PRSRT STD Canoe Journey: U.S. POSTAGE What a great PAID Silverdale, WA summer! Permit # 111 Pages 4 & 8 THE OFFICAL NEWSPAPER OF THE PORT GAMBLE S’Klallam TRIBE | WWW.PGST.NSN.US | 360-297-2646 | SEPTEMBER 2013 A blessing being asked by S'Klallam Elder Gene Jones, S’Klallam Princess Aletcia Ives holding the ceremonial Chinook salmon in a woven cedar basket as part of the blessing ceremony. A Return to Our Roots PGST Community Celebrates “Return of the Salmon” COMMUNITY News — On Saturday, August 10, 1974 decision that secured the rights of Tribes in the Port Gamble S’Klallam community wel- Washington State to their share of available fish. comed salmon back to the area with the Second Annual Return of the Salmon ceremony. After a blessing, S’Klallam royalty, accompanied by pullers, took the cedar basket by canoe out The day began with a fishing derby with the to the mouth of Port Gamble Bay, where it was 16 years and over award going to Ron Charles placed as a gift and thank you to the salmon allowing him to take home the $150 prize! Sec- who return to Before last the Bay and ond place went to Jim Streun. Tyler Chadwick year’s ceremony, won the 15 years and under category taking Hood Canal home the $50 first place prize! Second place every year. To Return of the went to Alex Moff, and following in third was finish off the day, Salmon hadn’t Garrett Sittingdog. attendees en- been celebrated joyed a salmon, by our Tribe in Setting up in the field by the beach at Point clam bake and Julia, tribal vendors came to sell the art, jewelry crab feast. more than 50 and more. years. This is the sec- At 12:30, the S’Klallam Singers kicked off the ond year the Return of the Salmon ceremony official ceremony. Joining them in song was has been held since it was brought back by the S’Klallam Princess Aletcia Ives who was hold- Natural Resources department and a small, ing the ceremonial Chinook salmon in a woven dedicated group of PGST elders, community cedar basket. members, and staff. Before last year’s ceremony, Return of the Salmon hadn’t been celebrated by Former Tribal Chairman Ron Charles welcomed our Tribe in more than 50 years. the crowd and talked about the importance of treaty rights and the Boldt decision, a landmark Thanks to everyone who made this event possible! PAGE 2 | SEPTEMBER 2013 | Port Gamble S’Klallam TRIBAL NEWS Kitsap Forest & Bay Project Port Gamble Supporting efforts to keep our interests clean S’Klallam Tribe 31912 Little Boston Road NE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER — For the past munity outdoor recreation. To be Kingston, WA 98346 several years, our Tribe has made the sure, while this Project clearly aligns Telephone: 360-297-2646 Fax: 360-297-7097 restoration and protection of Port with our goals, we did not offer our support easily—we are not willing Website: www.pgst.nsn.us Gamble Bay and the surrounding Email: [email protected] Hood Canal a top priority. This has to make big tradeoffs for minor suc- included working with the Washing- cesses. Tribal Council ton State Department of Ecology to • Jeromy Sullivan, Chairman As you may "Our Natural make known our Tribe’s historical • Chris Tom, Vice Chairman and cultural connection to the area recall, several Resources • Dawn Purser, Councilman as a cleanup plan for the Bay was in years ago, department has the works. Our Natural Resources our Tribe op- spearheaded • Lena Tunkara, Councilman department has spearheaded a num- posed a proj- a number of • Jamie Aikman, Councilman ber of projects and studies aimed at ect called the projects and • Kyle Carpenter, Councilman making sure the Bay is productive for North Kitsap studies aimed generations to come. We’ve hosted Legacy Part- at making sure Entity Directors • Betty Decoteau, CFO dignitaries and legislators to help nership. This the Bay proposed them better understand the impor- is productive • Dallas DeGuire, Executive Director development of Administration tance of treaty fishing rights to our for generations culture and livelihoods. We’ve also would have • Kelly Sullivan, Executive Director to come" supported projects that are collabo- built several of Tribal Services rations with other groups and com- hundred homes in and around Port • Noel Higa, Director, Port Gamble munities, such as the Kitsap Forest & Gamble. While this proposal also Development Authority Bay Project. included the possibility of open space • Chris Placentia, Housing Director for conservation or recreation, the • Leo Culloo, General Manager, Our Tribe was an early supporter of development was clustered around The Point Casino the Bay, arguably the most environ- the Kitsap Forest & Bay Project. We • Linda Helm, Director, Tribal are a principal partner along with mentally sensitive of all Pope’s lands. Gaming Agency While this idea wasn’t the best ap- Kitsap County and the Suquamish • Laurie Mattson, PGS Foundation Tribe. Since its kick off in October proach, its overall concept became Executive Director 2011, land conservation groups For- the seed for the Kitsap Forest & Bay terra and the Great Peninsula Con- Project. PGST Vision Statement servancy have been working to find Our vision is to achieve the full potential of grants and other sources of funding I’m proud of the work that’s been the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal sovereign to be able to conserve almost 7,000 done on the Kitsap Forest & Bay nation to be self-sufficient, proud, strong, acres of forestland and 1.8 miles of Project. What once seemed like a healthy, educated and respected. Bay shoreline. near impossible and all-too-compli- cated endeavor has now been able to PGST Mission Statement The mission of the Port Gamble S’Klallam At their annual fundraising breakfast show progress that benefits not only Tribe is to exercise sovereignty and ensure late this past spring, Forterra, on be- our Tribe and our future, but the sur- self-determination and self-sufficiency half of the Project and its principals, rounding community as well. Truth through visionary leadership. We will announced a big win: they signed a be told, this Project might not have ensure the health, welfare and economic purchase agreement with landowner gotten as far as it has without the success of a vibrant community through Pope Resources for 535 acres of land support of our community partners, education, economic development, preservation and protection of the rich and 1.5 miles of shoreline. This specifically those that are a part of the Kitsap Forest & Bay Coalition. culture, traditions, language, homelands news is particularly exciting because and natural resources of our Tribe. this block of land represents a top These individuals and the groups priority for our Tribe as it relates to they represent have worked tirelessly the acquisition and conservation of to promote the Project and educate the Pope Resources lands. the community as to why preserving this land is so vital to this area’s envi- Endeavors like the Kitsap Forest & ronmental health, including for Port Bay Project with its goal of conserv- Gamble Bay. ing Port Gamble Bay’s shoreline and upland forests means a brighter fu- The Kitsap Forest & Bay Project has ture for the Bay. This is one of the certainly come a long way, but there’s main reason we have supported this more work to be done! I look for- Project from the beginning—it does ward to being able to celebrate fur- an excellent job of balancing envi- ther progress with you in the future. ronmental stewardship with com- Port Gamble S’Klallam TRIBAL NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2013 | PAGE 3 Drinking For An Unborn Baby September 9th is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day TRIBAL BUsiness — “A mother rouses from women are made aware sleep, cradles her newborn infant and yawns. She of the negative impact on then gets up and carries the baby, all soft and not the fetus, 80% will stop quite ready to wail for food, into the kitchen. She drinking. The 20% who reaches for a bottle, but it isn’t a baby bottle. It’s don’t stop, do not want glass. It has a screw-top. It’s 80 proof. The mother to harm their unborn opens the bottle, smells it and takes a drink. child, but may need treat- Then she pours the liquid, amber and strong and ment and support to stop straight-up, into her baby’s nursing bottle. She drinking. Many of these puts it to her baby’s lips, forces the nipple into her women are influenced by infant’s mouth and smiles as the baby drinks. their partners. Men need This nightmare scenario might as well be taking to support women to have place every time a pregnant woman drinks alco- sober pregnancies. hol. For the growing baby inside the womb, every but the truth is that drink- drink the mother takes is a drink her baby takes, ing any amount of alcohol too, and for that baby inside the womb, nothing during pregnancy can will protect her from the harmful effects of the cause fetal alcohol spec- alcohol her mother drinks. There is no filter, no trum disorders (FASD). barrier. There is no, No.” (Eisa Nefertari Ulen, percent preventable. September 05, 2011, Indian Country Today There is still controversy around the impact of Media Network). father’s drinking on the unborn child. In animal Rates of FASD are higher in Indian Country than studies, the father’s use of alcohol can reduce the rest of the population in the US, however, fertility, and can cause physical malformations, tribes lead the way in prevention and intervention How did we get here? How did we get to programs, curricula and services for affected indi- a place where we bring damaged children and health problems in the offspring.