Suquamish News
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A monthly publication of the Suquamish Tribe
Watershed Report pg. 3
Volume 12 November 2012 No. 11 Tribal Enrollment Returning Salmon Bring New Life to Suquamish Hatchery Tribal fish biologists work to ensure biological diversity in new generations Conference by April Leigh Suquamish hosts annual event for regional tribes by April Leigh
The Suquamish Tribe hosted the 9th Annual Northwest Tribal Enrollment Conference last month. The 2-day event brought more than 16 tribes from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Canada to the Port Madison Indian Reservation. The conference was coordinated by Suquamish Tribe Enrollment Office employees Janis Contraro, Fran Nichols and Janis Marquez and included speakers from a number of different Tribal, State and Federal organizations. Topics included how to properly request birth certificate changes, DNA requests and more. “It is a great networking opportunity for the tribes. We learn collectively what is working and what isn’t in tribal enrollment offices throughout the region,” said Contraro. According to Contraro, the conference began nearly a decade ago to assist tribal enrollment personnel in coordinating membership services between tribes and creating uniform policies. Each year, a different Tribe hosts the group for the conference. Though the group was relatively small this year, mostly due to budget cuts in federal and state agencies, Contraro said it was just as informative as it has ever been. Next year, the group is scheduled to meet in Swinomish where they will discuss blood quantum policies.
Fish biologists at the Suquamish Tribe Grover’s Creek Hatchery have harvesting salmon down to more than just science. After 40 years in operation, the work of gathering and tracking spawning salmon returning to their home waters is akin to a symphony of sorts. Employees dutifully pull the tired salmon from the waters in perfect time and tempo. They carefully measure and weigh each fish in the tense moments leading to the crescendo where biologists standing by, wands at the ready, search for the hidden tracking node Hatchery workers and fish biologists scan the snouts of returning salmon, searching for tracking nodes placplaced in the snout of each salmon before their es in each fish released into the wild. Salmon return to the hatchery Sept. through Nov. annually. release. The music abruptturns to November, more and more of type of waterway you can find,” said ly stops when the wand finds its mark, the fish returning are Chum, smaller Suquamish Tribe Marine Fish Program adding one more fish to the data pools than Chinook but with the widest natManager Jay Zischke. of those that return after three to five ural geographic and spawning distriyears in the wild. One of main differences between Chum bution of any Pacific salmon. About and Chinook at Grover’s Creek, is their fifteen-hundred of the smaller salmon The Grover’s Creek Hatchery releases time of return each year. During the return to the hatchery each year. approximately 500-thousand Chinook months of September and October, the and 250-thousand Chum salmon into Grover’s Creek is a vital part of the Chinook salmon, commonly known as the wild each year. The differences in fisheries projects on the Port Madison King salmon, can be found jumping salmon species are more complex that Indian Reservation. However, the over one another, through the small most realize. “Some types of salmon release and returning numbers are sigstream opening to the hatchery lakes need lake water during their life cycle, nificantly smaller than those from the just off Miller Bay Road near Indiothers need streams and riverbeds. It’s Gorst complex in South Kitsap. The anola. Approximately two-thousand almost as if there is a salmon for every Chinook return annually. As October See “Salmon Return” on page 3.
Suquamish Celebrates a Year of Equality Tribal Member Heather Purser honors community for commitment to same-sex marriage rights by April Leigh
Just more than a year ago, in August of 2011, The Suquamish Tribal Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages within the Suquamish Tribal Membership. The change to Suquamish Tribal Policy started with a request by Tribal Member Heather Purser during General Council that same year. The decision to recognize same-sex marriage pushed both Purser and the Suquamish Tribe into the national spotlight. News stories about the change topped national headlines in the weeks after the decision. Purser was featured in Magazines and on Television for speaking up for the rights of gay couples. The Suquamish Tribe and Purser were also honored by both State and Federal officials for their efforts to promote equality in marriage. “I’m really proud of my family and my Tribe. There are many who don’t have the support I have,” said Purser. To show her appreciation for the support she has received from her community, Purser held an Honoring on October 5, 2012 at the House of Awakened Culture Suquamish News
Heather Purser presented the Suquamish Community with gifts during the October event.
“For me, this was one of the easiest decisions to make. For those of us on Tribal Council, it was a simple a matter of an ordinance change. People should be allowed to love who they want, regardless of gender,” said Tribal Council Member Jay Mills during the event.
in Suquamish, WA. Approximately 100 Suquamish Tribal and community members turned out for the event and were treated to dinner, presentations and a giveaway designed by Purser and her partner Rebecca Platter, with support from The Pride Foundation, The Potlatch Foundation and The Suquamish Tribe.
See “Honoring” page 2. 1
In This Issue
Community Calendar .......................... 2 Environment ......................................... 3 Education .............................................. 4 Wellness ................................................. 5 Government........................................... 6 Community Events .............................. 8 Sports & Rec ......................................... 9 Business ................................................ 12 Elders .................................................... 13 Community & Letters ........................ 14 Birthdays............................................... 15 Vol. 12, No. 11