By Rob Capriccioso, source: Indian Country Today Media Network
The much scrutinized fiscal decision-making of the U.S. Congress today kept the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) from meeting for its first business session of the year.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., had planned to chair her first business meeting on February 14 of the tribally focused committee she was appointed by Senate leadership to oversee in January.
But the Senate Rules Committee, the committee in charge of handling committee budgets, has not sent Cantwell an operating budget, so her plans were upended, and she was forced to postpone the meeting to a yet unscheduled date in the future.
“The purpose of today’s organizing meeting was for the members of the committee to approve the committee budget,” said Emily Deimel, a spokeswoman for Cantwell. “However, the Senate has yet to provide any of the committees with an operating budget, so we had to postpone today’s meeting until we know what our overall budget will look like.”
In response to a question on when operating budgets are usually handed out, Deimel said, “We should have received them already and at this point do not have a firm timeline.”
SCIA should be able to proceed soon with other types of meetings, including legislative and oversight ones, even with the budget in limbo, Deimel added—a good thing for Indian country, since some Senate staffers have been told that there might not be any finalized committee budgets until Congress decides what it is going to do before the March 1 sequestration deadline. If no deal is worked out between the House and Senate before then, dramatic spending cuts across the board would automatically hit all federal government sectors, including many programs that provide financial support to tribes and Indians.
Carolyn Moses (left) and Judge Theresa Pouley acted as witnesses during a healing event called “Lifting Our Sisters Up” held at the Hibulb Cultural Center longhouse in Tulalip on Wednesday. More than 50 women gathered to discuss violence against native women, share personal accounts of struggle and give support to each other. Photo: Genna Martin / The Herald
Courageously she stood, a blanket around her shoulders. Roxanne Chinook wasn’t alone in the Tulalip Tribes‘ Hibulb Cultural Center Longhouse.
More than 50 women and girls, elders to middle schoolers, crowded together on plank seats. For their ancestors, a longhouse was a place to hear stories. At Wednesday’s gathering, called “Lifting Our Sisters Up,” they listened and shared.
“The blankets are to cover you for protection,” said Deborah Parker, vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes.
Then Chinook told her harrowing story, an account of being raped — by a non-Indian — on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon.
“I am a survivor of 13 rapes,” said Chinook, who works for the Tulalips’ Legacy of Healing, a victims’ advocacy program. Years ago, she tried hiding her pain in a fog of substance abuse. “Why did I make myself so vulnerable? Many women you see in Indian country who are hard-drinking, those are women carrying that kind of pain,” Chinook said.
It was a piercing, personal memory. And a camera was rolling.
A French film crew was in the longhouse Wednesday working on a documentary that will air on the Canal Plus network. “It’s like the HBO of France,” said Sabrina Van Tassel, the filmmaker visiting Tulalip with camerman Cyril Thomas. Van Tassel said the short film will air on a French show called “Butterfly Effect,” which examines issues in other countries.
The film’s subject is the Violence Against Women Act, which U.S. senators voted Tuesday to reauthorize. It’s legislation first passed in 1994. The law includes money for prosecution of violent crimes against women.
Last year, House Republicans did not support its renewal. One big reason the House rejected the measure was a new provision that would allow tribal police and courts to pursue and try non-Indians who attack women on tribal land. Federal law enforcement has jurisdiction in such cases, but access is limited at the very least by distance.
Legislation passed Tuesday by the Senate includes the tribal provisions. The House is now expected to take up the Violence Against Women Act, and Parker is pushing for equal treatment of crimes that happen on Indian reservations.
Last April, the Tulalips’ vice chairwoman was in Washington, D.C., where she spoke at a press conference with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in support of the law, which died in 2012 without a House vote. Interviewed in December by Herald writer Rikki King, Murray said Parker has become “the voice and face” of the issue. “I know it’s taken a lot of courage on her part, and I know it’s making a difference,” Murray said.
As she did in the nation’s capital, Parker shared her own nightmarish stories in the longhouse Wednesday.
“My aunt was being abused when I was baby-sitting her children. She was brutally raped,” Parker said. All she could do, she said, was protect the children by hiding with them in a closet. Parker also remembers being raped as a small child. “I was the size of a couch cushion,” she said. “I was choked and I was raped. I tell my story so that others can receive healing,” she said.
Parker stood beside her teenage daughter, Kayah George, and said “I can place one more woman beside me, and one of us will be raped.”
Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., quoted by The New York Times on Sunday, cited statistics showing that tribal women are two and a half times more likely than other American women to be raped, with 1 in 3 Indian women becoming victims of sexual assault.
The French film crew has also done interviews on the Rosebud and Yankton Sioux reservations in South Dakota. “A lot of people ask why, why would French people want to know about this?” said Van Tassel. “Why wouldn’t they?”
Among four honored witnesses to Wednesday’s gathering, which included traditional songs and prayers, was the Tulalip Tribal Court’s Chief Judge Theresa Pouley. The court is part of the Northwest Intertribal Court System, established in 1979.
Pouley is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. “Let tribal court judges take care of crime on reservations. This isn’t about tribal court judges. This is about protecting our women,” Pouley said.
“I’m a Washington State Bar Association member. I should have to prove I’m competent or capable? Really? It’s time to stop having that conversation,” the judge said. “I never want to say to my granddaughter, ‘There’s a 1 in 3 chance you’ll be raped, sweetie.'”
Out of several thousand applicants for the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has bestowed the honor on Native American-owned security firm Personnel Security Consultants, Inc. (PSC) as one of 100 winners representing the best small businesses in America.
The award recognizes small firms with fewer than 250 employees and gross revenues of less than $20 million for its customer service, community involvement, staff training and motivation, a press release states. The award, sponsored by Sam’s Club, also recognizes business strategies and goals. PSC was the only Blue Ribbon winner in New Mexico and one of two Native American small businesses selected in the U.S.
“It’s exciting to know that a small business started in my home is being recognized alongside bigger businesses with dozens of employees,” PSC President & CEO Michele Justice (Navajo) said in the release. “It’s recognition for the hard work, determination and sacrifice. It’s assurance that we’re doing the right thing even through all the struggles. And it’s a big dream that we’ve really worked to make a reality.”
An investigative firm specializing in personnel security and employment suitability with a staff of 18, PSC serves more than 280 tribes and tribal programs, in addition the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Los Alamos National Laboratory, temp screening services and casinos.
The firm, created in 2004, focuses on personnel security training, adjudications and tailored employee background investigations. PSC continues to be the only authorized liaison between the BIA and the FBI to aid tribes in obtaining employee fingerprints for a FBI criminal history record search to meet the requirements of the 1990 Indian Child Protection and Violence Protection.
Blue Ribbon winners will be honored at America’s Small Business Summit 2013 on April 29 – May 1 in Washington, D.C. On Friday, February 15, the U.S. Chamber will announce seven award finalists. One of the seven will be named the DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year during the summit. The winner will be presented with a copy0,000 cash prize courtesy of the U.S. Chamber.
“The Blue Ribbon Award winners show that, even facing uncertainty and economic challenges, small businesses can grow and succeed,” U.S. Chamber president and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in the press release. “They are America’s economic engine, driving growth and job creation all across this country.”
Blue Ribbon awardees are also eligible for the Community Excellence Award, an online contest that allows people to support their favorite Blue Ribbon winner and celebrate the business’ commitment to their community. The Community Excellence Award winner will receive a free, two-night hotel stay during the business summit. Deadline to vote is 5 p.m. EST February 22. To vote for PSC, go to https://dreambigaward.wufoo.com/forms/community-excellence-award-2013/.
Photo Courtesy of Running Strong for American Indian Youth website
By Monica Brown, Tulalip Writer
President Barack Obama will be honoring civilians today with the second-highest civilian honor—the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal— in 1969 the Citizens Medal was established to honor American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.
Among the list of 13 selected is Billy Mills, an Oglala Lakota. Mills co-founded and serves as the spokesman for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that supports cultural programs and provides health and housing assistance for Native American communities.
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by the President in this extraordinary way,” said Billy on the Running Strong for American Indian Youth website. “The most powerful thing you can give to a child is a dream. I hope every child in Indian Country knows what is possible if you follow your dream.”
Mills is most remembered for his unexpected Gold Medal win in the 10,000 meter run during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Today, he remains the only American to ever win this event it is is frequently referred to as the greatest Olympic distance race of all time. Afterwards Mills received his Lakota name, “Makoce Te’hila” which means “Loves His Country” or more traditionally “Respects the Earth”.
Today Billy travels over 300 days every year. He visits American Indian communities throughout the U.S. and speaks to American Indian youth about healthy lifestyles and taking pride in their heritage, states the website for running Strong.
Mills along with the other 12 honorees were among a group of 6,000 nominations.
A meteor streaked across the early-morning sky in Russia and exploded into a fireball on Friday over the industrial city of Chelyabinsk, in the Ural Mountains.
The shockwave injured 500 people, most of whom were hit by shattered glass from blown-out windows, media reports said. Chelyabinsk is 950 miles east of Moscow, according to Reuters.
The meteor’s white contrail was visible up to 125 miles away in Yekaterinburg, Reuters reported. The 10-ton space rock set off car alarms and disrupted mobile phone networks as it broke upon entering the atmosphere at 33,000 miles per hour, faster than a bullet.
Scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences said the meteor exploded 20 or 30 miles above Earth, according to a statement quoted by The New York Times. Reuters said 112 people were hospitalized and 297 buildings were damaged.
The meteor strike bears eerie parallels to one that exploded over Siberia in 1908 and has been invoked often over the past several days in comparison to the flyby of asteroid 2012 DA14, which will happen today at around 2:30 p.m. That one will pass 17,200 miles from Earth, which is within the orbit of communications and weather satellites (which are 22,000 miles up) but does not pose a threat.
What seemed to resonate most with the judges in the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards contest was the sophisticated level of talent shown by the hundreds of students who entered works of art.
One judge, Tonnie Wolfe, wrote that he found the students did “incredibly mature work for most categories.”
“Loved the vision of all entrants,” Wolfe wrote as part of his comments.
Another judge, Carm Pierce, appreciated the high level of creativity and technical execution shown by the students.
“I really enjoy seeing great young artists emerging from our local school programs,” Pierce commented.
Schack Art Center will present artwork from the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards in its main gallery.
Among the pieces on display will be the works done by the five outstanding American Vision/Best of Show recipients:
Megan Davis, from Glacier Peak High School; Orlando Esquivel from Henry M. Jackson High School; Marcela Gaspar from Lake Stevens High School; and Holly Hillman and Annalissa Winters, both from Stanwood High School.
There were more than 800 entries received from 37 Snohomish County schools for this year’s contest.
Since 1996, Schack Art Center has been the only regional affiliate in Washington state for the National Scholastic Art Awards, exhibiting thousands of 7th- through 12th-grade Snohomish County artists in the process, according to a press release.
Schack will exhibit all the award-winning entries in its main gallery from Feb. 18 through 24. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 20 at Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett.
A public recognition of the winners will be given starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 during the Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett.
A number of salmonella illnesses traced to Foster Farms chicken in Washington and Oregon last year prompted health officials in both states to issue a warning Thursday.
“While these outbreaks are unfortunate, they’re also preventable if people take the proper steps when storing, handling and preparing raw poultry products,” said Washington state Health Department spokesman Tim Church in a news release.
There were at least 56 cases in Washington — including four in Snohomish County — all linked to a specific strain of salmonella Heidelberg bacteria found on Foster Farms chicken. There were no deaths.
Salmonella’s symptoms — fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea — can last four to seven days. The illness can be deadly in the young or old or other vulnerable people, Church said.
Foster Farms said safety and quality are its priorities, and there is no recall related to the salmonella announcement.
Consumers are urged to separate raw poultry from other foods in the shopping cart with plastic bags. Don’t let drippings from chicken or packaging contaminate cutting boards or other surfaces in the kitchen. And, cook chicken to 165 degrees to kill the bacteria.
MUKILTEO — Snohomish County Business Watch plans to offer training this spring for business professionals about what to do in case of a mass-shooting.
The training costs $5 and is planned for 11:30 a.m. April 16 at Mukilteo City Hall,11930 Cyrus Way.
“The training is geared toward businesses but has an overall common theme that is applicable to everyone,” Mukilteo crime prevention officer Cheol Kang said.
Speakers are set to include Everett police officer Eddie Golden and Stillaguamish tribal police officer Matt Nelson.
People interested in attending should RSVP to rsvp@thescbw.org or via the group[‘]s Facebook page. Lunch is included.
Additional training is planned later this year regarding disaster preparedness and preventing cybercrime and identity theft.
Some neighbors have used barges and boats to remove salvaged materials from their houses at Mission Beach. The residents have to remove their homes and be off the Tulalip Tribes property by the end of March. Photo: Dan Bates / The Herald
TULALIP — For 50 years, Jaime Erickson’s family has been spending summers and weekends at their cabin on scenic Mission Beach.
Bruce Agnew’s family has had a cabin on the beach since 1925.
Mike Carey’s in-laws have had a place there for 90 years.
None of them own the beachfront property on which their cabins sit, however. They’ve been leasing the land from the Tulalip Tribes, and the tribes want it back.
The 24 tenants had to be out by the end of December and the cabins have to be gone by the end of March. The buildings — some basic, some funky, some quaint — are being taken apart and torn down, one by one.
“We’re all real sad. It’s a lot of memories,” said Erickson, 55, whose full-time home is in Everett.
The quarter-mile section of beach is located southeast of Tulalip Bay, below 59th Street NW, also called Mission Beach Heights Road.
The cabins are built right on the beach, up against a steep slope. Most of the bank has been eroding for years and slides have been an issue, Tulalip spokeswoman Francesca Hillery said.
The tenants, most of them on long-term leases of up to 30 years, were given notice in 2005 that they had to be out by the end of 2012 — more than seven years ahead of time, Hillery said. They were sent reminder notices again in June, she said.
The leases stipulated that any structures on the property be removed at the renters’ expense when the lease expires, Hillery said. The leases also were intentionally timed to end simultaneously, she said.
The tribes haven’t yet decided what to do with the beach but the most likely choice is to restore it to a natural state, Hillery said.
“The likelihood of doing anything other than restoring the beach doesn’t look good because of the instability of the slopes” and because of salmon recovery efforts, she said.
Hillery declined to comment on whether the public would have access to the beach if it is restored.
Erickson said the leases had been renewed so many times over the years that few thought they’d actually have to leave.
“Everyone’s in denial,” she said. “I never believed it.”
Residents said there is some anger about the situation, but at the same time, they understand the property isn’t theirs.
“A lease is a lease, unfortunately,” said Carey, who lives in Bellingham. “It is what it is.”
Only a few of the tenants live at the beach full time, Erickson said. For most, the homes are part-time dwellings. Still, the families have spent so much time at their cabins over the years that leaving and tearing them down is difficult.
“The tribe has been working with us very closely but the reality is my family has been there since 1925,” said Agnew, a former Snohomish County Council member. “Tribal members who are very family-oriented can certainly understand the tragedy in losing a place we’ve had since 1925 with irreplaceable family memories.”
The beach has a significant, colorful history.
The beach was named for a Catholic missionary church established nearby in the earliest years of the reservation, in 1858 by the Rev. E.C. Chirouse, according to Snohomish County historian David Dilgard.
In later years, the atmosphere at the beach was anything but pious.
Agnew, who grew up in Everett, said that early in the 20th century, his great-grandfather and others frequented fishing shacks on Mission Beach.
“The mining and fishing barons of Everett would go over and play cards and get away from their families,” he said. “They’d take tugboats out there and drink and gamble and carouse away from the watchful eye of their families on Rucker Hill.”
That tradition did not quite die out, according to Erickson.
The wooden decks on most of the homes ran together.
“It was just one big family. Everybody walked the deck and had cocktails with each other,” she said. “It was a fun, fun beach.”
The strip of sand boasts southwestern exposure with sweeping views of Whidbey Island, Hat Island, Possession Sound and Everett.
“The best time to be out there was with the storms and the connection with nature, the wild storms and tides,” said Agnew, who now lives on Mercer Island. “Where else do you find white sandy beach 45 minutes from downtown Seattle without railroad tracks in front and without a ferry to take? There’s no substitute for it.”
Some of the tenants are paying Carey, who has a construction business, to tear down their cabins with an excavator. He said most are paying him between $9,000 and $11,000.
Friends, relatives, acquaintances and charity groups have been salvaging fixtures and appliances, according to Erickson.
“It’s kind of a free-for-all. Everyone’s just coming out here and taking what they want,” she said.
Some are having their places taken down piece by piece and hauled away by boat.
“I’ve worked down here for 30 years on people’s places that I’m tearing down,” Gary Werner, of Lake Stevens said.
“I’m taking apart stuff I built for people.”
Agnew said it will be easier for tenants to accept their loss if the beach is restored to a natural condition.
“Anything other than that would be really sad,” he said.
Hillery said the tribes understand the families’ emotional connection to the beach. Tribal members also feel a connection, she said.
“It’s ancestral land,” she said. “It’s a very important cultural area to the tribe.”
By Carley MacRae RD, CD, WSU Extension – Snohomish County Food $ense
Grains come in many different shapes and sizes and they vary in price almost as much as they vary in type. We can put grains into two categories – refined grains and whole grains. Refined grains are processed to remove parts of the grain so that it has a smoother texture. Whole grains contain every part of the grain and therefore have more nutrients and fiber than refined grains. The goal is to make sure that half of the grain foods we eat every day are whole grains. This is important for the health of our digestive system and our heart.
Unfortunately, marketing practices have made whole grain foods difficult to identify. The labeling is confusing so always read the ingredient list. Any product that names a whole grain ingredient first is a whole grain. Look for phrases such as, “whole wheat,” “brown rice,” “bulgur,” “buckwheat,” “oatmeal,” “whole-grain cornmeal,” “whole oats,” “whole rye,” or “wild rice.” These words and phrases are your clues to finding whole grain products.
If whole grains are new to your home or if they have been previously rejected, be patient. It is a big change to move from refined grains to healthy whole grains. Whole grains have a different texture and a different taste than refined grains so it may take a while for people to enjoy them. It can take at least ten to twenty times of tasting a food before kids start to like it. Here are a few tips to begin weaning yourself and your family off refined grains and onto whole grains.
When serving pasta mix white pasta with whole grain pasta. Each time add more whole grain pasta until that is all you serve. (Important tip: Whole grain pasta can have an unappetizing texture when overcooked. Be careful to follow the package’s cooking instructions).
A kid-favorite is a goofy grain sandwich. Make goofy grain sandwiches by using one slice of refined wheat bread and the other half whole-wheat bread. Make it your goal to eventually transition to using only whole-wheat or whole-grain bread.
When serving rice, mix white rice (a refined grain) together with brown rice or wild rice. Slowly add less and less white rice until your family prefers brown rice or wild rice to white rice.
Substitute whole-wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour that a recipe calls for when cooking baked goods. This is a great way to hide whole grains in your favorite foods.
