryberg Health Clinic at (360) 716-4511.
