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Suquamish News
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July 2021 | 1
Suquamish News Volume 21
July 2021
No. 7
Celebrating Suquamish Grads
In this issue: Chief Seattle Days Plans -- p6 Boarding Schools Investigation -- p9 Culture Camp & Summer Fun! -- p11 Tribe Celebrates Pride Month — p3
A Taste of Home, in Vegas — p7
Fern St. Studios Set to Open — p12
2 | July 2021
Community Calendar
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Events & Meetings
Government Offices Communications: (360) 394-7184/7102 Community Dev: (360) 394-8415 Community Health: (360) 394-8468/8594 Emergency Management: (360) 394-8507 Emergency Work Orders: (360) 900-7050 Emergency Utilities: (360) 710-3223 Suquamish Warriors Finance: (360) 394-8432 For information, contact Jean Belmont at Fisheries: (360) 394-8438 (360) 601-7918. Health Benefits: (360) 394-8424 Human Resources: (360) 394-8409 PME Board meets online and in Human Services: (360) 394-8465 person on July 14 at the Resort (Whale IT Help Desk: (360) 394-8485 Room). Contact Emily Sato, emilysato@ Maintenance: (360) 394-8590 clearwatercasino.com (360) 598-8703. Tribal Child Welfare: (360) 394-8480 Tribal Court: (360) 394-8697 Suquamish Tribal Gaming Comm. Meets online July 1, 15 & 29. Call Angela Suquamish Elders — contact: Brainerd at (360) 394-8652 for details. Della Crowell (360) 394-8417 Donna Sigo (360) 394-8472 Suquamish Seafoods Board meets online on July 13 @ 2pm. Seafoods Retail is open Suquamish Police Department lobby is Thurs-Sun. Contact Shanel Carlson at (360) available for government-related paper394-8512 for details. work. Mon-Fri, 8am–4:30pm Front Desk: (360) 598-4334 Suquamish Museum Board Emergency: 911 Meets July 15 @ 11am-1pm online. Call Jennifer at (360) 394-4847 for info. Wellness Center Front desk: (360) 394-8558 2021 Tribal Distributions will take Crisis Hotline: (888) 910-0416 place on Nov. 5. If you want to receive your payments through Direct Deposit, contact Finance_Info@suquamish.nsn. us. If you have an address change, please contact Enrollment. Suquamish Tribal Council Tribal Council meets July 16 & Aug. 2 & 16. Links are sent to Tribal members via SUN or ask Rebecca Purser, (360) 9008031, rebeccapurser@suquamish.nsn.us.
Regular Hours Suquamish News •
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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All photo submissions must be made in JPG or PDF form, with resolution of 300 dpi or more.
Cockles are back! Suquamish youth sort cockles during the first harvest of this treasured traditional food resulting from the Tribe’s Cockle Project. A cockle bake followed.
On the cover Suquamish Tribal member James Abler was among those celebrated at this year’s honoring of Tribal graduates. Abler, a cultural specialist at the Marion ForsmanBoushie Early Learning Center, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Evergreen State College. Find more graduates on page 4 and 5. (Photo by JoAnn Joe)
Suquamish Tribal Council Leonard Forsman
Chairman
Wayne George
Vice-Chair
Windy Anderson
Secretary
Robin L.W. Sigo
Treasurer
Rich Purser
Member
Sammy Mabe
Member
Luther Mills, Jr.
Member
Reproduction of Suquamish News, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Suquamish Tribe is strictly prohibited.
Production Staff Leonard Forsman Sarah van Gelder Jon Anderson JoAnn Joe Heather Purser
Editorial Policy
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Photography/Design Communications Associate
Publishers of the Suquamish News reserve the right to refuse publication of letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submission of 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.
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July 2021 | 3
Community
Suquamish Celebrates Pride Month A decade ago, the Suquamish people were among the very first Tribal Nations to adopt same-sex marriage laws into their Tribal Code. This year, on the 10th anniversary of that landmark decision, the Tribal Council proclaimed June as Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Month.
Tribal Council Proclamation
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“Whether you’re trans, lesbian, gay, bi, pansexual, asexual, we all matter. We’re all one big family.” ~ Jean Belmont, Suquamish Tribal Elder
“I’m here in support of Pride month. I have family members who are gay and lesbian...I’m totally in support of people making their own decisions and living their lives however makes them happy. I’m all for people being happy.” ~ Jaya Sigo, Suquamish Tribal Elder Spouse
t is through our empathy and deep understanding of injustice that we, the Suquamish People of the x̌ʷəlč, recognize the hardships and perseverance of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. To them we raise our hands in solidarity and extend our support in their struggles and in their triumphs. Since Time Immemorial, our values have taught us to love and respect all living things, and to see the beauty and value of diversity. These teachings are reflected in our culture, in the way we carry ourselves and through our treatment of one another. ʔuʔušəbid čəɫ ti bək’ʷ gʷat (We have compassion for everyone). Therefore, it is our honor and obligation to celebrate and protect the diversity of our membership and those within the greater Suquamish community. We demonstrate that commitment with the inclusivity of our marriage laws, our dedication to the protection of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals residing on our reservation and by providing equal access to housing, education, employment and health care to all our membership, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate the diversity within our community and to honor our obligation to make Suquamish a safe and welcoming space for all. On this 10-year anniversary of our decision to adopt same-sex marriage laws into our Tribal code, we proclaim the month of June as Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. This decision is in accordance with our ancestral values and aims to strengthen our relationship with ́ one another so that we may advance together toward a safe and just world. ƛum ʔəsʔistə (So be it).
“I just want you to know that you have allies out there that are with you and we stand with you proudly and wish nothing but the best for the whole community and are always here with our love and support. If you ever need an ally, you’ve got one in me.” ~ Sammy Mabe, Suquamish Tribal Council Member
“I’m just really proud and grateful to the Suquamish people for being so open, for being so accepting and loving and having so much compassion for the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer community.” ~ Heather Purser, Suquamish Tribal member
4 | July 2021
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Education
CONGRAa TULATIONS SUQUAMISH COLLEGE GRAa DS!
James Abler – Evergreen State College, Bachelor of Arts
Skyler Bakken – Washington State University, Bachelor of Science
Petrina Joe-Lanham – Olympic College, John Lindell – Oregon Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science Associate of Arts and Science
Angela Hill – Northwest Indian College, Associate of Arts and Science
Denita Holmes – Evergreen State College, Bachelor of Arts/University of Washington, Certificate in Native Education
Denise Neal – Arizona State University, Master of Arts
Barb Santos – Evergreen State College, Bachelor of Arts
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Tribe Celebrates Graduates
Rainy day can’t dampen spirits at CKA graduation Drive-thru fun honors Suquamish Class of 2021
July 2021 | 5
6 | July 2021
Chief Seattle Days
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July 2021 | 7
Business
A taste of home just off the Vegas Strip Tribal members visiting Las Vegas can find a little bit of home at Sticks Tavern, a new business located just 20 minutes off the Vegas Strip. In the three months since it opened in April of this year, the family-friendly establishment has already received several outstanding reviews garnering them an impressive 4 ½ stars out of 5 on Yelp. Customers rave about delicious food, hospitable staff, and a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere. However, one of the best parts about the restaurant is something the average customer may not realize; it is entirely owned and operated by two Suquamish people. Tribal Elder Robin Camacho is the daughter of Evelyn Gemmell, who was well-known and respected throughout the Tribe during her lifetime and fondly remembered to this day. Robin co-owns Sticks Tavern with her son Jordan Camacho who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, a school established in Paris with a location in Las Vegas. He has also worked in various kitchens and alongside award-winning Master Chefs such as the highly acclaimed Thomas Keller and even Charlie Palmer, named “Best Chef in America” in 1997. Although Jordan is at present ineligible for enrollment in the Tribe due to blood quantum limitations, he is nonetheless a Tribal person who takes much pride in Suquamish and looks for opportunities to weave aspects of the culture into his life and culinary practices. Spruce tip and lemon cookies, a seasonal dessert at Sticks, are a nod to the diet of Suquamish ancestors who ate spruce tips for its vitamins and fiber. Combining this traditional food with lemon produces a unique and intriguing taste that keeps customers coming back for more. While visiting with his cousin, Angee Harrington, a Tribal member who lives on the reservation and who visited the tavern while on a road trip in May,
Jordan’s eyes lit up as she told him about Camus and the essential dietary role it had once played among the people. Moments later, he called to his good friend and the tavern’s head chef, Trevor Garret. “Hey Trevor,” he said, “have you ever heard of Camus?” And the two began talking excitedly amongst themselves. In the months leading up to the COVID-19 outbreak, Robin and Jordan were preparing to open a different kind of restaurant, one that would serve products shipped directly from Suquamish Seafoods. Jordan had been in conversation with the company before Nevada business restrictions foiled their plans. With an astute mind for business and a demonstration of resiliency characteristic of Suquamish people, the mother and son team, along with their head chef Trevor, quickly opened To Be Frank, a ghost kitchen serving gourmet hotdogs. Like Sticks, To Be Frank received high reviews. The business was in operation
for 3.5 months until they shifted focus to a new opportunity that had presented itself. A property became available across from Lifeguard Arena where the Silver Knights, Henderson’s professional hockey team, holds their practices. They realized that a hockey-themed bar serving high-quality food at an affordable price could attract a large crowd, so they closed their ghost kitchen and shifted gears. However, the hotdogs were so famous that Sticks continues to offer them as off the menu items for customers in the know. “Someday, I think I’ll look back and know this was an instant success.” Says Robin, who knows a lot about triumphs as she and her son had also once owned The Camacho Group, a real estate company that had employed 38 agents. She and Jordan retired the company to focus on his culinary gift and passion, a move that is already seeming to pay off as business at Sticks has increased by an
outstanding 150% since April. The success of Sticks Tavern is a result of Robin and Jordan’s clever thinking, hard work, and the mastery of cuisine that Jordan and Trevor Garret bring to the table. Except for the buns they order from a local bakery, everything they serve they make in the kitchen, and nothing arrives frozen or in a can. This commitment to fresh food is one of the secrets to their success and ensures their customers only receive the best. “Even just talking about it and remembering makes me want to go back for the food,” sighs Angee Harrington in reflection of her visit. Angee tried the hamburger. It is offered on the menu without any condiments whatsoever as it requires nothing but the meat and bun to be their number one seller. “Hamburgers will never be the same,” she laments, “They’ve ruined them for me. I’ve never had a better burger, and I don’t think I ever will.” By Heather Purser
8 | July 2021
Suquamish News
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Government
Chairman’s Report
Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) of Kansas. Secretary Haaland introduced an initiative to investigate the federal Indian boarding school policy inspired by the discovery of mass graves at a former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C. The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Executive Board held a meeting to discuss the upcoming annual conference. We decided to hold the conference in-person with a virtual option for those who cannot attend in-person.
Regional Opportunities
The Suquamish Tribe has a large Suquamish Chairman Leonard Forsman interviewed Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical territorial footprint and receives many Adviser to the president on COVID-19, during the mid-year conference of the Affiliated requests to present our culture and Tribes of Northwest Indians. history. We are also asked by various organizations for our opinions on how to best s increased vaccination rates with- tion language for this bill and for future acknowledge the Suquamish Tribe as in our Tribe and in Western Wash- legislation. part of their respective activities. ington allow us to emerge from the Seattle CityClub seeks to improve COVID-19 pandemic, we are increasingThe Suquamish Tribe joined several “the civic health of the Puget Sound ly able to meet in person. other Tribes in presenting gaming comregion by providing programs that Virtual meetings are still the norm, pact amendments to the Washington bridge politics, sectors, and generations though, partially due to convenience, State Gambling Commission that will to inform and engage residents and but also because many state and federal enable Tribal casinos to engage in sports community leaders.” agencies are waiting until vaccination betting. I joined a panel of Tribal leaders to rates are higher. The Suquamish Tribe submitted an provide background on the Suquamish Our government-to-government additional compact amendment that presence in Seattle, and the presence of relationships demand much of our allows higher betting limits and other neighboring Tribes and the urban Indiattention. enhancements to our gaming operaan population. The City of Bainbridge Island held tions. The commission approved all the The Seattle Kraken hockey team is two meetings with us to discuss the compact amendments presented. seeking ways to engage with Tribal comfeasibility of Tribal art projects on the The U.S. Department of Health and munities around the region as they open island and to introduce their new City Human Services (HHS) Region 10 (con- their inaugural season; their adminisManager. sisting of Alaska, Washington, Oregon trative team met with us to find ways and Idaho) held their regional Tribal to engage Tribal youth and the greater Tribal Consent consultation meeting on a virtual forTribal population. The state Legislature passed the Climat. We met with HHS officials individThe Friends of Waterfront Seattle mate Commitment Act, which will fund ually and attended the general session. held an in-person reception to honor carbon reduction projects in the state As we open our new health clinic we staff and board members, and to celof Washington and provide funding to will need additional assistance from the ebrate the many successful projects Tribal governments for climate change Indian Health Service and HHS. completed on the waterfront and those resilience projects. planned for the future. Governor Inslee disappointed many Intertribal Gatherings The Orca Network is holding a virTribes when he vetoed a section of the Intertribal organizations are conducttual celebration to honor and celebrate law requiring Tribal consent for climate ing mid-year conferences, including the the orca whales of the Salish Sea and projects that impact Tribal cultural National Congress of American Indirequested documentation of the day resources due to his concerns about the ans (NCAI), albeit on a virtual platform. that the killer whales escorted our Tribal constitutionality of the language. The Alaska Region served as the artifacts home to our museum in 2013. I Tribal leaders are deliberating on how virtual host. We were honored to have joined our communications department to engage with the Governor’s office on live addresses by Secretary of Interior on the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry to film developing acceptable Tribal consultaDeb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and Rep. a recollection of that powerful event.
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I also provided a virtual presentation on the history of the Suquamish Tribe to the North Kitsap/Kingston Rotary lunch. The talk was well received, and the Rotary offered to help the Tribe on future projects. As the COVID-19 pandemic conditions improve, we will be able to attend Tribal celebrations, although many will have restricted scopes. Salmon Homecoming will be a one-day celebration on September 18 with a pow-wow and canoe landing. Chief Seattle Days will be primarily limited to Tribal member households.
Remembering our Past
The Suquamish Museum Board held their monthly meeting to discuss the 2021 budget and upcoming projects. We met with Frank Brown of the Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella, B.C. to discuss installation of their exhibit on Tribal canoe journeys in the Campbell River Museum in British Columbia. We also discussed the honoring of the Suquamish Baseball Team that traveled to Japan in 1921. The honoring is scheduled to take place at T-Mobile Park on August 26th at the Mariners game. More details will be in the August newsletter.
Focusing on Education
The Suquamish Tribe is a leader in development of Indian Education policy. The Tribal Leaders Congress on Education (TLC) met to discuss actions taken by the state Legislature in the past session. One important bill requires school administrators to obtain training in Tribal history and sovereignty every five years. We also met with the Central Kitsap School District (CKSD) as part of their Tribal consultation process. The CKSD described their Tribal history programs and initiatives. I also had the honor of attending ceremonies celebrating our graduates. Chief Kitsap Academy (CKA) held their graduation outdoors at the Clearwater Casino Resort in drizzly rain that could not dampen the success of the 2021 senior class, the largest in CKA history.
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July 2021 | 9
Boarding Schools Boarding schools
investigation painful, but Investigation willneccessary stir painful memories for
Tribes, but bring necessary accounting for all
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We also hosted two drive-thru honoring ceremonies at the House of Awakened Culture; one for the native students of the North Kitsap School District and the other for our Suquamish Tribal member high school and college graduates.
Protecting our Environment
We continue our efforts to protect the Salish Sea from pollution and development pressures. We have been working with King County and the Puget Sound Partnership on a review of the County’s proposal entitled the “King County’s Clean Water, Healthy Habitat Initiative.” We are keeping an open-mind on the proposal, which seeks to mitigate wastewater impacts from King County’s treatment facilities, but will continue to hold the county accountable for keeping our waters clean. We continue to engage with the Kitsap County Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) on planning decisions
that might impact zoning in Suquamish, which is now designated as a Limited Area of More Intensive Residential Development (LAMIRD). New designations are intended to make Suquamish eligible for increased transportation funding, and we want to make sure that density is not affected. We are also monitoring clean-up activities in Port Gamble Bay to ensure that the maximum ecological benefit is achieved.
Giving Thanks
Thanks to the Elders program for organizing Big Moe’s salmon bake this year. The drive-thru event was a real treat. I also would like to extend my sympathy to the family of Ted George who recently passed away. A fitting celebration of his life and legacy was held at Kiana Lodge. Leonard Forsman Suquamish Tribe Chairman
nterior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) has announced an investigation into a devastating chapter of American history – the forced removal of Indian children to boarding schools. This federal policy, rooted in a campaign by the United States to assimilate American Indians into American “society,” resulted in mass removal of students, many as young as five years old, away from their families and Tribes and into large boarding schools, where they lived nearly year-round in dormitories. In line with the slogan, “Kill the Indian, Save the Man,” the federal governments of both the United States and Canada, and several religious institutions, were part of this violent assimilation effort. Families on the Port Madison Indian Reservation did not escape this harmful policy. Between 1900 and 1920, the federal government forced Suquamish students to attend the Tulalip Boarding School. The United States promised us education in the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, but our chiefs believed that this promise meant on-reservation day schools. Instead, the federal government established the boarding school system where Indian children were treated with cruelty, and punished and humiliated for speaking their language or practicing their spirituality. The impacts were devastating for our grandparents, aunts, and uncles, many of whom were abused and who returned home estranged from families and culture. The oral histories archived at the Suquamish Museum tell the stories of these children and the effects on families and communities who were left grieving their absence. Many children never made it home at all, as we were reminded when news broke of the mass burial site at the Kamloops Indian
Residential School in Canada. “Our communities are still mourning,” Secretary Haaland said when she announced the review of the boarding school legacy at the mid-year conference of the National Congress of American Indians. “The federal policies that attempted to wipe out Native identity, language, and culture continue to manifest in the pain our communities face, including long-standing intergenerational trauma, cycles of violence and abuse, disappearance of indigenous people, premature deaths, mental disorders, and substance abuse.” “We must shed light on the unspoken traumas of the past, no matter how hard it will be,” she said. Between 2008 and 2015, Canadian government and First Nations leaders conducted an extensive Truth and Reconciliation process, hearing the testimony of those traumatized by these practices and of their descendants who suffered the effects of intergenerational trauma. The testimony and the resulting report shocked the conscience of Canadians. It concluded that the residential schools era amounted to cultural genocide, and it sparked a national reckoning of sorts in Canada. Secretary Haaland’s action to uncover the truth about the residential schools and their impacts on our people could spark such a reckoning in the United States. “I know that this process will be long and difficult,” Haaland said. “It won’t undo the heartbreak and loss we feel. But only by acknowledging the past can we work toward a future that we’re all proud to embrace.” It will indeed be painful and re-traumatizing to many of us to revisit this history. Nonetheless, Secretary Haaland’s announcement heralds a needed and long-overdue step in a long road to collective healing. — Suquamish Tribal Council
10 | July 2021
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Community
Ask the Police Editors’ Note: Tribal Council recently acted to address the issue of boats left in the Elders Parking Lot on the corner of Suquamish Way and Augusta Ave. Notice was sent to Tribal members via SUN, and the Suquamish Police have been instructed to respond. Suquamish Police Chief Mike Lasnier reports on his next steps.
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his month, we are addressing the abandoned/junk boats that have been left at the Elders Parking Lot on the corner of Suquamish Way and Augusta Ave, across the street from the House of Awakened Culture and Burton Motorsports. The Suquamish Tribal Council has passed Resolution #21-046 requiring those boats be seized, auctioned and/ or destroyed. It falls to the Suquamish Police to carry out that order. 48-hour removal notices have been posted, and boats remaining in the parking lot will be seized by the Suquamish Police. The seizure will be in the form of a posting on the boats; they will remain in place until a public auction is held on July 12, 2021. (Tribal Code requires that we not have the auction until 20 days after seizure.) Minimum bid at that auction will be $250. Any boat or trailer not auctioned, or auctioned and not removed by 7:00 a.m. on July 13th, 2021, will be destroyed. The cost of the equipment, dumpsters, etc, will be recouped from the parties responsible for these boats so that the larger Tribal community does not bear the costs. We need your help. If you own or are responsible for one of those boats, please remove it immediately. Suquamish Police Chief Mike Lasnier Cell: 360-340-0695
Elder Veterans get state-of-the-art mobile care The Veteran Administration’s state-of-the-art Mobile Medical Unit stopped at the House of Awakened Culture on June 10 to provide care for Tribal Elder Veterans in the area. The visit was put together by the Suquamish Tribe’s Veterans Program in the Human Services Department. (Photo by JoAnn Joe)
Do you have questions for the Suquamish Police? Send an email with your questions to communications@Suquamish.nsn.us. Your questions will be passed along to the Police Department without your email address for responses in the newsletter. On the grill for Big Moe’s annual Salmon Bake held on June 18. (Photo by JoAnn Joe)
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Suquamish News
Culture Camp and Other Summer Fun • Mother-daughter tea party, tasting traditional tea, on July 14, • Father-son crab race on July 21 will include tasting traditional foods, and a crab race. • Beading workshop on July 24 • Teen late night, July 23, from 5-10pm.
Transportation is available for all events. Remember to wear your mask. Contact Family and Friends Center at fandfcenter@ suquamish.nsn.us or (360) 394-8576 to sign up and to get more information.
Help Wanted at Culture Camp
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his year’s Culture Camp will focus on “Honoring our plant teachers.” The Yusawiac Suquamish Culture Camp will take place July 27-29 and Aug 3-5. Staff from the Suquamish Language Program, Traditional Foods Program, Culture Committee, and the ʔiišədalʔtxʷ ʔə ti suq̓ ʷabš (Family and Friends Center) are collaborating to engage Suquamish youth in activities that will inspire and educate youth about Suquamish Culture. Plans include: • • • • •
Language games Cultural games Making (and eating!) traditional foods Tool making Canoe pulling
Unlike previous Culture Camps, this will be daytimes only, and will take place at the House of Awakened Culture. Transportation will be available. Masks and other COVID precautions will be in place, under guidance from the Suquamish Emergency Operations Center. Other summer activites The following will take place in person this summer, and are open to Suquamish youth and descendants. • Weekly Canoe practice: the schedule will be posted soon. • Pull Around Bainbridge Island: Suquamish canoes, with support boat, will circle Bainbridge Island. Date TBD. • Ribbon Skirt class will take place on July 13-15 – In-person.
The Family and Friends Center is recruiting four Suquamish youth and young adults, age 16-21, to work on planning and leading this summer’s Culture Camp. Contact Family and Friends Center at fandfcenter@suquamish.nsn.us or (360) 394-8576 for information on these openings, which will include 90 hours of paid work.
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Get Active This Summer
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he Sports and Recreation Department will be coordinating with the Early Learning Center, Summer School program, and the Family and Friends Center on activities throughout the summer. We will be continuing with the basketball fundamentals and sports conditioning classes from 3pm – 4:30pm on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Class sizes are still limited, and you must call weekly to reserve a space for your youth. Evening adult open gym will continue on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 8pm. As we continue to move forward with opening up through the Covid-19 guidelines, we plan to offer more sports activities for both Tribal youth and adults. We are currently working on having an archery program for youth eight years and older and offering a youth fitness clinic. Other activities will include drop-in soft/baseball, swimming, canoing, flag football, basketball, and tennis. The maintenance on the ball field is almost complete. When completed we will be offering 5-on-5-on-5 softball during the evenings. More information will be coming out soon on how to register a team. We are planning on having a co-ed softball tournament during the upcoming Chief Seattle Day’s celebration in August. The Pee Wee Associations have opened up registrations for football season this year. Please check with your district-area teams for registration dates.
Lushootseed Phrase of the Month
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12 | July 2021
Housing Inspections and Account Collections Resume
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Fern Street Studios Nearly Complete — Apply Today! Suquamish Housing is accepting applications for residents for the nearly complete Fern Studio Homes Development, a small community of six units located at the corner of Fern St and Division Avenue in Suquamish. Each unit contains a living area, kitchen, and a bathroom. Rent includes power, water, sewer, garbage services, and Wi-Fi. Eligibility requirements for tenants are in accordance with existing eligibility and admissions requirements. If there are no eligible low-income applicants, an applicant will be selected from the fair market rental waiting list. Rent Payments will be based the tenant’s household income with a minimum payment of $150.00 and a maximum payment of $400.00. If you are interested in applying for a studio home, please contact Rachel Nellenbach at (360) 394-8418 or rnellenbach@suquamish.nsn.us. The Policy for Fern Street Studio Homes will be available on the Tribal website soon or you may contact any Suquamish Housing Program Office team member for a copy of the policy. By Lois “Lane” Sullivan
uring the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the Suquamish Tribal government offices Suquamish Housing staff was directed to pause both annual housing inspections and account collections on past due balances of house payments and rents for the year 2020. Now that our community is mostly vaccinated and the majority of housing staff are fully vaccinated, housing staff is authorized to resume required annual inspection of all rental and homebuyer units. Housing inspections are a useful tool for both the Suquamish Housing Program (SHP) and the tenant: • Unrepaired and unreported housing maintenance issues can become larger structural issues if not addressed. • Inspections allows SHP and tenants to identify preventative maintenance needs of the unit. • Inspections also allow SHP staff to identify any damage to units that will be addressed with tenants and homebuyers as per their rental or MHOA agreement, and in accordance with the maintenance and management policies for the programs.
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SHP staff started mailing inspection notices to tenants in June, and mailings will continue throughout the remainder of this year. Staff will comply with Tribal Government COVID-19 expanded operations protocols to minimize risk to staff, tenants, and homebuyers during the home inspections. Also in recognition of COVID-related layoffs, furloughs, and unemployment, housing monthly payments, payment increases, and collections of past due rent were paused in 2020. As Tribal operations return to normal and the economy expands, SHP is resuming monthly housing payments collection, annual income recertification, and collections of past due housing payments. Rental assistance is available through the newly funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income households impacted by loss of income or employment due to the pandemic. Suquamish Housing Staff is assisting tenants and homebuyers through the process on a case-by-case as needed basis. Tenants or homebuyers who have questions about Housing Inspections can contact Rachel Nellenbach, Housing Counselor (360) 394-8418. Tenants and Homebuyers who have questions about tenant accounts or general housing questions can contact either Lois Sullivan, Housing Coordinator (360) 394-8416 or Vicki Cole, Housing Program Manager (360) 394-8419. By Lois “Lane” Sullivan
Suquamish News
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Elder’s Lunch Menu July 2021 Mon
Tue
Wed
Beverages Served Daily: Choice of 1% Milk or Lactose Free Milk
Occasional substitutions may be necessary
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Elder’s Kitchen: 360-394-8407 Please call to inform the kitchen if you would like to cancel home delivery for the day.
Thu
Fri
1 Tamale Pie (ground beef, veggies, cornmeal Crust) Tossed Salad Fresh Fruit
2 Ham Hocks w/ Beans Brown or White Rice Steamed Kale Tossed Salad Pachado Bread Yogurt & Fruit Parfait
6 Birthday Celebration Baked Chicken Sweet Potatoes Germany Blend Veggies Tossed Salad Oat Bran Raisin Muffin Birthday Cake & Ice Cream
7 Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes /gravy California Blend Veg. Cucumber-Tomato Salad Wheat Roll Fresh Fruit
8 Macaroni & Cheese Stewed Tomatoes Tossed Salad Corn Bread Fresh Fruit
9 Indian Tacos w/ meat, beans, lettuce, tomato, salsa, cheese Fresh Veggie Tray Fresh Fruit
12 Pork-Vegetable Stir Fry Brown Rice Tossed Salad Wheat Roll Spiced Fruit Cup
13 Minestrone Soup Tuna Salad Sandwich on Whole Wheat Cucumber-Tomato Salad Fresh Fruit
14 Shepherd’s Pie (ground beef, green beans, mashed potatoes) Tossed Salad Applesauce Muffin Fresh Fruit
15 Sweet & Sour Chicken Brown Rice Brussels Sprouts Light Cranberry Coleslaw SF Pudding
16 Cook’s Special Chili w/ Cheese Brown Rice Tossed Salad Corn Bread Fresh Fruit
19 Baked Ham Sweet Potatoes California Blend Veggies Tossed Salad Wheat Roll Applesauce
20 Beef Soup w/ Barley & Vegetables Egg Salad Sandwich Carrot-Apple Salad Chewy Chocolate Cookie
21 Breakfast for lunch Egg Frittata w/ Veggies & Cheese Oven Roasted Potatoes Blueberry Bran Muffin Fresh Fruit
22 Beef, Bean & Cheese Burrito Chuckwagon Corn Tossed Salad Fresh Fruit
23 Salmon Oven Roasted Potatoes Steamed Spinach Tossed Salad Pachado Bread Frozen Fudge Bar
26 Salad Day Greek Chicken Salad Pasta Salad Oat Bran Raisin Muffin Fresh Fruit
27 French Dip Sandwich Broccoli Salad Tossed Salad Fresh Fruit
28 Baked Fish Scalloped Potatoes Steamed Spinach Tossed Salad Wheat Roll Peach Crisp
5 Closed Independence Day Holiday
29 Pork Pancit Germany Blend Veggies Kale Salad Fresh Fruit
30 Geoduck Chowder Chef Salad (w/ hard boiled eggs, meat, cheese) Applesauce Muffin Yogurt & Fruit Parfait
Traditional Heritage Specialist
I
missed the June newsletter deadline due to appointments. I wish to tell you that July is full of new hopes for more time to gather and talk together. As we look forward to the state opening up and more people getting healthy, I am full of hope that we will see the way clear to be able to see each other face to face and enjoy our traditional gatherings again. I received the letter for gathering sweet grass; they sent only one permit with the name on everyone who I have on the list, so you will receive a copy, and you need to go in groups to gather. I have been told that children under 18 years old can accompany their parents as long as they are enrolled Tribal members. I cannot provide transportation for this, however you may be able to carpool or talk to Human Services about a van or two. Please let the Refuge know when you are planning to be there, and how much sweet grass you have gathered for their records. If you do not wish to gather sweetgrass and want your name taken off the list, please let me know so I can do that for next year. We have one of the longer lists of names, and not everyone goes. Thank you. You can reach me at: mjones@ suquamish.nsn.us or (360) 394 8526. We said farewell to some beautiful people in our lives in May and I also went into a bit of a shut down due to this. Loss of people that I loved, and thought so much of, was hard to take, and I could not find a way to deal with this except to pray and cry in private. My thoughts and prayers for the families of these beautiful people are in my heart daily. They are family, friends, brothers and sisters — the love is there forever. Summer is here and many things are being gathered. My hands are up to Azure, and those that have been doing this all spring and continuing now. Thank you for teaching the youth and others as you gather! Please if you have not taking the time to get your children their vaccinations, do it as soon as possible. Youth 12 and older are eligible. It is the only way we will all be able to get COVID-19 gone! Marilyn G. Jones
14 | July 2021
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Suquamish News
July 2021 | 15
In Memoriam
Sharon ‘Keli’ Parrett
K
eli Hagen Parrett passed away peacefully of natural causes on Saturday, June 5, 2021. She was 60. Keli was born in Bremerton, Washington in 1960 to Hap Smith and Marjorie Napoleon Smith. She attended elementary and middle school in Washington and California and then attended high school abroad when her step-father, Roger, and the family were stationed at a Naval base in La Maddalena, Italy. As there was no English-speaking high school on the island, Keli attended boarding school at the Air Force base in Zaragoza, Spain, with other military dependents. Keli moved back to Bremerton following graduation and married Tony Hagen, and with Tony had three children — Brooke, Bob and Ken. After having her family, Keli studied architecture at the University of Washington and did her thesis on the Squaxin Island tribal complex near Shelton, Washington. Keli began working at Bassetti Architects while still an architecture student, and began her long term career of the design and construction of projects for Native American tribes. Keli also worked for NBBJ, Mortenson Construction. In 2001, Keli joined Mithun and worked with several tribes including: Squaxin Island Tribe, Northwest Indian College, Tulalip Tribe, and of course her own Suquamish Tribe. She received the Community Service Award from the Seattle AIA in 2002 for her work with the Diversity Roundtable in the 1990s. After leaving Mithun, Keli fulfilled her career dream of working directly for a Native American tribe and worked as the manager for the Design and Construction Department for the Puyallup Tribe. In her 11 year career with the Puyallup Tribe, she worked on multiple projects but was most proud of the work she did for the Elders Center, Justice Center, and the Grandview Early Learning Center. In 2004 Keli married for a second time to Larry Parrett, also an architect in Seattle. They made West Seattle their home, and enjoyed the last 25 years together camping, bicycling, and traveling extensively around the United States and Europe. Keli lived a full life. She enjoyed cooking and made delicious meals, most notably her Seattle Salad. She loved spending time on the water, boating with her husband Larry and family that joined their Puget Sound voyages. Above all else, Keli loved and lived for her family. At every event, small or large, Keli’s presence was felt. Always upbeat, cheerful, and full of love. She was the best grandmother to her grandchildren, Jackson, Joseph, Grace, Martin, Henry, Bo, and Viggo. As she would always tell them, “Grandma loves you!” Keli was also an animal lover and had a sweet black Pug, Pearl, and two cats, Ziggy Stardust and Rika. Keli is survived by her husband Larry, her three children Brooke, Bobby, and Ken and their spouses Jens, Terri and Linnea, two step-children Chase and Reese, seven grandchildren, her brother Ken and his wife Jo, her sister Jill, and her three beloved animals. She will be deeply missed.
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