On January 28, the Everett Herald Readers’ Choice Awards announced that for the first time, the Hibulb Cultural Center had won 2021’s Best Museum in Snohomish County. Winning this award allows the opportunity to spread more awareness to others about Hibulb’s presence, and confirm all the hard work that the staff make to revive, restore, protect, interpret, collect and enhance the history, traditional cultural values and spiritual beliefs of the Tulalip Tribes.
The process for winning an award like this isn’t easy. To even get your hat thrown in the ring, someone outside of the organization must nominate you. Then, the Everett Herald releases the voting panel, votes are made, and the winner with the most votes takes home the title. Currently there are 18 other competing museums in Snohomish County.
Museums have the ability to create solidarity on a social and political level. The various Smithsonian museums within the United States see roughly 3.3 million people combined every year. These museums cover numerous cultural backgrounds, highlighting major political figures, historical art pieces, and an insight to humankind. They are wildly popular and hold the power to attract, educate, and influence the people that visit them.
What many seem to forget is that local museums are just as invaluable. They offer an insight into the history of a specific location, and help us to pay tribute to the communal cultures, customs, and legacies to that area. As the New Jersey Maritime Museum stated, “Museums focused on heritage and culture bring people together, creating a network of support for different minorities and groups. It is support networks like these that prevent cultures from disappearing and languages from dying.”
Of the 18 museums that are located in Snohomish County, the Hibulb Cultural Center is the only museum that focuses on Native American history and culture. One of Hibulb’s most popular attractions is the tracking of Native American lineage. This gives current tribal members the ability to enter their Tribal enrollment number and track their descendance. And anybody can see the earliest recorded history of connections to the tribes that have created Tulalip Tribes. Something so significant and meaningful to visualize after many years of genocide and lost history.
Hibulb Group Tours Specialist, Courtnie Reyes said, “A lot of people around here don’t know the entire history of Tulalip people or a lot of the history of Native Americans in general. I think we bring a lot of that to the table, and allow people to get educated on our history and on the land they were on as well.”
During the time in which the voting was taking place for Everett Herald’s Best Museum, the world was put on pause. The Covid-19 pandemic made it hard for businesses to stay open, and interactions became limited. The Hibulb did it’s best to remain connected to people, and the staff worked diligently to maintain an online presence.
Museum Manager Mytyl Hernandez said, “We tried to keep people engaged in our center through our social media campaigns. We would recycle some of our old posts and share videos for people to continue to see our content. We have a really great relationship with our social media following, and we tried to navigate it as much as we could.”
The center also utilized this time to produce videos on their TV program, Hibulb Conversations, which features heated conversations and hot topics that can be shown online and in exhibits.
Because Hibulb followed tribal government guidelines, they safely reopened in August 2020, though visitation numbers were extremely low. During their busiest months of the year, March to June, they normally see around 7,000 guests. However from 2020-2021, they fell well below that average.
Though visitor counts remain lower than usual, Hernandez believes that more people will come and experience the center, “people really look at museums as a place of solitude, and a welcoming and safe environment. So as soon as we were able to do so, we were happy to provide that to our community and our guests.”
With the abundance of effort put on by tribal staff, the Hibulb Cultural Center raises awareness about tribal culture, educates people outside of our tribe, and maintains the cultural wellness of our people. If you would like to visit or know more information about the center, go to: www.hibulbculturalcenter.org
By Kalvin Valdillez, photos courtesy of Dom Joseph and Faith Iukes
For over 50 years, the Daybreak Star Cultural Center at Discovery Park has been a space for local Native Americans to connect and celebrate their culture. Whether gathering to attend their annual powwow or Indigenous People’s Day celebration, or perhaps visiting art exhibits or attending one of their many cultural events throughout the year, Natives of all ages, and from multiple tribes across the nation, have shared laughs, stories, tears, traditions, artwork and meals with one another at Daybreak Star. The cultural center has earned a special place in the hearts of many.
The Daybreak Star Cultural Center is headquarters to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1970, when a collective of over 100 urban Seattle Natives reclaimed Indigenous land near the Magnolia neighborhood, which would then become Discovery Park. Over the years, the non-profit has provided an array of services and resources to Natives living in the Seattle area, including outdoor pre-school education.
Due to the pandemic, people haven’t had the opportunity to gather at the cultural center as frequently as they once had prior to COVID, especially for cultural events. However, that did not stop the organization from doing what they do best, and have been doing for over a half-a-century, and that’s connect Indigenous people with each other to celebrate our culture and share our way of life.
Last summer, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation announced a new project aimed to reach as many reservations and Indigenous homelands as possible, bringing that signature Daybreak Star experience to your home. Via the internet, the newly established Daybreak Star Radio Network brings music, stories, news and on-air interviews, podcasts and conversations to Indigenous people throughout the world.
The online radio station is perfect to listen to while on your daily commute, at work, exercising, studying, or simply doing chores about the house. It features all genres of music including R&B, hip-hop, country, EDM, rock and funk, as well as traditional music such as flute, drums, coastal and powwow. Daybreak Star Radio not only welcomes, but encourages Indigenous artists to submit their art to the station to be featured on-air, helping creative Natives gain more exposure and expand their fan base.
The Daybreak Star Radio Network enlisted Lummi tribal member, DJ Big Rez to host a daily hip-hop and EDM session, as well as DJ Abe Cortez who hosts a Latin rock, freestyle, R&B and dance two-hour slot every Sunday evening. And Seattle-based creative, Luminous Pariah, plays ‘classic Chicago house music with new sounds from Europe and the Americas’.
Dominick Joseph
Tulalip’s own Dominick Joseph, of The Dom Joseph Podcast fame, was named the Daybreak Star Radio Network’s Audio Producer and has been featured on KIRO 7 News and Q13 Fox News to talk about his work with the online radio network. Dom has a strong passion of amplifying the Indigenous voice, and helping Native artists and creatives share their stories and experiences through their choice of medium.
“Daybreak Star Radio Station is more than just storytelling and music,” he shared. “It is a non-profit organization that provides a platform and opportunity for Native American artists to showcase their art to the world. Having this space allows Native Americans across the country to be portrayed the way we would like to be represented in media, instead of the mold made for us by society. We here at Daybreak Star Radio are Indigenizing the airwaves one piece at a time.”
Faith Iukes.
Dom is not the only Tulalip tribal member involved in the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation’s latest project. Social media influencer, Faith Iukes, recently signed-on as the youngest on-air personality and will begin hosting her own show on the radio network in the near future. Faith’s show will be geared toward the Indigenous youth of the world and she will play music from some of her favorite Native musicians.
Faith expressed, “I believe that not only are we still here, we are thriving. In film, news, fashion, radio, in all forms of media really. We are a part of this world today, not some relic of a past culture. We are growing, evolving and surviving. We aren’t going to disappear.”
The radio station is active 24-hours a day, seven days a week. You can tune-in by visiting www.daybreakstarradio.com. Daybreak Star Radio also recently launched an app that is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, making listening on-the-go a fun and easy experience. For more information, including how to submit your own music, please visit the radio network’s website at www.daybreakstarradio.com.
Way back in the simpler times of 2015, then President Barack Obama issued a call to action at the United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) annual conference. He referred to this call to action as “the first step in engaging a broad network of people interested in addressing the issues facing Native youth and creating a platform through which Native youth can access information, opportunities and resources. [Most Importantly, to] have their voices and positive contributions highlighted and elevated.
“We want to give those young people and young Native American like them the support they deserved,” the former President continued. “We have to invest in them, and believe in them, and love them. And if we do, there’s no question of the great things they can achieve – not just for their own families, but for their nation and for the United States.”
Those words inspired the next generation of Tulalip leaders to heed the call to leadership. The teenage youth thoughtfully and expeditiously created the first-ever Tulalip Youth Council as a result. Since it’s inception seven years ago, Youth Council continues to develop excitement amongst our young people to engage in cultural activites and local events, while proudly representing the youth voice at Board of Director’s meetings.
The latest rendition of youth leadership, known as the 2022 Tulalip Youth Council, was sworn-in by Chairwoman Teri Gobin on Saturday, February 5th.
Prior to being sworn-in, each attending youth took a moment to introduce themselves in the traditional way. Tribal leadership was stunned as a majority of young culture bearers spoke Lushootseed while introducing themselves and shared who their parents and grandparents are.
“This is the first time I’ve heard so many youth speak Lushootseed, our language, in the board room or anywhere else for that matter,” marveled Board of Director Glen Gobin. “To be able to open up and share what’s been handed down to you from our ancestors shows the passion each of you has to learn and embrace our culture. Our elders are so encouraged to know our Tulalip youth are bringing the language back.
“It’s so important we have youth be involved in our Tribe and to know who we are as Tulalip people. One day, members of this Youth Council will be sitting here as Board of Directors because you were willing to stand up, be involved, and actually care about what’s happening in our community. I am encouraged and feel secure knowing we have future leaders who want to learn, understand, and provide for the next generations. Your Tribe is proud of you.”
After taking their oaths and offering handmade necklaces to the Board of Directors, the three attending Senior members of Youth Council, all of which just so happen to be 15-years-old, offered their vision for the next year.
“My mission is to continue working towards getting drugs off our Rez,” shared chairman Image Enick. “By bringing more awareness to the drug problem, getting tribal members in need in contact with services that can help them get clean, and hosting events like Get Drugs Off Our Rez rallies, we can all work together to accomplish this mission. An important piece of this includes breaking down the drug issue to our young ones, at elementary and middle schools, because they are affected, too. They need to know what the devastating effects of drugs are so they aren’t tempted and know what can happen if they do drugs.”
Vice-chair Faith Valencia said, “My goals are more about cleaning up our community, like removing garbage from our streets and neighborhoods and getting more people to recycle. I’d like to see more recycle bins at our common areas so that people have more of an option to recycle than just throwing everything away. By having more community clean-ups we can reach more people and help make them aware.”
Treasurer Johnathon “JD” Rinker added, “I’d really like to see more of an effort to get our community garden going. Having our people learn to garden, understating the different types of soil needed for growing plants and vegetables can make a big difference in getting more people healthy. We have people with records that can’t get jobs, so by creating job opportunities for them at the garden they can get their life back together and learn a valuable skill that they can teach others.”
In attendance at the swearing-in were two previous Youth Councilmembers who wanted to support their fellow tribal members. Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Vega-Simpson and seventeen-year-old Sebastian Gomez spent the previous two years as officers on Youth Council and shared how their time in leadership positions helped them grow as individuals and gain invaluable experience for future endeavors.
They shared that a definite highlight of thier time on Council was creating a Wellness Warrior video that won 2nd place at the UNITY conference, while also being very proud of creating the first-ever Tulalip Pride Walk. They also spoke of the multiple collaborations with Tulalip departments and services in gaining more momentum for community-based events.
“For me, being on Council during the pandemic meant we become a source a of positivity and optimism for our people. Always looking at the bright side that we had each other and being part of a community that cares for one another,” said Sebastian. “I was very shy when I first joined, but quickly had to learn to speak to people I didn’t know and gained so much public speaking experience. Ultimately, I learned to step outside my comfort zone and be more confident in myself and my abilities.”
“When I joined initially it was to not only help the community but to learn more of our language and about our shared culture,” added Evelyn. “Through all the experiences and events we got to attend and be a part of, we learned more and more about the culture. What it means to be Tulalip and how to represent ourselves as Tulalip tribal members. So when I look back at the last few years I’m really thankful for the opportunity to get to know more about the community and to have met so many of our people.”
While no official projects have been decided on yet, the newest version of Tulalip Youth Council will meet regularly under the guidance of their advisor, Shane McLean. Many of the newest members said they hope to participate in national events and do some travelling like previous Councils have done. Their shared optimism lies in working in their community and volunteering with local organizations and schools to address what they view are areas of most concern.
We wish them the best of luck and look forward to updating our readers on future Youth Council activities.
By Kalvin Valdillez; photos courtesy of Ryan Gobin
Six years ago, a Tulalip man took a leap of faith and gave up his ten-year career as a police officer for his love and passion of food. Briefly opening a concession stand outside of the local CrossFit gym, Ryan Gobin began serving up tasty dishes to the tribal community, and the response he received from that endeavor led him to the investment of a small food truck. After hitching a smoker to the food truck, he held a competition online asking his friends and family for ideas on what to call his new restaurant-on-wheels. With a name and a very interested and hungry patronage, Ryan’s REZ-ipes officially opened up shop in 2016.
Serving up the likes of frybread, truffle fries, pulled pork sandwiches and tacos, burgers, shrimp bowls and a variety of weekly specials and experimental dishes, Ryan’s REZ-ipes has gone from a locally known best-kept-secret to a countrywide fan favorite with thousands of followers on social media. Many self-proclaimed foodies and food industry professionals alike often tag their friends on Ryan’s photos with a comment along the lines of ‘we gotta try this’. Ryan’s REZ-ipes is now available through delivery services such as DoorDash and he even began selling some of his signature spices and mixes for you to try at-home.
Ryan’s journey is the perfect blueprint for up-and-coming tribal entrepreneurs to follow. From a concession stand to a shiny beaut of a food truck, he has grown his brand incredibly over the past several years, incorporating a Native American logo and adding catering to the business. It’s gotten to the point that whenever you see his blue food truck, your stomach might growl and your mouth will more-than-likely water just thinking of his Indigenous and multi-cultural inspired cuisines.
When he was first getting his start, Tulalip News sat down with the tribal chef and businessman to talk about the inspiration behind his new venture, to which he responded, “I first got into cooking in my teen years. I have lots of family members that are amazing cooks and have been taught many recipes from all of them. I watched when people cooked in my younger years and began trying my own recipes. I could name everyone I learned from, but that would be a long list.”
With six successful years under his belt, Ryan recently took some time out of his very busy schedule to talk with Tulalip News once more about his passion for cooking and growing his business, as well as to discuss all the success he’s had since first beginning his culinary experience.
Since we last spoke, Ryan’s REZ-ipes has continuously leveled up every year. Can you talk about your journey since then? What has been a few of the major highlights of the business over the years?
I’d have to agree with leveling up! The business has definitely taken off at a rapid pace since the upgrade of a new food truck. The amount of events and weddings have quadrupled in the past two years and are continuing to increase. I already have 18 weddings booked for 2022, and I am still getting more requests weekly.
You mentioned the new truck, can you touch upon some of the truck’s features and equipment? How has that benefited your dream of serving tasty dishes to the community?
Having a new food truck has helped immensely – having all brand-new equipment and an on-board smoker. Instead of having to plug multiple warmers in a power source, and having to use a loud generator mounted on the back, I now have professional plumbed propane heating warmers, a fryer and a flat top griddle.
It’s the Cadillac of food trucks. I even incorporated a stereo system that sounds like an outdoor nightclub and LED lighting to create a colorful ambiance. Since having this truck and showing others the potential of what can be done, I now have had over a dozen other food truck owners coming to me for advice, from multiple states across the U.S.
You have a lot of new items on the menu and many of them have cultural ties. What are some of those dishes and what is the inspiration behind some of those popular plates?
I have multiple new items and some of my oldies too. Over the years I’ve utilized my skills with trial and error – making everything better and better, and finding where to gather those ingredients to achieve the best quality.
I’ve been all over the board in bettering different items, such as my marinades, creating more sauces, my seasoning rub for my smoked pork and coming up with desert toppings for frybread. Years ago, I was selling frybread and always ended up running into issues where it just wasn’t perfect every time, it was either too heavy or just didn’t look right. I was given my Grandma Nonie’s recipe years ago and I just couldn’t get it right, so I gave up. This past year I tried again, but told myself I wouldn’t stop trying until I got it exactly how I want it – fluffy and perfect. I achieved my goal and now sell my own Ryan’s REZ-ipes fluffy frybread mix in professionally sealed pouches.
I love to travel and experience new kinds of foods everywhere, which is how I came up with a few of my dishes like my Korean-style kalbi steak, my Hawaiian-style chicken tacos and even my shrimp dishes. Whenever I try something and just crave it, I figure out how to make it myself, then I put my own twist on it. Different cultures have their own kind of traditional flavors, and they all inspire me to create explosive flavors that make your tastebuds dance. It’s pretty obvious that I’m greatly inspired by the Hawaiian Islands just by seeing a lot of the dishes I choose, such as one of my recent specials the loco moco with fried rice, which is a Hawaiian traditional dish. You will also see Hawaiian shaved ice on my menu, which actually originated in Japan.
After cheffing it up over the years, you are obviously still very passionate about cooking and providing meals to the people. What motivates you and fuels your drive now that you are living your dream?
My passion continues to grow the more I see smiles on everyone’s faces after they eat my food. It enhances my drive to continue to figure out new dishes and to give everyone new foods to try. I now have over 8,000 followers on social media, so my foods are seen across the U.S. and also in other countries. That drives me to want to build an even larger business, which will happen in due time.
Catering is now a big aspect of Ryan’s REZ-ipes that I don’t believe you were doing yet at the time of the last article. Could you talk about your catering options and the process? What are some of the events you’ve catered this far and what makes catering enjoyable for you?
Catering is huge in the food industry. I have now catered over 150 events and still growing daily. We cater anywhere from 100 people to 1000. I have catered multiple birthdays, corporate events, baby showers, celebrations of life, weddings and we even catered last years Tulalip employee day at the amphitheater. I love it because food makes everyone happy. I also cater weekly for a company that is building an all-electric airplane, over 100 employees each week. I have a large catering menu to choose from and that can be located at ryansREZipes.com.
Can you talk about some of the new and exciting updates happening at Ryan’s REZ-ipes?
My newest update is that I’m adding garlic rosemary truffle fries and frybread to my menu, and I will be finding new unique ways of utilizing them, such as adding dessert toppings, or pairing with a hickory smoked hot dog and a number of toppings. One update that I’m happy to announce is I will be looking to add a food trailer to the fleet. I will be separating the shaved ice from the food truck. This will allow me to have more room to focus on shaved ice and Lotus drinks with amazing toppings, and maybe even cotton candy will be added to the mix! We will also do dessert frybread there, so it will basically be more of a dessert trailer.
Ryan’s REZ-ipes serves as an inspiration to many tribal members and proof that you can follow your life’s passion, not only to aspiring chefs, but to all tribal entrepreneurs as well. Any words of advice for those just starting out, or those who are looking to start their own business?
The best advice I can give to those that would like to start their own business is never give up – ever. You will have doubts and there will be a lot of roadblocks. You just need to always remember that nothing is ever instant. It can take years to create the profits you aim for, not days, weeks or months. Trial and error is key. If you make a mistake, learn from it and keep pushing forward in a good way. Lastly, make small goals and work daily to achieve them. No matter how small the achievement is, it’s still an achievement.
What are your typical hours and where can people find you? Any upcoming events or anything new on the horizon you’d like to share?
In the upcoming months and years, our locations, days we’re open and times of operation will change, being it’s a food truck that serves food and does private catering as well. But typically, right now, we’re located at the Tulalip Market which is a great location. We are there Thursday – Saturday and every other Sunday. Those days and locations will even rally change though. So, you can stay up to date by following the Ryan’s REZ-ipes Facebook page.
She’s too humble to admit she’s a dominating low post player on the basketball court. Yet anyone who has been following Jacynta Myles’ high school career knows it’s a simple truth. She’s too big, too strong…simply too much to handle one-on-one for any Northwest 1B high school program. And now playing for Lummi Nation, she’s looking to make one last playoff run before her high school days are over.
During her freshman and sophomore years, Jacynta was a foundational player for Tulalip’s Heritage High School. She was a walking double-double even while still adjusting to her still growing, powerful physique. Then the pandemic hit. She managed to still dazzle her opponents with monster stat lines in her junior year while wearing a Heritage Hawks jersey. But going into her senior season, she was forced to make a change.
A combination of factors, largely due to the ongoing pandemic, led to Heritage sports being temporarily disbanded. The athletes were granted permission to continue playing sports at other high schools. Most chose programs in Marysville, but not Jacynta. The 18-year-old culture bearer refused to play for a non-Native basketball team. So what did she do? Routinely drive herself from Tulalip, all the way up to Lummi, in order to gain eligibility, that’s what.
“I really hoped we could’ve had a basketball season at Heritage for my senior year, but it wasn’t meant to be,” reflected Jacynta. “I love being Native American and representing our culture through sports, especially basketball. Our crowds are always so passionate and really enjoy seeing us play. So when that all got cancelled, my choices were to play for a school that doesn’t really represent us or play for our on-court rival, Lummi. It was a no brainer for me. I chose the culture.”
Long-time rivals, on the court anyway, Lummi Nation hoops welcomed the towering Jacynta with open arms. Sure, there was an adjustment period, more so because the guard heavy BlackHawks weren’t used to playing with a truly talented post player before. However, once both player and team got used to one anther the results spoke for themselves.
Fueled by Jacynta’s presence in the paint anchoring their defense and her low post dominance on offense, Lummi reeled off one W after another. Coach Krista Mahle explained by adding Jacynta to the team, her guards were able to play a much more up-tempo style. Four wings who can all dribble, pass and shoot typically share the court with Jacynta.
“Jacynta has been a game changer for us,” said Coach Krista. “She’s been a leader for my girls and helped them develop really develop their games. We’ve been so happy to have a player of her caliber on our team.”
Lummi’s new style of play with Jacynta at the center spot created havoc for their opponent’s coaches. Do they sell out to slow down the biggest girl on the court or focus on the perimeter ball handlers and let Jacynta have her way in the post? Neither strategy worked particularly well.
The BlackHawks dominated the regular season with a league best 7-1 record. After getting a first round bye, they hosted the Darrington Loggers in a second round playoff matchup on February 5th. The game was the first home game all season that Lummi Nation allowed fans in the stands. A decent sized crowd showed up, including a handful of Tulalip families, to cheer on the all-Native BlackHawks team.
They made quick work of the Loggers who were clearly outmatched in all facets of the game. Jacynta barely broke a sweat while filling the box score. Lummi gave their excited crowd what they came to see, a 54-39 W.
“It’s been a really fun season, especially having teammates who help me be the best post player I can be, which just makes the wins that much sweeter,” said Jacynta post-game. “My teammates and coach have really embraced me. Now, together, we hope to make a deep playoff run. Personally, I’ve never been to State before, so that’s my goal. How amazing would that be to finally make it happen in my senior year?”
Next up for Jacynta and her Lummi BlackHawks is a matchup with Grace Academy on Thursday, February 10, with a 6:00 p.m. tipoff.
It’s a common occurrence for American children, especially young boys, to dream of one day becoming a police officer, fire firefighter or army soldier. Whether its socialization from Saturday morning cartoons or play fighting with their prized action figures, there typically comes a point where a child’s hero worship manifests itself into visualizing a future self where they are the actual hero. That may look like a brave police officer catching bad guys, a fearless firefighter running into a blazing fire to save people, or a valiant soldier fighting to defend freedom and democracy.
For some, this calling to be a hero who protects and serves their community never fades. Such is the case with homegrown Tulalip tribal member Kanoe Williams. He recently returned from a lengthy stay in New Mexico where he attended and graduated from the U.S. Indian Police Academy.
The 29-year-old Kanoe becomes the latest in a long, proud history of tribal members who chose to wear the Tulalip Police Department shield. He sat down with Tulalip News staff to reflect on his journey to this point and what he hopes the future holds for him in law enforcement.
What inspired you to join TPD?
“My inspiration to become a Tulalip police officer is a passion to serve my community. The thought first came to me when I was 24, but I knew I wasn’t ready then to take on this role. Now, I’m a little older, more mature, and willing to take on this responsibility to protect and serve our people.”
Describe the process to become a tribal police officer.
“First things first, you gotta have the courage to apply and put yourself through a series of tests. A polygraph to test your honesty and integrity, a medical to test physical capableness and general fitness, and a series of interviews to make sure you’re a good fit to join Tulalip police.
After passing those required tests, then it’s on to police academy where you learn the basics of the law and other essential skills for successful police work. Attending academy was the longest I’d ever been off the Reservation, so there was an adjustment period, but I knew it was all part of the process to create a better future for myself, my family, and my Tribe.”
What kind of impact do you hope to make in the community?
“A positive one, that’s for sure. What that may look like will vary from person to person and family to family. But in general, I want our people to feel safe and confident that when they need police assistance that we have their best interest at heart, always. By giving our people the respect and empathy they deserve, I hope to earn their trust as an officer who knows what they are doing and is fair in enforcing the law to everyone.
Looking even further in the future, I hope to become a training sergeant who is able to recruit more of our tribal members into joining and give them the confidence to do this job well.”
It’s a fascinating political and social climate to become a cop, especially when considering social media. Did any of this play a role in your decision?
“It’s funny because if you just looked at the news and social media you might wonder why anyone would want to become a cop today. However, most the time, when you see first responders around large groups of kids like a school, the Boys and Girls Club, or the Youth Center, the interactions are always positive. The younger kids will often share how they want to become a police officer or firefighter. That’s empowering.
To pursue and accept a role to serve your community is empowering as well. And something I want do so that our next generation continues to dream of becoming heroes and choosing careers where they serve others instead of only themselves. Deterring and preventing crime may not be glamorous to everyone, but knowing those we love and care about are safe is the ultimate reward.”
Why is it important for Tulalip to have representation in its police force?
“There are many tribes that don’t have their own police force. They are instead policed by outside agencies and county police who don’t understand what its like for our people who live on a reservation. When we have Tulalip tribal members hear the call to serve their own people by becoming officers, we are not only embracing our sovereignty but creating a better community.
Growing up on the reservation, we see and hear things that are very different from outside communities. Our experiences make us more compassionate and understanding because we know there all different kinds of traumas at work and those traumas can be healed in a variety of ways. Through community outreach and creating networks with all the departments that want to make our people healthy, our police department actively works with our people, not against them.
In my short time in the department I’ve witnessed firsthand how much our officers, tribal and non-tribal, respect and care for our Tulalip community. I’ve also been hearing the stories of past tribal members who built the police department into what it is today. That’s a legacy I intend to build upon for all of us.”
There are many things Tulalip is known for. Depending upon who is asked, the responses may vary widely. However, within Snohomish County coaching circles a common response is raw athleticism.
Indeed, for generations now, Tulalip has churned out athletes who have showcased an uncanny ability to learn and compete in sports at a high level. Whether it be at the beginning stages at the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA, middle school intermediate stage or varsity quality at local high schools, Tulalip is well-represented across the sporting spectrum.
As our proud athletes continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible for a simple Rez kid, like those currently fulfilling their dreams to play collegiate sports, it’s critical for the next generation to receive access to the newest training technology and latest performance-based guidance.
Analytics and data is quickly becoming the preferred method for evaluating college prospects and professional athletes. In keeping up with the data-driven times, husband/wife duo DeShawn and Sharmane Joseph created a first-of-its-kind partnership to bring cutting-edge athletic assessors Basic Athletic Measurement (BAM) to Tulalip.
“Moving in real-time, many Tribes, educational systems, and business institutions throughout the world are using data and analytics to make informed decisions about any number of things. Why not, then, use data and analytics to assess our children’s athletic needs and abilities? This way we can showcase their talents and give them something real from top level trainers to motivate, inspire, and change their path, one kid at a time,” explained DeShawn.
The Joseph’s Reservations Without Borders program and BAM hosted a modified skills camp in the friendly confines of the Tulalip Youth Center on Saturday, January 29. The skills being tested? That raw athleticism Tulalip is known for.
Athletic assessment typically relies on stop watches, manual data collection, and non-standardized testing protocols. Due to bias and inconsistency, comparing and benchmarking an athlete’s performance has historically been a subjective measure. BAM has revolutionized the process with remote sensors, motion tracking lasers, and other SmartSpeed tech wizardry. BAM’s staff and methodology have been stamped with approval by the NBA, ADIDAS, Under Armour, EuroCamp, and power 5 college conferences such as the PAC12 and the BIG10.
“We were invited to come to Tulalip and present our service we offer to athletes around the world,” said BAM founder Brett Brungardt. He has nearly thrity years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Mavericks and University of Washington basketball teams. “We brought this technology to the NBA fourteen-years-ago and since then its been utilized for twenty-two different sports. Our design assesses each athlete and provides them with a foundation to build from. This way they can workout or train in a manner that they know is making them faster, improving agility, increasing power…basically improving all the components necessary for becoming a better athlete.”
After the preregistered Tulalip athletes showed up at the Youth Center, joined by a few excited day of participants, things quickly got going on the freshly waxed gymnasium hardwood. Brett and his team gave the aspiring sport superstars a quick orientation and immediately got to warm-ups. Everyone hit the lines and participated in a 15-minute group warm-up session to adequately stretch and prepare for the training to come.
The traditional basketball court area had been reconfigured into five testing zones, each with a unique function and it’s own set of challenges. The group of kids were split up into groups and rotated through each zone, being allowed a practice try and then two scored attempts. A nearly identical set up as professional ballplayers at the annual NBA Combine.
Each testing zone provided a key measurement that when used as a whole can determine a participant’s overall athleticism. The zones were as follows:
Vertical Jump. Evaluates the ability to exert a maximal force in as short a time as possible within vertical distance depending upon sport specifics.
Sprint. Evaluation to determine acceleration, maximum speed and endurance speed. Sprint time can be performed over varying distances, depending upon sport specifics.
Reaction Shuttle. Evaluates the ability to show how quick and effective decisions are made and actions initiated, plus the brief interval of time it takes to react to an external stimulus.
Broad Jump. Athlete starts within 15 feet of the Vertec. It is a running start vertical jump. Measurement is similar to the vertical jump, but also includes athlete’s ability to coordinate and incorporate strength and power with reach.
Agility. Valuation measures the ability to make quick changes of direction while moving at speed and the ability to move quickly and change directions.
Every basketball player knows that major bragging rights go to the player with the most hops, and the easiest way to determine that is the though an official vertical jump test. One by one the athletes got into position, buckled their knees for an added boost and then leaped skyward, extending their fingers as far as possible. After the competitive jumping session, the day’s vertical jump crown went to 17-year-old Tommy Nguyen.
“I knew I could jump high, but not that high! A thirty-seven inch vert is definitely low key bragging rights,” said Tommy to his fellow Marysville-Pilchuck teammates.
During the agility and reaction shuttle drills, it become apparent to the athletes that pure speed and power could be outdone by light, nimble feet and a lightning fast reaction. It was in these events that 13-year-old Mayleah Madera shined brightest.
“My favorite sports are basketball, softball and volleyball. I can’t choose just one, I love them all,” beamed Mayleah after her days testing session. “Today was a lot of fun and different than anything I’d ever done before. The coaches told me that by being light on my feet and continuing to develop better foot work that I’ll be an overall better athlete for all my sports. Also, it was really cool to outscore the boys on some activities.”
New and developing technologies like BAM’s athletic assessment system make it possible to standardize a player’s performance level. Giving them not only an athletic GPS to track their progress, but to recognize areas in need of growth as well. For families who dedicate endless time and financial resources to their child’s dreams, these assessment systems validate a commitment to athletic excellence.
Emphasizing the event’s unique nature, BAM staff made sure the young athletes recognized how special they were by remarking multiple times this was the first group of Native Americans to ever test their athleticism under the BAM system. Something DeShawn and his wife are proud of, as they hope to test thousands of Native kids throughout the country with this latest partnership.
“They got to witness the beautiful athleticism come out of our kids. The showcasing talent we’ve always seen in our communities came to life today, in front of real professionals who were able to track the data we need to move our kids forward in a good way,” reflected DeShawn after the day’s session concluded. “With this technology, our kids and athletes can gauge themselves and know exactly which parts of their training they need to focus on to improve their overall skills.
“With this BAM partnership we hope to achieve the same outcomes in Indian Country that the professional institutions are getting from their athletes – the inspirational improvements and the amazing stories,” he continued. “I’m hoping over a 5-10 year span we can test over 10,000 Native American kids in all of their communities throughout the United States and Canada.”
DeShawn added a special thank you is in order to the Tulalip Board of Directors for believing in his vision for our athletes and the Youth Center for providing an amazing facility and lunches for all the participants.
It takes a village to raise a child is a powerful proverb that means an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with a child so that it may grow in a safe, healthy, and culturally vibrant environment. On paper it sounds perfect, right? But among the concrete jungles and techno-filled landscapes of modern America, its increasingly difficult to find examples of this proverb being fulfilled.
For expectant mothers and those with babies, not having a village or support system of encouraging individuals around during such a vulnerable time can be devastating. On the Tulalip Reservation, there’s a new program striving to provide that critical support for our life givers. The Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) seeks to improve birth outcomes within the Tulalip Tribal community. The program’s vision is to provide education and support resources that create an environment of empowered, educated and supported mothers and children.
To better explain the program’s purpose and services, it’s coordinator, Community Health nurse Morgan Peterson, sat down with Tulalip News for a thorough overview. A Rosebud Sioux tribal member, she’s lived locally to Tulalip most of her life. After receiving her nursing degree and working in OB-GYN offices throughout the area, Morgan has spent the last twelve years dedicated to prenatal health in Tulalip.
Morgan Peterson, Community Health nurse
What is the purpose of the Maternal Infant Health Program?
“The ultimate goal is for our families to feel empowered and to ensure they are having a birth experience that is positive. For young, first time moms this may mean education and providing a safe space to ask questions or seek guidance. For a mom adding to her family, this may mean improving birth outcomes and healing from past traumas so that mom and baby are treated with the best care available.
A major part of MIHP includes building resiliency. We want our life givers to be confident in all aspects of motherhood. I’m passionate about meeting my clients wherever they are in life, and walking beside them on their journey to self-determination.”
Does this include coordination of home births?
“Yes, it does. More and more moms are choosing to give birth in the comfort of their own home or a setting of their choosing outside of a hospital. We’ll help our life givers achieve their birthing goals, whether it’s by coordinating a hospital birth or navigating the home birth process. There’s different options available to our families, such as birthing centers, too, which we can tour together if they’re interested.”
Are MIHP services for individual mothers only, or can family units be included?
“Having a child in a warm, nurturing environment may mean having your family or even grandparents involved. We understand a lot of Native homes are multi-generational. We are more than willing to work with our Native family units, however they may look, to assist mothers be in the best position possible. If you’re living with your parents, grandparents, or other relations we want to make sure your immediate support system is educated to yours and baby’s needs.”
Breaking cycles of abuse and healing from generational traumas are common concepts to Native parents. Are these processes you help with?
“Our history with boarding schools and the foster care system has resulted in whole generations of traumatized families. If not addressed and healed, then that trauma gets passed on from one generation to the next, which we often see. I understand the intricacies of this process because my grandma was in a boarding school. She was forcibly taken from her family in Pine Ridge and never mothered. She grew up with the nuns, was beaten and stripped of her language. My grandma was never taught to be motherly or maternal, so when she raised her kids, she provided for them, but was never motherly. That’s to say she wasn’t loving. That led to my mom wanting to be better, and to do so she had to learn to be loving because she wasn’t taught that by my grandma.
We understand everyone is trying to be better than the generation before, but it’s often difficult to admit these traumas that need to be healed so we don’t pass them on to our kids. That’s where we can help by offering services to learn how to change parenting styles in order for our children to be nurtured and feel loved.”
The concept of ‘birth outcome’ is new. You mentioned your goal to improve them, but what does a negative birth outcome mean?
“A common negative outcome is described by those who have experienced racism and traumas by medical providers or the medical community at large. Those who have felt judged or were treated as addicts, and those who experienced a general lack of cultural competency by their providers, all lead to negative birth outcomes.
Another common one is unnecessary CPS reports or accusations of bad parenting that lead new parents or parents with multiple kids to avoid routine doctor visits and check-ups. Teen moms can feel shunned and stereotyped in ways that deter them from receiving the critical information and services they need.
We seek to improve birth outcomes by providing education and support resources that create a positive environment where mothers and their children feel supported. This includes recommending medical providers who are familiar with Native American culture and are sensitive to the unique aspects and issues of Tulalip families.”
Can you share one of your favorite improved birth outcome experiences?
“Sure. One of my favorites is about a mom who found out she was pregnant while in jail. She contacted me after she was got out and was living in a halfway house while going to treatment…all while having a new born baby. I was familiar with their family and knew where the traumas come from. Their parents had massive addiction. Assisting this mom build the resiliency to stay strong, find the right support system for her, and maintain a journey of sobriety was life changing for her and her children. That was a couple years ago when she called me, and she’s still sober to this day. Her journey and love for her children inspired one of her parents to get clean as well. This is an inspirational story for some and motivational for others. It lets them know what’s possible.”
For an expectant mother or mom with a new born, what does the MIHP startup process look like?
“It starts with either a simple phone call or in-person visit, whichever they prefer. We would discuss their pregnancy, how they are doing, and what services they need. Each mom is unique as is what she may need help with. Our help ranges from maternal and infant health assessments; pregnancy and parenting support; infant health and development education; breastfeeding and nutrition support; and referrals/registration to community resources based on their needs. Just to name a few. We have so many possible services and ways of helping our new moms.”
The Maternal Infant Health Program is an evidence-based, culturally-tailored home visiting partnership designed to assist, support, and empower expectant moms (those currently pregnant) and moms with children under 3-years-old. If you or a loved one meets these criteria and could benefit from hearing all of the amazing details this program can offer, please contact Morgan directly via email mpeterson@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov or call/text 360-926-5978.
Sylvia McAdam (Saysewahum) has garnered respect from around the globe as a cofounder of the international movement Idle No More. Hailing from the Treaty 6 lands of modern day Canada, she’s travelled the continent to support countless First Nations and Native American tribes in their efforts to defend and protect sacred lands, waters, and animals.
Sylvia is a citizen of the Cree Nation and proudly holds a Juris Doctorate (LL.B) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor’s of Human Justice (B.H.J) from the University of Regina. She is a recipient of the Carol Geller Human Rights Award, Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers Award, 2014 Global Citizen Award, and has received several eagle feathers from Indigenous communities that she holds dear. A law professor at the University of Windsor, Sylvia is routinely asked to speak on her experiences defending Indigenous rights and participating in Indigenous-led protest movements.
Idle No More started in November 2012, among Treaty People in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta protesting the Canadian government’s dismantling of environmental protection laws, endangering First Nations who live on the land. Born out of face-to-face organizing and popular education, but fluent in social media and new technologies, Idle No More has connected the most remote reserves to each other, to urbanized Indigenous people, and to the non-Indigenous population.*
Led by women, and with a call for refounded nation-to-nation relations based on mutual respect, Idle No More rapidly grew into an inclusive, continent-wide network of urban and rural Indigenous working hand in hand with non-Indigenous allies to build a movement for Indigenous rights and the protection of land, water, and sky.
Because colonization has dramatically caused the heartbreaking loss of Indigenous languages, customs and traditional lifeways, Sylvia uses the oral tradition of her people to share her dream to revitalize Indigenous nationhood. It is Sylvia’s dream, shared by many Indigenous peoples, that freedom, liberation and self-determination will lead Indigenous peoples away from the pain of genocide and colonialism.
Following a riveting presentation at the World Issues Forum, she honored See-Yaht-Sub staff with a sit-down interview to discuss several issues that are of utmost importance to Indigenous peoples and communities.
Wisp of Hope created by Fanny Aishaa to memorialize an anti-fracking protest in New Brunswick.
SYS: During your presentation you mentioned as Indigenous peoples we shouldn’t identify as an ‘environmentalist’ or ‘activist’, but instead view ourselves as defenders of our homeland. Why is that?
“When you begin to identify as an environmentalist or activist there’s a fear that arises because those terms can be associated with economic terrorists. The fear is rooted in the belief that environmentalism and activism affect the economy. That’s part of it, the other part is activism and environmentalism infers that there is no inherent connection to the land; you just show up and protest. However, when it comes to Indigenous people doing this kind of work, their connection, attention, and investment to the land is much different. Our history is written on the land, our ancestors are buried here, that land is our home. So we are defending and protecting our home. Being defenders of our homeland shifts the thinking, as it should, because our connection with the land is unique.”
SYS: Viewing ourselves as defenders of our homeland also unites us, regardless of citizenship as Native Americans or First Nations people. As defenders of our homeland we become a common people with a set of common goals, right?
“Absolutely. When you are born you are born not only as a human being, you are born into lands. When we go home we have a very clear set of lands that we are born into and we have a responsibility and obligation to protect those lands. That’s what I continue to do every day and that’s why I tell people, ‘when you know your lands you will know your relatives.’ I’m not just talking about the human relatives, I’m talking about the land, the plants, and all the animals, the flyers, the crawlers and the swimmers. Those are all our relatives and right now they have no agency to defend and protect themselves. That’s where we need to step up because the forces that threaten our land and humanity are very identifiable right now. Those forces are the extractive corporations that are going into our lands, almost in a frenzy, to take the very things we need to sustain us.”
SYS: Some of the forces that continue to threaten Native culture and Indigenous identity are more covert than others. You mentioned the term ‘ethnocide’ earlier. Can you explain what ‘ethnocide’ is?
“We speak about genocide, but people forget about ethnocide. Ethnocide is the death of the way of being of people; the things that we need to carry us on as a people. Ethnocide is the taking of our trees, the taking of our water, and
the taking of our plants. What then do we have to carry our ceremonies on? The ceremonies are pivotal and integral in who we are as a people. If you could not have trees to make your canoes, what then? If there are no trees then there are no forests to harvest from. If the waters and oceans are poisoned and you can no longer perform your ceremonies, then what happens to your songs and the language? How does your culture live on? You lose who you are as a people. That’s ethnocide.”
Idle No More logo created by Coast Salish artist Andy Everson. He explains, “Going to my first rally in 2012, I needed a poster to bring along. Knowing that the fist and feather with its image of strength and spirituality was quickly becoming the symbol of the movement, I thought it would be fitting if I created one in the formline style indicative of the west coast. I quickly drew up this image at my dining room table and then put it on my Facebook page and it suddenly went viral. Soon, this image appeared on poster boards, buttons, t-shirts, stickers and banners. My feeling was that I wanted this image to go out into the world and find a life of its own. It did.”
SYS: The idea of disenrollment based upon blood quantum is gaining traction amongst many tribes. It’s based on a system of thought not of our own, but instead is passed down from colonization. What are your thoughts on disenrollment?
“It’s so unfortunate because it seems we’re always in the realm of inadequacy. We’re always inadequate; its either we have too much culture or not enough culture. We’re always in that measure of inadequacy. Ultimately, we can turn to our ancestors to see we never throw away our relatives. We never throw them away, even the ones we have come to adopt. It’s against our culture and against our natural laws as Indigenous peoples. At the end of the day, if you can demonstrate and show to me where your lands and your relatives are, then doesn’t that speak for itself? Every child, every original peoples’ child is born into lands. They have an inherent right to protect and defend those lands. No human can take that away from them.
If you are dis-enrolling children, then you are taking away their inherent obligation and jurisdiction into the lands they are born into. No human being has that right. It’s against our laws to do that. For every Indigenous child born it’s the duty of the parents to make sure that child is connected into the land, so that when they grow up they will defend and protect their relatives who don’t have agency to defend themselves.”
SYS: What astounds you most when you look back at all you’ve experienced and achieved over the past decade with Idle No More?
The amazing courage of grass-roots people when they set their minds to things. That’s what blows me away. The courage and determination of so many individuals who unite and come together for a common goal is what drives Idle No More. On a global scale, we got a message from the Amazon, from the original peoples there, and they told us they were trying to stop the development of a dam. While defending their homeland they were opposed by paramilitary brought in to keep them away from the dam site. On one occasion they were standing there with their spears and bow and arrows chanting ‘Idle No More!’ while the paramilitary pointed their guns at them. They told us Idle No More was their battle cry.
So when I start to feel discouraged or overwhelmed I remind myself of these stories to remember I’m not alone. I have to be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves and continue this work. If I don’t, then what am I going to tell my grandchildren when they ask me, ‘what did you do to protect and defend our culture and homeland?’ I want to be able to tell them I did everything that I could. That’s why I’m here.”
Dancer at Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary’s yearly Tulalip Day celebration.
By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News
“At this time, we remember and acknowledge our ancestors who signed the treaty,” said Tulalip Elder, Inez Bill. “We reflect on the importance of that treaty – who we are as a people and how to continue our way of life – a commemoration of the signing of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott that affected the coastal tribes.”
January 22nd marks 167 years since tribal leaders across the northern Puget Sound region gathered at the location that is presently known as Mukilteo. A historic day in which representatives from various tribes, bands and villages, including the people of Snohomish, Lummi, Swinomish and Suquamish, met with Washington Territory Governor Issac Stevens to negotiate and sign a document that would become known as the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott. Close to 5,000 Coast Salish people were in attendance, and the negations required two translators – one translating English to Chinook Jargon and the other interpreter translated the Chinook Jargon into the traditional languages of the various tribes.
“We honor the good intentions our ancestors had for us in negotiating and signing the treaty,” stated Lena Jones, Tulalip Elder and Education Curator of the Hibulb Cultural Center. “I encourage young folks to listen to their elders when they talk about the treaty and our sovereignty. Understanding the treaty will help you understand the influence it has in every aspect of our lifeways.”
With their future generations in mind, the tribal leaders ceded upwards of 5 million acres of ancestral land to the United States government for white settlement. Today, that enormous amount of land currently makes up Washington’s King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. The treaty established the Tulalip, Port Madison, Swinomish and Lummi reservations, and thereby acknowledged each tribe as a sovereign nation. In exchange for ceding such large portions of land, the tribes reserved the right to fish at usual and accustomed grounds and stations, as well as the right to hunt and gather on open and unclaimed lands.
Ryan Miller, Tulalip Tribes Director of Treaty Rights and Governmental Affairs, speaks on the importance of treaty rights and the need to protect them (2019).
“Treaty rights are an inherent right,” explained Ryan Miller, Tulalip Tribes Director of Treaty Rights and Governmental Affairs. “Treaty rights were not given to tribes. It’s a common misconception that the government gives Native Peoples special rights. That’s the exact opposite of how it works. Tribes are sovereign nations, they give up rights and they retain rights. Treaty rights are rights that are not given up by tribes, and they’re upheld by the federal government as part of their trust relationship with the treaty tribes. The tribes’ right to self-govern is the supreme law of the land. It’s woven into the U.S. constitution as well as many legal decisions and legislative articles. The constitution says Congress has the power to make treaties with sovereign nations, and that treaties are the supreme law of the land.”
Tulalip Fisherman, Brian Green, expressed, “The treaty is literally my livelihood. We fight for our rights every day – fighting to keep our treaty rights. I want my kid’s kids to come out here and be able to exercise their treaty rights. Not everyone has to be a fisherman, but it should be there if they want to exercise it.”
Tribal communities faced difficult years after the signing of the treaty, including the boarding school era. Fifty years after the signing of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, the Tulalip Indian Boarding School opened, one of many Indian boarding schools throughout the country. During this dark era of American history, Native children were forcibly removed from their families and had to attend these schools and learn how to live the new colonized lifestyle.
The institutions were established to ‘civilize’ the Indigenous population. But while at these boarding schools, the kids were often punished, physically and mentally, for speaking their traditional language and practicing their spiritual and cultural teachings. Many children died as a result of the abuse, while the ones who made it through these atrocities often, and unknowingly, passed on their traumas to the next generations, causing vicious cycles of abuse and destructive coping mechanisms to deal with that abuse, throughout the years.
During this era, the U.S. Government also outlawed traditional practices and spiritual ceremonies that took place on these lands since time immemorial. Coast Salish tribal members could not sing their songs, perform their dances or speak their ancestral languages, and therefore could not pass those teachings to the next generations. Longhouses were demolished and modern-day houses were erected on the reservations. The people who inhabited, lived-off and cared for this land for ages were to learn the ways of agriculture and become farmers.
The descendants of the signatories of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott were in the middle of experiencing the horrors of forced assimilation when the last hereditary chief of the Snohomish, William Shelton, stepped in to save his people’s heritage, culture and way of life. In 1912, persistence paid off when he convinced the Tulalip Superintendent and the U.S. Secretary of Interior to build a longhouse along the shores of Tulalip Bay.
William created a way for the tribes to practice their traditional lifeways every winter by informing U.S. Government officials that the people would be celebrating and commemorating the anniversary of the treaty once a year at the longhouse. This allowed tribal elders and wisdom keepers the opportunity to teach the younger generations about their culture, which seemed to be slipping away at an alarming rate due to colonized efforts. The annual gathering became known as Treaty Days, a yearly potlatch that often extends into the early morning of the following day.
Treaty Days is an event that tribal members across the region look forward to every year. Although the original longhouse, which Shelton convinced the government to build, was replaced in the sixties, people met at the historical location every January 22nd for over 100 years after the first Treaty Days ceremony took place. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tribal members have not been able to gather to commemorate the treaty for the past three years. However, many tribal families still take the time to honor, reflect, study and pass on the knowledge of the treaty to the next generations at home, until it is safe to convene once more in large numbers at the smokehouse.
“I think that we have the responsibility to revisit the treaty all the time, so we know we are keeping our younger people abreast and informed as much as possible,” said Ray Fryberg, Tulalip Elder and Hibulb Cultural Center Tribal Research Historian. “We gave up a lot in the treaty to keep our sovereignty – to be able to determine our own future and our own direction in our tribal path. And also just living on the reservation, and protecting those rights that were reserved for us, as well as the spiritual and cultural way of life.”
Added Lena, “The treaty accepts the fact that our people have the right to organize themselves, protect our way of life, and care for our resources. Our tribes have significant control of, and rights to, important natural resources such as fishing. As our language and culture become stronger, we are able to help others understand how to take care of the earth and one another.”
The 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott is currently on display at the Hibulb Cultural Center as a part of their The Power of Words: A History of Tulalip Literacy exhibit. For more information, including the most up-to-date COVID guidelines and restrictions, please contact the museum at (360) 716-2600 or visit the Hibulb Cultural Center’s Facebook page.
