All That Power In You: Tulalip Wellness Conference Focuses On Activism

Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon speaks about activism at the Annual Community Wellness Conference.
Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon speaks about activism at the
Annual Community Wellness Conference.

 

Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“With every journey, wherever you go, you’re going to find a way to make a difference in your own way. You could be the next President; you can be the leader of Pokémon Go! Whatever it is you believe in, you have to step up and find a way to make change. Somebody here might be changing the direction of this tribe in five to ten years, or maybe even tomorrow,” said Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon as he expressed to Tulalip’s youth the importance of activism during the first day of the Annual Community Wellness Conference.

This year’s conference, held in the Orca Ballroom at the Tulalip Resort Casino, is focusing on Native American activism. The event is a three-day conference held July 28, August 4 and August 11, and is free to the Tulalip community. An outstanding lineup of keynote speakers is scheduled,  including Seattle based Native American carver and activist Rick T. Williams, the Native American sketch comedy group 1491’s, and Native American Emcee Frank Waln.

As the opening speaker for the event, Chairman Sheldon gave a little history of both his, as well as the Tulalip Tribes, background. He spoke greatly of higher education and let the youth know that it is okay to go at their own speed while finding their path.

“Along the way on my educational journey, I learned a little bit about activism,” said Sheldon. “Being active, what are you going to do in life?”

Sheldon explained to conference attendees the signing of the Point Elliot Treaty, the rights the treaty entitles tribes to, and why it is important to exercise those rights. He also spoke about the Occupation of Alcatraz by the American Indian Movement in 1969 and communicated that if you are passionate about a topic you should stand up for what you believe in.

 

wellness2

 

“When we find what really motivates us, we find a way to get there. Is there something there that really hits your heart that you’ve got to get up and protest? You will want to be part of changing the social fabric of society,” said Sheldon. Crude oil, mascot names, equal pay for women, gun rights, and support for the LGBT community are issues that are currently affecting today’s society Sheldon pointed out, and that change can not happen unless you are active.

Sheldon stated that he is excited to see where life takes the group of young Tulalip tribal members. He closed the first day’s workshop with some encouraging words for the youth by stating, “One day you will find something so important to you, you’ll stand up and change the world for the better. You do have all that power in you!”

 

 

‘Since Time Immemorial’ Training Gets a $600K Boost

istock-raised-hands

Richard Walker, Indian Country Today

 

A state law requires schools in Washington to teach students the history of the state’s 29 federally recognized indigenous nations, just as they teach U.S. and state history.

School districts that have adopted the “Since Time Immemorial” curriculum, which was formerly “encouraged” but is now mandatory, say the curriculum is an easy tool to use. But the curriculum encourages participation with local Native nations. “Our goal is to teach WITH tribes, rather than about them,” the curriculum states—and one of the challenges school districts report is developing the partnerships to make that happen.

RELATED: From ‘Encouraged’ to Mandatory’: Schools Must Teach Native History in Washington

Training now underway is helping to build those associations.

“Our [curriculum] trainings have doubled in both size and frequency” since the law made implementation of the curriculum mandatory, Michael Vendiola texted on July 27 from a conference in Omak on the Colville reservation. Vendiola, Swinomish, is program supervisor for the state education department’s Office of Native Education. “We are training more dynamically as well. For example, we are training more curriculum teams, administrators, and education associations.”

The training is getting a boost from Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education, which received two grants totaling $600,000 from the Washington Student Achievement Council, a cabinet-level state agency.

“These two grants not only advance our professional development work in schools but, most significantly, forge important new efforts with Native American communities in our region,” Woodring College of Education Dean Francisco Rios said in an announcement of the grant. “It capitalizes on the strengths of our faculty while also honoring the important cultural knowledge of local indigenous communities.”

Of the funding, $400,000 is being invested in “Implementation of Since Time Immemorial: Higher Education and K-12 School Partnership Pilot Project,” a collaboration of Woodring College, The University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the state Office of Native Education.

The project will assist schools and districts that have a high number of Native American students, including Chief Kitsap Academy, which is owned and operated by the Suquamish Tribe and serves Native and non-Native students; Lummi Nation School; Marysville School District, which serves students from the Tulalip Tribes; Muckleshoot Tribal School; Shelton School District, which serves students from Skokomish and Squaxin; Taholah School District, which serves students from the Quinault Nation; and Wellpinit School District, which serves students from the Spokane Tribe.

State Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, who authored the curriculum law, said it’s important that Native nations be involved because the curriculum is “only a baseline curriculum.” The curriculum includes such topics as “Exploring Washington State —Tribal Homelands,” “Washington Territory and Treaty Making,” “Being Citizens in Washington: The Boldt Decision,” and “Encounter, Colonization and Devastation.” But those courses are not localized; the involvement of local indigenous nations can help students understand those subjects on the local level.

The project is providing training workshops, professional development and coaching to teachers, administrators and paraprofessionals.

“Our entire team of diverse partners is dedicated to providing professional development that teaches regional tribal government, culture and history through the STI curriculum,” said Kristen French, associate professor of elementary education at Western Washington University.

“We are thrilled to have this grant because we can contribute and build on the good work that [the state Office of Native Education] and state Sen. John McCoy have done to improve Indian education,” she said, adding that six of seven team members are Native women trained in education.

Vendiola’s wife, Michelle, is “Since Time Immemorial” grant coordinator at Woodring College.

“With an emphasis on culture and identity, we expect this work to have long-term impact on the academic achievement of Native students, as well as all Washington state students,” she said in the grant announcement. “Ultimately, we are honored to participate in the improvement of future relationships between tribal communities and mainstream Washington state citizens.”

An example of how the involvement of local Native nations can bolster knowledge of Native culture and the environment Native and non-Native students share is “Science and the Swinomish,” a collaboration of Western Washington University, the Shannon Point Marine Center and the Swinomish Tribe.

The project received $200,000 in funding to train teachers and administrators in the La Conner and Concrete school districts, two districts serving Swinomish students.

The partnership will “personalize the STI curriculum and develop hands-on science lessons focused on the restoration and care of the environment essential to maintaining the traditional Swinomish way of living,” said Tim Bruce, an instructor at Woodring College.

Teachers and principals will receive training in the basics of the curriculum and then will dig deeper into the aspects that relate to science, focusing on locally relevant, culturally important topics such as salmon recovery, tideland impacts and water use—topics that affect everyone.

Organizers say teachers and principals will have a strong working knowledge of the curriculum by spring 2017, and will have multiple lesson plans ready for submission to a digital library where they can be shared with a wider audience.

Vendiola said feedback received from curriculum partners is helping educators innovate the curriculum in new ways.

A pre-K/early learning curriculum, titled “STI Tribal Sovereignty Early Learning Curriculum,” is a partnership of Thrive Washington—First Peoples, First Steps Alliance, and the Puget Sound ESD Native American Early Learning Project. “There are currently three pilot lessons availablefor the early learning community,” he said.

Giving Balance to History Instruction

Thirty percent of school districts in Washington are using “Since Time Immemorial,” which was developed by the state in consultation with indigenous nations in Washington.

The legislation that established STI seeks to give balance to history instruction, which has often ignored the state’s indigenous history. It also seeks to improve student knowledge of indigenous history and culture; foster cross-cultural respect and understanding; and bolster cultural sensitivity in all students.

“We do have a rich, solid history in the state, and it should be taught,” McCoy said in an earlier interview. Doing so would help students understand sovereignty and the work that indigenous nations do in their historical territories—authority that many elected officials don’t understand, McCoy said.

In addition to the above projects, regional training will be hosted in October by the Toppenish School District, on the Yakama Nation reservation; Education Service District 113, in the state capital of Olympia; the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, whose students attend schools in the North Kitsap School District; and the Lummi Nation, whose students attend Lummi schools or schools in the Ferndale School District.

 

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/08/03/time-immemorial-training-gets-600k-boost-165325

Being Frank: Hatcheries Bridge Gap Between Habitat, Harvest

 

15747704177_c27e4e447d_k-874x492

 

By  Lorraine Loomis, Chair, NWIFC

 

Despite their unbreakable connection, salmon harvest and habitat restoration continue moving down separate roads in western Washington. Many people either don’t see or choose to ignore the fact that habitat determines harvest, and that we continue to lose habitat faster than it can be restored.

Indian and non-Indian harvest has been cut to the bone this summer because of expected historically low returns, especially coho. Yet habitat loss and damage – the root of the problem – continues every day throughout our watersheds and nearshore marine waters.

Poor ocean survival conditions certainly played a role in the low salmon returns of the past several years. But even when we can restore or protect salmon habitat, we aren’t helping ourselves enough.

You might be surprised, but fish really do grow on trees. Trees keep water temperatures low, the way salmon like it. Their roots help to prevent soil erosion that can smother salmon eggs. When they fall into a river, trees provide diverse rearing habitat for fish. When the salmon spawn and die, their nutrients feed the trees.

Yet from 2006 to 2011 we lost the equivalent of two Seattle-sized forests or about 170 square miles, according to the treaty tribes’ 2016 State of Our Watersheds Report. The report can be viewed at nwifc.org/sow.

When we lose habitat, we also lose the natural production of salmon it provides. The collapse of our fisheries is simply mirroring the collapse of the eco-systems that support them.

For more than 100 years, hatcheries have tried to make up for that loss, but hatchery salmon depend on the same declining habitat as naturally spawning salmon.

About half of the salmon harvested in western Washington are hatchery fish. Continued habitat loss means we will have to depend on hatcheries for as long as lost and damaged habitat continues to restrict natural salmon production and threaten treaty rights.

Hatcheries are simply a tool. Some provide fish for harvest while reducing harvest pressures on weak stocks. Others serve as nurseries to protect threatened salmon stocks. All are essential to salmon recovery and should be integrated in our salmon recovery efforts for every watershed. We need every tool in the box to reinforce remaining salmon populations as we work to restore habitat.

The importance of this tool should be reflected in its funding, but as the need for hatchery fish has increased, state funding for hatcheries has declined or remained flat. Treaty tribes have stepped up to fill the gap in recent years and provide more salmon for everyone by picking up the costs at a number of state hatcheries where production was threatened by budget shortfalls.

The connection between harvest and habitat is clear. We cannot expect to harvest salmon – either hatchery or naturally spawning – as long as we continue to destroy salmon habitat. In the meantime, hatcheries must continue to help bridge that gap and be included as the essential part of salmon recovery that they are.

 

 

 

 

Lorraine Loomis is the chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

 

US HealthVest breaks ground on new Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital

New hospital fills unmet need for behavioral health in Snohomish County and beyond

 

DSC_0076
Speakers and attendees at the ceremony included: Mayor Jon Nehring of the City of Marysville; Dr. Richard Kresch of US HealthVest; John Nowoj of Mortenson Construction; Jesica Stickles of the Marysville/Tulalip Chamber of Commerce; Teri Gobin of the Tulalip Tribe; Misty Napeahi of the Tulalip Tribe; and Lisa Utter of NAMI Snohomish. Photo/Mortenson Construction

 

 MARYSVILLE, Wash. – (July 26, 2016) –US HealthVest and construction services firm, Mortenson Construction, broke ground today on the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital at 3955 156th Street Northeast in Marysville. The new 115-bed hospital will provide a full continuum of behavioral health and addiction treatment—including inpatient and day-hospital services—to children, adolescents and adults.

With this new hospital, US HealthVest can extend much-needed services to patients north of Seattle, where communities are experiencing rapid population growth and a heightened need for behavioral healthcare. Specialty programs at Smokey Point will be tailored to the women’s population, patients with co-occurring disorders, the Native American population, veterans, youth, the senior adult population and faith-based groups.

 

DSC_0107
Photo/Mortenson Construction

 

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy found that Washington has one of the highest prevalence rates for adults with mental health disorders in the country, yet ranked nearly last among all states in the total number of psychiatric beds available per person. Additionally, nearly all hospitals providing adult psychiatric care in Washington had daily occupancy rates exceeding 80 percent compared to 64 percent in community hospitals in   the US; 24 percent of Washington adults met criteria indicating a mental health disorder – the third-highest rate of all states; and approximately 7 percent met further criteria for a serious mental illness that interfered with daily life — ranking Washington No. 2 in the nation.

 

Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital rendering. Photo/CollinsWoerman
Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital rendering. Photo/CollinsWoerman

 

The two-story, 71,000-square-foot building was designed by Seattle-based architecture firm CollinsWoerman and will offer semi-private patient rooms, an outpatient clinic and support space including a pharmacy and food service administration. There will also be indoor and outdoor recreational activity areas. Mortenson anticipates the hospital will be completed in summer 2017.

Honoring the past, Impacting the future: 21st Annual Lushootseed Day Camp

 

LushCamp_week1-1

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

During the pleasantly warm and sunny summer days of July 18-22, the old Tulalip Elementary gymnasium was home to the 21st Annual Lushootseed Day Camp. The camp was open to children age five to twelve who wanted to learn about their culture and Lushootseed language through art, songs, games, weaving and storytelling. Each year the Lushootseed Department teams up with the Cultural Resources Department, along with a select number of very vital community volunteers, to hold two one-week camps. Each camp has openings for up to 50 participants, but this year the demand was so high that 64 kids were signed up and participated in Language Camp week 1.

“We are dedicating the 21st Annual Lushootseed Language Camp to Morris Dan and Harriette Shelton-Dover, for their guidance and teachings bringing back the Salmon Ceremony, as well as honoring Stan Jones Sr. “Scho-Hallem” for his decades of leadership and determination to keep the ceremony going,” said Lushootseed language teacher and co-coordinator of the camp, Natosha Gobin. “This year we are recreating the Salmon Ceremony to pass on the teachings to our youth.  With the generosity of the Tulalip Tribes Charitable Table, we have received a grant to make regalia for each youth who is signed up for camp.  This is exciting, as we will be able to ensure that all the youth who sign up for camp will have the ability to stand up and sing at every opportunity. Vests and drums will be the regalia for the boys, while the girls’ regalia will be shawls and clappers.”

Using the 1979 Salmon Ceremony video to help pass on the earliest teaching of what is still practiced today, the young campers learned a selection of highlighted songs and dances.  The lessons learned each day during Language Camp were based on the teachings of the Salmon Ceremony by way of songs and dances, traditional teachings, language, art, weaving, and technology. The goal this year was to provide our youth with some basic regalia along with the knowledge and ability to sing and dance. Staffers hope the youth that have participated have the teachings and experience needed so they will stand up and sing at every opportunity.

 

LushCamp_week1-8

 

With the emphasis of honoring the past and impacting the future with education and practice of Salmon Ceremony, there was a renewed sense of excitement and vigor to both the teachers and bright, young minds who participated. There was so much to do and prepare for that the parents of each camper were also called upon to participate in create long-lasting memories while working with their kids and fellow community members to help make regalia.

During the evening of Tuesday, July 19 the parents came through in a big way. The parents and guardians joined their kids in the gymnasium and were guided on how to make the drums and clappers. There were lots of laughs and stories shared as the evening went on and slowly, but surely every camper was assured of hand-made regalia.

“This is what we wanted to bring back; families coming together to spend some time working on the drums and clappers, lots of smiles, and most importantly lots of happy kids,” stated Natosha after the evening of regalia making concluded. “A huge thank you to the parents, aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins who come out tonight to make sure every child would have a drum or clapper. I know our ancestors are watching over us all and proud the teachers are still being passed on.”

 

LushCamp_week1-4

 

Throughout the duration of camp, the children participated in seven different daily activities. The following list is what each child accomplished throughout the week:

  • Art – Salmon bracelets, Salmon hands, paddle necklaces.
  • Weaving – Pony Bead loom beading, small raffia baskets.
  • Songs and Dances – Welcome Song, Eagle Owl BlueJay Song, Snohomish Warrior Song.
  • Traditional Teachings – Salmon Ceremony videos, traditional stories, realia experience in traditional story and science face of how Salmon migrate.
  • Games – Various games and playground time.
  • Language – letter sounds, Salmon Ceremony key words, Lushootseed workbook.
  • Technology – children learned and practiced Lushootseed materials related to Salmon Ceremony using the Nintendo DSi handheld games created by Dave Sienko.

The closing ceremony for week one’s camp was held on Friday, July 22 in the Kenny Moses Building. The joyous, young play-performers made their debut to a large community attendance, as family and friends came out in droves to show their support.

“The young ones continue to honor our ancestors by learning their songs and words. It fills my heart with so much joy to watch them speak our language and perform the dances of Salmon Ceremony,” marveled ceremonial witness Denise Sheldon.

 

LushCamp_week1-6

 

After the youth performed their rendition of Salmon Ceremony and the ceremonial witnesses had shared a few words, there was a giveaway. The camp participants gave handmade crafts to the audience members, which preceded a salmon lunch that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Reflecting on the conclusion of this year’s 21st Annual Language Camp week one, Natosha Gobin beamed with pride, “Week one has come to an end, but it is truly just the beginning of our youth rising up! The fire has been lit and they will be the ones to keep it burning. I can’t say it enough, how thankful we are for the parents that sign their youth up to participate. Shout out to the volunteers who mentored our young Language Warriors and to the staff who prepped and taught the lessons, and those who did all the behind the scenes work. Thank you to each and every person who made this week’s camp a success.”

For any questions, comments or to request Lushootseed language materials to use in the home, please contact the Lushootseed Department at 360-716-4499 or visit www.TulalipLushootseed.com

 

LushCamp_week1-9

LushCamp_week1-2

LushCamp_week1-5

How to keep your pet healthy

How to keep pet healthy

 

By Niki Cleary, Tulalip News 

It’s summer. The flowers are in bloom and the birds are singing and you decided to get your kids a puppy or kitten. Although you may be worried about potty training and chewing there are some common health concerns that should also be on your mind, first and foremost, vaccination.

“Starting at eight weeks old we recommend you start a vaccine series,” explained veterinarian Dr. Alina McLain. “It’s very similar to vaccines in people and prevents against normal puppy and kittenhood diseases that can be transferred between animals and are present in the environment.”

Booster shots have to be administered every three to four weeks afterwards.

“Diseases we’re most concerned about (in dogs) are distemper and parvovirus and rabies,” continued Dr. McLain. “Distemper and parvo are combined into one vaccine. Both diseases can be fatal to dogs. Rabies is required by law. Since rabies is 100% fatal to people, its one that the government cares about.”

The cost of vaccines varies from veterinary office to office. However, if you want to administer the vaccine yourself, vaccines can be purchased for less than $10 at animal supply stores.

“It’s hard to offer price,” said Dr. McLain. “If you get them at the Co-op vaccines cost $6.00, and it can cost $500-$600 to treat the diseases.”

Kennel cough, although not required, is recommended for dogs who are frequently in contact with other dogs.

“If the dog is going to boarding, it’s important,” said Dr. McLain. “Kennel cough is similar to the flu vaccine in people. It’s just as transmissible as the flu is in a person. In a vaccinated dog it can cause the sniffles. In an unvaccinated dog, it can cause pneumonia.”

Dr. McLain said it’s also important to vaccinate cats.

“Again there are three vaccines: feline distemper, feline leukemia and rabies,” she explained. “Feline leukemia is transmissable and comes from sharing water and food bowls. If an infected cat eats from the dish, then your cat eats food, they can get it. It’s very similar to leukemia or AIDS in people.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. We can’t make it go away and it lowers their immune system. A cold in a regular cat is not a big deal, a cold in a leukemia cat can be deadly.”

After their initial puppy and kitten shots, cats and dogs both need booster vaccinations once a year to be protected.

When is it time to go to the vet?

Use common sense and treat your pets like you would your kids, said Dr. McLain.

“If they vomit once or twice but are still perky, eating and drinking, don’t worry. But incessant vomiting or diarrhea for more than two or three days, lethargic or refuses food or water fro more than 24 hours means something is seriously wrong.”

Do not feed your pets human over the counter medications.

“Human drugs are not safe, they are often very toxic to your animals,” said Dr. McLain. “If you have a question about what’s safe, call your vet before you give it to your pet.”

If you have an emergency after hours, there are several emergency vets and 24/hour clinics in the area. Pilchuck Emergency clinic in Snohomish, Diamond Veterinary, and VSC specialty center in Lynwood can all help with after hours emergencies.

Www.veterinarypartner.com is a great resource for pet owners as well.

“The website is vetted by veterinarians,” said Dr. McLain. “It is monitored by veterinarians and the information there is good viable information.”

Artist In Action: An Inside Look at Hibulb Colors Exhibit

ty1

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

Color shapes our daily lives because the colors that surround us can influence and even inspire us. We respond to color when we choose something to wear in the morning, when we see traffic lights or go shopping at the grocery store. Since time immemorial, color has influenced humans historically, socially and artistically, as color has been an integral part of the natural world. Throughout time, humans have manipulated color for social, spiritual, emotional and artistic purposes.

Celebrating color is what the latest featured exhibit on display at The Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve, Vibrant Beauty: Colors of our Collection, is all about. Additionally, the exhibit honors our local Tulalip tribal artists.

At the heart of the exhibit is a large panel display with several unique and vibrant designs created by Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel. After being approached by Hibulb curators and asked to add his inventive touch to the latest exhibit, Ty spent a series of afternoons working on and finalizing his vibrant beauty addition.

 

ty-3

 

“Color is emotion, and the color I choose for my art depends on the emotion of the piece,” states Ty. “I like to use bright colors in my work because it makes a statement. I use all colors because nature uses all of the colors. Some have more significance like red, black and white, which have greater significance to us. Color to me is emotionally dependent on how I am feeling. I’m feeling drawn to yellow right now because I want it to be spring. Last week, I felt drawn to the color purple.”

Using modern day technology to advance his art methods, Ty printed his tribal designs on transfers that were then paint masked to the panel walls. This method saves an enormous amount of time compared to a traditional method of stenciling and painting by hand. Using this refined technique also allows Ty to color his designs with spray paint. After choosing his selection of color, he went to work on spraying the transfers, then meticulously peeling the transfers off the panel.

Lastly, Ty goes over each design in a detail enhancement process, so that the quality of his artwork is up to par by his standards. As Ty explains, each of his designs are inherently Tulalip because he is Tulalip, but there is some real creativeness to his ingenuity. For example, he created a Tulalip family tree design, which he fittingly colored green. The tree contains eight spirits with each one representing the spirit of a generation.

 

Ty_Hibulb-5

 

“I’m always looking for new ways to push myself as an artist and being open to try new methods and techniques, but at the same time I’m always looking for ways to put our culture out there in a good way,” continues Ty. “People come in here to Hibulb and there’s a pride in seeing our culture displayed as Tulalip or Coast Salish people. My goal is to create something that I’m proud of, so the community is proud of it, too, because all the work I do represents Tulalip.”

 

Ty_Hibulb-kids

 

Check out Ty’s contribution to Vibrant Beauty: Colors of our Collection on display at Hibulb through February 2017.

 

ty5

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

A Good Day To Be Indigenous

Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon welcomes canoes ashore. Photo/Kalvin Valdillez
Tulalip Tribes Chairman Mel Sheldon welcomes canoes ashore.
Photo/Kalvin Valdillez

 

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

 

 

On a gorgeous July afternoon the Tulalip community welcomed several tribal canoes ashore and offered hospitality, food, and an evening filled with traditional song and dance. When your summer includes camping, salmon, and good people you know you’ve had a great vacation. Throw canoe pulling into the mix and you might be at the biggest Native American cultural gathering in the northwest, known as the Tribal Canoe Journeys.

As a member of both the Quinault and Ahousaht nations, I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where culture was strong and traditional songs and dances were practiced regularly. My parents met while working at Tillicum Village. My gram, Marjorie Valdillez, fought along side Joe DeLacruz in the sovereignty battle for the Quinault Indian Nation, and my late grandfather from Ahousaht, Edgar Charlie, was a well-respected and highly knowledgeable Chief. Although I performed on stage at Tillicum Village as a kid, was surrounded by culture my entire life and was related to so many influential Native people,  Journeys still opened my eyes to an entirely new and thrilling world.

 

canoeJourney-1

 

Journeys encompasses everything exciting about being a Native American in today’s society and is making a strong return to the Pacific Northwest after taking a hiatus in 2015. By practicing and participating in Canoe Journeys we honor our ancestors as well as keep the culture alive, and in-turn we pass our knowledge down to the next generations, preserving our traditions. And at a time when drugs is destroying America’s future, this clean and sober event offers strong and amazing alternatives for tribal youth.

Losing yourself in the culture is inevitable. Whether you are pulling for your tribe or traveling by car to each destination, you will become immersed in the songs during late night protocol. You will see familiar faces, and meet incredible new people during Journeys, and finding summer love is not uncommon during late July and early August when the event takes place.

canoeJourney-3

 

Journeys does more than connect people from different tribes, it allows members from the same communities to create a stronger bond with each other.  The majority of tribal members from any given reservation share exciting stories, and create a positive experience for the youth of Native America.

Many people from the millennial generation grew up with Journeys and participated every year since its revival in 1989. The event taught us to have respect for each other, we gained cultural perspective while on different reservations, and we learned many teachings from our elders along with important values such as selflessness and patience.

 

canoeJourney-6

 

Each year a different tribe hosts Journeys on their reservation. Similar to a local rock band tour, Journeys has organized stops throughout the Northwest where each ‘band’ gets to showcase their performances. Each tribe participating in the event has a dedicated stop where canoes will land on their reservation to interact and perform with the community. This year the Nisqually Indian Tribe hosted Journeys. The final landing includes a week-long protocol celebration at Nisqually.

Although the July 24 visit to Tulalip was brief, it is incredible to see different tribes pulling together for the Canoe Journeys comeback we’ve all been waiting for.  Witnessing the youth’s passion for their culture is inspiring, and watching them embrace their heritage while at the same time enjoying adolescence with their families and new friends is reason enough to ensure that Journeys continues long into the future. After last summer’s hiatus, seeing Coastal Natives navigating the open water in traditional canoes again is extraordinary. As we observed the canoes arriving in Tulalip Bay, the anticipation of protocol set in. With the promise of drums and the sun reflecting off of the bay, a quote from Smoke Signals was the only way to accurately express how I was feeling in that moment: “It’s a good day to be Indigenous!”

 

 

 

 

 

canoeJourney-4

canoe