The Suquamish Tribe welcomes the many visitors arriving to our ancestral lands in Seattle, part of our traditional homeland that stretches across much of the Puget Sound.   

As fans from around the world gather here this summer for the FIFA World Cup and other celebrations, we invite you to take a moment to recognize the deeper history of this place and the Native people who have called it home since time immemorial. Long before Seattle became a modern city, these shores, waterways and forests were part of the living homeland of the Suquamish people.   

Today, the Suquamish Tribe remains deeply connected to Seattle through our history, culture, treaty rights, businesses, partnerships, and the many tribal members who live and work throughout the region.   

Whether you are here for a match, a vacation, a ferry ride across the Sound or simply to explore the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, we welcome you warmly and hope your time here leaves you with a deeper understanding of the people and traditions that continue to shape this place.  

Chief Seattle  
Standing beside his father, a young Suquamish boy who would become known as Chief Seattle, witnessed the arrival of the first European explorers into Salish Sea.   

Over the years, Chief Seattle became known for his leadership – both as a cunning warrior and a wise diplomat. His powerful 1854 speech, delivered near Pioneer Square, made headlines around the world sharing voice and values of the Suquamish Tribe.   

A year later, he led tribal delegations signing the Treaty of Point Elliott. Town leaders were already calling the town (that was becoming a city) “Seattle” in his honor, and would formally adopt the name when the city government formed in 1869.   

Seattle is buried in Suquamish on a hill overlooking the Salish Sea and across to the city that bears his name. Every third weekend in August, the Suquamish people honor his legacy as part of the Chief Seattle Days celebration, which is open to the public.  

Treaty of Point Elliot
Signed in 1855, the treaty created the Port Madison Reservation for the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes, while ceding the land that is now Seattle and other vast areas of the Puget Sound region. The treaty affirmed Suquamish sovereignty as well as the right to hunt, fish, and gather in “usual and accustomed” areas, among other guarantees.  

Dzidzilalich  
In consultation with the Suquamish Tribal Council, the city of Seattle paid homage to the Native history of the Elliot Bay waterfront by adding Dzidzilalich as the honorary name of the new thoroughfare that’s part of the massive downtown waterfront redesign. Dzidzilalich means “little crossing-over place” in Lushootseed, the mother tongue of Suquamish and several other Coast Salish tribes.  

ʔulułali  
You can learn more about Suquamish history at ʔulułali, or “place of traveling by water” in Lushootseed. The Suquamish plaza that is part of Colman Dock, welcomes visitors with six interpretive boards throughout the ferry terminal.  

Colman Dock 
Look up! Suquamish Cultural Resources Director Kate Ahvakana led a team of Suquamish artists to create the three racing canoes suspended above the Colman Dock passenger terminal.  

On the Boat  
If you’re traveling by ferry to Bainbridge Island, keep an eye out for Tony Adams, a former Suquamish geoduck diver who now leads car deck operations during crossings for Washington State Ferries.  

On the field  
Because the World Cup games are being held on traditional Suquamish territory, Suquamish tribal police officers will be working alongside Seattle police providing security on the fi eld during all six matches in Seattle.  

Seattle Stadium 
For the World Cup, Lumen Field — the home of the Seattle Sounders and Super Bowl Champions Seahawks — has been rebranded Seattle Stadium. Suquamish tribal artist Danielle Morsettte was one of the lead designers for the Sounders’ Salish Sea kit uniform jerseys. Look for Morsette in official videos welcoming visitors to the World Cup games.  

University of Washington  
Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman is also the Chairman of the University of Washington’s Board of Regents. Forsman is also President of the Affi liated Tribes of the Northwest Indians and a Vice-President for the National Congress of American Indians. In addition to leadership roles in several state, regional, and national committees and organizations, he’s on the board of the Friends of Waterfront Park, where he helped guide the integration of Salish art and culture into Seattle’s new centerpiece Waterfront Park. Nigel Lawrence, a Suquamish Canoe Family skipper and former Tribal Council member, teaches classes on tribal history and modern tribal government and culture for UW, as well as Western Washington University.  

Burke Museum  
Suquamish Elder Betty Pasco co-curated the Northwest Native Art exhibit at the Burke. Several of Pasco’s works are also featured throughout the museum. A variety of Suquamish voices and artwork are featured in the Burke’s Culture is Living gallery as well.  

Basket weave crosswalk  
Suquamish tribal artists Peg Deam and Lori Olan created the basket weave crosswalk design located along Pine St. between 4th and 5th Ave.  

Seattle Art Museum  
Suquamish Tribal Elder Ed Carriere learned the art of basket making from his great-grandmother Julia Jacob, who grew up in Chief Seattle’s Old Man House. He is also a gifted carver and canoe builder and is the author of two books on traditional crafting and culture. Carriere’s works are showcased at the Seattle Art Museum, among a wide variety of other history and cultural centers. He continues to lecture and offers workshops in Seattle and across the region.  

Waterfront Park  
“When Chief Seattle gave his speech he talked about all this land being sacred to the people,” said Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman during opening ceremonies for the new 20-acre park last year. “So when we come down to the water here, remember that – we all have a responsibility to preserve these waters, this land, this area for future generations.”  

Song & Dance  
Suquamish Song & Dance helped bless Waterfront Park during grand opening ceremonies. The traditional singing, drumming, and dance group serve as official cultural ambassadors for the tribe at dozens of events in Seattle and across the region throughout the year.  

Longhouse Frame  
Tyleeander Purser helped install the three-block longhouse frame modeled after Chief Seattle’s massive 800-foot-long Old Man House that once stretched along the shores of Suquamish.  

Father, Mother, and Son  
As you walk along the Seattle Waterfront, pause for a moment to look into the eyes of Sholeesta, holding her infant son, the future Chief Seattle. Created by Suquamish master carver Randi Purser, whose work graces galleries throughout the region, the cedar carving is called Looking at all our Tomorrows.   

On Bainbridge Island, Chief Seattle’s father Schweabe looks back across the water to wife and son from a 14-foot cedar pole companion carving by Purser. The two posts together, she says, “represent a young family looking to a future of change always with grace and dignity.”   

Salmon Homecoming   

Every year as salmon return to spawn, Suquamish Tribe welcomes Salish Sea canoe families ashore for the annual Salmon Homecoming festival, which also features Native artists and a powwow.  

Suquamish tribal community youth ages 10-18 cast 52 ballots May 27 to select four new members to the Suquamish Youth Council during elections held at the Family & Friends Center.   

Joseph Holmes Jr. was elected vice chair, Malia Carper will serve as secretary, Jurnee Fryberg was elected female representative, and Teylor Ives will serve as historian.   

The newly elected officers join returning Youth Council members Chairwoman Talynn Marquez, Treasurer Ethan Alexander, and Male Representative Kenai Ledesma.   

Family & Friends Center Director Barb Santos reminded dozens of youth and family members who gathered for the election and pizza party that Youth Council continues to play an important role in helping young people develop leadership skills to represent the Suquamish Tribe both locally and across Indian Country.   

“It’s a very good position to have because our Tribal Council does request the presence of our youth,” Santos said. “Th ere is public speaking, and we represent at UNITY conference each year. It’s good to have fun, but you’re representing pretty much all the time.”   

Santos said Youth Council members are expected to travel, participate in community events and carry themselves professionally while representing the tribe and fellow youth.   

Holmes said he hopes to use his new role to create more opportunities for youth and families to connect.   

“The reason why I want to run for youth council is to be a respected role model and to create many connections throughout the various gatherings that are provided long term,” Holmes said in his election day speech. “One way I could give back to the community is hosting fun activities for families to enjoy.”   

Carper said communication and inclusion are important priorities for her as secretary.   

“As a youth council member, I would involve myself and others in the culture by continuing to talk and communicate with them,” Carper said.   

Fryberg delivered one of the evening’s most personal speeches, speaking openly about developing self-confidence and helping other young people feel welcome at cultural gatherings.   

“I talked myself out of it every year before,” Fryberg said, referring to running for Youth Council. “I worried I wasn’t enough to be voted for or wouldn’t be good at it. I’m learning to change my negative self-talk and I hope to inspire and support other youth to take care of their mental health so they won’t miss out on opportunities.”   

Fryberg also spoke about creating safer and more welcoming environments for youth participating in cultural events. “I hope to be a friendly face when someone comes to a cultural gathering or needs comfort,” Fryberg said. “We all deserve to have those experiences and learn from them.”   

Ives said she hopes to use the historian role to encourage more youth involvement while also caring for the community and environment.   

“I’d like to represent Suquamish in a good way, have a positive impact and create more opportunities for youth engagement and build a stronger community,” Ives said.   

Youth Council elections also highlighted the long-term leadership development role the program plays within the tribe.   

Vincent Chargualaf, a five-term former Youth Council member who now works managing the activities for Family & Friends Center, described the council as part of a larger “regenerative process” of mentoring future leaders.   

“The youth that we’re teaching right now, we’re hoping that one day they will take the roles that we have now,” Chargualaf said. “Back when I was a Youth Council member, that was me as a seedling in the regenerative process. Now I get to help cultivate these younger seeds.”   

Chargualaf said the program gives youth opportunities to build leadership, communication, and organizational skills while learning how to work collaboratively.   

“They get leadership opportunities, networking opportunities and social emotional learning,” Chargualaf said. “Youth Council helps build a village by allowing youth to listen to their peers, whether they agree or disagree, and formulate group opinions based on those facts.”   

Santos encouraged all youth who participated in the election process to continue staying involved in tribal activities and future leadership opportunities.   

“I congratulate all of you for having the courage to run for youth council and standing up here,” Santos said. 

As Suquamish Police Chief Mark Williams stood near a large screen inside the department’s conference room, five tribal members in the Suquamish Police Advisory Committee leaned forward in silence, watching body camera footage from a recent domestic violence call.   

The room was quiet except for the voices coming from the video.   

The committee members watched carefully as officers responded to a tense situation of alleged late-night domestic violence, eventually wrestling a suspect to the floor and making an arrest. It’s the kind of police work that most community members never see firsthand.   

The Suquamish Police Advisory Committee is one of the newest boards and committees appointed by Suquamish Tribal Council. Currently the committee includes Chair Brittany Dumford, Ah-nika-leesh Chiquiti, Kayla George-Purser, and JoAnn Joe, along with Tribal Council Liaisons Josh Bagley and Andrew George.   

“Historically, there wasn’t a great relationship between tribal members and our police force,” Bagley said. “It’s a lot better now, and I think that’s why we have this committee – to improve that relationship and continue to make it better.”   

Bagley said the advisory board provides accountability while also helping police and community members better understand each other.   

“I think we also need it just so we have a healthy check on our police,” Bagley said. “Just with all the stuff that goes on with cops in general these days, I think it’s good to have tribal members work with the chief and make sure our cops are doing the right things, and de-escalating the way tribal members want them to whenever possible, and – when necessary – arresting people in the right way.”   

The group meets monthly at the Suquamish Police Department and serves in an advisory and oversight role focused on public safety, police practices, and communication between the department and tribal members.   

Some of the committee’s most important discussions happen while reviewing use-of-force incidents. Williams said the process has helped strengthen trust between the community and the department.   

For Williams, that transparency is exactly why the committee exists.   

“It boils down to the police department works for the people,” said Williams. “So, the people need a voice in their police department and eyes on the work we do.”   

In addition to giving committee members a behind-the-scenes look at police work, the meetings also provide a chance to review plans SPD is working on.   

During the recent meeting, for example, Williams briefed the committee on several department initiatives and updates, including:   

•  New K9s: The department is seeking funding for a narcotics detection dog and is also moving forward with an emotional support dog that would spend time interacting with community members.  
•  Officer training: The department is reevaluating where officers attend the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, moving forward with plans to send them instead to one of two federal academies. Suquamish Police Advisory Committee helps rebuild bridges between Police Department and tribal community  
•  Traffic investigations: Marine Division Officer Simeon Barker is receiving advanced collision investigation training through the Kitsap Integrated Traffic Task Force to help the department handle serious injury and fatal crashes.  
•  Recruitment and staffing: Williams told the committee the department is expected to be fully staffed for the first time in years.  

Unlike many tribal boards and committees, Police Advisory Committee meetings are not open to non-committee members because of the often-sensitive nature of the information being reviewed, including body camera footage, police reports, and discussions involving use of force incidents.   

Still, tribal members can always request time on the agenda – to raise concerns, ask questions, or offer suggestions – by contacting committee Chair Brittany Dumford. Williams also has an open door policy for any member of the tribal community who would like to speak with him.   

For Bagley, the committee’s work ultimately comes down to continuing to improve the relationship between the department and the community it serves.   

“It should never be an ‘us and them’ feeling between the tribal members and the police,” Bagley said. “It should always be they’re a part of us. And now, I think, it has become exactly that.”  

The Renewal Coastal Jam & Powwow, held April 24–26, drew large crowds this year and marked a major transition as the powwow portion moved from its longtime home at the House of Awakened Culture to the Clearwater Casino Resort.

For years, the full event — including both the Coastal Jam and powwow — has been held at the House of Awakened Culture. But steady growth in attendance has pushed the gathering beyond the capacity of the community space.

“We just outgrew that building,” said Bearon Old Coyote, who has helped his father James Old Coyote organize the event in recent years.

This year, the event opened Friday evening with the Coastal Jam at the House of Awakened Culture, where canoe families from across the region filled the floor with song and dance.

By Saturday, the powwow portion shifted to the casino’s convention center, providing more room for dancers, spectators, and vendors. The Renewal Coastal Jam & Powwow traces its roots back decades. The Renewal Weekend was first conceived by James’ father, the late Steve Old Coyote decades ago, and now continues as family tradition celebrating the sobriety and new beginnings.

“Renewal – it’s springtime. That’s the time for change, that’s the time for renewal,” Old Coyote said. “And at the same time, it’s a celebration for sobriety — those who choose to walk that Red Road.”

The powwow blends competitive dancing with cultural celebration, creating space for community members to gather, reconnect and honor those in recovery.

“It’s one that we all look forward to every year,” Old Coyote said. “The community just gets bigger and bigger.”

Alongside the dancing, the Renewal Powwow Royalty Pageant highlighted the next generation of young leaders.

This year’s pageant featured a dozen contestants, one of the largest groups in recent memory.

“We do this because being a part of our royalty and representing the Suquamish Tribe and the powwow that we’re a part of is really important for the growth of our youth,” said pageant organizer Kali Chargualaf. “The responsibilities they get to experience and learning about the tribe and the powwow they represent — it’s important work.” Royalty serve as ambassadors throughout the year, representing the community at events, conferences and gatherings.

“They get to play a leadership role when they attend these events and wear their sash,” Chargualaf said.

“There’s many different people from different tribes in here,” she said. “They’re representing their tribes and their families too.”

After more than an hour of interviews, a three-judge panel deliberated before selecting this year’s winners.

2026-27 Renewal Royalty Winners:

• Senior Miss Renewal: Shaunie Cordero
• Senior Renewal Warrior: Dakotah Reynolds
• Junior Miss Renewal: Willow Squetimkin
• Junior Renewal Warrior: Nakotah Reynolds
• Tiny Tot Renewal Princess: Isla-lynn Ives
• Tiny Tot Renewal Warrior: Legend George

Chargualaf said the strong turnout reflects growing visibility and pride in the event.

“I actually love it,” she said. “I love that there’s a lot more visibility with the Renewal Powwow and that people are wanting to represent this powwow and wanting to represent themselves, their tribes and their families.”

Chargualaf also offered special thanks to the talented artists who created this year’s royalty regalia including:

• Crowns – Shilene George, Keenas Limon, Kailiyah Kriehble
• Warrior headbands – Janaka Old Coyote
• Sashes – Alaina Capoeman
• Drums – Bearon Old Coyote
• Rattles – Jimmy Price

Outgoing royalty were also recognized during the pageant, offering thanks to the family members, mentors and community who supported them throughout their year of service.

From a packed Coastal Jam to an expanded powwow stage, this year’s Renewal Coastal Jam & Powwow reflected both growth and continuity, honoring culture, celebrating sobriety and marking the seasonal shift into spring.

“We go from darkness into light,” Chargualaf said.