Tulalip News

Upper Skagit Tribe surveys habitat use by juvenile chinook, steelhead

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, http://nwifc.org

The Upper Skagit Tribe and the University of Washington (UW) are doing a two-year study examining seasonal habitat preferences for yearling chinook and steelhead in the Skagit River.

Not all juvenile chinook salmon migrate out to sea right away. They spend a few months to two years in freshwater and estuarine habitat. This study will help researchers learn more about the fish that stay in the Skagit watershed’s freshwater habitat during the first year of life.

The research addresses a known data gap in the Skagit River Chinook Recovery Plan and will help inform recovery efforts for Puget Sound steelhead. Both populations are listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.

“We’re finding out about habitat preferences for a very significant life history type,” said Scott Schuyler, natural resources director for the Upper Skagit Tribe. “That will help us decide where to focus our rebuilding efforts.”

The research team is a partnership between the UW’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and the Upper Skagit Natural Resources Department. The team is conducting night snorkel surveys over a two-year period to monitor where the fish are each season. Juvenile habitat use varies throughout the year, because of factors including water temperature, stream flow and competition pressure from other fish.

“We expect to see the largest number of juveniles in the late summer, when the habitat could reach its carrying capacity,” said Jon-Paul Shannahan, a biologist for the Upper Skagit Tribe. “The habitat needs for each species changes over time as the fish grow, and we are hoping to better understand this relationship.”

For each snorkel survey, the researchers collect detailed habitat data. The types of channels surveyed included large mainstem channels, secondary channels, tributaries, and floodplain channels throughout the known spawning distribution of chinook.

For information, contact: Jon-Paul Shannahan, Upper Skagit Tribe, 360-854-7089 or jonpauls@upperskagit.com; Kari Neumeyer, NWIFC, 360-424-8226 or kneumeyer@nwifc.org.

Tribes participate in nationwide mussel watch program

Port Gamble S’Klallam environmental scientist Rory O’Rourke removes mussels from a cage in Port Gamble Bay.

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, http://nwifc.org

Treaty tribes in Northwest Washington are working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to use caged mussels to analyze toxic chemicals in Puget Sound.

The National Mussel Watch Program, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has been monitoring toxic contaminants in lakes and coastal waters since 1986.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently began a pilot project in conjunction with NOAA to assess the feasibility of using caged mussels for contaminant monitoring. In previous years, Mussel Watch harvested from resident populations, but putting mussels in cages gives researchers more control over the sampling area.

Mussels are filter feeders that retain any chemicals in the water for two to four months. After they are retrieved, the caged mussels will be analyzed for 150 toxic chemicals commonly found in Puget Sound, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, benzenes and trace metals. The program also has added pharmaceutical and hormone detection to the list of toxins analyzed.

Stillaguamish biologists Franchesca Perez, left, and Jennifer Sevigny anchor a cage of mussels off Camano Island.

The Stillaguamish Tribe has partnered on this effort since 2006. For this season, the tribe adopted two sites in Port Susan Bay.

“I think it is essential to monitor the presence and trends of toxins in Port Susan Bay, given the impacts of contaminants on salmon recovery and overall wildlife health,” said Stillaguamish biologist Jennifer Sevigny. “There are also important links between toxin loads and tribal shellfish harvest.”

In November, Sevigny and biologist Franchesca Perez placed bags of Penn Cove mussels in cages anchored in the intertidal zone in two Port Susan locations.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe joined the program in 2012. Staff members and citizen volunteers placed three cages in Port Gamble Bay and at Point No Point in November. Both tribes retrieved their cages in January.

“The tribe is conducting its own human health risk assessment and we want to see how the contaminant levels in Port Gamble Bay compare to Puget Sound and the rest of the nation,” said Rory O’Rourke, the tribe’s environmental scientist. “The results also will allow us to find existing pollutants we’re not aware of and need attention.”

Mussel Watch provides state-to-state comparisons and baseline data ahead of oil spills and large storms. In the long-term, the research will establish trends of toxic chemicals in the Puget Sound nearshore.

For more information, contact: Jennifer Sevigny, biologist, Stillaguamish Tribe, 360-631-2372 or jense@stillaguamish.nsn.us; Rory O’Rourke, environmental scientist, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, 360-297-6289 or rorouke@pgst.nsn.us; Kari Neumeyer, information officer, NWIFC, 360-424-8226 or kneumeyer@nwifc.org; or Tiffany Royal, information officer, NWIFC, 360-297-6546 or troyal@nwifc.org.

Fourth flu death of Snohomish County confirmed

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News writer

Snohomish County has had its fourth confirmed death from the flu. A Stanwood man in his 90’s passed away Jan. 8 of influenza. In December there were 3 deaths from the flu, a Bothell woman in her 40’s and an Everett and an Edmonds woman both in their 80’s.

There have been 66 people hospitalized with influenza in the Snohomish County. Those who should be vaccinated are at people with a high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu; people who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, pregnant women, people 65 years and older.

The Tulalip Health Clinic is offering free flu shots

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri from 9:00 – 11:30 and from 1:15 – 4:00

Also on Weds, 10:00 – 11:30 and from 1:15 – 4:00 pm

Reminder:

Symptoms of the flu are characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, headache, runny nose, sore joints, fatigue, muscle ache, cough, and sore throat. These flu symptoms often show up with 2-3 days after coming in contact with the disease, and can last somewhere between 5 to 14 days, all depending on the strain of the virus and the patients’ ability to fight it off.

WebMD suggests 8 Natural Tips to Help Prevent a Cold and Flu

Wash your hands, often.
Use a tissue to cover your sneezes and coughs and not your hands.
Don’t touch your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
Do aerobic exercises regularly, exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.
Eat foods containing Phytochemicals, so put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.
Don’t smoke.
Cut Alcohol Consumption.
Relax.

If you would like to know more about the influenza and the vaccine please visit

The center for disease control

WebMD cold and flu tips

Kimberly Simpson

“Gwayatol”

Kimberly Lee Simpson of Tulalip, WA, born on April 14, 1963 to Curtis “George” Taylor and Betty Gobin passed away peacefully at home on January 18, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Gordon Taylor; aunts, Virginia and Ida Schlosser and Genevieve Williams; uncles, Dallas Taylor Jr. and Ron Kona; niece, Shannon Taylor; nephew, Dallas Taylor; and father, “Papa Smurf” Curtis George Taylor.

Kimberly is survived by her loving husband, Rodney Jr. of 36 years; sister, Connie (David); brother, Calvin (Marguerite); brother, Clifford (Janet); sister, Sharon (Steve); and brother, Lance (Tammy); her children, Lavon, Malory, Rodney III (Jaedean) and Shana. She also leaves behind her very special grandchildren, Wanisa, Cruz, Elyssa, Meriel, Shylah, Ashlynn, Ryelon, Caleb, Solay, Tiyanna, and newest granddaughter, Kiley.

She worked at Casey’s Grocery Store in Tulalip at a young age and then moved on to working at the Tulalip Bingo, Tulalip Family Services, Tulalip Police Dept., and was also a proud Business Owner of Native Grounds Espresso, in Tulalip.

Kimberly was a very dedicated mother and grandmother, she loved to spend time with her family and pets. She enjoyed sharing her creativity through her bead work and art work, and trying new recipes, cooking and baking delicious dishes for her family.

Kim had the most beautiful smile that could illuminate any room no matter how big, her laugher lifted many spirits. She left behind strong family teachings and values that her husband and family will always remember.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 1 p.m. at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home followed by services at the family home at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 23, 10 a.m., at the Tulalip Tribal Gym with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.

Madahbee declines Queen’s Jubilee medal

Source:Anishinabek Nation – http://www.anishinabek.ca/

Marci Becking, Communications Officer

E-mail: becmar@anishinabek.ca

UOI OFFICES (Nipissing FN) January 22, 2013 – Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says the acceptance of a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal would be inappropriate, since the Crown’s representative in Canada has refused to discuss the broken treaty relationship directly with First Nations representatives.

Madahbee was notified that he had been nominated to receive the medal – which honours outstanding contributions to Canada in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II’s sixty years of service to the British Commonwealth — at a Jan. 24 ceremony in Toronto.

“I want to express my respect and gratitude to whomever nominated me,” said the Grand Council Chief. “But I hope they appreciate that, given the current political challenges being faced by First Nations in Canada, I do not feel it appropriate at this time for me to accept this award.

“The treaty relationship promised in the Royal Proclamation of 1763 has been broken by the current federal government. The Covenant Chain we accepted at Niagara in 1764 has been badly tarnished. Canada’s rule of law, as expressed in its Constitution and by its Supreme Court, is being ignored. The prime minister has an obligation to have the Queen’s representative involved in any discussions we have with his government about Canada’s obligations to honour the treaties.

Madahbee said the highest honour he has received was being chosen to speak on behalf of the 39 member communities of the Anishinabek Nation.

“Trinkets are no substitute for treaty rights.”

The Jubilee Medal program is administered through the office of Governor General David Johnston, the Queen’s representative in Canada, who refused earlier this month to participate in “policy meetings” with First Nations leaders in Ottawa.

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 39 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 55,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

Chippewa author’s book sheds light on a dark subject

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News writer

The Round House By Louise Erdich

Reviewed by Monica Brown

The Round House is set in the year 1988 on an Indian reservation in North Dakota. The reservation is seen in an unfiltered light; a tangle of Indian housing, tribal police and questions of where their jurisdiction lies, the local gas station, the catholic church and stories of the old days. In the midst are 13 year-old Joe, Joe’s father Bazil, a tribal court judge and his mother Geraldine, a tribal enrollment specialist.

The story is told through the eyes of Joe who is now grown and is remembering back to 1988. Joe brings us back to the memory of when his mother was attacked and brutally raped and how the act was so infiltrating that it threatened to rip his world apart.

While his mother retreats into darkness and shuts the world out, Bazil begins reading old court files in hopes of gleaming something useful. Joe becomes restless and sets out for information with his friends; Cappy, Angus and Zack. The boys become immersed in a world that deals heavily with the boundaries of law, spirituality and the bonds between families and friends.

As Joe goes about in his nonchalant way seeking the truth, he questions his father and challenges him on being not just a good husband to Geraldine, but a good judge. Bazil explains to Joe and reminds him of the laws that are in place which will make this an extremely difficult case if the attacker is even found.

“…this one is the one I’d abolish right this minute if I had the power of a movie shaman. Oliphant V. Suquamish…took from us the right to prosecute non-Indians who commit crimes on our land.” Says Bazil to Joe in order to reason why it doesn’t just matter if they find who did it, what matters is where it happened.

Once you know something so inhumane, it is as Joe says “a poison in you”. In other places around the world where justice can be handed out, this sort of crime still leaves a gap in the lives of all it touches but to not be able to seek justice can leave a wound which may never heal.

Even though the story is heavy with dialogue and lacks quotations it is still an impressive and deliberate account. Louise Erdrich paints very clearly the internal and external struggle which resides with every indigenous person whether the seek it out or try to ignore it. The book is loosely based on actual events and reveals actual laws that are in place today. The Round House was published in October of 2012 and was selected as the winner in the fiction category for the 2012 National Book Award.

Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa, wrote this story to bring to light “the tangles of laws that hinder prosecution of rape cases on many reservations”. With The Violence against Women Act being rewritten and the Idle No More movement spreading across the globe this book could not have been released at a more appropriate time.

Native American women veterans celebrate president’s inauguration

CBS News January 21, 2013, www.cbsnews.com

PUEBLO WEST, Colo. – About 2,800 groups applied to be part of the Inaugural parade on Monday. The president’s inaugural committee chose 60, including one with deep roots in this land.

They often perform to a sound of pageantry centuries old. They are the first Native American Women Warrior color guard: all veterans, all proud of their ancestry and the nation they serve.

Mitchelene BigMan is the group’s founder. Sgt. Big Man served 22 years in the Army, including two tours in Iraq.

“We’re like the heartbeat of America,” BigMan said. “We’re Native Americans. We’re still here, and I think we’re even stronger now than we were before.”

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Nearly 5,000 Native American women have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. BigMan’s grandmother served in WWII.

“She was small,” she said. “She was only five feet and maybe 100 pounds but they said she was one of the meanest ones they had.”

BigMan laughed and admitted she wasn’t that different from her grand mother.

BigMan was born and raised on the Crow reservation in Montana. Unemployment was high. Alcoholism and domestic violence were chronic. So, she enlisted at age 21 and went on to become a mechanic supporting a combat battalion.

Mitchelene BigMan served as a mechanic in the Army. / CBS News

“It was an all-male battalion,” she said. “When I showed up, they were really disappointed, and the tension, I could just see it. First of all I’m female, a minority and a Native American. I had to prove myself three times as hard sometimes.”

And she did. When she retired after two decades, she formed the Native American Women Warriors. The group includes all ranks and branches of service. They promote diversity and equality in the military and on reservations.

In today’s parade, they displayed their badges of military service on their native warrior dresses — dresses worn during a traditional dance for prayer and healing.

“I think it’s time for us to heal, not only as veterans but as a nation,” she said.

“Healing” for the warriors and for the nation they served is something worth a dance about any day including today, each said.

Mayor to present State of the City address on Jan. 25

Source: The Marysville Globe, http://www.marysvilleglobe.com

MARYSVILLE — Mayor Jon Nehring will give this year’s State of the City address at 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, during the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours monthly breakfast.

The presentation will take place in the Canoes Lounge of the Tulalip Resort Casino, located at 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.

Nehring plans to review Marysville’s accomplishments over the course of the past year, and look at what lies ahead for the city in 2013. Among the highlights, he will discuss the upcoming downtown revitalization initiative and public participation opportunities, as well as budget measures that support new walkway and road improvements, trails and public safety. The Smokey Point manufacturing and industrial center, which Nehring deems key to stimulating job growth and promoting economic development, will also be on the agenda.

The program will be videotaped to air the following week from Feb. 1-8, with simulcast viewing times of noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Marysville TV 21 on Comcast, and TV 25 on Frontier.

For breakfast cost and reservation information, contact the Chamber by phone at 360-659-7700 or via email at admin@marysvilletulalipchamber.com.

Burn bans lifted for King and Snohomish counties; Stage 1 burn ban continues for Pierce County

JANUARY 21, 2013. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lifting the air quality burn bans in King and Snohomish counties, effective at 1 p.m. on January 21, 2013. A Stage 1 burn ban continues for Pierce County until further notice.

“We are lifting the burn bans in King and Snohomish counties because winds are picking up and temperatures are warming,” said Dr. Phil Swartzendruber, agency forecaster. “But Pierce County is still under the influence of cold and calm conditions, which could cause pollution to build up in areas where wood-burning is common. We need to keep a Stage 1 burn ban in effect to protect air quality in those communities.”

“We encourage everyone who doesn’t rely on wood heat to use instead their home’s cleaner source of heat until weather conditions change.”

Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.
No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

For more information:

Tulalip snowboarders head to competition, Jan 27-28

Article by Kim Kalliber and Jeannie Briones, Tulalip News staff

TULALIP,WA – For 19-year-old Tulalip Tribal member, Moses Williams, snowboarding is all about sportstmanship, teamwork and fun, and not to mention, speed, cool tricks and no limitations on style.

Moses is a member of the First Nations Snowboarding Team (FNST) of Tulalip. FNST Tulalip is an off-shoot of FNST Canada, and was selected as the first U.S. team to represent the Nations. What began with staff at the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club seeking ways to keep kids engaged in sports, has grown into a 50+ member team in their second year of competition snowboarding.

FNST Tulalip operates in three divisions: High Performance, Jr. Elite and Beginner. Moses, a six-year snowboarding veteran, is one of 19 members competing as the High Performance Team. The competition will take place January 27-28 at Mount Hood, Oregon. Winners of this competition may be eligible for the National competition in Denver, Colorado.

“You have to be on the High Performance Team to be able to compete. You have to be good enough to ride on your toes, heels, and go off jump,” said Moses, who competed in the Nationals last year.

Boarders may compete in any of three styles: slope, which consist of tricks in the air, on rails, and boxes; boarder cross, which is speed racing; and half pipe, which they can perform tricks on. Moses plans to compete in the boarder cross and slope style snowboarding categories.

Moses also devotes his time as a coach for the team, helping fellow teammates achieve their goals. “I like helping and teaching the younger kids to get better at snowboarding,” said Moses.

FNST, an international team of athletes training to compete in the Olympic Games, is the only snowboarding team operated solely by Native Americans. For more information about FNST, visit http://www.fnriders.com/

Jeannie Briones: 360-716-4188; jbriones@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov