Suquamish News
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A monthly publication of the Suquamish Tribe
Volume 14
...Bella Bella photos pg. 7
August 2014
N o. 8
Chief Kitsap Academy Earns Local Education Agency Status
Move puts Suquamish education program on par with school districts for state funding and resources
by Fabian Castilleja
On July 16, 2014, the Suquamish Tribe received this notification from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) that the Tribe was entered into the State’s database as the first Washington State tribe approved to become its own Local Education Agency (LEA), or school district. This designation means that the Tribal Education Department (TED) will be responsible for all aspects of operating Chief Kitsap Academy (CKA) and will receive State funding directly. Students will graduate with a CKA diploma and participate in CKA activities. We are working to establish a school sports program and extra-curricular activities in the coming school years. Chief Kitsap Academy will increase its enrollment from 37 students to approximately 60 students in grades 6-12 this coming school year. Staffing will be increased to meet the need of this growing student population and service require-
In previous years, CKA partnered with area high schools to offer diplomas to graduates including the 2014 graduating class pictured above. With the new LEA designation, the school is certified to offer their own diplomas.
admittance to post-secondary education. The Suquamish TED and CKA look forward to this new school designation and the opportunities it brings for Suquamish youth and community. We look forward to working with all our students in the
ments. The Suquamish TED will continue to operate Chief Kitsap Academy as an Early College High School. Its focus for students will remain on Suquamish Tribal Culture and Language, academic preparation for high school graduation, and
Journey to Bella Bella
Chairman Forsman recounts the 5-week voyage to the Heiltsuk Nation This summer, Chairman Leonard Forsman traveled on the canoe journey to Qatuwas Festival hosted by the Heiltsuk Nation at Bella Bella, British Columbia. The following story is his personal account of the journey.
Suquamish Name For New Washington State Ferry?
Share your ideas at upcoming Tribal Council meetings by Dennis Lewarch
Our Suquamish Canoe Family left Suquamish in two tribal canoes, the (Kal Kal-La-Hache) and (Siam-ah-Oaks) on June 18 accompanied by the Nisqually Tribe, who left from Suquamish as well. Port Gamble The pull to Port Gamble was divided into two days due to changes in the hosting schedule in Elwha. We laid over in Kingston. A strong tailwind allowed us to put up our sails. Both canoes made good time on our way north. On the way Host Protocol at Alert Bay, British Columbia during Tribal Journeys 2014. to Port Gamble we stopped at Point No a small presentation at the Jamestown office constructed on the hill overlooking Point to take a rest. We honored the an- Tribal Center during dinner. the field. The new office has a beautiful cestors recently disturbed during condesign and features beautiful native artstruction of a parking lot near the light- Port Angeles/Elwha work. The Songhees allowed us to use house. The Nisqually graciously offered We left Jamestown at Dungeness Spit the facility for showers and restrooms a honoring song to acknowledge the an- and bucked the tide all day. Both crews and also provided breakfast each morncient ones. We were welcomed ashore worked hard to make a fine landing at ing. The neighboring Esquimault Nation at Point Julia by Chairman Sullivan and Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles. hosted dinner and cultural presentations treated to a delicious clam bake and bar- Songhees in their big house as the Songhees big becue by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Both canoes departed from Hollywood house was under renovation. We offered people. A small group of us went to the Beach at 5 p.m. The Quinault also joined some traditional songs and dances in the Port Gamble’s House of Knowledge to the flotilla this day. The water was calm big house for the hosts. The Esquimault share some of our songs with the hosts. in the harbor when the canoes left the were generous as well providing 24-hour beach. As we proceeded north, the wa- security for our camp throughout our Port Townsend We left Port Gamble for Fort Flagler in ters became choppier and the fog rolled stay. late morning. There were fair seas for in. As we reached Ediz Hook, the wa- Paquachin most of the pull. We chose to go around ter became very rough and the skippers We left Songhees for a long pull to Marrowstone Island rather than the Port chose to place the canoes on the barge for Paquachin. The reserve at Tsayout, our Townsend Canal. We were hosted by the safety of the crew and the canoes. After a usual stop after Songhees, did not have the Jamestown S’Klallam as well as some of few hours, all canoes were being assisted resources to host the canoes. So, the local the local residents of Port Townsend at because of the wind and tide. After cross- leaders asked us to pull nearly 40 miles to ing through the rough waters, we put the the park. canoes back in the water for a shorter Paquachin. We again had fair winds and Jamestown pull into Songhees. Leaders of the Song- were able to sail again. Several canoes We left Fort Flagler around 7 a.m., pass- hees First Nation welcomed us ashore in joined the journey at Songhees, including Point Wilson in a respectful manner. their traditional language. ing Blue Heron, Lummi Youth, Squaxin This was a nice sunny day. Chairman Aland Grand Ronde. Sadly, the barge broke len welcomed us ashore at Jamestown. We set up camp in Songhees for a two down and needed to be towed to CoNisqually, the two Suquamish canoes, day encampment. The reserve looked dif- wichan Bay for repairs to its transmission. and Port Gamble made the pull. We made ferent because of the beautiful new band see “Chairman’s Report” page 7...
Suquamish News
coming year and appreciate the Suquamish Tribe and community’s continued support. For more information go to the Tribal website and select the Education Department from the dropdown menu or you may call us at 360-394-8597.
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What Suquamish name would you like to propose for the new Washington State ferry? The Washington State Transportation Commission has approved construction of a new Olympic Class 144-car ferry that will begin service in 2017, and will select a name in September 2014. The Suquamish Tribe will submit a proposal to name the new ferry. There already is a ferry named Kitsap on the Bremerton-Seattle route. However, possible names include Suquamish, for the true maritime people of Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound, or Challacum, for the famous Suquamish leader, entrepreneur, and statesman. Suquamish tribal members and staff will have opportunities to share their ideas at upcoming Cultural CoOp and Tribal Council meetings.
In This Issue News ................... 1 Community Calendar
................... 2
News & Events
................... 3
Education
................... 4
Museum ................... 5 Sports & Recreation
................... 8
Elders ................. 10 Health & Wellness
..................11
Business ..................12 Community & Notices
................. 14
Birthdays ..................15 Vol. 14, No. 8