Tag: Tulalip

Marysville School District Superintendent, Dr. Nyland to retire

Marysville School District No. 25
4220 80th Street NE
Marysville, WA 98270
p. 360-653-0800 f. 360-629-1990

 

 January 18, 2013

Dear Parents and Guardians,

After serving the Marysville School District for 9 years, Dr. Nyland has announced his decision to retire effective June 30, 2013. Although we are saddened by his departure, we personally want to thank him for his many great accomplishments.

To assist in our upcoming superintendent search, the Board of Directors has hired the consulting firm, Northwest Leadership Associates based in Washington. They provide years of knowledge and a network of individuals that will enable us to recruit the most qualified candidates for this important position.

The Board realizes the importance of this outcome and will make every effort to allow for our parents, staff and members the Marysville and Tulalip communities to participate in the selection of our next superintendent and to provide a search that is “open” and as “transparent” as possible. As part of the process, we will be collecting stakeholder input from a variety of means by conducting or attending over 25 community and staff forums over the course of the next several weeks and providing opportunities to fill out written and electronic surveys to assist us in choosing a new educational leader.

Please join us at the upcoming forum for all parents: Tuesday, 1/29/13, 7:00 pm, Marysville School District Service Center Board Room, 4220 80th Street NE. Your participation is a very important part of this process and we look forward to seeing you. We also invite you to complete an electronic survey: Superintendent Profile Survey. This survey will provide you with an opportunity to have your voice heard during our search process. For more information visit the district website at http://www.msvl.k12.wa.us/.

On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to thank you for your time in this important process.

Respectfully,

Chris Nation, President

Chief Theresa Spence will end hunger strike

By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

A band council delegation from the beleaguered Attawapiskat community hand-delivered an ultimatum to Chief Theresa Spence, informing her they would oust her from office unless she ended her liquid-diet protest. Spence announced that she is will end her 44-day hungerstrike and is scheduled to return to eating solid food on January 24, the day that chiefs conduct a major treaty meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Before Spence agreed to end her six-week-long liquids-only fast, Spence and her supporters wrote up a Declaration of Commitment consisting of 13 points. The 13 points specifies adherence to treaty relationships, approaching negotiations from a nation-to-nation perspective and taking measures to improve the lives of First Nations people and calls for a national inquiry into the hundreds of disappearances and murders of aboriginal women that go unsolved, improving education and housing, and fully implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

 The Declaration of Commitment is endorsed by the AFN National Executive Committee, the Native Women’s Association of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada Parliamentary Caucus and the New Democratic Party National Caucus. It will officially be signed by the parties on January 24 by First Nations leaders and representatives of the opposition parties.

 

The 13 points can be read in full below

 

 

 First Nations: Working Towards Fundamental Change

In the true spirit of commitment to initiate dialogue to discuss both Treaty and non-Treaty Indigenous issues on behalf of our First Nations Peoples of Canada, Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat First Nation and Mr. Raymond Robinson of Cross Lake, Manitoba will continue their Hunger Strike, pending outcome of this written Declaration. We also like to acknowledge Mr. Jean Sock of Elsipogtog, New Brunswick and all other Fasters who have shown their deep dedication and courage in support of protecting and honouring both Treaty and non-Treaty obligations as written, entered into or understood by all Peoples, with the Federal Government of Canada including each Provincial/Territorial signatory.

Further, we agree the self-sacrifice and the spiritual courage of Chief Theresa Spence, along with Elder Raymond Robinson and all other fasters have made clear the need for fundamental change in the relationship of First Nations and the Crown. We fully commit to carry forward the urgent and coordinated action required until concrete and tangible results are achieved in order to allow First Nations to forge their own destiny.

Therefore, we solemnly commit to undertake political, spiritual and all other advocacy efforts to implement a renewed First Nations – Crown relationship where inherent Treaty and non-Treaty Rights are recognized, honoured and fully implemented as they should be, within the next five years.

This Declaration includes, but is not limited to, ensuring commitments made by the Prime Minister of Canada on January 11th, 2013 are followed through and implemented as quickly as possible as led by First Nation on a high-level priority with open transparency and trust. Furthermore, immediate steps are taken working together to achieve the below priorities:

 

1. An immediate meeting to be arranged between the Crown, Federal Governments, Provincial Governments and all First Nations to discuss outstanding issues regarding the Treaty Relationship, as well as for non-Treaty area relationships.

2. Clear work-plans that shall include deliverables and timelines that outline how commitments will be achieved, including immediate action for short, medium and long-term goals. Addressing the housing crisis within our First Nation communities shall be considered as a short-term immediate action.

3. Frameworks and mandates for the implementation and enforcement of Treaties between Treaty parties on a Nation-to-Nation basis.

4. Reforming and modifying the comprehensive claims policy based on inherent rights of First Nations.

5. A commitment towards resource revenue sharing, requiring the participation and involvement of provinces and territories currently benefiting from resource development from traditional lands.

6. Commitment towards ensuring a greater collective oversight and action towards ensuring the sustainability of the land through a sustained environmental oversight.

7. A comprehensive review and meaningful consultation in regards to Bill C-38 and C-45 to ensure it is consistent with Section 35 of the Constitution Act (1982).

8. Ensure that all federal legislation has the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations where inherent and Treaty rights are affected or impacted.

9. A revised fiscal relationship between First Nations and Canada that is equitable, sustainable and includes indexing and the removal of arbitrary funding caps.

10. A National Public Commission of Inquiry on Violence Against Indigenous Women of all ages.

11. Equity in capital construction of First Nation schools, including funding parity with Provincial funding formulas with additional funding support for First Nation languages.

12. A change in how government operates that would include direct oversight, a dedicated Cabinet Committee and Secretariat within the Privy Council Office with specific responsibility for the First Nation-Crown relationship to ensure implementation.

13. The full implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – UNDRIP.

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Reintroduced in Congress

First Nations Development Institute
351 Coffman St. • Suite 200 • Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 774-7836 • Fax: (303) 774-7841

Jan. 22, 2013, U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Michael Crapo (R-ID) introduced S. 47, a strong, bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This bill closely mirrors the bipartisan legislation that was introduced by Sens. Leahy and Crapo in the last Congress and which would improve VAWA programs and strengthen protections for all victims of violence, including Native American women.
 
Please take action today by contacting your senators and asking them to co-sponsor S. 47.  The National Task force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women’s goal is to get 60 co-sponsors by January 31 so that VAWA can get to the Senate floor for a bipartisan victory.
 
So far, the bill has the following co-sponsors in addition to its chief sponsor, Senator Leahy (D-VT): Senators Ayotte (R-NH),  Bennet (D-CO), Cantwell (D-WA), Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Coons (D-DE), Crapo (R-ID), Durbin (D-IL), Hagan (D-NC), Kirk (R-IL), Klobuchar (D-MN), McCaskill (D-MO), Mikulski (D-MD), Murkowski (R-AK), Murray (D-WA), Shaheen (D-NH), Tester (D-MT), Udall (D-CO), and Whitehouse (D-RI).

Also yesterday, in the U.S. House, Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and John Conyers (D-MI) introduced H.R. 11, a House companion identical to the bipartisan Senate bill.
 
Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask the operator to connect you to your senators. If you don’t know who your Senators are, you can look them up here. When you’re connected to their offices, tell the person who answers the phone:

1)            I am a constituent from (city and state) and my name is _________.
2)            I urge Senator____ to co-sponsor S. 47, a strong, bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the tttttttt   Violence Against Women Act.
3)            Thank you, and I look forward to hearing that the Senator is a co-sponsor.

If you prefer to e-mail, you can do so through the web forms for each Senate office provided here.

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

  1. Wash your hands, often.
  2. Use a tissue to cover your sneezes and coughs and not your hands.
  3. Don’t touch your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
  4. Do aerobic exercises regularly, exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.
  5. Eat foods containing Phytochemicals, so put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.
  6. Don’t smoke.
  7. Cut Alcohol Consumption.
  8. 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

 

 

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

The Round House
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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.

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

Stillaguamish tribe joins investigation of 4 bald eagles shot

Article By Monica Brown, Tulalip News Writer

Four bald eagles have been found shot dead in the Granite Falls area; three of the eagles were adults and  the other a juvenile.

The Stillaguamish Tribe, state Fish and Wildlife, the Humane Society of the United States and Conservation Northwest have banded together to offer a $13,750 cash reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for shooting the eagles.

The Bald eagle population has improved enough that they were removed from protection status under the federal Endangered Species Act several years ago and were counted to have an estimates 840 occupied nests in 2005. However, they are still protected under other state and federal laws.

Killing an eagle is a misdemeanor under federal law and also a state crime with a maximum penalty of $1,000 and 90 days in jail with a $2,000 fine per eagle.

Brutal beating leaves shoeprint on 12-yr-old’s forehead

kirotv
Posted: 9:34 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

 

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — A Marysville middle school student was beaten so brutally that the boy’s attackers left a footprint on his forehead. News of the attack spread like wildfire on Facebook, and many people in Marysville fear the beating may be part of a gang-related initiation. Police said the attacked appeared to be random.

Faint signs of Austin Calvin’s beating are still pressed into his head. But the 12-year-old looked much better Wednesday than when his father first heard his friends yelling a few blocks from their house Saturday night. Two cars full of high school-aged boys saw Austin and his two friends walking to the movies around 8:30 p.m.

“My friends, they ran. I tried to, but I didn’t get away fast enough,” said Austin.

He went down under a hail of punches, kicks and stomps that were so ferocious that tread marks were imprinted into his forehead.

“I was terrified — just speechless, and I didn’t know what to do,” said Austin.

He blacked out.  His parents rushed him to Children’s hospital in Seattle   He had three facial fractures and several chipped and fractured teeth. Doctors still haven’t cleared Austin to play football after his concussion and say he could have been injured far worse.

“I just don’t understand why kids are doing this, said Austin’s father, Scott Calvin.

While Austin has been recuperating, they’ve heard the same group of boys has been involved in two other violent attacks. Police have made two arrests so far and are continuing to look for others involved in the beating.

 

Watch the video coverage here:

http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/high-school-boys-pummel-12-year-old/vnjx9/

Tribal member heads to regional poetry competition

 

Tribal member Braulio Ramos places first in a poetry recital.
Tulalip Tribal member Braulio Ramos will be competing in the Poetry Out Loud regional competition.

 

By Jeannie Briones and Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News staff

MARYSVILLE, Wash – Braulio Ramos, Tulalip Tribal member, and senior at the Bio-Med Academy located on the Marysville Getchell High School campus, never realized that he could excel in public speaking, especially poetry recital, until he joined Poetry Out Loud, a nation-wide high school program that encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation, while mastering public speaking skills and building self-confidence.

Ramos, along with six other students, participated in the second finals for the national Poetry Out Loud contest in December, held at Marysville Getchell. With his confidence and natural flare, Ramos won first place, making him eligible for the regional Poetry Out Loud competition in March.

Ramos chose to read ‘Bilingual/Bilingue’ by Rhina P. Espaillat and ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll, stating that Alice in Wonderland is one of his favorite books.

Each year over 300,000 students take part in the national poetry recital contest. 2012 marked Marysville Getchell’s first year entering the contest, which is funded by the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowments for the Arts.   Participating students must choose two pre-approved poems from the Poetry Out Loud online poem anthology; one that has fewer than 25 lines and one that was written before the 20th century.

“By trying news things, you find that you are good at something that you never thought you would actually do,” said Braulio. “Two days it took me to memorize one of the poems. I would read it and listen to it and see if I could recite it without any help. A method my teacher showed us was to write down and compare what you know, and compare it with the actual poem itself.”

The judging panel for the December competition consisted of the Mayor of Marysville, John Nehring, Marysville School District Assistant Superintendent, Gail Miller and MSD Board of Directors Vice President Wendy Fryberg and Board member Pete Lundberg. Student’s scores are based on six main criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding and overall performance.

The Regional Poetry Out Loud competition will take place January 30th at the Burlington Library, located at 820 East Washington Ave. Winners of that competition move on to the state contest, which takes place in March, and then on the nationals, held in April.

These events are free to the public. For more information on the regional and state competitions, contact Nancy Menard at nmenard@newesd.org.

 

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