Announcement

The Suquamish Tribe to acquire Kitsap OBGYN in January 2026. 

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The Suquamish Tribe to acquire Kitsap OBGYN in January 2026. 

Suquamish, Wash. — The Suquamish Tribe and Kitsap OBGYN are pleased to announce that they are joining forces in the new year. This partnership allows Kitsap OBGYN to offer the same level of health services that women in the region depend on for obstetric and gynecological care.  

“Kitsap County is often referred to as an ‘OBGYN desert’ with more demand than there are available providers,” said Amity Marriott, a doctor at Kitsap OBGYN. “I have seen estimates that one in four expectant mothers in Kitsap travel to King or Pierce counties for care. By becoming part of the Suquamish Tribe’s medical offerings, we are able to operate more efficiently and effectively, allowing us to focus on our patients.” 

For the Suquamish Tribe, acquiring the practice makes sense both practically and fundamentally.  

“When the tribe opened our Healing House in 2023, we filled a void for both tribal and non-tribal members seeking primary care in North Kitsap,” said Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe. “Expanding our scope of services to include specialized care for women allows us to make progress toward our goal of improving the health of our tribal community, while also providing resources that will benefit the greater region.”  

Both organizations are working behind the scenes to ensure as smooth of a transition as possible, which includes having the tribe credential with the same insurance providers currently accepted by Kitsap OBGYN. And as fortune would have it, the name of the medical practice will remain the same — Chief Kitsap was one of the tribe’s great leaders from the 19th century. 

“We will continue to offer compassionate and personalized medical care for women,” said Marriott. “The only difference will be that we will be offering this level of care with the support of the Suquamish Tribe. We are honored that the tribe recognizes the importance of our work and is helping us maintain our high standard of excellence.”  

 

WHAT HAPPENS IN 2026?  

  • Healthcare services provided by Kitsap OBGYN will be open to both tribal and non-tribal members of the community.   
  • Kitsap OBGYN locations in Poulsbo and Silverdale will remain open and will continue with deliveries and surgeries at St. Michaels Medical Center, as well as surgeries at Pacific Surgery Center.   
  • Kitsap OBGYN staff will fall under the Suquamish Tribe’s umbrella, joining the 450+ staff members across tribal government.  

 

 

Planning for the future

Strengthening community resilience.

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  • The Suquamish Tribe is exploring the creation of a new center to strengthen community resilience, safety, and emergency preparedness. The center can include services and supports for everyday life, like a food bank and community gathering spaces, as well as spaces necessary for disaster response for the Port Madison Reservation and surrounding areas.
  • This effort is currently in a visioning phase. The Tribe received a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Planning and Predesign Capital Equity Program (PPCEP) to support planning and predesign activities.
  • The preplanning phase runs through December 2025. The Tribe is assessing needs, studying site feasibility, and gathering input from community members about what should be included in this future facility. The next project phase will focus on identifying funding opportunities.
  • The proposed project site is at the northwest corner of NE Suquamish Way and Division Avenue NE, on Tribal trust land.
  • Visit this page for project updates, upcoming opportunities to contribute your thoughts, and future concept designs. Together, we can build a space that protects, prepares, and reflects the values of the Suquamish community.

WHAT IS THE NEW CENTER MEANT TO SUPPORT? 

  • The new center is meant to support community resilience. It can bring together community supports, public safety coordination, and emergency operations in one location. It could also serve as a shared space for community and regional partners before and during emergencies, improving coordination and response capabilities.
  • The project is being developed in collaboration with North Kitsap Fire & Rescue and other partners across North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island.

WE NEED YOUR GUIDANCE:

The Tribe invites all community members to share their thoughts and ideas as planning moves forward. Your input will help guide the design and priorities of this project.

Strengthening community resilience

The Tribe invites all community members to share their thoughts and ideas as we plan for a center to strengthen community resilience, safety, and emergency preparedness. Your input will help guide the design and priorities of this project.

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November 2025 Suquamish News

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Oct 2025 Suquamish News

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Federal Government Shutdown

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Dear Suquamish Tribal Members and Staff,
As anticipated, the federal government shutdown last night at 9 pm PST, after the two parties were unable to come to agreement on a continuing resolution to keep the government open.
We want to inform you that the Tribal Council and Tribal Government are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with our congressional delegation and consultants in Washington DC.
We are unsure how long the shutdown will last.  In the short-term the initial impact on the tribe should be minimal.
Over the past couple of years, we have worked diligently to strengthen our budget and we are in a solid financial position.  This will help us to weather this challenging time for the United States and Indian Country.
As always, our top priority is our tribal members, and we will work to offer the same care and support you count on and expect.  We will be meeting weekly to assess the impacts of the suspension of federal programs and services caused by the shutdown.
In addition, we will remain vigilant and continue to advocate for our tribe at both the state and federal levels.
Sincerely,
Leonard Forsman
Tribal Council Chairman
Catherine Edwards
Executive Director
Fraud

Protect yourself from fraud.

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The Suquamish IT Department is sharing this information to help protect tribal members and staff from becoming victims of fraud. Please note that the breach did not occur within the Suquamish Tribal Government. Rather, it involved TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting agencies.  

On July 28, 2025, TransUnion reported a data breach affecting over 4 million people. Information exposed may include your name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, and Social Security Number (SSN). Even if you have never signed up with TransUnion, your information may still have been compromised. TransUnion collects information on nearly all consumers with a credit history.  

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family 

  • Trust your gut. If you receive a phone call requesting personal information, do not provide it and hang up. Legitimate banks and businesses will never call “out of the blue” requesting this type of information. Only share this information if you made the call — and only to a number you’ve called before. For banks, call the number that is listed on the back of debit/credit cards.  
  • Check your accounts regularly for unusual activities. Despite its name, Annual Credit Report provides free weekly online credit reports. Learn more here.  
  • Update passwords and use unique passwords for your accounts.   

What Scams May Look Like 

Be cautious if you receive: 

  • Phone calls asking you to “confirm” your SSN, birth date, or account info. 
  • Emails or texts using your real details to seem real. 
  • Requests to say your SSN out loud or answer “yes/no” questions — your voice could be recorded and reused. 
  • Messages using scare tactics like “your account will be suspended.” 

If You Are Affected 

  • Contact the Tribal Cybersecurity or Membership Office for help. 

Resources 

TransUnion Data Breach Recovery Plan 

Replace Passwords with Passphrases  

Child Identity Theft 

 

Your safety is our top priority. We will keep you informed as more details are released. 

Enhanced Tribal ID Card Processing

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Sept Suquamish News out now

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The Suquamish Tribe and Washington State Department of Commerce sign memorandum of understanding

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The MOU establishes government-to-government relations between the sovereign nation and state agency

August 11, 2025
Suquamish, Wash. — The Suquamish Tribe and Washington State Department of Commerce signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing government-to-government relations between the tribe and the agency. The agreement removes administrative barriers, improves communications, implements culturally appropriate data privacy and security measures, and more. Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman and Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn signed the agreement on August 11 in Suquamish Tribal Council Chambers.  

“This agreement reflects the deep trust and shared vision between the Suquamish Tribe and the Department of Commerce,” said Forsman. “By eliminating obstacles and committing to respectful, culturally informed collaboration, we are creating a stronger path forward — not just for our people, but for the local Kitsap community and beyond.”     

Nguyễn said the MOU with the Suquamish Tribe is the seventh such agreement Commerce has made with tribal governments. Commerce anticipates similar agreements with additional tribes in Washington in the coming year. 

“It is an honor to enter into this agreement with the Suquamish Tribe and strengthen our partnership, to memorialize the ways we can better honor their sovereignty, and to work alongside people who have cared for communities from time immemorial,” said Nguyen. “With priorities that range from affordable housing to culturally responsive health care, we celebrate and support the tribe’s work.”   

Since his time as a state senator, Nguyễn has prioritized meeting with tribal leaders and community members. He’s deliberately listened to understand how the state, and now Commerce, can improve collaboration on priority issues. Nguyễn is committed to improving processes for applying for funding, streamlining and co-creating grant opportunities, and strengthening partnerships with tribal nations. 

To learn more about The Suquamish Tribe, visit the Tribe’s website. 

To learn more and follow Commerce’s work with tribal communities in Washington, visit the Office of Tribal Relations webpage. 

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July 9, 2025
The Suquamish Tribe condemns the genocidal speech from earlier this week made by a media pundit on X (formerly known as Twitter) in response to University of Minnesota Professor Melanie Yazzie’s comments on decolonization.
We concur with other tribal organizations’ statements — including the National Congress of American Indians and National Indian Health Board — that also reject the media pundit’s hateful comment. We demand a public apology and reassurance from media platforms that this type of rhetoric will not be tolerated.