JAN/2022 VOL. 56 No. 1
Candidate Objectives and Goals Letters | PAGE 04
CONTENTS Candidates Objectives and Goals Letters ...................................................................................................... 4 2022 Provisional Adoptees .............................................................................................................................. 8 Swinomish COVID-19 Helpline: (360) 588-2771/Tribal Members: COVID-19 Emergency Economic... ... 9 Avenue A - Thank You For Your Patience ..................................................................................................... 10 January Birthdays ........................................................................................................................................... 11
editor’s NOTE This pandemic storm continues. We have been clinging
February 12, 2022, with Polls open from 8a.m-1p.m. The
to the safety of our health since the day this all began.
Polling Location is to be determined with more details to
Everyone is struggling at being humans in isolation.
come.
After two long pandemic years, the loss of interest in COVID-19 is ever so clear. Here’s the thing, we’re still in it! We cannot let up now! Going back to the emergency mode basics isn’t a bad idea. Remember to properly mask up; avoid large crowds of people in public places; do not let other people in your home who do not live there; stay home when you are feeling unwell. This month’s publication is designated as the Election Issue. The General Election will be held on Saturday, 2
The unforeseeable has given our tribal leadership and staff many obstacles to consider when seeking to host an In-Person General Council meeting. Please watch for the announcement regarding the General Council. goliahlitza Caroline Edwards
WILLS
AND
ESTATE PLANNING
Wills and Estate Planning for Swinomish Tribal members and spouses You SHOULD have a will and estate plan if: 1. You have or may inherit tribal trust property or any real property.
SWINOMISH GENERAL ELECTION Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022 Time: 8 a.m-1 p.m Polling location is to be determined. Please watch for notifications.
2. You have children or dependents. 3. You want to have control over the distribution of your property.
This is a free service that the Swinomish Indian Senate has arranged for Swinomish Tribal members Contact attorney Kate Jones to schedule an appointment: (206) 370-1034 or katejoneslaw@gmail.com
SWINOMISH GENERAL COUNCIL More details to come. Please watch for notifications.
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Candidate Objectives and Goals Letters
Senate Seat 6
Steve Edwards
To the members of the Swinomish Tribe, my name is Steve Edwards. I am running for Senate Seat 6 in 2022. I have had the opportunity to serve my community for 18 years on the Senate, two of those years as a Chairman. It has been an honor to serve my people in this leadership role because what we do for our people and future generations is important to our community. Over the years, I have learned a lot from the past leadership and staff who I enjoyed working with. We have gone through some tough times and good times, but I feel we have made great accomplishments during those 18 years of service. I would like to say the two years as Chairman has had many challenges during this pandemic because it has changed our lives forever. As we continue to face the unknowns of our future, we will continue to work with health officials as well leadership to make sure there will be plans in place as we cannot afford to get lost in the mix. It has been sad to see the sacrifices we have had to make as Native people, not being able to gather as a community during such things as cultural events, especially funerals. I don’t like the fact that our elders have been isolated during these times and our kids have had to go through remote learning. We must work on realistic goals for our community regardless if it’s housing, education, or services. It is all important and we all must work as one unit as Senators to accomplish our needs as a community, and that means more meetings as leadership and as well as with the community for guidance as needed. Together we can make a difference in our way of life as the Swinomish Tribal Community. We must continue with our dreams as past leaders have passed on to us and maintain a safe and healthy community.
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Senate Seat 6
Katherine Paul txel gwelapu, Gelapu d?iiSed, dsyayae? (To all of you, all of you are my beloved people, my relations) My name is Katherine Paul (See-muth and Kuppikutak) and I am running for Senate Seat 6 this year. I grew up here in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. My parents are Kevin and Pat Paul, my grandparents are Isabella Yakanak and Alexander Paul Sr., my great grandparents are Elizabeth Scott Sampson and George Alexander. My husband is Camas Logue and I am stepmom to Finn and Oliver, all from the Klamath Tribes. Thank you for taking the time to read my statement of goals and objectives. First and foremost, I believe that every community member’s voice deserves to be heard and in my journey in running for Senate, I would like to learn from all the families about what is important to you with our community. I am committed to open communication and relationship building amongst our people. I am passionate about protecting Mother Earth, our right to housing and living on our homelands, and the right to equal opportunities for us in the workforce and within our education. I believe that our youth and elders need to be uplifted and that we must put every effort into fighting for our sovereign rights as Indigenous people as we continue to express ourselves with our culture, our language, and our connection to place. Our health and wellness are important to me as we journey through this pandemic. I know that there are many issues that each family within our community cares about and my goal as a community on a local, regional, and national level. I believe in yehaW – in going forward as a community with our common language. If elected to Senate, communicating on a regular basis with community members would be an objective of mine to help us reach the goal of working together as a community.
hawatubS Velep (thank you folks) 5
me to do the spiritual, cultural, and traditional work of my people. I am grateful today that we have the medicine of
Senate Seat 7
Aurelia Bailey
our songs and dances. We all have been waiting for the time we can gather together again to practice our ways of healing. We have lost many great people to COVID-19 and other illnesses. I continue to pray for these families who still need closure. It is up to us as leaders to guide
My dear Swinomish people, I am currently seeking your support for Swinomish Senate Seat #7. I am always committed to being here for my people. During this pandemic we have seen some real hardships and despair within our community. We have all been through some things that we could have never imagined.
our people through these dark days. I was once asked by an elder, “Do you have the heart to hear your people?” He said, “Some people listen, but they can’t hear.” This teaching has stayed with me and has taught me that leadership is the power of our people. Those who grew up here know the turmoil that our folks have faced and are still facing. We must always ensure that the basic needs of our people come first.
In the beginning of this pandemic, Tracy James, Angie
Our leadership should never be called a dictatorship, it
Ball, and I were given the opportunity to develop an
should never be about getting a title, and most of all, it
essential team of workers to provide the basic needs to
should never divide our families. If we are here with the
Swinomish. At that moment we didn’t even think about
best intentions of our people, we need to always work
the real dangers, all we knew was that we had to take
together. If my people feel that I am ready to take on this
care of our people. All of our essential worker are real
level of leadership, I would be honored to represent you. I
heroes to me, they put their lives on the line to keep all
promise to do my best and to use my voice to ensure that
our folks safe. This is the kind of compassion and love
your expectations are heard.
that our ancestors had. Our Swinomish people are always going to do whatever we can to overcome any kind of devastations in our community. The elders gave us our traditional resources to help us get through anything;
Qw tee sa luq always taught us to do everything with a good heart, good mind, and good feelings, Hysheqwalawen. Loving, caring, and sharing!
now it is time for us to start focusing on the healing of
I raise my hands to my Swinomish people with love,
our people.
honor, and respect.
The compassion I have for my people has been instilled
Qws tan ya
in me since I was a small girl. My grandparents raised
Aurelia G. Bailey
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construction industry. Now is the perfect time. Protect our treaty rights. We need to have a loud, clear,
Senate Seat 7
Joe Williams
knowledgeable voice, someone who knows the fisheries. The vessel traffic industry is growing so much that fishing in our U&A may become hazardous to our own safety when we are out there. I know this because I am your representative on the “Harbor Safety Committee” and the
Enough empty promises. I have solid plans of action.
“Oil Transportation Safety Committee.” I don’t get paid to
Housing. Jobs with livable wages. Protect our treaty
sit on these committees. I do it because I care. And I will
rights. Let’s not forget about the drug addiction
fight to make our voice heard loud and clear. We must
epidemic.
protect our way of life and our usual and accustomed
Swinomish has its own economy right here. Let’s make
areas now and for our next seven generations.
it work for everyone in our community, and not just a few
Those of you that know me, know that I have dedicated
people.
my life to those still struggling with drug addiction. We
So many young people have come to me with housing issues. You grew up in this community, this is your home.
lose way too many of our people to this struggle. I will never lose sight of this ongoing issue.
You deserve an affordable place to live, here. I have solid
I am sick of hearing empty campaign promises. We need
plans to make that happen. The didgʷálič Wellness
vision, solid plans, and ACTION. With the knowledge I
Center generates income that can be used to support
have picked up as a Swinomish Senator, I will be able to
health programs. A housing crisis is a health crisis. Let’s
hit the ground running. I am willing to be your voice. I will
use didgʷálič funds for housing.
listen to our community members with respect. Let us
We need job opportunities for our community members with a livable wage, not minimum wage. I have put my
honor the vision of our ancestors and take care of each other.
own name on the line to get community members hired into good jobs in construction because I care about the people of this community. We will work together, to lift each other up. If elected, I plan to push for the creation of a Swinomish-owned union construction company with well-paying jobs for our community members. The skills that we learn in the fishing industry transfer to the 7
2022 PROVISIONAL ADOPTEES Nani Marie Luna Grandmother
Jesse O. Edwards
Laurence K. Luna
Nakiya M. Edwards
Grandfather
Quintina Bowen
Nani Marie Luna
Imani Jane Espinoza Jobey Williams
Sophia Ruiz
Oscar Espinoza II
Brenda E. Williams
Kiana C. Williams
Oscar Espinoza III
Imani Jane Espinoza
Adan Raydel Pantoja Jr. Abel Pantoja
Felicitas Hernandez
Adan Pantoja
Earl James Jr.
Theresa A. Jimmy
Adan Raydel Pantoja Jr. Provisional Member Family Tree
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Josephine Jimmy
S W I N O M I S H COVID-19 HELPLINE: (360) 588-2771 Call the helpline to report positive home tests;
request
medical
advice
about
COVID-19 infection, symptoms management, quarantine, and isolation; and for assistance with known or potential contacts.
TRIBAL MEMBERS: COVID-19 EMERGENCY ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE From economic hardship to food and housing insecurity to deprivation of our cultural and spiritual ways, the Senate
The helpline is a message center only.
recognizes that our people continue to suffer from the impacts
Requests for assistance will be answered
of the coronavirus pandemic and has approved another round
within three hours. Messages left after 5
of emergency economic assistance to all eligible Swinomish
p.m. will be answered the following day. The
members.
line is secure and messages are reviewed by designated clinical staff only. Due to the high volume of cases in our community, the Swinomish Public Health team is focused on the needs of those who
Through the COVID-19 emergency funding allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Tribe is able to provide $1700 to each of its enrolled members (children included) to help offset expenses amidst the COVID-19 public health emergency.
test positive. If you test positive for COVID-19,
Tribal members who qualified for assistance in 2021 are pre-
please notify all of your contacts quickly. Call
qualified. For those who did not receive assistance funds in
the COVID-19 helpline if you need assistance
2021, applications will be available.
with this process.
Checks will be mailed to households on January 26. Whether or
SWINOMISH COVID-19 HELPLINE:
not there is a drive-thru check distribution depends on COVID-19
(360) 588-2771.
case numbers in our community. Because ARPA funds were issued with stipulations on how they can be used and with limits as to how much can be distributed to individuals, the Senate does not anticipate being able to authorize any further direct cash assistance to membership unless Congress approves additional funding or cash assistance to individuals. 9
AVENUE A – THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE KERI CLEARY, SWINOMISH PLANNING DEPARTMENT As many of you are likely aware, the Swinomish Tribe
the site. They provided hot drinks and MANY meals and
has been working on Avenue A since the spring of 2021.
snacks for the various crews. They haven’t complained
This joint project between the Planning Department and
about parking away from their homes and have been
Utility Authority includes the replacement of old sewer
extremely tolerant of having to wait for machines to
lines and defective storm water drainage as well as
clear the roadway so they could access their homes.
roadway repavement.
The on-site crew and company owners have repeatedly
There were many unanticipated delays during the course of the project. This includes discovery and mitigation of contaminated soil under the roadbed at two locations, broken water supply lines, supply shortages and shipping delays of construction materials, and severe weather events. A relatively simple project like this should take a
let Swinomish staff know how grateful and appreciative they are of these simple actions and overall positive behavior of everyone being impacted by the work. As a sign of appreciation, these individuals recently took it upon themselves to give Avenue A homeowners cards and gift certificates.
few months – but it’s been almost a year! While people in
When I told Chairman Edwards about this, he was deeply
other communities may complain about the disruptions
touched and suggested that I let everyone else know
and behave rudely towards workers, this is not how our
about these small acts of kindness and tolerance. I am
community reacted.
very blessed to work in such an amazing community and
In fact, residents who live on Avenue A have been extremely kind with contractors and staff working on
Elder Christmas Luncheon
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with such compassionate co-workers and contractors. Thank you!
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I AM SWINOMISH. I WILL GRADUATE.
Kelly Cayou-Lockrem, Kim Williams and Joey Williams attend the Net Mending Workshop last month.
