Category: Environment

Earth Day every day

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

Approximately 20 percent of the Tulalip Reservation comprises wetlands—natural systems that help prevent flooding, filter contaminants from water sources, and provide vital habitat and spawning grounds for salmon native to the Salish Sea. These ecosystems play a crucial role in both environmental health and cultural preservation.

Cleansing Mother Earth and empowering tribal members to protect their homelands for future generations has never been more urgent. On Tuesday, April 22, Tulalip’s Earth Day Celebration brought the community together for a day of learning, restoration, and stewardship across several locations on the reservation.

At the Tulalip Health Clinic, participants revitalized the community garden by repurposing raised beds and transplanting plants grown for giveaways, including calendula, a healing herb often used to make salves. Meanwhile, community members gathered at Mission Beach to remove debris along the shoreline, while others participated in a cleanup effort along 27th Avenue near Heritage High School.

A guided plant walk took place around the ballfield behind the Youth Center, educating attendees about the reservation’s wetlands. Booths were also set up at the Youth Center, offering tips on nutrition, home renovation, gardening, and recycling. Creative and sustainable living ideas were introduced, such as using hempcrete—a bio-composite building material made from hemp—to construct affordable homes. Tulalip is set to become one of the first tribal communities to build a hempcrete house in collaboration with the Indigenous Habitat Institute later this year.

Other booths shared exciting initiatives. TERO provided information about solar panel installation programs available to Tulalip residents. Knox Cellars encouraged families to support pollinator populations by raising backyard beehives. At a fruit nutrition station, attendees could spin a prize wheel to win fruit and learn about healthy eating.

Tribal member Joyia Kinlicheeney was among those who came out to support the Mission Beach cleanup. As garbage bags were handed out and participants began making their way toward the shore, Joyia cheered, “And it starts!”—capturing the day’s spirit.

Michelle Bahnick, Wetland Biologist with Tulalip Natural Resources, led the plant walk and shared her expertise on local plant species. When the group reached the first wetland, Bahnick asked if anyone could identify a plant. A young girl excitedly called out, “Cattails!” Bahnick confirmed and explained their dual role. While cattails filter pollutants and provide habitat, their aggressive growth can threaten biodiversity by overtaking native species.

“We have excellent stormwater developments, but it’s nothing compared to what nature can do,” Bahnick said. She pointed to the wetlands surrounding the ballfield as an ecological restoration site. “If you impact an environmentally sensitive area, you become responsible for offsetting those impacts,” she noted, referring to replanting efforts that have taken place near the Youth Center.

Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator Melissa Gobin spoke passionately about fostering a deeper connection between the community and the land. “I want them to love the land like I love it. I want them to take care of this land and take pride in it. I don’t want people coming here and throwing garbage everywhere. This is where we all have to live, and we need to act as a community. I want them to love it like it’s their mother.”

She also sees youth education as the key to lasting change. “Teaching kids through outreach education is what I think will get people more passionate about caring for the land—it’s contagious,” she said.

Gobin warned that neglecting the land will bring severe consequences. “If we don’t care for Mother Earth, she will fight back. You can expect a polluted environment where fish could become extinct, and animals will have nowhere to live. The water will be polluted, the air will suffer, and climate change will worsen. We’re already seeing these effects and need to act to prevent further damage.”

When speaking on how all those who came out took away from today, she hopes participants walked away feeling inspired and empowered. “I want them to develop a love for nature, to get their hands in the dirt and truly appreciate what Mother Earth provides. They should feel empowered to grow one plant or start a garden. They can volunteer and learn about important restoration projects for salmon, bees, and other pollinators. It’s all connected, forming one huge cycle of life that we must protect.”

Tulalip’s Earth Day celebration served as a reminder that environmental responsibility doesn’t begin and end with a single day- it’s a continuous commitment rooted in culture, community, and care for the land. From restoring gardens to learning about native plants and sustainable building, every action taken reflects a growing movement toward harmony with nature. As more people participate in these efforts, the hope is that Earth Day becomes more than a date on the calendar- it becomes a way of life. Let every day be Earth Day. 

A call to Stewardship: Uniting for Earth Day 2025 

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
Our lands are sacred. Protecting our community and the surrounding environment is essential for restoring the land and creating a healthier future—not just for the people who call this place home but also for the plants and animals that depend on these lands. They don’t have a voice in how their environment is shaped, making our role as caretakers even more vital.


Natural Resources Environmental and Education Outreach Coordinator Melissa Gobin, reminds us that every day should be treated as Earth Day. She emphasizes the importance of being stewards of the land and inspiring others to embrace this responsibility. With this spirit in mind, the Natural Resource department is reaching out to gather ideas and support for this year’s Earth Day initiatives, which will take place on April 22 and the days leading up to it.

Last year’s events brought the community together for meaningful activities, including a plant walk that educated participants about native species and invasive plants, clean-up efforts at local rain gardens and public spaces, and salmon habitat restoration at Quil Ceda Creek. Multiple organizations collaborated to plant trees, create shade, and support the creek’s ecosystem. These events showcased the power of teamwork and community action, leaving a lasting impact.

Building on last year’s successes, the aim is to create an even more significant impact this year, focusing on trash removal, invasive species management, and maintaining public gardens. Community clean-up efforts will target areas such as 27th Avenue on the Rez, Tulalip beaches, and other local spaces.

This year’s initiatives include creating a seed bank and food-sharing program, encouraging community members to donate seeds, grow their gardens, and share homegrown produce to promote food security. Volunteers will clean and repair gardens across multiple Tulalip buildings and plant native vegetation to enhance green spaces.


Natural Resources will also be collaborating with local and national organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sound Solutions, the Marysville School District, and various tribal entities such as beda?chelh.


This is a community-driven initiative, and it needs your input to succeed. Share ideas for new activities or locations that need attention, volunteer at clean-up events, plant walks, or educational booths, or donate seeds, gardening tools, or financial contributions to support restoration projects. These initiatives are focused on Tulalip but are open to everyone—not just tribal members, to create a better future for all living beings who depend on these sacred lands.


Melissa Gobin emphasizes, “Raising awareness about our community’s health, the environment, and sustainability efforts is crucial. Let’s inspire everyone to love Mother Earth.”


  Please get in touch with Melissa Gobin at mgobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov to share your ideas, volunteer, or donate. Let’s make this year’s Earth Day a celebration of our shared commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring a thriving future for all.

Celebrating an investment in Indigenous science

Bureau of Indian Affairs assistant secretary Bryan Newland, Lummi Nation secretary Lisa Wilson, executive director of Columbia River inter-tribal fish commission Aja DeCoteau, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional administrator Jennifer Quan visit Tulalip’s salmon hatchery.

By Micheal Rios in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries

Coast Salish leadership from Metlakatla to Yakama Nation, and many tribes in between, gathered with federal and state leaders at the Tulalip Reservation on October 3 to celebrate $240 million in federal funding for tribal hatcheries. This Inflation Reduction Act investment offers much-needed financial assistance to 27 tribes from Northern California to Southeast Alaska meet urgent maintenance and modernization needs of their on-reservation salmon hatchery programs.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries partnered with the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to disperse the funds. Initial payments of $2 million are currently being distributed to each of the 27 tribes. The remaining $186 million will be allocated by competitive grants in 2025.

“I want to thank NOAA for listening to us. We, as tribal governments, go back and forth a lot with Washington D.C. and Olympia. Sometimes we are met with closed ears, and we can not get the work done unless our elected leaders on the state and federal levels are willing to listen to what we have to say,” explained Tulalip Vice Chairwoman Misty Napeahi. “As tribes, we’ve had to learn to embrace western science because it gives us the data we need to get our points across. 

“We are trying to teach a nation how to see the Earth through an Indigenous lens. That we are not here to conquer it nor extract all it’s resources, but to live in harmony as one with nature,” continued Misty. “This is our science given to us by the Creator and passed down through our ancestors. We know we have to use our science to save our lands, to save our oceans, and to save our way of life for our future generations. But we can’t do this without people being willing to listen. I raise my hands to NOAA for not only listening to us, but being willing to invest in our Indigenous knowledge and science.”

Treaties with the U.S. government in the 1850s, such as our Point Elliot Treaty, promised many tribes hunting and fishing rights. However, the decline of salmon in Pacific Northwest rivers has place great burden on hatcheries to provide the bulk of fish necessary to sustain tribal fisheries. The commitment of funding by the Biden-Harris Administration is a step toward delivering on the treaty promises that tribes have fish to catch.

“In the course of 3 months, from starting conversations, I started getting letters from 22 tribes with an agreed path forward,” said Jennifer Quan, West Coast Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, to the crowd of people gathered within the TRC’s Orca Ballroom. “Thank you to all the tribes who rolled up their sleeves and got to an agreement very fast. It’s helping us get this program on the ground quickly. I think this is the fastest the tribes and the federal government have ever moved together.”

Many Leaders Attend Celebration

A Tulalip Veterans color guard and group of pint-sized culture bearers from Quil Ceda Elementary kicked off the celebratory event, which Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin opened with a prayer passed down from her father, Stan Jones. Vice Chair Misty Napeahi emceed a panel of speakers that included Governor Jay Inslee, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, and Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for the Department of the Interior.

“I’m so excited for today’s announcement that a quarter of a billion dollars is going to tribal fish hatcheries to help restore salmon populations,” said Assistant Secretary Newland (Ojibwe). “Equally as important is what this investment represents; its an investment in tribal-led management and caretaking of our salmon relatives. We know that when tribes were managing these ecosystems and our relationships with our relatives on land and in both the air and sea, that was an era of abundance. We need tribes leading the efforts to restore salmon, leading partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies to restore critical habitat, if we are to restore balance to our relationship framework with our natural environment. That’s what is necessary for us to return to an era of abundance.”

Tribal leaders and elder representation from many of the 27 tribes attended the celebration located on the shores of the Salish Sea. Tribal representation from across the Pacific Northwest included the Metlakatla of Southeast Alaska, Quileute, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lummi Nation, Stillaguamish, Quinault, Yakama Nation, Warm Springs, Suquamish, Sauk-Suiattle and Nez Peirce.

The event continued from the Resort Casino with visits to Tulalip hatchery facilities. The lower pond of Tulalip Creek teemed with Coho salmon returning to their release site, as tribal fishing boats dotted the expanse of Tulalip Bay. “Ninety-five percent of Chinook and Coho salmon harvested by Tulalip fisherman come from our local hatcheries,” informed Jason Gobin, Executive Director of Natural Resources.

“While our local hatchery is still productive, funding will help address deferred maintenance and update hatchery operations to the latest technology. Decades-old hatchery infrastructure needs upgrades to release salmon smolts and the collection of brood stock with more efficiency and targeted timing,” Jason added. 

Hatchery Requires Updates

Several members of Tulalip’s Natural Resources department presented initial plans for modernizing the Tribe’s Bernie ‘Kai-Kai’ Gobin Salmon Hatchery. While the Tribe has already set aside funds for renovations, federal resources will kick-start the improvements. Most other eligible tribes, including the Nez Perce Tribe and the Lummi Nation, have identified specific plans for hatchery upgrades.

“This is a much-needed injection into the infrastructure that supports all these hatcheries,” Jason told media members during the hatcheries tour.

Tribal salmon hatcheries help the U.S. government fulfill its treaty obligations, while also removing fishing pressure on wild stocks. Some tribal hatchery programs have also led to the rebound of wild salmon. For example, the Nez Perce efforts have revitalized Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon; the Lummi Nation’s hatchery program has restored spring-run Chinook in the Nooksack River.     

Beyond treaty promises and conservation goals, tribal hatcheries help drive on-reservation employment, salmon nutrition for specific ceremonies, and the preservation of cultural traditions. The approximate 11.5 million juvenile salmon raised and released each year contribute to the tens of millions of salmon produced annually by tribal hatcheries in Washington State alone.

“I know how hard the tribes have worked to keep these tribal hatcheries going, because they are so important to their culture and way of life,” reflected Jennifer, NOAA Regional Administrator. “I am proud that we have been able to provide such substantial new funding for the hatcheries. It tells me that the nation recognizes these hatcheries’ crucial role in delivering on the treaty promises that the government made to many tribes so long ago.”

The dance of plants and pollinators

An Alkali bee lands on an Echinacea looking to  grab some pollen.

By Nathan Roberts, Wetland Technician, Quil Ceda Village

Quil Ceda Village Administration recently undertook a beautification project with new plantings along the front walkway.  If you come to the Administrative offices, you’ll be able to see various grasses, spirea, primal-looking ferns, two young rhododendrons and many others.  In addition to beautifying our workplace, many of these plants will attract and benefit pollinators. In fact, pollinators moved right in almost as soon as the plants were in the ground!

A pollinator is any organism which moves pollen from the male organ of one plant to the female organ of another plant, thereby instigating fertilization and seed production. With this, that means that pollinators play a critical role in the production of various culturally important foods, such as salmonberry (στəγʷαδαχ) and huckleberry (σωəδαʔξ̌). With the newly planted flowers joining their cousins in bloom this time of year, we tend to think of bees being the biggest help to fertilization of flowers and formation of fruits and seeds; however, there are many more pollinators than just bees. We have to thank not just bees, but birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps and even small mammals for their contribution to native flowering plants and our food supply’s endurance. 

A Great Golden Digger wasp looking for nectar on this
Tropical Milkweed. 

We’re very lucky to call this state our home; a home we share with many species of native bees such as the cute Bumble Bee, the Blue Orchard Bee, the Western Leafcutter, the Metallic Green Sweat Bee and hundreds more. Many of the bees native to our state, about 70% of the 600 species, are what are known as “ground nesters”, meaning they might make their home under your feet rather than a hive above ground. Many of the pollinators you will see at our new plantings are ground nesting, some are also solitary. These pollinators use their mandibles to dig tunnels that can extend deep into the soil. At the end of these tunnels are small areas they nest in called “brooding cells.” Since most of these pollinators are solitary and dig deep underground, you can put your mind at ease about disrupting an underground hive.  

Some of the flowers planted at Quil Ceda Village will particularly attract ground nesting pollinators. One of the first flowers to catch the eye are the two larger, planted Echinacea, or Coneflower. These are not just visually attractive to us, but to bees, butterflies and wasps as well with their vibrant colors and giant domed head, which makes for a perfect landing pad for many species. On these flowers, you might catch a glimpse of the Alkali bee, which is a ground nester and loves damp, silty soils such as that found at the garden of QCV. Another favorite of the local critters is the Tropical Milkweed, which is a delight for bees, but also Woodland Skipper and Monarch butterflies, and Great Golden Digger Wasps. With its long stems and small flowering bodies of golden yellow and red, it has a very sweet nectar that is a favorite among the crawlers. It should be noted that the Golden Digger species of wasp is classified as non-aggressive and is one of the before mentioned ground nesters, meaning they will not be seen creating hives in corners of the entrance and swarming as they are also solitary in nature. Plus, they prefer the nectar of flowers to human food. 

A  Woodland Skipper butterfly basking in the sun on the
newly-applied compost.  

But why should we care about whether or not our local bees are native or not? For a few reasons. With bees and butterflies in decline worldwide, planting pollinator-friendly gardens helps provide a stop-over and much needed foods to our local pollinators in areas that can be nectar and pollen deserts. Also, when invasive or non-native species are introduced to an area by humans or of their own accord, diseases are more likely to spread that the native populations have not encountered yet, leading to a possible drastic decline in numbers. Another reason is that native bees and other insects are highly responsible for the pollination of many of the beautiful flowering plants, such as those on display now at Quil Ceda Village, as well as native plants important for tribal foods and medicines. Native bees and other pollinators have special associations with our native flowering plants.  Interestingly, the common Honeybee is not native to North America and was brought over by European colonialists. However, after hundreds of years of their pollination efforts, they are considered domesticated in the U.S. as they are essential for the growing of crops in the agricultural industry. In fact, according to the Bee Conservancy, while it is true that about a third of our food is grown thanks to honeybees, about 80% of flowering plants are pollinated with thanks to our native bees. 

A  Sand Wasp was made landing on this Echinacea,
doing its part to help pollination. 

This is all not to say that balance of pollinators and plants is invincible. One of the most devastating factors leading to the decline of native bees within the U.S. is the application of pesticides and insecticides. One of the immediate effects is of course, the reduction of insects that are essential to help the plants reproduce. However, a much darker effect is the scenario of insects bringing the poison back to their hives, where now other pollinators, or even a whole colony, could die. This is a less likely scenario for solitary pollinators; however, the more ornamental pesticide-treated plants there are in the world, the higher the number of these individual pollinators will die. Those who were born before the mid 90’s likely remember there once being a bounty of Western Bumble Bees in our state, however their numbers have been drastically declining since then and astonishingly, are now considered rare. Likely due to a combination of multiple factors, notably the competition with non-native species and disease, but their populations plummeting is certainly aided by the wrongful use of pesticides. This is why it is absolutely essential that there be more pesticide free zones, so that there can be areas for both plants and pollinators to prosper. 

We are very fortunate to be able to live in a part of the world that is bountiful with life and green. The dance between plants and pollinators has been going on since time immemorial, and is beyond ancient. It is therefore imperative we do not lose sight of the delicate balance that all life depends upon so that our future generations may thrive in a world alongside plants and the creatures that pollinate them. 

Greenhouse restoration underway at MPHS

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

The long-abandoned greenhouse at Marysville Pilchuck High School, unused for the past 15 years, is being revitalized for the start of the 2024-25 school year as part of the MPHS Greenhouse Project. It all started when a few teachers, including Biology teacher Kayla Carter and Head of the Science Department Claire Luvera, walked by the neglected lot and thought, “Why is this land just going to waste?” This question inspired Kayla and her colleagues to bring the greenhouse back to life, seeing it as a valuable resource for students and the community.

Kayla and Claire took the issue to the school administration, who approved their plan to clean up the greenhouse. This was no small task, as the greenhouse had been an eyesore on the MP campus for over a decade. Undeterred, they gathered tools, secured funding, and rallied support through community donations. Blackberry bushes had overtaken the buildings, walkways, and even the inside of the greenhouse. The monumental undertaking began at the start of summer, clearing the overgrown foliage, removing debris, digging out walkways, and bringing in an electrician to get the building operational.

Inspired by this potential, Kayla Carter, who was in her first year at Pilchuck, saw an opportunity to transform the space. “From my classroom, I could see this big greenhouse and land,” she said. Motivated by what it could become, Carter started the greenhouse project. “To get it going, we needed a lot of help from the community,” she explained. Initially, it was just her and another teacher working on the project, but the community’s response has been incredibly supportive. According to Carter, they’ve been offered tools, donations of lumber and compost, and a tree company helped trim trees. 

The plan is to form a garden club to maintain everything, and involve students in activities like testing water and soil, and growing different plants in various areas. Carter said, “The garden club will sell flowers and, hopefully, tomato starts for the program,” 

For Carter, this project is about more than just gardening; it’s about bringing kids outside and connecting them with nature. “Some kids these days don’t go outside enough,” she said. She hopes that by having students grow plants they helped start, they will enjoy getting their hands dirty and seeing nature up close. “One of my dreams is to have students eat what they grew,” Carter shared, emphasizing her desire to have the students experience the entire cycle of growing and enjoying their food.

Luvera expressed enthusiasm for the new project and its potential impact on the curriculum. “We will be able to do so many labs and hands-on activities in all our life sciences,” she said. She explained that the decision to start this initiative was made earlier in the year. “Back in April, we looked around and decided to work on this project,” Luvera recalled. Her excitement for the future is apparent, especially regarding increasing student engagement through practical learning. “I am excited to get more hands-on activities for the kids,” she added. Luvera also shared her hope to revive an agriculture program, which would provide even more opportunities for experiential learning.

Eliza Davis, a member of the Marysville School Board, has been actively involved in supporting positive initiatives within the district. “I reached out to different organizations,” she said, explaining her efforts to find support for the greenhouse project. As someone deeply familiar with the challenges and negativity within the district, Davis wanted to focus on something positive happening in the schools.

“While on a tour, the Principal of MP, Peter Apple, told me about some teachers interested in getting this program going again,” Davis explained. Motivated by this opportunity, she connected with a few organizations and the non-profit Best Schools Marysville, which is dedicated to restoring schools in the community. The organization was eager to help and donated money to support the program.

Davis recalls that the program was once award-winning, with students making wreaths for Christmas and growing flowers for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. “There are lots of opportunity for students to learn about business and practical, real-world skills,” she said. She is enthusiastic about seeing passionate young teachers. “It’s nice to see young teachers come in and want to change the culture and rebuild the program,” Davis added, reflecting on the potential for growth in the district.

The greenhouse project will continue throughout the school year, with plans to turn the greenhouse back into a functioning classroom. The district will decide later in the year whether to reopen the class. In the meantime, Carter and her team are hopeful for ongoing community support and involvement. For more information and updates, visit their Facebook page, MPHS greenhouse project.

 Can You Dig It? Tulalip Natural Resources helps community grow together with a garden workshop 

 By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

In the heart of the spring season, the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources department put together a successful event dedicated to a popular springtime hobby, though many would argue that gardening is a way of life, in both the literal and figurative sense. 

Natural Resources opened the garden workshop to include all residents of Tulalip. On the morning of May 11, close to 60 community members showed up at the Tulalip Admin Building to really dig into the art of gardening and learn about the many benefits that plants have to offer, while cultivating new skills and knowledge along the way. 

“I have always loved gardening and working in the yard. To me, it’s relaxing. Even pulling weeds, I just really enjoy it,” shared community member and home gardener, Catherine Key. “I decided to come when I saw the flyer and all the subjects looked interesting. I just think it’s really cool that the Tribe did this.”

The garden workshop featured three presentations that focused on several aspects of gardening. Valerie Streeter, Tulalip Natural Resources Stormwater planner, opened the three-hour event with a presentation titled, Go with the Flow, that informed the people about watersheds, rainwater collection, and natural yard care. Local Horticultural Inspirer, Seth Smith, led an informational presentation dedicated to growing a garden for sustenance, which included a Q&A where people absorbed any and all insight that Seth had to share.  

Said Seth, “Today I talked about subtropical plants, citruses, fig trees, pomegranates, any unique plant that’s not apple trees or pear trees that we’re all familiar with. I wanted people to think outside the box, open their mind and inspiration to achieve things that people would rather you not succeed at. [Gardening] allows you to free your mind of negativity on the day to day. It allows you to have your own space, and I think that’ll allow you to clear your mind of work, family drama, vehicle issues, and allow you to just focus on yourself.”

The Tulalip Health Clinic Diabetes Program presented a detailed lesson on the medicinal usages of plants, while also touching on the native plants of this region, essential gardening tools, and the special connection to the natural world that we experience as Indigenous people

Tulalip Diabetes Educator, Veronica ‘Roni’ Leahy explained, “Plants were here before people, we think of them as our first teachers. The more you’re around them, the more you feel connected. Think of them as friends that you get to see once a year. Enjoy your time with them, go and be out with nature. I brought two plants that are representing us today; Camus is a native plant and you’re on tribal lands. Sacred plant, sacred land. And iris, which we planted at the Tulalip Health Clinic, it represents the community, this group of people who were able to come out and learn today.”

Along with Roni was Herbalist, Leslie Lekos, who explained the step-by-step process of creating tinctures from plant extracts, that could be used as home remedies to help treat a variety of ailments such as nausea and muscle soreness. Leslie has numerous tinctures and sprays for sale in her Etsy store, Wild Root Botanicals. She also teaches hands-on classes throughout the year including Foundations of Herbalism and Wild Foods: Resiliency Through Connection, more details can be found on her website. Following the presentation, both Roni and Leslie held live demonstrations on transplanting and creating tinctures. 

The event ended with a raffle drawing and a plant giveaway, in which people received primroses, elderberries, planter boxes, and compost. 

“The turnout was great. It did turn out really cool today,” exclaimed Melissa Gobin, Tulalip Natural Resources Environmental and Education Coordinator. “At the Earth Day planning meetings, that started in January, a lot of people were talking about sustainability for food and growing our own foods, along with rain gardens. Val (Streeter) has a grant through the EPA, and she has money to put on workshops to talk about rain gardens. I met with Seth and he’s a garden guru, and also with Roni because she’s amazing with gardens and we’ve been learning so much from her, and Leslie too. So, we just wanted to get all these people together to inform the community and give them some inspiration to get out and garden.” 

She continued, “On May 22, we’re going to be at Quil Ceda Elementary and we’re going to have Farmer Frog there to help us put plants in the ground. It’s going to be a Plant 101 course on how to put them in, the dos and don’ts, and we’ll be going over a lot of the basics because it’s Family Day at the elementary. And hopefully in the future we’ll have more of these classes. I also want to start a gardening group, something where people can get together to plant, seed exchange. Earth Day is every day and we’re going to have a bunch of stuff going on now. I’m just so glad there were so many people that came out and enjoyed it and seemed so engaged.”

Equipped with invaluable gardening game, new plants, and tools, the people were eager to get back home to enjoy the sunny weather and get lost in their personal gardens. 

Following the garden workshop, community member, Tracy Owens, shared, “I got the flyer in the mail and I’m really into gardening. I wanted to see if I was going to learn something new and share different ideas. Ever since we bought our property here on Tulalip, we’ve expanded something new every year to our garden. We have herbs, we have vegetables, we have flowers. I just love it. Today I enjoyed learning about different plants and just listening to people talk about gardening and seeing their love that they have for plants too. You can see that plants make people happy.”

Happy Earth Day!

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News

This Earth Day, the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Department planned a full day of activities focused on community clean up and environmental restoration.

Multiple departments, students from both Heritage High and Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary, tribal employees, and a few local businesses and non-profit organizations volunteered their time to the cause on the morning of April 22. 

The Tribe hopes that this Earth Day gathering will serve as the kick-off event that will get the community more involved in their upcoming projects and events that are aimed at taking care of Mother Earth. 

Said Melissa Gobin, Environmental and Education Outreach Coordinator, “I noticed there was a need for this and there are people wanting to do this work. We don’t want it to be just Earth Day, we want it to continue on. I think it’s important for all of us to network together, so we have some opportunities for the public to come in and give back, and so people know what’s out there and what the Tulalip Tribes is doing in natural resources because it’s important.”

All told, dozens of volunteers helped collect trash on Mission Beach and along 27th Ave, while several others opted to tend to the garden beds of the Senior Center, the Tulalip Health Clinic, and Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary.

If you are interested in volunteer work to help combat pollution and preserve our natural world, keep an eye out for future events planned by the Tribes Natural Resources team as they plan on hosting many more get togethers throughout the year. 

Salmon habitat restoration underway at Quil Ceda Creek

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

With shovels in hands and the desire for a brighter future, not just for our community but also for the precious wildlife like the salmon, the Tulalip Tribes, in coordination with Adopt a Stream, hosted a tree planting event on Saturday, April 20, along Quil Ceda Creek. A celebration of Earth Day, nearly 100 people united for the finishing touches on this vital project to preserve salmon runs and combat global warming, locally. 

By creating shade along the creek, Tulalip hopes to counteract rising temperatures caused by global warming. With thousands of trees now planted, the goal is that 85% will thrive, helping maintain cooler water temperatures in the stream. This is crucial for the salmon habitat, as the trees will cover a little over a quarter mile of stream after their growth. This will ensure a lower temperature in the stream, a critical factor in keeping the fish healthy and thriving for years to come, thus preserving the salmon population. 

Quil Ceda Creek was in such poor condition that it was listed as impaired or threatened waters under the 303(d) list, a water quality assessment conducted by the Department of Ecology every two years. This provided an opportunity for the tribe to obtain a 319 grant from the Department of Ecology. The 319 grants, a crucial part of the Clean Water Act, provide funding to state and tribal agencies to improve various waterways. In this case, the grant allowed the tribe to receive substantial financial support to restore the creek. The funds were used to remove all invasive species and plant trees on both sides of the creek, up to a distance of 100 feet, a significant step towards restoring the creek’s ecosystem.


“We received the grant about three years ago,” said Walter Rung, Adopt a Stream fish and wildlife habitat program manager. “Since then, we have had to do a lot of work to get it to where it is today. The main focus has been on providing shade to keep the water cool. Our summers seem to have been getting drier and hotter, so the shade these plants create will help combat that. If the water temperature goes above 68 degrees, it becomes lethal for the salmon, and it’s getting close to that temperature. When you look at the site, you’ll see that there are no native plants or shade, so this will be a great thing for the stream.”

Volunteers of all ages, including members of the Tulalip Tribes and local residents, gathered along the banks of Quil Ceda Creek, eager to contribute to the restoration efforts. With each tree planted, a sense of hope and determination filled the air as community members worked hand in hand to protect the ecosystem they hold dear. Their dedication reflects a shared commitment to preserving the creek’s natural beauty and safeguarding its inhabitants for future generations.


“I came to help plant trees for Earth Day,” Tulalip tribal youth JoyAnn Rose Higginbotham said. “This will help shade the stream for the salmon and provide the three c’s: cold, clean, and clear. This will help ensure me and my people can enjoy salmon for the future.”
 

Facing The Storm showcased in Hibulb longhouse

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News

A unique documentary series featuring the voices of Indigenous climate justice leaders was previewed by ecstatic Hibulb patrons as they sat intently in the cultural center’s makeshift longhouse turned film screening room on a winter afternoon. The one-of-a-kind digital storytelling series is titled Facing The Storm; an ode to the mighty buffalo who don’t cower from a storm, but instead charge into it head on.

 “It is my honor to introduce Mikayla Gingrey, a flourishing film maker, and her talented assistant, her mother Marya Gingrey. Both are descendants of the Apache nation,” stated Last Real Indians contributor, Rae Rose. “I have been invited to introduce the upcoming docuseries, Facing The Storm: The Indigenous Response to Climate Change, an Aminata Multimedia Group docuseries. 

“Mikayla is using her talent to highlight and document the important stories that often get overlooked, the struggles, the heartbreaking losses, along with the love, and sometimes overlooked triumphs of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

“These films will highlight Indigenous leaders, activists, and community members who are working towards our collective future,” she continued. “This series is our chance to spotlight the achievements, not usually acknowledged in mainstream media. It is also an important chance to give voice to and shine a light on those who are working to combat climate crisis, and to those providing spaces for healing and growth in our indigenous communities. All with the hope of creating real and lasting change.”

An estimated 70 people filled the longhouse sits, while others willingly stood near the entrance way just to glimpse two parts of the five-part docuseries. 

The first episode covered the divestment movement of large financial institutions (think Bank of America and Wells Fargo) who are the primary backers of oil pipelines. Illuminating the people and organizers that became Mazaska Talks, the filmmaker focused on the Indigenous-led Seattle campaign to get the city of Seattle to divest from Wells Fargo.

“When we took on the city of Seattle, so many people reached out from all around the globe who were interested in running similar campaigns on their homelands. This showed us how valuable our work was to the cause and the importance of sharing it online and through social media in order to get the word out through whatever means necessary. We knew the mainstream media wouldn’t tell the story from our perspective,” explained Lakota activist and local Marysville School District Indian Education coordinator, Matt Remle. His tireless activism was instrumental to Seattle officially divesting from Wells Fargo in 2020. 

Divestment has proven an historically successful means of resistance for disenfranchised people around the world. South Africa, Sudan, and Burma are just a few places where it has seen success. Divestment is not a magic bullet, but it is a powerful tool to challenge the status quo of placing profits over people. These same banks are backing the new expansion of the DAPL system into the Bayou Bridge pipeline, as well as four proposed tar sands pipelines that together would add over three million barrels of the dirtiest oil in the world to flow across turtle island every single day:

  • Keystone XL (TransCanada) – 830,000 barrels per day
  • TransMountain (Kinder Morgan) – expansion from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day
  • Line 3 (Enbridge) – expansion from 390,000 to 915,000 barrels per day
  • Energy East (TransCanada) – 1.1 million barrels per day

“While first peoples own, occupy or use 25% of the world’s surface area, we safeguard 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Our identity is in the landscape–the mountains, the rivers, the plants, and the animals. For this reason, we are in a unique position to advocate for the ecosystem our shared human existence,” further explained Matt to the longhouse audience. “But if we are to preserve the Earth as a home for all future generations, we need everyone to help us restore Indigenous and environmental rights. That is where divestment comes in. That is where you come in.”

To learn more about the grass roots movement and how you can support them by divesting from specific financial institutions, please visit MazaskaTalks.org

The second episode of Facing The Storm focused on food sovereignty and how it sustains culture, identity, and positive health outcomes. It tied together the Water Is Life movement with the simple fact salmon is a first and foremost food source for Coast Salish peoples. The episode beautifully wove together teachings from Coast Salish ceremonies and other cultural events that are dedicated to salmon to depict the ancestrally deep roots the tribes have with their land and local waterways.

Although not shown at Hibulb, the filmmaker shared with the still captivated for more attendees that episode three covers the relocation of Quinault’s main village and that episode four is about Tulalip citizen Kayah George and her ongoing resistance movement towards the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Vancouver, B.C. 

Following a raucous applause for the contemporary storyteller as the Hibulb film session ended, Mikayla Gingrey took a moment to reflect on the importance of sharing her works on Native land, such as Tulalip.

“It means so much to me to be able to debut the second episode of my series here in Tulalip,” said the thought provoking 25-year-old Mikayla. “My goal for this project is to inspire the next generation of climate justice warriors. In that spirit, to show the series here, I feel honors and pays tribute to the past and present generation of warriors from this region.

“Also, Matt Remle is such a huge mentor to me. He’s built such a strong connection to the Tulalip people through his work in education, and together we share the same mission to educate and inspire the younger people,” she continued. “It’s so important they be empowered and inspired to carry on this legacy of defending Mother Earth, defending the sacred, and defending a basic human right to have clean air and clean water. There’s a space for everyone in the climate justice fight and I want everyone to walk away from the series knowing you can do something, whether its big or small, it all makes an impact.”

Tulalip youth explore the great outdoors

By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News

As the year progresses and we sprint towards the end of the first month in 2024, exploring new activities becomes a focus, especially in the cold weather. If you enjoy outdoor activities and revel in playing in the snow, snowshoeing might be worth a try.

Crafted with a broad footprint that disperses the user’s weight, snowshoes offer a unique ability to glide atop snow-covered landscapes. Historical records, including those on Wikipedia, trace the invention of snowshoes back 4000 to 6000 years in Central Asia. Their evolutionary peak, particularly before the 20th century, manifested in the hands of North America’s Indigenous peoples. These communities, with distinct styles tailored to varied regional conditions, ingeniously utilized snowshoes not only for practical purposes such as hunting and travel, but also as integral elements in their cultural expressions, including traditional dances.

On January 20, Melissa Gobin, Tulalip Tribes Environmental and Education Outreach Coordinator, along with colleagues from the education department, and a few members of the YMCA Bold and Gold, an outdoor adventure tour group, invited tribal youth for a snowshoeing trip at Gold Creek Pond near Snoqualmie Pass. The hike would be about 2.8 miles roundtrip and relatively easy on the difficulty level. 

During the hike, Melissa expressed her need for the youth to become more involved and learn how they could be the ones to help shape the future. As the youth trekked through the snow-covered landscapes, the journey wasn’t merely a physical exploration but also a venture into potential career paths. With unwavering passion, Melissa Gobin seized this opportunity to share insights on how connecting with nature could translate into meaningful professions within the tribe. Amidst the captivating beauty of the frozen scenery, Melissa underscored the significance of environmental stewardship and the vital role the younger generation plays in the future of the Tulalip community.

“That was my first snowshoeing trip, and it was pretty easy,” said Melissa. “I think getting the kids out and seeing a different area and that much snow while doing something out of the norm and watching them play and roll around in the snow was my favorite part. I like seeing the kids get excited, especially when they don’t want to go, but end up having fun. That makes me happy.

“I wanted the kids to know and appreciate that this is a beautiful surrounding. Protecting these types of areas is important to keep them safe for our future and our seven generations down the line. Getting the kids to appreciate the outdoors is something that my program is trying to establish. We are looking for kids who want to do these things and to be out in nature as stewards of the land. I want to educate the kids, but I want them to want to be there. I am trying to mold kids into becoming biologists, getting into forestry, and learning our treaty rights. That’s why we are doing this program to educate and get the kids involved so that we have a future in natural resources with our people. We have a lot of people that will be retiring, and we will need people to step up and take the mantle.”

“I have never been snowshoeing before,” said Santana Shopbell of the Tulalip Education department. “I was nervous because the snowshoes didn’t look very durable, but man, are they good. I might need to invest in some because I might not be able to snowboard, but I can snowshoe. It was fun being out there with my mate and all the youth. This is my first week back with the education division, and it’s good to collaborate with Melissa and the YMCA. Hopefully, the trip sparked something in one of the kids to want to pursue a job in natural resources.”

“Never been snowshoeing before, it was nice,” said Tulalip tribal member Luciano Flores. “It was fun and nice walking around the trail. My favorite part was walking across the frozen lake. If you were going, be prepared and have all the right gear.”

For information on future trips or the program, contact Melissa Gobin at mgobin@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.