SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBE 2019 We Envision A culturally and economically strong community of self-governing, resilient people united by shared values and traditions. Front Cover Art: Pulling Together By Malynn Foster Tribal Chairman Arnold Cooper It has been an honor to serve as your Tribal Chairman, and I have enjoyed seeing our Tribe grow and pave the path for our future leaders. I am proud of the work that's been done to improve the lives of tribal members, help our community and neighbors, and, most importantly, protect our environment and way of life. Last spring Tribal Council and Mason County reached an agreement on water and fish protection. This important agreement is a big step towards achieving sustainable development within Mason County while protecting the tribal right to sufficient stream flows for salmon. Both Mason County and Squaxin Island Tribe worked hard to come up with this agreement that is a significant show of mutual respect between local governments. Another important project, that was a long time in the works, was the completion of the cremation garden, within Squaxin Island Sacred Grounds. This was the result of a lot of planning and collaboration between Cultural Resources, Natural Resources, Executive Services and Salish Cliffs staff. I really enjoyed seeing our departments and entities work together to create something beautiful for our members. The much-anticipated fitness center opened in April! This was an exciting moment for the community. It was a collaborative project that stemmed from their ideas and wants. The center is 2,800 square-foot addition to the pool and has proven to be a huge asset - it is always busy!! A group of dedicated tribal and community members formed a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This is a team of community volunteers who, with the help of Fire District #4, train for disaster preparedness and hazards that may affect our area. They train in fire safety, light search & rescue, and disaster medical operations. I enjoy seeing our community take initiative to help our own people prepare for and respond to a disaster. This team also learned about our Incident Command System managed by John Taylor. These important skills might save a life some day. These are just a few highlights of the past year, indicating once again, how Squaxin Island works together to create a better future for our people. This report shows the hard work that has been done to support your vision for the future. Please take a look, and if you have any questions, my door is always open. Our Mission The people now known as the Squaxin Island Tribe are committed to the honoring of Mother Earth, the resurgence of our traditional ways, and the respect and protection of all people, not only those who are living, but also those who have gone before and who are yet to be born. We are a diverse and proud people. Our unity as a tribe goes beyond geography. Once we were many communities with a similar language. Following our confinement on the island, we once again dispersed. We are a returning people, returning to our land, returning to our culture. Our long memories, our ingenious adaptiveness, and our confidence in knowing who we are have led to our continuing existence. Our tribal family seeks to maintain the pride, honor, and dignity that is our traditional way. Through art, singing, ceremonies, fishing, vocations, and traditional medicine, we celebrate the individual abilities and talents which have made us the people we are today. It is our intent that our lives and our work be meaningful and contribute to the well-being of the entire tribe. We believe this will bring about a resurgence of our culture. Our greatest natural resource is our elders. They are our history. Another valued resource is our children; they are our future. It is the privilege and the responsibility of the young adults to see to it that the Elders and children are honored and nurtured. We believe the Great Spirit is with us in everything we do, and to maintain our relationship to Mother Earth and to achieve physical, mental, and spiritual health, we will always need to remember who we are and why we are here. Tribal Administrator Marvin Campbell Cultural Resources Pulling together for our ancestors During the past year the CRD welcomed a new archaeologist and continued to respond to projects on & off reservation with numerous agencies in our traditional area. In addition, we provided the Tribe’s cultural resources protection on tribal lands. The National Park Service THPO grant is reoccurring each year, but funding does not cover the cost for our archaeologist or the deliverables listed below. Surveys Cultural Resource Survey: SQ 19-04-15-MHGWRF Mason County, CRD and Wessen & Associates Archaeological Services. This was a multi-agency project where CRD was able to fund professional services and file an archaeological site with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Cultural Resources Survey Report: SQ 19-08-15-SDMHRF Tribal Property. Recorded. No cultural resources were found. Cultural Resources Survey Report: SQ 19-09-19-SDRFMH Tribal Property. Cultural resources were recorded within survey area and permanently filed in CRD. Cultural Resources Survey: SQ 19-09-27-SDRFMH Tribal Property. Cultural resources were recorded within survey area and permanently filed in CRD. Monitoring or Field Review Field review - One CR review in mountains Tribal - Four CR reviews on land development Tribal - One CR review on housing development Interviews Three interviews to gather historical knowledge and information Consultation Legal - Codes, anthropology/historical, or agency projects: 35 DAHP/ Human remains: 4 DNR – TFW: 31 USACE and WDFW for Tumwater Falls Hatchery: 5 Mason County: 2 Photo: Mary Skalapin DIRECTOR: Rhonda Foster Agency Responses Number of responses: 699 approximately MISSION (256 County, 188 Federal, 180 State, and 75 City) To preserve, protect and promote No historic properties affected: 622 tribal culture and heritage which No adverse effect: 4 are invaluable, irreplaceable and Adverse effect: 1 endangered tribal resources; No effect: 0 Other federal consultations: 51 To manage ancient and contemporary Recommended cultural resource investigations: 21 cultural use sites and resources that are fundamental in the recognition Culture of traditional life ways, values and Cultural activities, including ceremonies: 41 histories of the Tribe; Cedar roses: 13 Celebration of life: 8 To protect, preserve and manage these Other: 5 resources through the use of policy, traditional practices, statutory Sacred Ground (Cemetery) Management requirements and prohibitions, Plot request: 5 home visits regulations and training Maintenance: 26 Headstones: 4 Creating cremation garden: 100+ hours Tribal Requests: Four northwest tribes requesting CR consultation and/or training Tumwater Falls - Tribal CR history and training Shaker Church - Power Point presentation NW Anthropology Conference Puyallup - Medicine Creek presentation Federal Lands/Quinault - CR training NRCS - CR training at CRD Tribal Council Oath of Office is administered by Cultural Resources. Pictured: Vince Henry, Sr., Council member #3 Family Services Pulling together for our tribal family Fiscal Year 2019 brought many changes, in both leadership and program management. Family Services staff adjusted well when an interim director was assigned to them in January and Charlene Abrahamson was hired as the new director in May. Staff attended a two-day training in June to design the new Operational Strategic Plan for Family Services. This was a first for the department, and we are excited to further develop plans and procedures to better serve our community. Family Services managed and maintained 29 federal and/or state grants, along with tribal accounts. The department was awarded the Community Healing Project from the Department of Justice in February, 2019. ICW staffed 375 cases, reunited four families, and placed eight families in guardianship. ICW also attended the annual National Indian Child Welfare Association conference in April. Family Services collaborated with the Washington Corrections Center (WCC) and their Native Brothers program. Inmates made wooden gift boxes and filled them with handmade crafts for foster families and those who receive support from ICW. This program was highly successful, not only for the foster families, but also the inmates at WCC. The domestic violence program assisted with client referrals and support services, and the weekly women’s groups were well attended. Program staff also worked on implementing a Transitional Housing Policy to help better serve clients. Vocational Rehabilitation served 34 clients in FY19. The Job Club was well attended with five graduating clients. Three of those five clients were able to obtain meaningful employment. Photo: Annie Fredericks DIRECTOR: Charlene Abrahamson Gift cards were handed out in November and December to help with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals – a total of 941 gift cards were distributed to Elders and tribal members. TANF’s Building Strong Families Through Culture class had 2,446 attendees in FY19. This class was held weekly, along with weekly Lushootseed language classes. TANF’s High School 21+ program had 10 graduates. Seventy-four food vouchers were distributed, and the childcare program served 15 families. The food bank was open all day, every Friday, and was well utilized. Family Services staff assisted with funerals and the food bank and participated in the