The World Day you’ve never heard of

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

You’ve all heard of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, right? Wait, you haven’t? No, it’s not Earth Day. It’s more like Earth Day’s illegitimate step-child.

Saturday, May 21, was the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (we’ll just call it World Day), just like it’s been every year since 2002. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard about it before, you’re in the majority. There are plenty of reasons that it isn’t well known, most of which have to do with being a legitimate attempt to accept and recognize cultural diversity.

“Celebrating cultural diversity means opening up new perspectives for sustainable development and promoting creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship as sources of millions of jobs worldwide – particularly for young people and especially for women. Culture is a sustainable development accelerator whose potential has been recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations,” says Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO.

World Day was created by UNESCO in December 2002. Wondering what the heck UNESCO is? It’s a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights.

So, why the need for a World Day? Maybe because three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Because bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability, and development throughout the world.

On the micro-level, as Native people we are pretty experienced with cultural conflicts. Seems like every month, every week, and every day even, we are fighting some kind of cultural conflict; either externally with the US Government, internally between tribal families, or on some level in-between. Between the city of Marysville and the Tulalip Reservation there are never any shortages of cultural conflict stories to be heard, and we’re neighbors. So it’s easy to see why bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for stability and development.

One way that culture gap is being bridged is by the implementation of Since Time Immemorial (STI) curriculum in the Marysville School District, amongst other school districts in the area. The ground-breaking initiative will teach the details of tribal sovereignty, tribal history, and current tribal issues with context to students of all grade levels. Teachers will find that it’s easy to integrate tribal perspectives into their already existing lesson plans. The result echoes the mission of World Day, to openly accept and acknowledge cultural diversity as a driving force of development with respect to personal growth and as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.

We know that cultural diversity should be promoted not just some of the time, but all the time. Cultural diversity is an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. That is why World Day is an important day to be celebrated.

The Snohomish County Human Rights Commission held a celebration for World Day that was open to any and every one. It took place at the Edmonds Seniors Center on Thursday, May 19. There were some very fascinating talking points discussed about diversity and Snohomish County. Did you know that Snohomish County is undergoing an explosion of diversity with profound social and cultural change? With an increasingly diverse population base, 14.5% of Snohomish County residents were born outside the country. Just a short 20-minute drive from Tulalip is the city of Lynnwood. What’s so interesting about Lynnwood is it has become a city in which the majority of residents are people of color. Similarly, to us in Tulalip where the majority of residents are of color (read Native).

All this is to say our local area, Snohomish County, is rapidly growing in diversity. However, we know that being diverse isn’t the same as recognizing and appreciating diversity. That’s why a day like World Day is important to acknowledge and celebrate. The hope is that by talking about and honoring cultural diversity, as an inclusive and necessary framework for our very survival, we can bring about a more peaceful community and county.

There are issues facing all humankind – global warming is an example – that will take all of us working together and taking responsibility for each other to clean up the common air we breathe, the common water we drink. How clean does the water have to be in order for us to safely eat the fish that swim in it? Cleaning up the ocean is a global task. No one can do this alone.

Cultural diversity is the common heritage of humanity, as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature.

While Earth Day is more like a club that you can join and say that you are part of, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development forces you to take responsibility for your actions and actually walk the talk. This assertive stance is part of the reason it isn’t as popular with mainstream America. It calls for people to build a world community of individuals committed to support diversity with real and everyday life gestures. To raise awareness about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion.

In any case, now that you know that World Day exists, take a moment to think about its important and what it means as Native person to help spread cultural diversity. Maybe consider making a resolution to follow through with one of ten simple things you can to do celebrate World Day every day.

 

Ten simple things YOU can do to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

  1. Visit an art exhibit or a museum dedicated to other cultures.
  2. Invite a family or people in the neighborhood from another culture or religion to share a meal with you and exchange views on life.
  3. Rent a movie or read a book from another country or religion than your own.
  4. Invite people from a different culture to share in your customs.
  5. Read about great thinkers of other cultures than yours (e.g. Confucius, Socrates, Avicenna, Ibn Khaldun, Aristotle, Ganesh, Rumi).
  6. Go next week-end to visit a place of worship different than yours and participate in the celebration.
  7. Play  the “stereotypes game.” Stick a post-it on your forehead with the name of a country. Ask people to tell you stereotypes associated with people from that country. You win if you find out where you are from.
  8. Learn about traditional celebrations from other cultures; learn more about Hanukkah or Ramadan or about amazing celebrations of New Year’s Eve in Spain or Qingming festival in China.
  9. Spread your own culture around the world through our (UNESCO) Facebook page and learn about other cultures.
  10. Explore music of a different culture.

There are thousands of things that you can do, are you taking part in it?

Edmonds School District seeks Tulalip input on new Native curriculum

Edmonds School District staff meets with Tulalip tribal leadership. Photo/Kalvin Valdillez
Edmonds School District staff meets with Tulalip tribal leadership.
Photo/Kalvin Valdillez

 

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

“He took my sacred place and ripped it in half! I knew it was going to happen, but it still made me sad,” stated a third grade student from Edmonds School District (ESD). The student was referring to an assignment from her teacher where she had to create a ‘Sacred Place’ with all of her favorite things, and with all her favorite people. The student drew her sacred place, which included a rare one-of-a-kind tree that grew sideways at a secluded campsite with her family and friends. As she passionately explained her assignment, it was obvious to see she was extremely excited and attached to her sacred place.

Once the student was finished with her assignment her teacher looked at her drawing, admired it and then tore it in half. “It just made me really sad and a little mad because it was mine.” This emotional scene was a video clip from a presentation to the Tulalip Board of Directors (BOD) on May 18, 2016, one of many exercises that were shown in the presentation provided by the ESD. After the video clip finished, a look around the boardroom showed how emotional the video made everybody feel, the little girl was visibly distraught. Which is when the room was informed that the teacher taped up the drawing for the student.

“That is exactly like where we are now, as sovereign nations, we are trying to tape back together our sacred place,” stated board member Bonnie Juneau. The purpose of the assignment was to show young students how it felt to have their sacred place taken from them and destroyed. With Governor Jay Inslee recently signing Senate Bill 5433 into law, making it mandatory for Washington State Schools to teach the history and governance of the 29 federally recognized tribes of Washington State, ESD is taking a step forward by implementing a curriculum that covers elementary through high school students.

Other clips showed students talking about The Boldt Decision, colonization, and religion. “The book I read stated that the Natives were converted to Christianity,” said a Fifth Grade student, “but then I read that the Natives were forced into Christianity. The first one sounds like they had a choice, the second one sounds like they didn’t have a choice at all.”

Prior to Senate Bill 5433, House Bill 1495 only encouraged schools to teach of the indigenous nations in Washington. Tulalip’s John McCoy, who wrote both Bill 5433 and HB 1495, believes Senate Bill 5433 will be a relationship-builder between different cultures, and will provide a more engaging approach to students who will potentially become our future leaders.

Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State, or STI for short, is the curriculum created by The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). STI was pilot tested for the past five years, in fourteen different Washington State schools. Now, it is being implemented by Edmonds Office of Native Education, headed by Program Supervisor Michael Vendiola. Michael explained that STI is a free online curriculum and available to all school districts.

“I think this is great. Growing up I remember checking all of my history text books for Tulalip Tribes, and I never once found anything about our people in those books,” said Chairman Mel Sheldon.  “All of it was Plains Indians, and even then, it wasn’t much. It’s heartbreaking that our youth can’t identify themselves in our schools.”

It is no secret that Indigenous Peoples are misrepresented in U.S. History and the media. On a national level, Coastal Native Americans specifically are nearly non-existent in the history courses being taught in schools. The Chairman continued, “I remember being asked, and I am sure everyone in this room at some point has been asked, if I lived in a Tee-Pee when I told somebody I was a Native American.”

Vendiola pointed out that change won’t happen overnight. “This is like our  ‘Zero Year’ where we are still seeing what works, what doesn’t, and how we can improve the curriculum.” One of the ways ESD looks to improve STI is to provide the history of the nearest federally recognized tribe. This is a huge change.

“Partnering with The Tulalip Tribes allows us to involve the community in [the] culture close to home. This is our opportunity to change the future.”

The presentation not only showed how concerned and shocked students were, but also showed that most students reacted positively to learning the history and culture of Native People. One mother was astounded by her son’s enthusiasm, stating that he has never talked about what was going on in school, but could not hold in his excitement when learning about the culture. The mother, who at the time was finishing law school at Gonzaga University, continued stating that she was able to have a full discussion with her fifth-gradestudent about fishing rights.

An ESD instructor gave a teacher’s perspective on STI. “I think at first teachers were hesitant to teach this subject because of how harsh the reality is, and also because we didn’t know where to begin. With STI, I believe teachers are discovering how fun and easy this can be.”

He then stated that his students were disappointed when the lesson was over and were not excited to move on to the usually popular Medieval Times lesson.

Although STI does mainly focus on the history of both local and national tribes, it also touches on where the tribes are today as far as culture and self-governance.Tulalip Board member Marie Zackuse spoke about changing the perception of tribes in today’s world, and why it is important to update what’s being taught about tribal communities in a contemporary point of view.

Marie stated, “Racism is still very alive and well in communities that are nearby reservations. Most of the history taught about our people is in a pre-1900 context.” She believes that the racism stems from the misunderstanding of our treaty rights. For example, many non-native citizens believe Native Americans receive privileges not granted to others, rather than seeing Treaty Rights as the rights that a tribe negotiated to keep while giving up other rights.

 

“I thought Indians were just people who were discovered and who hunted a lot, but now I know that there are many different tribes and the tribes here fish, dance and carve beautiful masks!” 

– Fourth-grade student from Edmonds

 

The curriculum itself is extensive, incorporating information of the history, governance and culture of federally recognized tribes in elementary, middle, and high school lesson plans. What an elementary school student can expect to take away from STI is a basic understanding of tribal sovereignty, the history of tribal sovereignty, as well as the ability to identify the names and locations of the tribes in their area. A middle school student will comprehend that tribal sovereignty has cultural, political, and economic basis. And a high school student will be able to explain the governmental structure of at least one tribe in their community.

The Tulalip Board briefly explained to ESD that Tulalip is proactive about teaching Tulalip’s culture, history and language in The Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy, and Heritage High School. However, the Board also expressed that high school students who choose to go to different high schools in the Tulalip/Marysville area are not exposed to the culture, history and language. This is why both Senate Bill 5433 and STI are vital in today’s society, so both tribal and non-tribal students have a better understanding of Native America.

ESD is looking to Tulalip for consultation to ensure that Tulalip’s perspective is represented appropriately. “Every tribe is different. Look at how different we are compared to tribes on the other side of the mountains,” stated Bonnie Juneau.  “We have so much history and we want to share our story.”

The tribe and ESD are looking to meet once a month to continue to build upon the STI model. Chairman Sheldon closed by stating, “We raise our hands to you. This is something we feel is needed, and it’s great to see your school district implementing this curriculum. It’s a long awaited step in the right direction and it’s very healing to see.”

The impact of just the pilot curriculum is beautiful and promising, as evidenced by the reaction of one fourth-grade student from Edmonds, “I thought Indians were just people who were discovered and who hunted a lot, but now I know that there are many different tribes and the tribes here fish, dance and carve beautiful masks!” she exclaimed.

 

Contact Kalvin Valdillen, kvaldillen@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Training for a better tomorrow

TERO-grads-3
Commander Johnson of Tulalip Police Department recognized Michael Pablo with a Good Samaritan Award for his aiding of an elder. Photo/Micheal Rios

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

On Monday, May 16, twenty-one Native students were honored with a graduation banquet at the Hibulb Cultural Center for their commitment to training for a better tomorrow. The 21 students, 10 of whom are Tulalip, were the latest cohort to complete an intensive three-month pre-apprenticeship construction trades program offered by our TERO Vocational Training Center (TVTC).

As far we know, the program, which is managed by the Tulalip TERO department, is the first and only state and nationally recognized Native American pre-apprenticeship program in the country. The program is accredited through South Seattle Community College and Renton Technical College, while all the in-class, hands-on curriculum has been formally approved by the Washington State Apprentice and Training Council.

The three-month program provides curriculum that teaches a variety of construction trades and skills that can last a life time. Upon completion, the graduate’s dedication to a better future is rewarded with a wide-range of new employment opportunities now available to each graduate as they navigate the construction trades career path. In addition, students are trained and awarded certifications in flagging, first aid/CPR, and OSHA 10-hour safety training. Upon completion of the program students are ready to safely enter the construction work environment and demonstrate everything they’ve learned.

During the Hibulb graduation ceremony, Tulalip tribal member and TVTC graduate Michael Pablo received a TERO Good Samaritan Award for making a difference in our community by going above and beyond for his courageous efforts in running to the aid of an elder. At the last General Council there was an elder choking on her food. Pablo recognized the emergency situation and used the Heimlich maneuver he learned in class to successfully remove the food. After the incident Pablo stated he was able to take action only because of the first aid skills he learned as a part of the TVTC program.

Under the supervision of instructors Mark Newland and Billy Burchett, the students constructed four tiny houses for their final class project. These houses, which are approximately 120-square-feet, are being donated to residents of Nickelsville, a system of homeless encampments located throughout Seattle. The insulated houses will be a major upgrade for their soon-to-be residents as they offer electricity, heat, a much safer environment and, most importantly, a measure of stability for their new residents.

 

TERO-grads-2

 

Native design doors by Tulalip tribal member Ty Juvinel. Photos/Micheal Rios
Native design doors by Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel.
Photos/Micheal Rios

 

The tiny houses also feature a very Native American touch, as Tulalip artist Ty Juvinel added a tribal design to the doors of each tiny house.

“Some homeless people have nothing, really nothing at all, not even self-worth and if I can make some art or donate some items to help build another person’s self-worth then of course I will,” says Juvinel of his decision to contribute to the tiny houses. “The homeless are at our mercy and we have been neglectful towards their needs. I hope the people who inhabit these tiny homes can find themselves all over again. I hope the work the TERO students have sweat and bled over will be appreciated and help the homeless as they get back on their feet.”

The TVTC construction trades pre-apprenticeship program is a unique, nationally known model that supports tribal members from sovereign nations across the United States. The program is not dependent on tribal hard dollars. In fact, zero hard dollars are used to fund it. Instead, due the dedication and commitment of so many individuals the TVTC program continues to grow and gain more recognition while being funded by the graciousness of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ladder of Opportunity, Tulalip Charitable Fund, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WDOT).

Since the Fall of 2013, when TERO took over the program, 94 students have graduated the pre-apprenticeship program. Of those 94 graduates, 38 have been Tulalip Tribal members, and 10 have either been Tulalip spouses or parents. That’s 48 graduates from Tulalip and 46 fellow Native Americans from all over the region who have opted to train for a better tomorrow and complete the construction training program.

Among this graduating class is Gabriel Demarrias (Fort Peck Sioux) from northeastern Montana. Gabriel shared his story about how he was attending a Pow Wow close to his home in Montana when he came across a previous graduate of the TVTC program. Gabriel was amazed to learn of a pre-apprenticeship program for Natives, by Natives. He packed up what he could and moved in with family in Federal Way just so he could participate in the program. Every day for three-months he woke up at 4:00 a.m. in order to catch five buses to Tulalip and attend class. Following class he’d catch another five buses back to Federal Way and usually get home at 7:30 p.m. That’s a 13.5-hour day, $19.75 worth of bus fare per day, and one monster commute in order to attend the one of a kind class offered by Tulalip TERO.

“The time and commitment I made was definitely worth it. I’ve graduated the class, learned so much, and made some really cool friends. Packing up and leaving home was a challenge, but well worth it,” says Gabriel with a huge grin on his face. “My immediate plans are to start a career in construction, get into the Union, and not look back. It’s time to get paid!”

 

Photo/Micheal Rios
Photo/Micheal Rios

 

Contact Micheal Rios, mrios@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

sgʷigʷialʔtxʷ at 20: Building upon the past, visioning into the future

Kookaburra/Recalecense Richard Rowland (Native Hawaiian). 2005. Clay, marsupial bones, umbrella, stove top element, obsidian. “The works I sometimes make are directly associated with the idea of transformation, adaptability, and the responsibilities I feel toward my culture and toward my community of people, animals, and the whole natural world. I use natural materials in an organically abstracted way that expresses who I am and where I came from – mainly my ancestral beginning, which are deeply rooted somewhere between the landscape and the heavens.”
Kookaburra/Recalecense. Richard Rowland (Native Hawaiian). 2005. Clay, marsupial bones, umbrella, stove top element, obsidian. “The works I sometimes make are directly associated with the idea of transformation, adaptability, and the responsibilities I feel toward my culture and toward my community of people, animals, and the whole natural world. I use natural materials in an organically abstracted way that expresses who I am and where I came from – mainly my ancestral beginning, which are deeply rooted somewhere between the landscape and the heavens.”

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

 

The House of Welcome Longhouse Education and Cultural Center located at Evergreen State College in Olympia is celebrating 20 years of groundbreaking work. Work that emphasizes promoting indigenous arts and cultures through education, cultural preservation, and creative expression. The House of Welcome celebrates the essence of that work with its latest exhibition, Building Upon the Past, Visioning Into the Future.

 

We Are One Bond Chholing Taha (Cree/Iroquois). Acrylic on plywood.
We Are One Bond. Chilling Taha (Cree/Iroquois). Acrylic on plywood.

 

 

Curated by Longhouse staff members, Erin Genia (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate) and Linley Logan (Seneca), the exhibition features the works of artists from this land, local Squaxin Island, Skokomish, Puyallup and many other Salish tribes. Tribes from across the nation are also represented, from Alaska, the Plains, and across the Pacific Rim, including Kanaka Maoli artists from Hawaii and Maori artists from New Zealand.

 

Hummingbird Moon Malynn Foster (Squaxin Island and Skokomish). 2015. Acrylic, pastel, mixed media on canvas.
Hummingbird Moon. Malynn Foster (Squaxin Island and Skokomish). 2015. Acrylic, pastel, mixed media on canvas.

 

`Works on display include paintings, drums, carving, beadwork, photography, baskets, and jewelry.

The subjects and techniques exhibited by the Longhouse artists draw from a diverse range of stylistic traditions, which arise from cultural teachings, ancestral lineages, and each artist’s unique experiences as indigenous peoples.

The exhibition was on display from March 31 – May 11. The House of Welcome was gracious to allow syəcəb staff a private tour of the exhibition so that we could share amazingly creative and exceptional Native art with our readers.

 

Supernatural Seawolves Joe Seymour (Squaxin Island and Acoma Pueblo). 2015. Acrylic on paper. “Supernatural Seawolves is a reproduction of an old spindle whorl that I studied at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington D.C. My trip to the NMAI was made possible through the National Native Creative Development grant through the Longhouse. The design shows two double-headed seawolves. I created this print while working with Lisa Sweet in Artistic Inquiry: Relief Printmaking program during the 2015 Spring quarter at TESC.”
Supernatural Seawolves. Joe Seymour (Squaxin Island and Acoma Pueblo). 2015. Acrylic on paper. “Supernatural Seawolves is a reproduction of an old spindle whorl that I studied at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington D.C. My trip to the NMAI was made possible through the National Native Creative Development grant through the Longhouse. The design shows two double-headed seawolves. I created this print while working with Lisa Sweet in Artistic Inquiry: Relief Printmaking program during the 2015 Spring quarter at TESC.”

 

Cedar Bark Fedora Patti Puhn (Squaxin Island). 2016. Red and yellow cedar bard, sinew, pheasant feathers.
Cedar Bark Fedora. Patti Puhn (Squaxin Island). 2016. Red and yellow cedar bard, sinew, pheasant feathers.

 

Swimming Together In 2015, Artist-in-Residence and Longhouse grantee Nora Naranjo Morse (Tewa) conducted a two-week workshop to create a clay fish installation that will be installed on the future Indigenous Arts Campus at the Evergreen State College. In preparation for the workshop, Nora harvested and processed clay from Santa Clara and Taos Pueblo in the traditional way. Under the guidance and expertise of Nora, the Longhouse staff team joined with community artists to hand-build ceramic fish from the beautiful micaceous clay provided. Together, the tribal participants represented many different regions of the U.S. At the start of the workshop, the group came together to tell fish stories form their tribes. “Swimming Together” represents the connection of Indigenous peoples to the land and sea, and people of many cultural backgrounds working and learning together. This installation is a selection of the fish created during the workshop.
Swimming Together. In 2015, Artist-in-Residence and Longhouse grantee Nora Naranjo Morse (Tewa) conducted a two-week workshop to create a clay fish installation that will be installed on the future Indigenous Arts Campus at the Evergreen State College. In preparation for the workshop, Nora harvested and processed clay from Santa Clara and Taos Pueblo in the traditional way. Under the guidance and expertise of Nora, the Longhouse staff team joined with community artists to hand-build ceramic fish from the beautiful micaceous clay provided. Together, the tribal participants represented many different regions of the U.S. At the start of the workshop, the group came together to tell fish stories form their tribes. “Swimming Together” represents the connection of Indigenous peoples to the land and sea, and people of many cultural backgrounds working and learning together. This installation is a selection of the fish created during the workshop.

Father’s Day Brunch at the Orca Ballroom, June 19

Treat Dad like a King this June … serve him breakfast in bed or set up a lawn chair in a shady spot in the backyard where he can enjoy his favorite steak on the grill.

Or better yet, let us do the work for you! Take Dad to the Tulalip Resort Casino’s Orca Ballroom for the best Father’s Day Brunch in town!

Our chefs have put together all of Dad’s favorites like Prime Rib, Barbequed Chicken, Pork Ribs, Spud Bar, desserts and much more…
We’re showing Dad’s favorite sports on our large screens and added fun things to do with Dad like a 9-hole mini golf course, QB Blitz, Skee Ball, Shooting Stars and a coloring wall and the always enjoyable Face Painters!

 

Fathers Day Brunch

Hibulb United Schools Spring Pow Wow brings community together

HibulbPowWow-12

 

by Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

The Hibulb United Schools Spring Pow Wow was held at Totem Middle School on Saturday May 14, 2016. The venue was small, however, it was a more intimate setting, which allowed everybody to take part in the festivities. There were five drum circles, and several vendors selling clothing, beadwork, art prints, sage, and sweet grass.

A dinner, featuring hamburger stew, dinner rolls, and fresh fruit, took place before the grand entry. Once everybody made their way to the gym, Totem Middle School Principal, Tarra Patrick, briefly spoke of the importance culture, and keeping traditions alive. MC, Arlie Neskahi, then welcomed everybody and a culture filled night with drums, singing, dancing, competition and laughter followed.

In the middle of the ceremony, all dancers stopped on a whistle, elder Charlie Pierce, signaled for everybody to stop momentarily. “Thank you all for stopping immediately, there is a pressing issue that I must acknowledge right now,” said Pierce, “Three times I was stopped in my tracks, there is somebody here who is hurting, three separate occasions something came to me and told me I have to address this situation.” He then called for complete silence while he prayed for the gym. Pierce continued, “Whoever you are, if you are going through a tough time, then get yourself out here, there is medicine on this dancefloor come and receive your healing.”

 

 

The evening really began after that moment; dozens of on-lookers came out and danced, seeking healing, A father, who brought his new born out to dance said “That was amazing, I am not sure if there was a particular person that was addressed to, but there were many people who needed this, and his words gave them the courage to get up, share memories and have some fun.”

In between dances there were raffles, donations, and birthday wishes. Gifts were also handed out. One of the gifts were coloring books for every kid that danced. “I think the books were a great gift, we worked with Everett Community College, and we just wanted to encourage kids to stay in school.” stated committee member Terrance Sabbas,“I am very happy with the turn out, especially because our community had so many events going on in the same night.”

 

HibulbPowWow-1

 

Terrance expressed that the vision of the Hibulb Pow Wow was to create a more traditional experience. “It’s officially Pow Wow season! We just wanted to have a more traditional vibe, we paid drums equally, we had competitions, but we didn’t want it to be about the prizes. We wanted to bring it back to the days where the community got together and enjoyed good song and dance.”

 

 

SEATTLE PREMIUM OUTLETS WELCOMES A VARIETY OF NEW STORES, EXCLUSIVE LINES

Hugo Boss Outlet offers shoppers exclusive clothing lines and three new retailers open

 
TULALIP, Wash. (May 16, 2016) — Seattle Premium Outlets continues to welcome trendy and exciting new brands to the center. Most recently, Citizen Watch, The Limited Outlet and Anime World opened and, additionally, Hugo Boss launched two exclusive new lines. Seattle Premium Outlets are also thrilled to welcome Hanna Andersson, a celebrated children’s clothing line, this summer.
 
“We are happy to welcome such diverse brands to Seattle Premium Outlets,” said Michele Osgood, director of marketing and business development for Seattle Premium Outlets. “These new stores speak to the likes of our shoppers: fashionistas who are hunting for great deals, and families. Each of these additions complement the current retailer roster and fit the wants and needs of our shoppers.”
 
A popular store at the center since opening in 2008, Hugo Boss is surging as a destination with new, exclusive lines not available elsewhere in the state. Recently, Hugo Boss launched two new lines: Boss Women’s and the high end Jason Wu Collection. There are only two Hugo Boss Outlet stores in the United States that carries Boss Women’s– and Seattle Premium Outlets is one of them. Along with the rare addition of a women’s line, Hugo Boss’ new Jason Wu Collection is exclusive to this center.
 
Citizen Watch, known for an artisan’s approach to watch making, joined Seattle Premium Outlets retail roster this spring. Citizen is at the forefront of modern watch making, and with a wide variety of styles and functions, Citizen has watches to meet every consumer’s need.
 
The Limited Outlet offers vibrant, feminine and sophisticated style for the modern fashion-forward woman. Inspired by the latest runway looks, The Limited Outlet’s ready-to-wear collections are timeless and suitable for any occasion, season after season. Seattle Premium Outlets welcomed The Limited Outlet in April. 
 
Anime World, a locally owned specialty gift store, also joined the center last month. Anime World sells anime and game related products including t-shirts, wall scrolls, posters, swords, pillows, bags, wallets, hats, jewelry, accessories and Japanese treats. 
 
Hanna Andersson, a Pacific Northwest company specializing in comfortable, durable, and fashionable children’s clothing, is coming to Seattle Premium Outlets this June. In this fast-paced world, Hanna Andersson prides itself for making clothes that let kids be little, with freedom to explore, play and get dirty.
 
For ongoing updates and to learn more about the outlet stores, follow Seattle Premium Outlets on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the website here. 
 
 

Celebrating culture at Totem Middle School

The ladies of Herencias Mexicanas perform traditional dances. Photo/Kalvin Valdillez
The ladies of Herencias Mexicanas perform traditional dances.
Photo/Kalvin Valdillez

 

by Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

On Friday May 6, 2016 the City of Marysville and the Marysville School District (MSD) held it’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration honoring the culture of Marysville’s Latino community. Many Marysville and Tulalip families arrived early and patiently waited for the doors of Totem Middle School to open.

“This is  our tenth year doing this event,” said Susan Stachowiak, volunteer and Tulalip resident, “And because this is our tenth year, we’ve had a lot of support from the community, a lot of donations and volunteers. It’s great seeing everyone come together for an event like this.”

The evening began with a welcome statement from MSD Superintendent, Dr. Becky Berg and the Director of the Marysville YMCA, JJ Frank. Families then lined up for delicious authentic Mexican cuisine prepared by The School House Café students from the MSD Food Service program, which included chicken or beef enchiladas, rice, beans, and tortilla chips.

The ladies of Herencias Mexicanas, wearing beautiful traditional dresses, performed traditional dances. After families finished enjoying their meals, there were many activities to take part in, including soccer, piñatas, dancing, and of course a performance by Jose Iniguez.

 

Opera performer Jose Iniguez (third from the left).
Opera performer Jose Iniguez (third from the left).

 

“We are very lucky to have Jose Iniguez perform tonight. As you may know, [Jose Iniguez] is a huge name in the Latino Community. Iniguez is an Opera & Bolero Tenor who is most recognizable for his Opera performances around the greater Seattle area,” explained Stachowiak.  “He plays sold out shows in Seattle and is paid well for his talent, and he is doing our event free of charge for the community.”

When asked about the event, community leader, Wendy Messarina Volosin stated, “Overall, I think this years turnout was remarkable, and we are happy to have Jose and the band perform, but I think the best part was seeing the kids having so much fun!”

The Marysville Police and Fire Department are in attendance every year and were interacting with the youth and giving tours of their police cars and fire trucks. “It’s important for the families to socialize with the police and fire departments in a relaxed environment, because most people are used to seeing them exclusively in emergency situations,” Wendy stated.

 

Kids tour a Marysville Fire Department truck.
Kids tour a Marysville Fire Department truck.

 

Marjorie Serge, of the Marysville School District, headed the event. Wendy believes the evening was such a huge success because of Marjorie’s research, “Marjorie has a good vibe and a great heart, and when she is looking for volunteers everybody jumps at the opportunity.”

Wendy, who is in charge of the entertainment, encourages all cultures to take a part in next year’s festivities, and if you are interested in performing please contact her a few months in advance.