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Suquamish News
July 2020 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 20
July 2020
No. 7
Standing for JUSTICE In this issue... Welcome K9 Kira — p9 What story will you tell? — p11 Your COVID-19 questions – p9
New housing coming — p8
Gov’t reopening — p12
Congratulations! — p4, 5, 6, 7
2 | July 2020
Community Calendar Events & Meetings General Council is now scheduled for August 15, 2020, at the House of Awakened Culture. (See details in lower right box.) Suquamish Tribal Council Meets Mondays, July 20 & 29. Time and location have not yet been set. For a link to the meeting, Tribal members can contact Rebecca Purser, (360) 900-8031 or rebeccapurser@ suquamish.nsn.us Suquamish Warriors For information, contact Jean Belmont, (360) 601-7918 or jbelmont87@gmail.com PME Board of Directors Meets on July 29 at 9am. For agenda and meeting information, contact Brenda George, (360) 621-0047 or brendageorge@clearwatercasino.com SEC & PMECC/PMCC Meets on July 22 at 9am. Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Call Angela Brainerd, (360) 394-8652 Suquamish Seafoods Board Meets on July 14 at 2pm at the House of Awakened Culture. Contact Shanel Carlson, (360) 394-8512 for details.
Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416
Suquamish Elders
Meals Available
For Elders information contact: Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472
ELC families: Tuesdays, 11am-1pm Elders Meals: call (360) 394-8465
Government Offices
Fireworks may be sold through July 6.
Stonechild Chiefstick Memorial Caravan
Will gather at the Suquamish Village parking lot at 6pm on July 3. Vehicles will travel together to Poulsbo’s Waterfront Park for a peaceful memorial one year after Stonechild Chiefstick was killed.
Fireworks
On the cover
Main contacts: Suquamish Updates Now Suquamish Elder Barbara Lawrence at Communications: (360) 394-7184/7102 Sign up for SUN at https://suquamish. #BlackLivesMatter / #NativeLivesMatter Community Dev: (360) 394-8415 nsn.us/suquamish-updates-now/ protest in Poulsbo. Photo by Cristina Roark. Community Health: (360) 394-8468/8594 Emergency Management: (360) 394-8507 Emergency Work Orders: (360) 900-7050 Emergency Utilities: (360) 710-3223 Finance: (360) 394-8432 Fisheries: (360) 394-8438 Health Benefits: (360) 394-8424 Human Resources: (360) 394-8409 Human Services: (360) 394-8465 IT Help Desk: (360) 394-8485 Maintenance: (360) 394-8590 Chief Seattle Days & General Council Tribal Child Welfare: (360) 394-8480 Tribal Court: (360) 394-8697 August 15, 2020 Suquamish Police Department The Police Department lobby is available to drop off payments and for other government-related paperwork. Lobby hours : Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Emergency: 911
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Published monthly by the Suquamish Tribe: 18490 Suquamish Way, Suquamish, WA 98392
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Email us at: communications@suquamish.nsn.us
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Send letters to: Suquamish News Editor, PO Box 498, Suquamish, WA 98392-0498
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Suquamish Museum Board Meets July 16 at 11am, online. Contact Janet Smoak for log-in, (360) 394-8499.
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Suquamish News
Letters should include the writer’s full name, address, and home telephone and may be edited for clarity and space. All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
The public Chief Seattle Days Pow-Wow is canceled this year due to COVID-19. Instead, we are seizing this moment to go back to our roots and celebrate our great leader, with our Suquamish People. Details to come. We are keeping the spiritual aspects of Chief Seattle Days: • Honoring his memory with a Tribal community-only graveside service at 9am • Flexing our sovereignty by holding our General Council meeting • Reconnecting with each other.
Suquamish Tribal Council
Production Staff
Leonard Forsman
Chairman
Leonard Forsman
Editor-in-Chief
Wayne George
Vice-Chair
Sarah van Gelder
Managing Editor
Nigel Lawrence
Secretary
Jon Anderson
News Editor
Robin Sigo
Treasurer
JoAnn Joe
Photography/Design
Rich Purser
Member
Editorial Policy
Sammy Mabe
Member
publication of letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submission of
Luther Mills, Jr.
Member
Reproduction of Suquamish News, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Suquamish Tribe is strictly prohibited.
Publishers of the Suquamish Newsletter reserve the right to refuse editorials and letters is encouraged. However, they represent the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Suquamish Tribe. As such, we reserve the right to refuse to print any letter, for any reason.
Suquamish News
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July 2020 | 3
Suquamish Shows Up
As protests sweep the U.S., Suquamish Tribal Council calls for justice for Stonechild Chiefstick and other victims of police violence
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uquamish Tribal Council members, elders, and youth joined hundreds who stood with signs reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Native Lives Matter” along Highway 305 in Poulsbo on June 2. Emotions were raw because of the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manny Ellis, and others, and because here in Kitsap County, prosecutors recently announced there would be no charges aginst Officer Craig Keller, the Poulsbo police officer who shot and killed Stonechild Chiefstick on July 3, 2019. The protest was peaceful, passionate, and well attended with many drivers honking in support. But when three Tribal Elders left the protest and went to downtown Poulsbo to have a quiet dinner, they encountered two men carrying military assault rifles patrolling an empty Front Street. The contrast between the peaceful protest on Highway 305 and the intimidating armed presence in downtown Poulsbo was striking. Calls to a Poulsbo city council member revealed that the Poulsbo police knew there were armed individuals at several locations in town, and that, with the exception of one conversation with one of them, the police chose to do nothing – not question them, nor ask for identification and their purpose in being on the street near the protest. There was no check for warrants or criminal records or for extremist affiliations or for statements advocating violence. It was a stunning contrast to the treatment of Stonechild Chiefstick, who walked alone in Poulsbo’s waterfront park on July 3, was reported to police for acting strangely, and then shot and killed by Officer Keller. The Second Amendment does not trump the First Amendment right to free expression and assembly, nor is open carry allowed in Washington State when used to intimidate others or when it cre-
ates alarm for the safety of others (RCW 9.14.270). A Long History of Racism This experience with an armed patrol in Poulsbo was a first for these Elders, but it was not the first time members of our community have experienced hostility and racial profiling in Poulsbo and North Kitsap County. Community members and visitors with darker skin report being followed in stores, bullied in local schools, and subjected to hostile comments on the street. Traffic signs leading into the reservation were riddled with bullet holes until they were replaced just recently. Anti-Indian graffiti was a constant reminder of the hostility aimed at Native people growing up in North Kitsap. While the forms of racism have changed over the decades, it has never fully ceased. The killing of George Floyd has lifted the veil on the brutality experienced by Black people across the nation. But the only thing that is new is the widespread use of phone cameras to document the brutality. African Americans, Native Americans, and other people of color have been subjected to white supremacist violence since European settlers first arrived on these shores bringing people captured and enslaved in Africa. When settlers first arrived in 1851, Chief Seattle and his people greeted them and helped them during their first difficult winters here on the Salish Sea. Chief Seattle believed his people could benefit from the inevitable arrival of the Americans by engaging in the increased trade and commerce created by the new economy. He and other tribal leaders envisioned success in a new society built on relationships of equality and mutual respect. Those hopes were dashed when promises made in the treaties went unfulfilled, when lands were stolen from tribal peo-
Suquamish Tribe Treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo makes her voice heard during protests in Poulsbo against police violence. (Photo by Cristina Roark.) ples, when Native people were banned from the city of Seattle and longhouses burned, including Old Man House, home of Chief Seattle, here in Suquamish. Many were killed, including Chief Leschi, leader of the Nisqually people, who was hanged by a citizen government in 1858. Chief Seattle signed the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855. The Treaty established the Port Madison Indian Reservation as our permanent home in exchange for the Tribe giving title to most of the Kitsap Peninsula to the U.S. government. But the federally appointed Indian agents sold much of our reserved land through the use of discriminatory federal laws. The U.S. military condemned 74 acres of our waterfront, inclusive of Old Man House, to build a military base. They never built the base, instead selling the land to a developer who subdivided into lots for vacation homes for visitors from Seattle.
Perhaps the most devastating of all was the taking of our children by force and coercion to attend distant boarding schools, where speaking our language or practicing our traditions was cruelly punished. This experience has created generational trauma that we are still addressing today. Our ways of life are built on fishing, hunting, and gathering shellfish, and here, too, simply making a living required us to confront law enforcement and armed vigilantes attempting to prevent us from exercising our treaty rights. Tribal members were arrested, fired upon, and jailed for casting a net or digging shellfish on the beach. We have made progress since those days of conflict here in Kitsap County, as demonstrated by many of our elected leaders who recognize our Treaty rights and engage in government-to-government consultation and negotiations with (JUSTICE, continued p13)
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4 | July 2020
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Education News
Congratulations College Class of 2020 Congratulations 2020 graduates! You have made it through a very challenging time, achieving your goal despite a nationwide pandemic.
I plan to pursue a Bachelors degree, with major in Pre-Medicine and minor in Business.
Cierra Covarrubias Pierce College Degree: Associates of Arts
Sean Crowell Northwestern College of Iowa Degree: BA in Physical Education I hope to make an impact on young people. I hope to show them that they are capable of great things in whichever and whatever field they pursue in life.
Katelyn Crowell Western Washington University Degree: BA in Education, magna cum laude. Majored in Special Education. The reason I want to be a teacher is so much more than “because I like kids”. You need more than that
With this degree completed, I will transfer to a four year university to earn my BA and Masters in Psychology. College began as a struggle for me because I had to heal from the grief of losing loved ones. I persevered and earned my AA degree, specializing in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. For me, it is a symbol of my strength as well as my strong desire for an education in what I am truly passionate about, mental health. After having gained experience working with Tribal youth at an early learning center, I discov-
to be a teacher. I want to inspire children to be a better version of themselves each day. Not for me, not for their grades, but for them. For their future. One of the most powerful things I have learned is that the goal of teaching is not to tell children what to think, it’s to teach them how to think for themselves. Yes, we teach students how to read and how to solve math problems, but the true art of learning is in developing critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills that are generalizable to the real world. Favorite quote about education: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats
ered the need for mental health specialists in our communities beginning with our youth. My heart is with children and I am determined to contribute and create a lasting impact as I continue to further my education.
Carena Covarrubias Pierce College Degree: Associate of Arts
Heather Purser The Evergreen State College Degree: Tribal Governance, Master of Public Administration
Danielle Rae Palomino Northwest Indian College It’s been a very lonely and isolating time but school has kept me busy. I will continue to work for Tribal elementary schools as a paraprofessional until I am able to become a teacher.
My program challenged me to view myself beyond the traumas life has thrown at me. It has helped me to understand the ways pain manifests with abuse and addiction, and how it has interfered with our cultural teachings and how we connect with one another as tribal people. It has also taught me to further
Being part of a Tribe that pays for our education is such a blessing. I love school so much, and I am so happy I get to live out my dreams and goals. School has helped shape me into the woman I am today. I plan to do many amazing things with my college education. I am truly so excited for my future! Thank you so much Suquamish Tribe for helping my dreams come true!
develop my ability to recognize when I am wrong and to hold myself accountable for any mistakes I make along my journey while empowering me to own my voice free of self-criticism and doubt. In my next phase of life I want to be part of the healing taking place within our community. I am committed to continue learning from our Elders and other Tribal members, even those much younger than me, who have something figured out that I do not. For now I will continue diving and interning part-time with the Tribe’s Communication Team and being a positive role model for my nieces, nephews, and all the children of Suquamish as this is our duty as Tribal people. I would like to thank Tribal Council, my relatives, and all of you in our Tribe for providing me with this opportunity. I will work hard to serve you and do my part to protect the gift of our values and propel them forward
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Barbara Santos The Evergreen State College Degree: Bachelor of Arts, with an emphasis on Tribal Governance I returned to college as a full-time student in fall of 2018. I attended the Peninsula and Salish Sea Hybrid site. I traveled to
Suquamish News
Port Angeles, Olympia and recently online to attend class. The toughest part for me during this journey was finding the right balance between being a full-time student, a loving mom, and a dedicated manager. All while somehow creating time for my daughters’ extracurricular activities and all our many community functions. I dedicate my degree to my late mom, Charlotte Ruth Santos. She passed in May 2018. I felt like it was my mom who guided me and gave me the strength to keep moving forward. I will continue to learn, grow, and help our Tribe in the best way that I can. I am grateful and would like thank my fiancé Matthew Ives, my daughters Teylor and Charlotte, our Tribe and the Higher Education Program, and every one that supported me to make this possible. Also, a special thank you to my Native Pathway Program cohort and the faculty for all their patience and support.
July 2020 | 5
2020
Marion Forsman Boushie Early Learning Center
ECEAP/Head Start/Preschool
Graduation Celebration
SAFE CAR PARADE
Friday, July 31st 2020 Parade Begins at 5pm
Line-up @ Elc Parking lot beginning at 4:30pm, Parade begins @ 5pm to Fitness Center Parking lot. Children Will receive certificates, drums, books, and gifts from teachers.
Families will safely Remain in their vehicle during the parade.
Teachers & Staff will wear Masks and practice physical distancing.
Congratulations Class of 2020! The Suquamish Tribe Government Staff Wish You All the Very Best!
Suquamish News
6 | July 2020
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Congratulations ELC Graduates! D
Nonetheless, here we are, planning as many of our traditional graduation events as we can, to celebrate your graduates. On July 31 we will have a graduation parade celebration for our 35 kids who are transitioning to kindergarten. Your child will be celebrated by our ELC teachers and staff who are putting everything we have into making this day as special and memorable as possible.
ear Parents, Families, and Graduates of 2020, Over these past few months we’ve learned lessons from COVID-19 that we will carry with us forever, and although our experiences are differentwe’re going through this together. So even outside of those classrooms and walls, our thoughts and love have been with each of you during this time.
As soon as they see our happy, crying faces, and expressions of love and pride when they receive their certificate, they will know we are so abundantly proud of their accomplishments and everything this moment means for their future, and future of our humankind. Parents and families, here is your recognition. Thank you for bringing your kids to school as often as you could, for setting goals aligned with their
development, for joining in on our celebrations, for building lasting relationships with their teachers, and most importantly for trusting us with your most treasured creation. You’re embarking on an element of this kindergarten transition that we haven’t experienced before. Lucky for your child, you are their biggest and strongest advocate. You will most likely experience challenges moving for-
ward, whether that be modified educational services or maybe helping your child to just be in a classroom again. No matter what, be kind to yourself. Trust your ability to do what is best for your child. And more importantly, know that we are always here for you. From all of us at the Marion Forsman-Boushie Early Learning Center, Congratulations and we love you!
Faith Morton: When I grow up I want to be a Police Officer. “We are all so proud of Faithey and the thoughtful, funny, and smart girl she is. “
Reina Romero: When I grow up I want to be a Police Officer. “Reina we are so proud of you and we love your fiery spirit.”
Bee Classroom Teacher Micki Teacher Kaylee
Teacher Indika
Teacher Jamie
Harper Baze: When I grow up, I want to be a Cheerleader. “Congratulations Harper! Mom and Dad are so proud of you! Dream big!”
Jakyah Corso: When I grow up I want to be a Fireman and a Break Dancer. “I’m truly blessed to be your mommy. I love you more than all the starz in the sky and all the sand on the beaches”
Riley Coulter: When I grow up I want to be a Doctor. "I am so proud of you! As I watched you achieve milestone after milestone, I couldn't help but get a glimpse of the future.”
Iris Flores: When I grow up I want to be a Teacher like Mrs. Micki. "We are very proud of you Iris and happy for your first graduation. We hope all your dreams come true."
Vance Powell: When I grow up I want to be Daddy! And a Ferry Driver. “You're so much fun. We love your silliness and how you make people smile! Thanks for your hugs."
Meadow Sigo-Carr: When I grow up I want to be Wonder Woman. Yay Meadow! You’re moving on to kindergarten now! We’re all very proud of you!
Leo Farias: When I grow up I want to be a Teacher. “Congratulations to you Leo. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come so far.”
JJ Mills: When I grow up I want to be a Paleontologist "JJ, It's been a crazy school year. We are so proud of you and excited for you to start kindergarten!! We love you!"
Sophie Rehfield: When I grow up I want to be a Police Officer. “Sophie we are so proud of the sweet, strong and feisty girl you’re growing into. You’re going to do amazing things!”
Hi-ya-ton Williams: “You did it! We are so proud of you. Stay adventurous, wild, and free!”
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Blue Jay
July 2020 | 7
Eagle
Bear
Teacher Stacy
Teacher Lorraine
Teacher Jennifer
Teacher Steve
Teacher Heather
Teacher Layah
Teacher Junior
Teacher Jenny
Teacher Tyler
Steven Elliot-Comstock: When I grow up, I want to work with my papa at Poulsbo Public Works. “Your family is so proud of you. We love you dearly. Onward and upward we go, Steven!”
Marian Adams: When I grow up I want to be a Princess. “We are so proud of you, you are a brave, strong and kindhearted girl. Keep working hard and smiling big! Love, Your Ohana.”
Hunter Brown: When I grow up, I want to be a Zombie. “You are an amazing boy with a big heart! Your smile brings happiness to anyone who sees it. The world is yours, take hold of it son!”
Joshua (Jace) Adams: “You are so silly, smart, and always ready to learn. You’re going to do great in Kindergarten.”
Skay-Kay Brealan-Bayes: When I grow, up I want to fly a helicopter. “Skay-Kay Rene your family is so proud of you. You’re a Kindergartner Now!”
Bennett Grable: When I grow up I want to be an Engineer that makes houses. “Benny, you are the cuddliest, smartest and funniest kid ever as well as being the ultimate fort builder. We’re proud of you, Sugar.”
Jackson Holmes: When I grow up I want to be a Firefighter. “Congratulations Jackson! We love you so much and you make us laugh with your creative wit and sense of humor.”
Xavier Medina: When I grow up I want to be a Scientist. “You are a smart lil booger that your family loves to the moon and back. Your time at the ELC introduced you to friends that will join you on your adventures in learning.
Geneviere Edwards-Boure: When I grow up I want to be a Horse Rider. “We are so proud of you Genevieve! You had an awesome year! Next stop, Kindergarten! We love you hunny girl.”
Julian George: When I grow up I want to be a Construction Worker. “Congrats son! Keep focusing that incredible energy; you’re going to do great things! We love you Julian, and continue to be so proud! Wakanda Forever!”
Aubrey Narte: When I grow up I want to be a Pet Walker. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Mia Miller: When I grow up I want to make tacos. “Dear Mia: we’re so proud of all the ways you’ve grown. We are proud of you! Love, Geetah, Datchu, Koodzi, Aiyana, Dushi.”
Kahtalina Smith: When I grow up I want to be a Veterinarian.
Joseph Ives: When I grow up I want to be a Race Car Driver. “Jojo we can’t believe how fast you have grown, you amaze us every single day, SO SMART, SO LOVED, AND SO CARING.”
Kasen Sulliven: When I grow up I want to be Spider-Man. “Kasen Makai, I am so proud of you. Wherever you go, go with all your heart. The world is awaiting the wonders of you.”
Hunter Trueb: When I grow up I want to be a Famous Video Maker. “So proud of you Hunter. Love, Mom, Dad, and Sissy”
Brooklyn Wiley: When I grow up I want to be a Firefighter. “Never lose your sparkle, and don’t just reach for the stars, reach past them! You’re gonna do big things!”
Zayden Virella: When I grow up I want to be a Race Car Driver. “Congratulations on the good work, and moving up to kindergarten. You did it my big boy.”
Felix Rhodes: When I grow up I want to be a Maker of Lego Games. “We are so proud of you, we love you and are so excited for your future. You are smart, strong, funny, kind, caring, and talented. We love you.”
8 | July 2020
Suquamish News
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News
Suquamish Tribe breaking ground on new affordable housing T
he Suquamish Tribe is breaking ground on five new homes in the coming weeks, while finalizing planning for 10 new tiny house units. All of the new homes are reserved for low-income families, as part of the Tribe’s “Housing 50 Initiative” to cut the housing waiting list in half for Tribal families, said Vicki Cole, the Suquamish Tribe’s Housing Program Manager. The first five new homes, which will be built on three sites across Port Madison Indian Reservation, include: • A single 2-bedroom, single-level home on Harris Ave. • A pair of 2-bedroom homes built as a single-level duplex on James St. These units are designated for Elders. • A pair of 2-bedroom homes built as a single-level duplex on Park Ave. All five units are being built with nearly $800K in HUD funding. “Site clearing and foundation work at the three sites should be wrapping up by around the end of September” said Cole. All of the homes are expected to be move-in ready by early next year. Tiny Homes 2.0 Meanwhile, planning is also underway to build a new “tiny home” transitional housing area. “We’re in the process of getting approval for where they will be located, but we’re looking at 10 new tiny homes that will each include their own kitchen and bathrooms,” said Cole. Dubbed Tiny Homes 2.0, the new homes will add to the six existing tiny shelters that were built by the Tribe to provide housing for those wrestling with addiction, homelessness, or transitioning from the correctional system. “These new units will provide what you might call stepping stone housing for a single person who’s moving out on their own for the first time, or someone who’s been living in one of our tiny shelters and ready to take that next step towards renting a more typical house or apartment,” said Cole. Among the locations under consideration for the new tiny homes are a lot off Fern St. and the south end of the Suquamish Shores
Questions on COVID-19 How can we stay safe during the continuing outbreak? Suquamish community health nurses have answers.
Q: Is it safe to go see my grandparents if I’m not sick? A: It is still necessary to limit the exposure of Elders and those with underlying health conditions. If you need to visit, please limit the number visiting, and make sure everyone is wearing a mask, washing hands, and staying at least 6 feet away.
‘We’re not letting the pandemic stop us from moving forward with the priorities the Tribe has put in place to provide affordable, safe housing for our low-income families’ area, at Division and Kaleetan Lane. All of the new housing shows that despite challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Tribe is continuing to press on with meeting the needs of its Tribal citizens.
“We’re not letting the pandemic stop us from moving forward with the priorities the Tribe has put in place to provide affordable, safe housing for our low-income families,” said Cole. By Jon Anderson
On a similar note with nicer weather, celebrations of graduations and a holiday coming up, please always wear a mask, stay away from others when ill, wash your hands, and maintain physical distancing. Most of us would recover if we got COVID-19. But we need to protect those who may not survive if they get COVID-19. Q: If I might have been exposed, should I get tested? A: Were you a Close Contact? For example, if you were exposed to a person with a positive PCR Covid-19 test for at least 15 minutes, within 6 feet, without a mask, your health team may recommend you get tested 2 to 14 days
suquamish.nsn.us
Suquamish News
July 2020 | 9
Detective K-9 Kira joins Suquamish PD
S after exposure. Regardless of the outcome, you should self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days. This is because PCR Covid-19 testing only gives you a snapshot of the moment you are tested. If you were a casual contact; such as you were in a car for 10 minutes wearing a mask with someone who had a positive PCR Covid-19 test or you are a roommate of a close contact, you may be tested 2 to 14 days after your last contact. You do not have to self-isolate. Testing is not necessary, but we are able to test anyone who requests it. By Barbara Hoffman, RN. Contact her and Amanda Brazeau, Community Health Nurses, at: (360) 394-8468 or (360)394-8594.
uquamish Police added a new addition to the team, Police Canine (narcotics detective) Kira. Kira is a four-year-old German Shepard and a rescue donated to Officer Jason Olsen by the Washington German Shepard Rescue in 2016. Kira replaced Canine Loki who served the Tribe for over ten years as a very successful tool in the fight against illegal substances such as methamphetamine and heroin. Olsen completed the State of Washington Department of Corrections Canine Training Program, 240 hours of difficult and demanding instruction, which allowed him to train Kira inhouse. That saved the Tribe the cost of purchasing a trained detection dog, which can run be-
tween $2,500 to $15,000. The Olsen & Kira team completed the state certification examination and are now certified for use throughout the state. The Suquamish Police Department narcotics detection canine team has provided mutual aid to every police department within Kitsap County, the Washington Department of Corrections, Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office, ATF, Washington State Ferry, Washington State Patrol and some of the local school districts. It’s important to note that Kira is not an apprehension dog, and she is not trained to bite or chase anyone. Feel free to come say hello! By Mike Lasnier
Suquamish News
10 | July 2020
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Government
Chairman’s Report T
he Suquamish Tribe continues to maintain essential government operations, protect treaty rights, and engage in government-to-government relations in the wake of the historic COVID-19 pandemic. There are frequent online and conference call meetings. The White House holds a weekly National COVID-19 Briefing Call with state, local, and Tribal officials, which includes reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on
federal government responses to the pandemic. I find the most useful information comes from the CDC and Director Robert Redfield who has been emphasizing the importance of contact tracing to isolate and quarantine those who have tested positive for the virus. The White House also holds regular Indian Country COVID-19 calls offering guidance on reopening government operations and tribal businesses, such as tribal casinos. The Treasury Department has distributed nearly all of the CARES Act relief funds to tribal governments; the first payment was based on population, and the second payment was based
Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman and Treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo during a June Tribal Council meeting at the House of Awakened Culture.
on employment and land base. The Indian Health Service is promoting the use of telehealth for medical appointments to reduce exposure and to maintain services to patients who are avoiding in-clinic visitation. According to the Indian Health Service, 12 percent of the Indian Health Service population had been tested as of June 18 compared to 7.6 percent of all races, with 8.6 percent of the Indian Health Service population testing positive compared to 10.3 percent for the overall U.S. population. The Administration also made a statement supporting the peaceful protests regarding police brutality and racial bias in government institutions. Key leaders of the U.S. Senate minority, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), held a telephonic meeting with tribal leaders on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribal leaders thanked the
senators for the pandemic-related funding, however, the Senate leaders acknowledged the need for more investment in the Indian Health Service to address tribal health disparities. Kitsap Emergency Response The Kitsap County Public Health Board has been sharing updates on county-wide COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations. Kitsap County has moved into Phase 2 of the Governor’s Phased Approach to Reopening Washington and is applying to move into Phase 3. If approved, Phase 3 would allow gatherings of up to 50 people, restaurants to open at 75 percent capacity, and museums to re-open. Kitsap County elected leaders have continued holding Emergency Response Meetings on the latest COVID-19 developments. The County has seen increased testing in long-term care facilities, among elective surgery patients, and among those with mild symptoms. The County is asking that employers not require testing for asymptomatic workers because it creates a false sense of security resulting in lackadaisical behaviors. We also discussed local protests related to the issue of police brutality. Leaders expressed fear about property damage and violence, however the protests have been peaceful. I expressed my support for the Poulsbo Black Lives Matter protest on June 2nd that was well attended and very orderly. I also expressed my disappointment in the police and elected official indifference to the militia groups “patrolling” downtown Poulsbo with military assault rifles during the peaceful protest. Protect the Culture Our cultural traditions are vital to our survival in these trying times. The Suquamish Museum Board continues to meet virtually to provide direction and receive updates from staff. The Board approved a plan to have employees with collections duties return to work. A plan for reopening to the public is still being developed.
We have also approved grant applications for CARES Act funding. The Suquamish Tribal Cultural Committee had its first meeting since the pandemic closed our government offices. Of course this was a virtual meeting. We decided to not hold a normal Chief Seattle Days (CSD) this year and as a result we extended the current CSD Royalty terms to 2021. We also approved Denita Holmes application to be a Washington State First Peoples Culture Teacher under the Tribal Certification Program. Denita’s application was approved by Tribal Council, and she can now submit her application to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Good job Denita! Members of the Chief Seattle Days Planning Committee met virtually to discuss the only event being planned to commemorate Chief Seattle Days this year, the Honoring Ceremony at Chief Seattle’s Gravesite. Marilyn Wandrey is working with Lisa Rodriguez to plan the ceremony, which will require social distancing and other measures to protect public health. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation met to discuss guidance for the Federal Communications Commission on improvement to communications towers that minimize impacts on cultural resources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is demolishing and replacing their research station located at Mukilteo. The building, a former military barracks, is on the waterfront in the vicinity of the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty Signing site. NOAA is consulting with tribal governments on its plan to protect cultural resources during construction. The National Congress of American Indians held a panel discussion online entitled “Protecting Tribal Lands in 2020: Current Violations in Indian Country,” which featured chairs of the Mashpee Wapanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation of North Dakota, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, the
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What story will you tell about this moment in history?
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f you’re struggling right now, think about how long we’ve been here as Suquamish people. Maybe five years from now, you’re going to look back and say, how did I handle that time? It’s hard to think that far ahead right now, but the only way you get there is just by getting through the day. Tell yourself, I’m just going to get through this one day, and wake up in the morning and see how I feel. How you react, how you’re family reacts, is all going to be part of the story we tell. This will all become part of our history. What kind of story do you want to tell about this time in our history? By Leonard Forsman
Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona and the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona. The leaders discussed actions taken by President Trump’s appointees at the Department of Interior to take land out of trust at Mashpee and to appropriate the bed of the Missouri River on the MHA reservation and illegally award the mineral rights to the State of North Dakota. The Tohono O’odham Nation is outraged at the desecration of their burial sites and sacred places on their traditional lands, which are being destroyed by construction of the border wall. The San Carlos Apache Tribe is fighting to save their lands from a copper mine, while the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is maintaining COVID-19 checkpoints despite the protestations of the governor of South Dakota. Indian Country has many challenges. We continue to engage in our government-to-government meetings with local, state, and federal government entities. We are still in discussion with the state on the proposed Highway 305 roundabout at the casino intersection. The state is moving ahead with planning for culvert replacement on Claybell Creek near the casino. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council met online to discuss local transportation projects. The meeting focused on plans to alleviate traffic congestion through the Gorst Corridor, which is an important cultural and fishing area for the Suquamish Tribe. The City of Poulsbo announced that there will be a new apartment complex near OC-Poulsbo. Kitsap County Public Works (KCPW) is working on a stormwater treatment project for downtown Suquamish. The
stormwater that is presently piped onto the beach along the Suquamish boat ramp is not treated. KCPW met with Tribal Council and staff to share plans for testing soil near the House of Awakened Culture. More information about the project will be presented to Tribal Council in the future. Naval Base Kitsap Commanding Officer Captain Richard Rinehart met with me and Tribal staff to introduce himself to the Suquamish Tribal Government. He is from a rural area in Northeast Ohio where he spent a lot of time outdoors. He commanded the USS North Carolina, a nuclear-powered submarine and is also a nuclear propulsion officer. We look forward to our government-to-government relationship with the Captain Rinehart. Educate Our Youth Our schools and our students have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. We are not sure when, how, and if our schools will open this fall. We are meeting with school administrators to find ways to educate our students under these difficult circumstances. While we face the basic task of getting schools open, we must not forget to maintain our progress on improving Indian Education. Many of these gains have been made through the work of the Tribal Leaders Congress on Education (TLC). We are still in the process of formalizing the TLC through improved participation from tribal councils and education staff across Washington State. Suquamish Tribal representatives met with Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal to discuss school reopening plans and tribal education priorities.
Superintendent Reykdal stated that he hopes to open the state school system this fall under public health guidelines unless the Department of Health directs him otherwise. The Suquamish Tribal Council serves as the School Board for Chief Kitsap Academy (CKA). CKA staff met with the School Board to discuss their plans for graduation, which will probably take place in August. We also discussed and approved their 2020-21 schedule. Central Kitsap School District met with Joe Davalos and me to discuss their Indian Education Programs. We have several Suquamish students who attend schools in the CKSD. We are working with CK to help them improve and localize their tribal curriculum. Inter-Tribal Work Intertribal organizations, including the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and the National Congress of American Indians, continue to provide their member tribes with information and opportunities to develop policy regarding natural resource protection, economic development, cultural preservation, and health reform, despite the pandemic. As president of ATNI, I have been chairing weekly calls with tribal leaders and policy staff to keep ATNI member tribes informed of the latest federal legislation and provide opportunities for leaders to strategize on how to best achieve our goal of providing opportunities for our tribal citizens. The ATNI COVID-19 calls include updates and guidance on the CARES Relief Funding for tribal governments, including forecast on when and how the money will be distributed, and what type of expenditures will be allowed. We also receive reports from the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board regarding COVID-19 infection rates and other public health statistics. Yakima County and the Yakama Nation are being hit especially hard by the pandemic. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) participates in our ATNI weekly calls. The NCAI Executive Board also held their monthly teleconference that focused on the pandemic and its impacts
July 2020 | 11
on Indian Country. We remain committed to economic development, and the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) held their monthly meeting, again on a virtual platform, where we discussed the upcoming special session of the legislature and heard updates on the progress of compact amendments that will enable Tribes to initiate sports wagering. Protect the Water The Suquamish Tribe continues its commitment to preservation of our stream systems and waters of the Salish Sea to provide habitat necessary to preserve our treaty reserved resources including salmon, shellfish, and other wildlife. The Fisheries Department has been engaged in a process to identify a pathway for the recovery of steelhead in Kitsap. The East Kitsap Steelhead Recovery Plan identifies streams that support or formerly supported steelhead runs, and outlines what we need to do to make these streams steelhead friendly. The West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery (WSPER) met and took action on funding new projects, including an investment in the Suquamish Tribe’s steelhead recovery plan. The Salmon Homecoming Alliance Board also met and decided to postpone this year’s celebration until 2021. The Puget Sound Day on the Hill usually is held in Washington, D.C., as an opportunity for the Northwest Tribes, state agencies, and environmental groups to advocate for investment in salmon recovery in Puget Sound. This year, due to the pandemic, we held the event virtually with special guests Congressmen Denny Heck and Derek Kilmer, who made commitments to support the Puget Sound in future federal budgets. The Earth Day Northwest Coalition held a call to discuss ways to address climate change and environmental degradation in our region. We did focus on ways that we can get underrepresented groups —minority groups and low-income populations — involved in the environmental movement. —Leonard Forsman, Suquamish Tribe Chairman
12 | July 2020
Suquamish News
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Tribal government takes steps towards reopening
Lushootseed suEabSucid Berry of the Month
Focus is on serving Tribal members and protecting health.
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ribal government, under the direction of Tribal Council, continues to respond to the impacts of the coronavirus. With enhanced safety protocols now in place for Tribal facilities, some activities are slowly returning to normal. The Fitness Center is open during limited hours, vouchers are accessible outside Human Services, the Suquamish Warriors are meeting again and they led a moving Memorial Day ceremony. Groundskeeping, housing construction, building maintenance, and custodial staff are back at work. Outdoor treaty protection work is ramping up again. The Grants team is back to full staffing, working hard to go after COVID funding. The IT staff is in the facility working staggered shifts keeping the technology humming. Most departments are continuing a combination of remote telework with an increasing number who are not on furlough ramping up hours in the office. The Casino Resort and most other Tribal enterprises are also back at work. As of June 23, Kitsap County has had 199 cases and two deaths. Under the direction of the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center, Suquamish nursing staff are now conducting COVID-19 tests, and all have come back negative so far. Still, with cases rising again in Kitsap and statewide, Tribal government is taking additional precautions. Entrance Screening All those entering Tribal buildings are asked to stop at one of the screening facilities for a quick, no-touch temperature check. The check-in stations are open from 6:45am to 4:45pm, Monday through Friday. A facility set up in front of the police station is open, plus a growing number of satellite check-in stations. Please check out at the same station you checked in at when you leave for the day. Please use face masks at all times when
in or around the Tribe’s facilities, maintain social distancing, and wash hands frequently. Summer events This summer will not be like any other in recent memory. Canoe Journey 2020 has been canceled. General Council, which was postponed in March, and Chief Seattle Days will be combined and held for one day only on August 15. Chief Seattle Days activities will be limited to the annual graveside ceremony at 9am, for Tribal members only, which will be held the morning of General Council. Tribal Council Treasurer Robin Little Wing Sigo described the day as a time to go back to the Tribe’s roots, reconnect, exercise sovereignty through General Council voting. Lake Leland is now open for Tribal households. Registration is available for overnight camping and cabins at: suquamishtribe. checkfront.site Please avoid clustering with others outside your household. Fitness Center is opened 8am – 8pm Monday through Friday and 8am-noon on weekends. Elders Trips are canceled for 2020 and the funds rolled over to next year. Internet Service The Tribe is exploring options to improve internet service on the reservation, beginning with a project to bring new wifi service to the House of Awakened Culture. With grant funding, government system speeds will be improved, and links to Woolly Dog and then to Ditto Lane are being considered in hopes of bringing good service to Tribal Housing. Wellness is offering limited in-person sessions with the Substance Abuse team and continuing to offer counseling sessions via telehealth. Call for an appointment at (360)394-8558.
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Wild Blackberry
like to hug the ground, and if you are walking in woodlands and fields, my long thin vines might trip you if you’re not careful! My pointy, serrated leaves grow in groups of three, and all my stems have little spines. My berries are smaller than the big non-native blackberries, but their flavor is strong and sweet. Ripe in June, July and August, when berries turn from red to black, try drying my leaves to make a nice-tasting tea for colds and sore throats.
Food security Because schools have been closed due to COVID-19, families in Washington state will soon have food benefits available to them to help buy groceries while children are home from school. Called Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, these food benefits are available to families with children in grades K-12 who are eligible for schools’ free or reduced-price meal programs. What does this mean for Tribal families? “If Tribal members are already signed up for Free and Reduced Lunches through the school district and are also getting food stamps, then the P-EBT assistance should be automatically added to their benefits,” says Suquamish Tribe Human Services director Nehreen Ayub. “If they are signed up for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, but not Food Stamps, then they should call (877) 501-2233.”
Curbside Food & Gas Voucher Assistance is available as follows: Mondays: 9am – 1pm Wednesdays: 12pm – 4 pm Fridays: 9am – 1pm Call (360) 394–8465 or (360) 394-8413 from Tribal Center parking lot for assistance with Food and Gas Vouchers. Stay in touch! Suquamish Updates Now (SUN): SUN is the Tribe’s newly expanded system of text, voice messages, and emails that is keeping the community up-to-date on emergency alerts, updates, events, and new services. Please sign up to stay in the loop! Sign up online at: suquamish.nsn.us/ suquamish-updates-now
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July 2020 | 13
RIP Pat Baillargeon, Museum Advisor, Friend (1928-2020)
Pat Baillargeon at Suquamish Museum Groundbreaking. Photo by the author.
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atricia Baillargeon, a longtime friend and supporter of the Suquamish Museum, died on June 13 at the age of 91. Baillargeon was a member of the Suquamish Museum Board and later a board member emeritus. “She was a humble and gracious member of the Suquamish Museum Board during the early years of our new facility,” Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman noted. “She would always defer to the Tribal members for their opinions first, since she was sensitive to her role as an ‘outside’ advisor.” Her history with the museum goes back to its early years. In the 1980s, she promoted international visits to the museum through her affiliation with the World Affairs Council, which brought delegations of foreign leaders to the United States for cultural and political experiences. The State Department directed tour groups to the museum from Europe and Asia. Baillargeon’s interest in Northwest Coast Indian culture inspired her volunteer work at the Ozette archaeological site. She was appointed to the Advisory Board for the Makah Cultural & Research Center. In the 1970s, she was a volunteer for United Indians of All Tribes
Foundation as the Daybreak Star was being built. As an arts columnist for the former Pacific Search magazine, her articles often focused on regional Indian arts. In 1979, she organized the first exhibition of Washington State Indian culture shown in Japan. She served on the boards of many regional museums, including the Burke, where she strongly encouraged the Burke’s outreach to the Tribal museums. Baillargeon was also an advocate of international understanding. She served as a protocol officer during the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, spearheading efforts to include the United Nations, and assuring the success of visits by such notable figures as UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, the Shah and Queen of Iran, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, according to the Seattle Times. She also served as an assistant to the Consul General of Japan. And she was the Port of Seattle director of the World Trade Center. But it wasn’t just in powerful positions that she made her mark. In the 1960s, she worked with the Seattle Open Housing Campaign to fight discrimination against minorities, and she volunteered in homeless shelters well into her 80s, according to the Seattle Times. As valued as she was here in the Northwest, Baillargeon’s influence extended beyond this region. She was a special assistant to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s widow, Eleanor Roosevelt, from 1953 to 1960, the years following the First Lady’s work with the United Nations on the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. “Pat was unique in her experience, sensitivity and cultural awareness,” Forsman said. “She is part of our history now.” By Sarah van Gelder, with thanks to Leonard Forsman and Gerald Elfandahl for their recollections.
(JUSTICE, Continued from p3) us on a regular basis. Our hands go up to those elected officials. We have more work to do. Black and Native Lives Matter Like African-Americans, Native people have the highest rates of killing by police. So, as a group of us stood on Highway 305 last week, we were thinking about Black Lives lost and also Native Lives. We were thinking about George Floyd and also about Stonechild Chiefstick. We were thinking about Breonna Taylor, shot while she slept in her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, and also about Suquamish Tribe descendant Jeanetta Riley, a mother of four, shot by police in 2014 in Sandpoint, Idaho, and about John T. Williams, a Nuu-chahnulth woodcarver, shot by Seattle police in 2010. We were thinking about Manny Ellis, an African American man shot by
police in Tacoma, and about Suquamish Tribal member Daniel Covarrubias, who reached for his cell phone and was shot by Tacoma police in 2015. The brutality and inequities experienced by our people and by other communities of color divide and weaken our country. We can do better. But real changes require more than “thoughts and prayers” for those killed and vague promises of reforms. Real change means taking action to end the racial bias that infuses law enforcement at all levels in the United States and re-conceptualizing policing at a time when mental health challenges and domestic violence make up a large portion of the calls police are asked to respond to. It means reforming school curriculum so the history of Native people, Black people, and other people of color is neither erased nor told only through the lens of European-Americans. We call on all leaders – especially right here in North Kitsap -- to embrace Chief Seattle’s vision that we live sideby-side, with equity, full participation, and rights for all the people of all the many cultures that make up our region. — The Suquamish Tribal Council Published in the Kitsap Sun
Not sure if your services or providers are covered under the Tribal Health Plan? We can help you navigate the healthcare system and answer any questions you may have! Contact Health Benefits (360) 394-8424 PO Box 546 Suquamish, WA 98392
Suquamish News
14 | July 2020
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Coloring Activity What is my name?
sq̓ ʷəcł (chipmunk)
stəqayuʔ (wolf)
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July 2020 | 15
Birthdays
y l Ju
July 9 Bonnie Carriere Jocelyn Talmadge Tony Nilluka
July 1 Steven Holt Travis Ives Zoey Miller
July 10 Donald George Jacob Ewing Mark Belmont
July 3 Jonathan Old Coyote-Bagley William Forsman
July 11 Amanda Lara Jody Mackenzie Malina Vejar Roland Valois
July 4 Ashley Friedman Marian Adams July 5 Ellen Hagen Harvey Adams III Jeremy Rubeck Juanita Villanueva Raven Roberts July 6 Shayan Mabe
July 7 Eric Pondelick Joseph Agibinik Julian Garza Laloni Mowitch Matthew Hawk Oskar Salas July 8 Dakota Standley Max Gellert Michael Puckett Randy Jones
July 12 Catherine Howard Leyton Miller July 13 Judith Porter Samuel Castaneda-Sigo July 14 Zoeyanne Lawrence July 15 Jerry Lawrence Joseph Adams July 16 Eugene Jones Mary Miller Michelle Lanning July 17 Bryson Miller Jackson Holmes Kelsy Womack Natasha Tiffany Trenton Landsaw
July 18 Claudette Leva Jazmine Ortiz Jessica Ladesma July 20 Lois Sullivan Melissa Lund Sarah Due July 21 Dyan Perrot Jasiah George John Mabe Laurisa Miller Richard Demain Tracy Pelch July 22 Charles Sigo Jack George Madison George Nicole Neugebauer Roger Contraro July 23 Elisha McAllister Jillian George Thomessa Inions July 24 Cecelia Williams Ed Carriere Kali Chargualaf Richard Belmont Jr. Sharon Purser-Atkins Toni Markowiak July 25 Deandra Decker Jillian Mills Joseph Peterson
July 26 Barbara Burgess Benjamin Purser Maheyla Joe Meadow Boyd Michael Cheyney Nicoline Spanos July 27 Alden Boure Corrina Sigo David Demain Everly Sigo Koh-kai Williams Tyleeander Purser July 28 David Pierpoint Gary Hagen III Valerie Stull July 29 Anthony Pondelick Daniel Demain Lucas Johnson July 30 Amay Lawrence Bahiyyih Mudd Breylin Alexander Drew Lawrence Julian Covarrubias Princeton George July 31 Michelle Goodner Qwoo-chee Kah-ty-ah Moran Riley Nelson
16 | July 2020
Suquamish News
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The Suquamish Warriors prepared the graves of the Tribe’s heroes for Memorial Day at the Suquamish Cemetery.