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Preparing for Canoe Journey

“When you’re on the water, you know that you’re celebrating your ancestors and taking care of your spirit”

-Tulalip tribal member, Sydney Napeahi.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

As the cedar dugout canoe, Big Sister, pulled out of the Marina and into the waters of Tulalip Bay, the pullers were singing the traditional songs of their people. The Lushootseed chants began to fade as the canoe journeyed across the water, traveling to Hermosa before returning back. Big Sister enjoyed two pulls on the evening of May 14, as numerous community members gathered to participate in canoe practice during the gorgeous springtime weather. The Tulalip Rediscovery Program and Tulalip Canoe Family are holding canoe practice at the Marina twice a week in preparation for this summer’s upcoming Canoe Journey, the 2018 Power Paddle to Puyallup.

The Canoe Journey is an event that has been celebrated by Northwest coastal tribes since the early nineties. Originally inspired by the Paddle to Seattle in 1989, the summertime event unites several tribal and first nations communities to celebrate Indigenous culture. The tribes take turns hosting the event every year, in which thousands of Natives paddle in traditional cedar canoes from tribe to tribe until reaching their final landing destination. A weeklong cultural celebration takes place once all the canoes have arrived and tribes showcase their traditional songs and dances to pass their ancestral teachings onto the next generations.

The Tulalip Canoe Family often navigates the water in a cedar strip canoe known as Big Brother. But while he was receiving minor maintenance, Big Sister got to travel the glistening waters of the bay. Taking Big Sister out on the water was a huge honor for the pullers who know the history of the dugout canoe.

“Big Sister was the first canoe to come back to Tulalip in more than a hundred years,” explains Andrew Gobin of the Rediscovery Program and skipper of the Tulalip Canoe Family. “It was carved by Jerry Jones and Joe Gobin and made for the Paddle to Seattle in ’89. It came from the National Forest from an old growth cedar. Big Sister is a dugout which is a traditional style. She’s a little more narrow than Brother which makes her a little bit more tipsy, so it’s important to be disciplined on the water. It’s important to pull together. It was good for [the participants], they got to get a taste of the difference between the canoes.”

Andrew stated that the Paddle to Seattle was the start of a cultural revitalization amongst Coastal Natives.

“That’s when our people really got back in touch with the canoes,” he says. “These are things we knew were our ways, but not everyone had been able to experience. So in ‘89, there was that resurgence. Life was brought back into the canoes and the Canoe Journey was born out of that.”

Since its start, Canoe Journey has been a cultural event in which many people participate as means to heal, since it’s a drug and alcohol free event. Although Journey sees a mix of multi-generational participants, a large population of pullers, singers and dancers are comprised of the youth.

“I feel like this entire experience helps us connect with our culture and get back to our roots,” says young Tulalip tribal member, Marie Myers. “I love singing and how everyone works and pulls together.”

“I came out to practice today so I know what to do when we’re out there on the water. I think it’s important for other kids to participate so they can learn about their culture,” added Marie’s brother, Nathan Myers.

Marie and Nathan will be pulling in Canoe Journey for the first time this year and are excited to travel the open waters. The crew knows the importance of practice to be prepared for pulling for hours at a time along the coast.

“There is no workout that can prepare you for how you’ll feel when you’re on the canoe, so the best practice is just getting out there and doing it,” states Tulalip tribal member, Sydney Napeahi. “It was a beautiful day and I love being on the canoe. The canoes have a spirit, we have spirits and the water has a spirit and it’s important that we all take care of each other and that we celebrate each other. When you’re on the water, you know that you’re celebrating your ancestors and taking care of your spirit.”

“These canoes belong to the people,” says Andrew. “This journey is honoring the medicine and that’s something we want to do this year. There’s medicine all around, there’s knowledge all around. It’s just putting people in touch with that. I was just telling [the crew], out on the water, that if we stay together, pull together and pull strong, that’s what’s going to pull us through. I think they’re having fun, when we got back everyone was smiling.”

After an evening of pulling, a group of youngsters had to jump into the bay after breaking the golden rule of Canoe Journey and mistakenly referring to the canoe as a boat. The kids were more than excited to dive into the cool water on the warm evening and even recruited some of their friends to join in on the fun.

Canoe practices are currently held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and will continue until the Power Paddle to Puyallup begins in July. For more information, please contact the Tulalip Rediscovery Program at (360) 716-2635.

Raising Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

“Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) are an epidemic in Washington State,” explained Earth-Feather Sovereign, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes. “Washington State is 4^th in the United States as having the most MMIW. I have two daughters, so I choose to not sit around and wait. Instead, I’m going to take action to try and make a better way for my children. There’s too many injustices going on with our Indigenous people. We should be the first thought, not the last thought.”

Earth-Feather coordinates the MMIW Washington group that aims to stop violence against Native women and children by advocating for social change in our communities. MMIW Washington recently worked with state legislatures to write a new state law that goes into effect in June.

House Bill 2951 is designed to open up the reporting and data-gathering on missing Native women. By requiring Washington State Patrol to work with tribal law enforcements and the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs to conduct a study, House Bill 2951 will increase state resources that are greatly needed to combat an epidemic of MMIW.

The National Crime Information Database reported 5,712 known incidents of missing and murdered Indigenous women in 2016, while a recent report from the National Institute of Justice found that more than four out of five Native women have experienced violence in their lives. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls homicide the third-leading cause of death among Native women ages 10 to 24. And the U.S. Department of Justice has reported Native women living on reservations are ten times more likely to be murdered than those who live off the reservation.

Earth-Feather, along with many members of MMIW Washington, visited the Tulalip Reservation on May 8^th as part of their eight-day march from Blaine, Washington to Olympia. The occasion allowed them to meet with community members and provided an open invitation to all to walk in prayer for their Native sisters who have been murdered and gone missing.

“Although a short notice, Tulalip Tribes made sure the group was honored with a meal and a place to sleep,” said Board of Director Marlin Fryberg, who greeted the MMIW Washington group as they arrived on the reservation. “Special thanks to Jen Maia for educating me on what MMIW is doing in North Dakota and helping me understand more about the cause and history. Awareness and education is key. Human trafficking has taken so many of our people across the nation and Canada. God bless everyone who has taken a stance.”

Following the prayer walk and a blessing, the MMIW of Washington made their way to the Dining Hall where a large gathering of community members waited to hear about their mission and journey. An estimated fifty-five people were in attendance, including representatives from the Board, Youth Council and police department. Many of the women attendees dressed in red to support the MMIW movement.

After everyone was treated to a catered dinner, they listened intently to the message, first-hand experience and call for action shared by their hosted guests.

“As a people we must uplift our women who are at the bottom of the so-called totem pole because when our life givers are able to heal and become strong, then all our nations start to heal,” expressed Earth-Feather during her heartfelt, key-note address. “We come from warrior people, we still are warriors. To our young men: you are protectors. Our women and children are sacred and need to be protected.”

Tribal member Deborah Parker shared her Woman Warrior Song, which comes from First Nations sisters in British Columbia, and gifted several speakers with custom-made MMIW flags. The evening concluded with the MMIW of Washington members offering song and prayer for those have gone missing, those have lost love ones to murder, and for any women seeking strength.

Come celebrate MSD25’s first annual Festival of World Cultures

MARYSVILLE, WA – The Marysville School District English Language Learners Program and Equity, Diversity and Indian Education Department invite families, students, staff and the community to an evening of cultural exploration and discovery through food, music, dance and art. The Festival of World Cultures, taking place on Friday, May 18 from 4:30 – 8 p.m. will feature booths and entertainment from the wealth of cultural backgrounds that form the local Marysville and Tulalip community.

At this Family Engagement event, guests will have an opportunity to sample food from different cultures and from around the world. Participants will also get to experience a variety of cultural dance and musical performances, learn words in Lushootseed, the language of several Salish Native American tribes of modern-day Washington state, and other languages spoken in the District including Spanish, Russian and Tagalog.

“The ELL Programs serves more than 1500 multilingual students and families in the District who speak more than 37 languages,” said Deborah Parker, The Marysville School District Director of Equity, Diversity and Indian Education. “Events like this help us celebrate the many contributions that make our community strong and united, and help us all understand the importance of respecting and honoring our diverse cultural backgrounds.”

Many community organizations and groups contributed to the event. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or hosting a booth, contact Erica Breien at erica_breien@msd25.org or visit the application form at www.bit.ly/WorldCulturesFest2018.

WHAT: Festival of World Cultures
WHEN: Friday, May 18, 2018, 4:30 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Totem Middle School, 1605 7th St, Marysville, WA 98270

WHO: All students, families, staff and community members in the Marysville School District.

Ghosts of the Pacific: On the rise and wrapping up a video trilogy

By Kalvin Valdillez

Local up-and-coming rock band, Ghosts of the Pacific, is steadily increasing their number of fans and playing a handful of local shows. Officially forming in 2016, the band has been hard at work writing and recording their debut album while also performing live shows and shooting a music video trilogy. The band draws influence from a number of legendary rock groups and artists across several different genres, but upon hearing their music, you can tell that Ghost of the Pacific is definitely a Seattle rock band.

“I think we categorize ourselves as hard rock, but it’s a pretty wide range of stuff that we cover,” states guitarist, Sean Kebely. “We can get pretty heavy and then we’ll have a song that’s almost ballad-esque. We kind of cover all the spectrums but meld into one. We’re a diverse hard rock band.”

Sean, along with his father and Ghosts of the Pacific keyboardist David, originally started the band which was previously known as Ashes of Mercury.

“Shawn came to me and we started this project,” explains David. “He’s been in several bands before and this is my first project. It’s been amazing, I had to learn how to play with a band because before I was used to doing mostly solo stuff. We used to do a Christmas show every year at a Montessori school. He and I would perform Christmas rock and roll songs to open the show and we also did a few open mics doing The Doors covers. But this is my first time playing with a band.”

Ashes of Mercury went through several lineup changes before enlisting Josh Williams on vocals and Michael Ball on drums. By this time, Sean and Dave were ready for a new beginning and decided on a name change. They erased all the previous vocals from their songs and sent the tracks to Josh asking him to write his own original lyrics for the songs. Josh, who is the son of Tulalip tribal member Terry Williams, provides the band with gravelly and raspy vocals, reminiscent of early grunge bands.

“I’m from the Tulalip Indian reservation, I grew up there my whole life,” says Josh. “I’ve been in different projects and bands and Ghosts of the Pacific has been a solid act. These are cool guys, we hooked up about a year ago and have done a lot of work since then. I was raised heavy in the eighties music scene. I loved the nineties, got way into Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Tool and even branched off when nu-metal came like Linkin Park and Papa Roach. I like to adapt to what’s going on in the music scene and dig into that. I don’t stay dated, I try not to. I think it’s harder now because of Spotify, it’s hard to follow any specific musical direction.”

“That’s why I was saying that we fall under hard rock,” concurs Sean. “That’s definitely the best genre that we fit. Because of the variety of influence we each have, you get a taste of everything. Right now we’re actually doing the album, I think we’re a little over halfway there of getting all the tracks down. It usually starts out as a guitar riff, Josh and I both play guitar so he’ll throw riffs my way and I’ll throw some riffs his way.”

“Over time, it morphs,” states David. “We all start putting our pieces in and it just kind of grows.”

Each member of Ghosts of the Pacific spoke passionately about music and their desire to inspire a new generation of musicians.

“I think music definitely benefits the youth, it did for me. When I picked up guitar at sixteen, I was in love with it,” Josh expresses. “With music you can explore and express, it gives you that outlet. Rappers and rockers will say that music is an outlet to take out their frustrations. You go to shows to release energy in the mosh pit or just to sit and watch a great band. Music is an outlet they can utilize when they feel like they have nowhere to go.”

“I started buying records at ten years old, they were singles, 45s,” shares David. “Especially in the wintertime, when I was living back east, we’d go in the basement of the school building, someone would bring a record player and the 45s and we would just dance. It was a way to interact and connect socially through the music. We’d discuss what we liked and what we didn’t like. And even in school, dances are always a big social event. After school, we always had the stereo going. Music has always been like a common language that we all can express and enjoy. I think it’s important as a means to communicate and meld socially.”

“Even if it’s not music, finding a hobby and something to focus your time and energy on is huge,” adds Sean. “I picked up guitar at thirteen. After school there’s a lot of free time to get into trouble but if you find something to focus on and expel most of your energy on you’ll have a brighter future and can do away with some of that negative stuff.”

Josh adds that having a great support system is a big help and credits the Tulalip Casino for allowing him to work on his music while working with them for nearly twenty years.

When asked for words of advisement for young musicians, Michael simply stated, “Anyone can play music and don’t ever think you can’t.”

“Come out and see us live,” states Sean. “We put a lot of time and effort into our live shows. We really try to make it a spectacle because that’s one of the reasons people go to shows, to feel the energy and emotion of the bands and I feel we really try to express that.”

For more information and to hear music by Ghosts of the Pacific please visit www.GhostsofthePacific.com. The band is currently planning to release the final music video of the trilogy this fall. In the meantime, please check out New Forgotten (part one) and Human Machine (part two) videos on the band’s YouTube page.

It’s a B-I-N-G-O celebration!

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Local Tulalip citizens were joined by their fellow tribal members that journeyed from as far north as Vancouver, B.C. and as far south as Tacoma to fill the seats of Tulalip Bingo on Monday, April 30. The occasion? The highly anticipated 17^th annual Tribal Bingo Celebration. Hundreds and hundreds of tribal members joined in on the festivities and tried their luck to win high-end prizes and line their pockets with cold, hard cash.

Like he has done in years past, Board of Director Mel Sheldon reigned supreme on the mic as the MC for each of the 10:00a.m., 2:00p.m. and 6:00p.m. sessions. Mel kept the atmosphere lively and upbeat with plenty of jokes and witty banter.

“We are honored to host our tribal bingo while bringing fun and excitement to the membership for 17 wonderful years now,” said Tammy Taylor, Tulalip Bingo Director. “The beautiful part of our celebration is it really brings the tribal membership together for a fun time, free of politics and drama. Today really is all about our people enjoying each other’s company, sharing stories, and catching up with friends and family you don’t see often enough.”

Bingo staff did their best to make the 17^th annual celebration one to remember. Like last year, the event split into three separate session instead of two. Keeping the extra third session made seating more comfortable and gave a slight bump to everyone’s chance of winning door prizes, giveaways and cash.

For Tulalip elder, 80-year-old Gilbert Moses, his streak of being the first entrant into Tribal Bingo is still secure. For the past seventeen years, Gilbert has shown up hours before doors open to the morning session in order to grab his favorite seat and give greetings to his cousins as they enter the event.

“Seeing family and friends I haven’t seen in a while is my favorite part,” shared Gilbert while watching his tablet-sized Bingo machine highlight one number after another. “It feels good to be here. The chance to win a prize is a plus, too.”

Spanning each session were 14 games of bingo. For each session there was an estimated $33,000 in total prizes awarded to bingo and door-prize raffle winners.

“Our Bingo team did a wonderful job of preparing for each session and executing as a team,” added Tammy. “There were virtually no lines, whether it was getting the membership in the door and finding a seat or getting a plate of food. Our Deli team cooked and prepared more than enough food for the breakfast, lunch and light dinner we provided. From our Bingo team members to the Enrollment team members, everyone did a fantastic job start to finish.”

Smiles and laughs were had by all as tribal members eagerly daubed away over the two-hour sessions. For those lucky enough, they had the opportunity to yell out an ecstatic, “BINGO!”

Thank you to all the people who lovingly honored the 1968 Longhouse builders

Submitted by Lena Jones, MaOM, Education Curator, Tulalip Tribes Hibulb Cultural Center

On April 21, 2018, the Tulalip Longhouse Committee held a gathering to honor the ones involved in the reconstruction of the Tulalip Longhouse fifty years ago. The longhouse is said to carry the oldest teachings in our land and is a symbol for the many traditions of Coast Salish people. The joyful spirit of the celebration reminded those in attendance of the values of the builders and the kindness and dedication that guided their work.

Construction of the longhouse began on November 22, 1967, and finished on January 17, 1968, in time for the Treaty Day Commemoration. An article in the Everett Herald in 1968 noted that the list of names of the builders were “men whose roots go deep, far back for generations of leadership among the Snohomish.”

The builders were Herman Williams, Sr., Arley Williams, Clyde Williams, Sr., Francis Sheldon, Ralph Jones, Sr., Tom Reeves, Myron Fryberg, Sr., and Leroy Fryberg, Sr. Lawrence Williams was the foreman. Ralph Jones, Bernie Gobin, and Ron Kona from the Board of Directors made the motions to build the longhouse, set funds aside, and secure the location; and Wayne Williams coordinated the construction work. Morris Dan, a Swinomish member and notable longhouse speaker during this period, was the consultant for the longhouse construction. Morris Dan is also remembered as a foremost collaborator in revitalizing the salmon ceremony at Tulalip.

Brothers Herman, Arley, and Clyde Williams, living members of the construction team, were recognized with a blanket and a message of appreciation for their legacy and their part in the great heritage the builders brought to Tulalip. Clyde Williams, Jr., accepted the gifts on their behalf, saying one of his childhood memories is his father working on the longhouse building and going to help them. Through the years, many have continued to take care of the longhouse.

Myron Fryberg, Jr., a witness to the Honoring Ceremony, thanked the Longhouse Committee and the Tulalip Tribes on behalf of the Williams, Hatch, and Fryberg families for remembering the builders and paying tribute to their work. It was an honor to be there to honor his father. He thanked all the families of the builders who attended on a beautiful sunshiny day, as well as the ones who performed the ceremony honoring the builders.

Susan Moses, also a witness, shared the story she heard from her father Kenny Moses about a tribe who had fallen on hard times and didn’t know what to do to take care of their people. One of their elders told them to build a longhouse. They listened, even though it must have been very difficult for them. All the village families were suffering in poverty, but little by little they worked on the building, and soon, more things were coming to their community.

When they finished, they invited their neighboring communities. People came in song and dance and prayer, and their families were provided for. It was told to Susan that this village became one of the wealthiest, and it was most likely because they built the home with good hearts and as prayers came, their situation improved. She said she believes that is how it was with the builders of the Tulalip longhouse. Their good hearts were a blessing to the Tulalip community.

Marilyn Sheldon reiterated that sentiment. She remembers her father Francis “Francy” Sheldon as a devoted and tireless worker for Tulalip, doing whatever he could in honor of Tulalip and the Tulalip people. He and her mother ensured their children valued the longhouse and the songs, prayers, and medicines of their ancestors. She believed all of the builders had that loving sentiment and care for the Tulalip community.

Cultural fair celebrates diversity at QCT Elementary

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Students of Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, along with their families, were captivated by the richness of Native American song and dance during the Cultural Fair held on the evening of April 24^th. In collaboration with Marysville School District (MSD) Indian Education, Tulalip Youth Services and school staff, the Cultural Fair celebrated the wonderfully diverse community that is the Tulalip/Marysville area.

Over a hundred participants filled the elementary multi-purpose room where a hearty dinner was enjoyed by all. Following the meal, there was a variety of family-friendly activities to engage in. Interactive booths and presentations represented several cultures from around the world, including Tulalip, Guam, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

“It’s always nice to learn about other cultures because it creates a better understanding between people,” shared QCT Teacher, Ms. Sablan. Along with her daughter, the duo were presenters of the Guam station. “I taught on Guam for six years and during that time I loved learning about the culture. While there I married and had a daughter who is Pacific Islander. My passion for embracing vibrant culture was the reason I became an educator at Tulalip after attending a Salmon Ceremony years ago.”

As fair goers made their way around the room they gained insights into other cultures and traditions. Of course, the variety of Native cultural stations was the most popular. There was dreamcatcher making under the guidance of experienced staff members and even a fry bread station manned by Chelsea Craig and her daughter Kamaya.

With the weather cooperating, many people wound up outside after hearing the call of the Native round-drum. Terrance Sabbas, Native Liaison for MSD, led a series of round-drum songs that held the attention of everyone young and old. Several young girls, dressed in their powwow regalia, shared their dance skills to the rhythmic beats of the drum.

“It means a lot for our kids to have pride in who they are and where they come from,” said Terrance. “When different tribes come together to celebrate with song and dance it’s even more special. Seeing youth who have the confidence to share their dances is awesome. To know they have that within themselves and are willing to share that with our community is inspiring.”

The musical jam session continued with a variety of hand-drum songs led by Ray Fryberg.

The Cultural Fair was a success in putting a spotlight on the richness of a diverse community; knowledge was gained and shared. For those with a strong understanding of historical context, the fact that so many were able to participate in traditional song and dance is a testament to the strong Native spirit.

“When the boarding school was here, our songs, our dances and all our ceremonies were prohibited by law. It was the aim of the government to assimilate the Indians into American society. For many years our people couldn’t speak their language or sing their songs for fear of punishment,” explained Ray Fryberg, Executive Director of Natural Resources. “It’s important for us to know who we are and where we come from, to retain the parts of our culture that make us unique. The boarding school era sought to take all that away from us, but we endured.

“Now, we have our own schools where we can teach our culture to the young ones; it gives them a cultural identity and builds up their self-esteem. The drum has a voice that calls to our people; it has its own good medicine. You can see how much the children love learning their culture. Our songs and dances are an expression of the inner spirit and that’s the one thing that can’t be taken away from us.”

Versus Technology increases efficiency, decreases wait time at health clinic

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

The Karen I. Fryberg Health Clinic recently completed renovations that saw several improvements to the building including new patient rooms, additional dental chairs as well as new check-in stations. The clinic’s reason for the remodel was not only for modernization, but primarily to create a better overall experience for the patients, factoring in community feedback when designing the new floor plan. Prior to the renovation, one of the biggest issues many patients encountered was sitting in the waiting room for a long period of time before being seen by a doctor. Through the remodel, the clinic addressed this issue by incorporating more acute care patient rooms. By adding more rooms, the clinic is able bring more patients back at a time to get their vitals checked by a medical assistant before they’re seen by a doctor. The clinic has also recently implemented the Versus Technology system to help create a more efficient visit for their patients.

Versus Technology is an inferred/radio frequency locating system. The system has been utilized in many clinics and hospitals across the nation for a number of years to help optimize patient flow. Often times, patients have to visit many areas of the clinic during the same trip including the x-ray rooms and labs as well as dental and optometry. The Versus system ensures that patients don’t get lost along the corridors, aren’t left unattended for too long and most importantly, are safe while receiving care at the health clinic.

Upon checking-in, patients are given a Versus badge attached to a small clipboard, which is carried by the patient during their entire visit. This allows health clinic staff to see on their computer screens where the patient is at in the building and how far along they are in their appointment. If a patient is waiting in one area for more than fifteen minutes, staff is alerted via a screen pop-up. The staff then checks on the patient and gives them an update as well as an expected wait time, letting the patient know they haven’t been forgotten.

The badges also help employees locate one another for assistance during the busy hours of the day. All staff members at the clinic have a badge that is worn at all times while working. The staff badges have a button for emergency situations, and when pressed all employees are notified and can rush to that location to help. Versus Technology also helps practitioners by allowing them to review the amount of time spent with their patients, which helps with scheduling. For instance, if a doctor schedules his appointments in thirty-minute increments but often spends an extra five minutes with each patient, that increases the wait time for each of his following patients. The new system allows that doctor to recognize that he needs to schedule all of his appointments for five additional minutes and eliminate patient wait time.

The health clinic decided to use Versus after visiting the Monroe Providence Clinic and seeing the system in action as well as conducting a survey from their patients.

“We talked to patients who were utilizing Versus and asked them how they liked it and most of them loved it,” explains Dr. Rhonda Nelson, Tulalip Health Clinic’s Health Informatics Manager. “I don’t think there was a single negative piece of feedback because they really felt it helped the flow of their visit, making sure they were getting where they needed to go and when they needed to get there.

“At Monroe they actually room themselves, they get handed a badge and the staff writes on the clipboard what room they’re supposed to go to,” she continues. “They don’t even wait in the waiting room; they just go back to the room like a hotel. On one hand, it’s somewhat impersonal, our patients tend to expect a more personal experience than that. On the other hand, it decreases communal diseases because a lot of time when you go to the doctor, people are actually sick – coughing, hacking, sneezing, got a fever. The less time you spend in the waiting room with all the sick people, you actually have less of a chance of catching something. You’ll notice our waiting room is actually smaller with much less seating, they anticipated that patients would be sitting in the waiting room less with Versus.”

The clinic officially began using Versus on April 17, which has been met with a mix of extremely positive reviews as well as heavy concern from the elders of the community.

“Many elders expressed concern with me, one of them was privacy,” says Dr. Nelson. “They were wondering if we were going to monitor how much time they spent in the bathroom. We’re looking at this as more of an overall thing, like the amount of time they spend alone and are waiting. Their other concern was, are you going to shorten my visit to make your staff look good, are you under the gun to get me out of the room? That had been voiced by some of the elders, asking if we’re going to rush them. And the answer is no, that’s not our goal. Our goal is to see how long you are waiting, if you’re getting seen in a timely manner and if we’re communicating with you about what’s happening.

“We want to make sure that people have clear expectations of their visit time and also that we’re utilizing our rooms well,” she states. “Your safety is important to us. No, we’re not monitoring how long you’re in the bathroom, but if someone’s been in the bathroom for a really long time, thirty or more minutes, we want to check to see that they’re okay. We also don’t want you to have to worry about missing your appointment if you have to use the bathroom because we can see that you’re still in the building. And we still have a number of smokers that step outside and the badge just shows us that they haven’t left, so when we’re ready for them we can go out and let them know to come on back. It’s still new and it takes some time to get used to change, but I think that we’re doing great and that [Versus] helps us create a better, more efficient experience for our patients.”

Michelle Sheldon, first Tulalip tribal member to pass Washington State Bar Exam

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

On the morning of April 25, Tulalip tribal member, Michelle Sheldon, accomplished her long-term goal of becoming an attorney. In a courtroom at the new Justice Department, Michelle was sworn-in to the Tulalip Tribes of Washington Office of Reservation Attorney (ORA). In attendance were her family; her father Greg, mother Heidi, sister Megan and her brother Joe; and also the Tulalip Board of Directors, showing their support of Michelle’s incredible accomplishment of becoming the first Tulalip tribal member to pass the Washington State Bar Exam.

“It’s interesting. On my very first day of law school, my first teacher instructed us to write down a list of people that we wanted at our graduation/swearing-in because that’s what would keep us going and I remember writing down my family’s names like it was yesterday,” recalls Michelle. “I was very proud to have my parents there and my brother and sister. It was so nice to be able to share that day with the people who encouraged me along the way. I was also incredibly honored that the Board came. It was a nice surprise. I was very humbled that they took the time out of their day to acknowledge my accomplishment. I felt really supported as a tribal member.”

Michelle’s journey to attorney was no easy feat. In fact, it took years of hard work and dedication to reach her goal.

“After high school, I earned my associates degree from Northwest Indian College, I was that year’s valedictorian,” she explains. “Throughout my educational journey, I’ve always worked full-time and always went to school as a night time distant learning student. When I was working on my associates and earning my undergrad bachelor’s degree, I was working at my family’s restaurant. As soon as I earned my degree, they sold the restaurant. So, I applied for a position with the Tribe. I started briefly in TGO before a position as file clerk opened up at beda?chelh. That’s when I was first exposed to the work of the Tribal attorneys working on behalf of the Tribe, the children and their families, really making Tulalip a healthy and whole community. I really appreciated their work.

“I was very excited when a position opened up at the Tulalip tribal court as a court clerk,” she continues. “I immediately went for that position and was very thankful to have gotten it. I think that position solidified my desire to get into the legal field. I’ve always been inspired with the area of law and justice, so I knew I wanted to get an undergrad degree in that area. I attended night classes at Colombia College at their Smokey Point location after work and earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from there. Soon after, I enrolled through the Boston University distance program where I earned my paralegal certificate, kind of an introduction to the law area. I took a bit of a break between my master’s degree and pursuing a law degree, trying to figure out what I wanted to do career wise, what would be best for me and what could best benefit my community. And I thought, you know what, I’m going to go the extra mile, I want to pursue this.”

Michelle discovered that the Seattle University School of Law offered a night program and remembers applying multiple times before finally being accepted. At this point in her career, she was in her most recent position as the ORA Department Manager. For three years, after clocking-out at Tulalip Admin, she would hop onto I-5 to attend night classes in Seattle. Michelle claims that her positions with the Tribal Court and the ORA allowed her to gain useful experience that she was able to apply in law school.

“Michelle is truly an extraordinary individual,” states Tulalip Tribal Court Director, Wendy Church. “I’ve never had any doubt she would excel in her academic goals and now that she’s passed the State Bar Exam, the sky is the limit. Both Michael Taylor and Tim Brewer have expressed their appreciation of her work in ORA. She worked full-time and went to law school, which is truly remarkable. I think most importantly, she serves as a role model to our next generation of students with aspirations of careers in law.”

Michelle recalls advisors and teachers telling their students to not get set on the idea of working locally throughout the career, to keep an open mind and be prepared to work in different states.

“That was never an option for me,” says Michelle. “I lived on the reservation for most of my life, so I’m definitely a part of this community. I’ve always wanted to do something career and educational wise to where I can still work in my community and bring any knowledge and skills I learned off the reservation back to the reservation. Keeping Tulalip at heart was always at the forefront of my inspirations and goals.”

Michelle hopes to inspire young tribal members to pursue their degrees and encourages them to not give up on their journey when the waters get rough.

“It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to pursue something,” expresses Michelle. “You make a lot of sacrifices, but if you’re prepared to do that, you definitely have the ability to achieve anything. I want people to know that no matter what your goal is or how big your dream is, as long as you stick with it, you will get there. I was very thankful to have a very supportive family. The tribe has been extremely supportive as well; they’ve been able to help with anything I’ve needed throughout the years. Having that support and knowing that people are thinking about you gives you that little extra boost. It always meant a lot. I hope this opens the wave of getting more tribal members interested in this field and considering it when they start their own educational journey. I hope that by sharing my journey, it shows that if you put the hard work in, you’ll get your reward at the end.”

Michelle wants to extend an open-invite to those who are considering pursuing a law degree, stating she can offer advice and application assistance as well as encouragement.

“It feels good to protect Tulalip’s best interest, knowing that we’re helping tribal members and saving our tribal land and our resources. It makes me feel good that we’re trying hard to do something good for Tulalip. We talk about the seven generations; we always want to think ahead. That’s what I appreciate, everyone’s thinking not just for today but for twenty years from now. My best advice for the next generation is, if I can do it, you can do it too.”

Power and Perception Exhibit Showcases Contemporary Native Artists

Kevin Red Star (Crow Nation; born 1943)
Buffalo Horse Medicine, 2007, Mixed media
The Crow people have enduring relationships with horses. Paraded at the annual Crow Fair Celebration and other special events, horses adorned in beaded regalia demonstrate their value and importance to the Crow Nation. In Buffalo Horse Medicine, Kevin Red Star depicts horses that are an important breed for buffalo hunting. Red Star signifies a connection between this man’s identity as a buffalo hunter and his strong relationship with horses.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

Many portraits of Indigenous people by non-Native artists romanticize, stereotype, or appropriate Native people and cultures. Contemporary Native artists are actively deconstructing these myths and preconceptions about their culture through the use of art. In fact, many modern-day artists use a dynamic combination of materials, methods and concepts that challenge traditional boundaries and defy easy definition.

Charles M. Russell (born 1864, died 1926)
Indian Canoe Party, 1906, Watercolor on paper
Great Slave Lake is in the Northwest Territories about 1,200 miles north of the Montana-Canada border. When Russell was 24-years-old, he spent six months in the Northwest Territory. It is possible that this painting is based on his travels.
Russell paints with a romanticism and nostalgia for what he considered the Old West. His idealized paintings of Natives are ripe with metaphors. In the early 20th century, most of America was concerned or convinced that Native cultures would be extinct. For Russell, the setting sun represented this false view.

Tacoma Art Museum’s newest exhibition “Native Portraiture: Power and Perception” gives voice to Native people and communities to show their resiliency and power over the ways in which they are portrayed and perceived. Native tribes aren’t uniform, they are diverse with a variety of distinct characteristics. As such, the artists in this show have taken on varied points of view while sharing their voice. All are well executed and demonstrate that you can’t pin Native art into a single category.

Preston Singletary (Tlingit; born 1963)
Whale & Eagle, 2013, Limited edition patented bronze
Artists capture the true appearances of the animals by highlighting anatomy and form. Bronze sculptures typically appear on a base without any background images, which places further emphasis on the shape and individuality of each creature rather than on the scene or setting. Through his sculpture, Preston Singletary invites viewers to look more closely at animals and foster a sense of awe and wonder.

“We can now say, let’s look at this artwork and use a contemporary lens to unpack where these artists are coming from and why they painted the work in this manner,” explained Faith Brower, exhibit curator. “We hope to inspire visitors to explore both controversial issues of appropriation and cultural imagery, and to think differently about Western art and how it relates to their lives and communities.”

Wendy Red Star (Crow Nation, 1981)
Indian Summer – Four Seasons, 1996, Archival pigment print
When visiting natural history museums, Crow artist Wendy Red Star was struck by the displays that treat Native people as inanimate remnants of the past. She reclaims these troublesome dioramas by humorously staging a fake museum display in which she wears an elk tooth dress, hair wraps and beaded moccasins while sitting on artificial grass surrounded by fabricated plants and animals. Simulating a mountain lake scene, this image uses humor and irony to address issues of stereotyping and romanticizing Native people today.

“Native Portraiture: Power and Perception”, on display through February of 2019, highlights work by Native artists who address issues of identity, resistance and reclamation through their powerful artwork. The artists ask us to reconsider images of Indigenous people because certain reoccurring themes, such as the “vanishing Indian” and “noble savage”, have led to centuries of cultural misunderstandings.

Shaun Peterson (Puyallup Tribe; born 1975)
Welcome Figure, 2010
Cedar, steel, graphite and magnets
The 20-foot-tall Welcome Figure stands fixed in Tacoma’s Tollefson Plaza, where a Puyallup tribal village had once stood. From acquiring and transporting a suitable wind-fall cedar log, to devising a metal support system, to carving, assembling, and painting the figure, the work stands as a time-honored sculpture that greets people on Coast Salish lands. Funded by the City of Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe, and Tacoma Art Museum, the figure is carved from a single log and marks the participation of the tribe and Coast Salish people in contemporary society. Installed on September 13, 2010, the Welcome Figure is a powerful reminder that we are on Indigenous land.

“What’s happening now is museums are realizing that they have a problem and that problem is that they don’t have the Native American perspective,” said exhibit artist Wendy Red Star. “All the culture has been mined and been talked about by non-Natives. Now, there’s a switch where that body of work works really well as sort of being an institutional critique piece. It tends to fit, to help articulate that in an exhibition like this.”