Month: November 2012

“In Her Shoes ~ Native Version” interactive workshop brings public awareness of domestic violence

Chery Neskahi Coan, Tulalip Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House Senior Residential Aide.

Article and photo Jeannie Briones

 TULALIP, Washington-  “One out of three native women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime,” said  Cheryl Neskahi Coan, Senior Residential Aide for the Tulalip Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House.

 Staff at Tulalip Legacy of HealingAdvocacyCenterand Safe House is working to educate the community about domestic violence and put an end to the cycle of abuse. “    “In Her Shoes ~ Native Version”, is an interactive workshop designed to help people understand what victims face in every day life, and opened to the community on October 30th. This Native version workshop held at the Tulalip Administration Building, focused on acts of abuse based on real-life stories of Native American women. This workshop builds off of the “In Her Shoes, Economic Justice Edition” workshop offered on October 18th at Tulalip.

“I really enjoyed the workshop,” said tribal member Charlotte Jones. “It allows people to really see what it’s like to be in that situation. I think that being able to literally walk in their shoes and make decisions that they would face will allow people to have a little more insight and compassion to victims and also for the perpetrators. It’s hard to be a victim, but on the other side, we need to help the perpetrators, to make sure that they don’t victimize further.”           

 In cases of domestic violence against Native women is committed by non-native perpetrators are usually not prosecuted due to jurisdictional limits in tribal courts and this can lead to reoccurring abuse. Non-natives committing acts of domestic violence against Native American victims are not being held accountable for their actions.

“In Her Shoes ~ Native Version”, explores the real life experiences of Native women in various situations such as, in a same gender relationship, with a disabled partner, in a traditional marriage, and as a career woman. The workshop also addresses the victim’s issues of intimidation, coercion, power, and the control that the perpetrator uses over the victim.

Workshop facilitators also use a series of visual aids called the Native Maze Map: Navigating Systemic Response to Battering. Flow charts show how complex domestic violence is.

“We came together to bring our tribal community together. Our wish is to have community members understand what domestic violence and sexual assault is. There is so much of that happening within our tribal community and throughout all of Indian country. It’s an issue that all tribal communities need to address,” said Cheryl.

 After the workshop, participants discussed their overall perception of the victims and the perpetrators and what the participants gained.

 “I think this program is a great opportunity for not only women, but men to be more involved,” said tribal member Melissa Cavender. She followed up by saying it’s important to educate the youth about the issues and prevention. 

For more information, call the Tulalip Legacy ofHealingAdvocacyCenterand Safe House at 360-716-4100, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. In case of after hours emergencies, call the Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County 24-hotline at 425-252-2873 or for immediate help, call the Tulalip Tribal Police at 360-716-4608. For information about “In Her Shoes ~ Native Version” created by “Mending the Scared Hoop” visit www.mshoop.org

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

Burke Museum awarded $575,000 to support Native Art and Artists

Bill Holm Center to serve more individuals and organizations

Press Release,  Alaina Smith, Director of External Affairs

Seattle – The Burke Museum is pleased to announce Connections to Culture – Resources for Native Art and Artists, a new program of the Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Coast Art. With support from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Connections to Culture will significantly increase the Burke Museum’s capacity to support Native artists and arts organizations.

Connections to Culture will expand the Bill Holm Center’s research grants program, which facilitates Native artists’ study of the arts and cultures of their ancestors. Research grants allow artists to study the objects and archives in the Burke Museum’s collections, travel to other museums, and pass their knowledge on through workshops held at the Burke Museum, at other Native art organizations, and in Native communities.

In addition to increasing the research grant program, Connections to Culture will further develop the Bill Holm Center’s role as an information hub to those interested in the vitality of Native art in the region, and allow the Center to make grants to Native arts organizations for the first time.

“The Burke Museum has a long history of pioneering efforts in Native art education and scholarship—from early museum education, public television programs and Bill Holm’s seminal 1965 book, Northwest Coast Native Art: An Analysis of Form, to K-12 arts & culture programs that are booked to capacity each year,” said Burke Museum Executive Director Julie K. Stein.

“This extraordinary investment by the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation builds on that legacy, and will help make the Bill Holm Center’s resources available to many, many more artists and members of our community. ”

While art-making is flourishing in some Native communities, in other places there are few teachers and fewer objects from which to learn. Many artists are working in isolation, without knowledgeable mentors or the critical resources to inform their artistic practice, discover where their cultural objects are currently housed, or access these collections. Connections to Culture will allow the Burke Museum to serve as a hub for the dissemination of this information, and create new digital resources that represent the breadth and depth of Pacific Northwest art traditions.

Historical trends in collecting and researching Pacific Northwest regional art, and the impact of the art market on contemporary artists, has meant that the styles of the northern and some central Northwest Coast tribes (the Tlingit, Tsimshian, Haida, and Kwakwaka’wakw) have overshadowed other art traditions from the southern regions of the Coast, as well as surrounding areas of the Columbia River basin and Plateau. “The Connections to Culture program will help us to expand support for artists and communities whose artistic traditions have not received broad public, scholarly, or commercial recognition,” said Curator of Native American Art and Bill Holm Center Director Robin K. Wright.

“We are thrilled to combine efforts with the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation’s Native Arts and Cultures Program to increase support for Native artists in their pursuit of knowledge about their artistic traditions,” said Wright.

Connections to Culture will award grants and offer programs beginning in spring 2013.

About the Bill Holm Center:

The Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Coast Art was established at the Burke Museum in 2003 to continue Bill Holm’s legacy at the Burke Museum. It is one of the premier centers for the study of Native arts of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

The Bill Holm Center provides hands-on learning opportunities for Native artists to study historical art in person, and connects experienced artists with younger practitioners through workshops and art scholarships. The Center supports access to and awareness of arts resources and activities (including collections, exhibits, and other relevant programs) for tribal communities, individuals, and arts organizations.

About the Burke Museum:

The Burke Museum inspires people to value their connection with all life—and act accordingly. The Museum is responsible for Washington State collections of natural and cultural heritage, and sharing the knowledge that makes them meaningful. The Burke welcomes a broad and diverse audience and provides a community gathering place that nurtures life-long learning and encourages respect, responsibility, and reflection.

Native Americans make their voices heard in presidential election

Tribal member voters show good turnout in the 2012 election.

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Tulalip Tribal members and employees showed their support at the Tulalip Ballot Party on November 6th at the Don Hatch Youth Center/Greg Williams Court, exercising their right to vote.

“To me it’s one of my most treasured constitutional rights, and as a veteran, I always take the time to cast my ballot,” said tribal member Raymond Fryberg Sr.

Tulalip Community Coordinator, Frieda Williams, along with seven other hardworking folks that make up the Tulalip Voting Committee, worked tirelessly to promote the importance of the Native vote.

“I am very excited about the turn out at Tulalip; their vote does count,” said Frieda.

Native Americans are the only ethnicity the U.S. Census Bureau doesn’t track when it comes to election data. It’s important that Native Americans are voting and electing candidates who understand Native American sovereignty rights.

This election ballot party served as a good incentive for people to turn in their ballots, offering food, entertainment and raffle prizes. Prizes included a 55” flat screen TV and an iPod.

For information on voter registration, contact Frieda Williams at 360-716-4220 or visit, www.myvote.wa.gov.

Governor Gregoire honors Tulalip storyteller, Johnny Moses

Press Release, Cathy Cochrane, ArtsWA, Communications Manager

Olympia – Johnny Moses, of Tulalip, has been named as one of seven recipients of the Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards. Recipients were honored at a reception at the Governor’s Mansion on Oct. 15. The awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the arts and cultural traditions of Washington state.

Mr. Moses, a Native American traditional singer and storyteller, speaks eight Native languages and travels extensively to share his culture. He was raised in the remote Nuu-chah-nulth village of Ohiat on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. His grandparents taught him the traditional ways, and his elders sent him to share their teachings with all people. Mr. Moses’ traditional name is Whis.stem.men.knee (Walking Medicine Robe).

The Washington State Arts Commission, ArtsWA, facilitated the nomination and selection process for the Governor’s awards. The awards were established in 1966 by Governor Dan Evans. In recent years, they were temporarily suspended due to budget cuts.

“We are so pleased to reinstate the awards this year,” said Kris Tucker, Executive Director of ArtsWA. “Johnny Moses has incredible skill as a storyteller and a wealth of irreplaceable information about the Northwest’s Native cultures. Recognizing and honoring his contributions to the heritage of Washington state affirms that traditions of the past are vitally important to the cultural legacy we leave to future generations.”

First Gentleman Mike Gregoire and Kris Tucker presented the awards, which were acid-etched, translucent glass bowls by glass artists Jeremy Newman and Allison Ciancibelli, commissioned through Vetri Glass Studio, in Seattle.

Others receiving the Governor’s Heritage Award:

  • Bailadores de Bronce, Seattle, a volunteer group that teaches and performs Mexican folkloric dances
  • Heritage University, Toppenish, provides strong art and cultural education programs for multicultural populations that are geographically and educationally isolated
  • Maurice Rouman, Everett, Egyptian oud player and composer, nominated for the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award. (The oud is a stringed instrument resembling the lute.)

Receiving the Governor’s Arts Award:

  • Lucia Perillo, Olympia, Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur fellow in poetry
  • Robert Maki, Kingston, sculptor and public art advocate
  • Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle, which creates great theater from great literature

For more information about ArtsWA programs and the Governor’s Arts and Heritage Awards, go to www.arts.wa.gov

First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire, and ArtsWA Executive Director, Kris Tucker, with the Governor’s Arts and Heritage Award recipients in the Governor’s Mansion, Oct. 15. Photo by Weldon Wilson.

Tulalip Tribes makes gift of $1.11 million to Marysville School District

Press Release, Jodi Runyon, Marysville School District Superintendent’s Office

For the second year in a row, Tulalip Tribes has made a significant gift to Marysville School District.  This gift represents the continued partnership between Tulalip Tribes and Marysville School District.  “Education is an important part of our future – the future of our students and the future of our community,” said Mel Sheldon, Chairman of Tulalip Tribes.

The previous gift from Tulalip Tribes paid for a district-wide middle school science adoption, district test reporting and provided additional support for Tulalip students.  “That gift helped us keep the focus on instruction in spite of difficult budget cuts,” said Larry Nyland, Marysville Superintendent.

This gift provides extra support for district test reporting and for students at Quil Ceda and Tulalip Elementary, Totem Middle School and Heritage High School.  The gift will also provide for smaller class sizes, staff training, and instructional support at those four schools.

Quil Ceda and Tulalip Elementary received national recognition this summer for their teamwork in improving student learning.  They received second place recognition by Learning Forward at the national conference attended by 15,000 educators.  The work being done at Quil Ceda and Tulalip resulted in the training of 33 additional teachers to help spread the work district-wide.

“Our partnership with Tulalip is helping us address the needs of Tulalip students.  As a result, we are learning new strategies that will benefit students district-wide,” said Larry Nyland, school superintendent.

“We value the work that we are doing together and believe that this gift will help us continue good work for our young people,” said Mel Sheldon, Chairman of Tulalip Tribes.

Tulalip filmmaker protrays the beauty of Native culture

Tribal member Derek C. Jones showchased five short films at the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center on October 25th.

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington-  Tribal member Derek C. Jones is a filmmaker, musician, and programmer with over twenty short films to his credit at the young age of twenty-four.  He continues to pursue his vision and passion to help people understand each other by breaking down barriers and stereotypes through his film work.

On October 25th, Derek showcased five short films at the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Center Film Series. “Raising Our Arms in Thanksgiving,” “Puppet Reporters,” “Who Am I,” and “Happiness” are early works that were co-directed with his younger brother, Aaron. Derek also presented a short storytelling film about Coast Salish history and art. This video is shown to third and fourth graders at theMuseum ofHistory and Industry.

“I really want to provide positive images of indigenous Native Americans and the beauty of our culture,” said Derek. “A large part of my artistic inspiration is drawing out small details and interactions that people have with each other and with nature and placing those interactions into a larger context,” said Derek.

A large part of his film storytelling is a reflection of his life. Derek is in the creative stages of writing and creating new material. He plans to travel and experience life and expand his knowledge to help build his craft in filmmaking.

“A lot of projects I’m working on are related to race, gender, and sexuality,” said Derek. “One topic that resonates strongly is gender, because when you look at a lot of the media today, it’s skewed towards the male perspective. We have Hollywood films with only one out of three speaking roles for women.”

“Something I have been thinking about a lot is the power that comes with presenting someone’s story. As far as media goes, we are to be mindful of how we share stories and present stories because those do have affects on how we view and treat people. I think when you look at race, genders, and sexualities there are a history of denigrating or stereotyping. I am really keen in providing positive images of people,” said Derek.

At the 2007  Tulalip Film Festival Awards, “Raising Our Arms in Thanksgiving” won Best Original Score and has been shown at several film festivals, including the Seattle International Film Festival and Cowichan International Aboriginal Film Festival. His work has also been shown at the Smithsonian National Museumof the American Indian’s Film andVideo Center.

For more information on the Tulalip Hibulb Cultural Centers’ up-coming events visit http://www.hibulbculturalcenter.org/ and check out www.aseasonintherain.com to view Derek’s film work.

 

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