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Suquamish Tribe 2023 COVID-19 Testing
As COVID cases continue tick up throughout the region, Suquamish Tribe is taking steps to help reduce the spread.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 21, Community Health will resume drive-up PCR testing for tribal member households, government staff, and PME employees at the Healing House parking lot from 8:30-10am. The testing will continue until Friday, Sept. 1.
Free home tests are also available at Community Health while supplies last.
Tribal government employees who test positive:
- Must stay home for five full days, beginning the day after symptoms first start.
- Once symptom-free, you can come back to work, but must wear a mask for ten days from symptom onset.
- Even if you do not test positive, if you are experiencing any COVID-related symptoms – even if it just feels like a minor cold – employees must stay home.
- If you are a close contact, remember to wear a mask for 10 days and test on the 5th day.
- If anyone in your household tests positive, and you are symptom free, you may still come to work, but must wear a mask for 10 days.
For the most part COVID symptoms remain the same — sore throat, congestion, fatigue, fever, and cough are still the most common. Some may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms, and there are reports that one COVID strain can cause pink eye.
Rapid tests are still accurate for all of the variants that are circulating. If you have symptoms but get a negative result, wait two days and test again.
If you test positive for COVID and you’re over age 50 or have chronic medical issues including asthma, ask your doctor about getting a Paxlovid prescription as soon as possible because it can reduce the risk of hospitalization and long COVID if you start taking it within the first five days of an infection.
PRESS ADVISORY — Canoe Journey 2023: Suquamish Tribe Hosts Last Stop Before Muckleshoot’s Alki Beach Landing
SUQUAMISH, July 2023 — Tribal Canoe Journey is back for the first time since COVID, and the Suquamish Tribe is hosting the last stop before the final landing at Alki Beach. An estimated 100 canoes from throughout the Northwest and Canada will be arriving on the beach in front of the House of Awakened Culture in Suquamish on July 28, 2023. About 9,000 people will spend two nights here before they make the final paddle on July 30 to Alki Beach and the Muckleshoot Tribe’s hosting.
Reporters, photographers, and filmmakers are invited to attend and report on this event. In order to prioritize the integrity of the ceremony and the safety of canoe families and hosts, media representatives are asked to follow the Tribe’s ground rules and obtain a press pass by filling out this form: https://suquamish.nsn.us/for-media-how-to-participate-in-the-tribal-canoe-journey-stop-in-suquamish/
Highlights of the Suquamish hosting include:
Friday, July 28, 2023
Noon to 4pm: Canoes arrive and request permission to come ashore to rest, share stories, and share traditional foods. Suquamish hosts welcome them, and canoes are carried up the boat ramp to the lawn in front of the House of Awakened Culture, the Suquamish Tribe’s longhouse and community gathering space.
5pm: Seafood dinner is served to 9,000-plus people traveling on the water or supporting the canoe families.
7pm: Protocol begins during which visiting canoe families share songs, dances, stories from their travels, and gifts inside the House of Awakened Culture. The tribes that travelled the longest distances are the first on the floor.
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Noon: Protocol continues, dinner is served at 5pm, and protocol resumes at 6pm.
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Morning: Canoe families are released for the final stage of the journey to Alki Beach. Canoes are packed down the boat ramp by paddlers and volunteers. Suquamish canoes, which joined other canoe families in Bellingham, on Lummi land, continue with all the other canoes paddling the last leg of the 2023 journey to Alki Beach, where the Muckleshoot Tribe will welcome the paddlers.
Resources:
The Suquamish Tribe will make photos, press releases, and drone footage available to the media. Contact us at the link below, or include a request in the press form linked to above.
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Contacts:
Communications@Suquamish.nsn.us
Sarah van Gelder
Suquamish Tribe Communications Manager
Cell: (206) 491-0196
Jon Anderson
Suquamish Tribe Communications Coordinator
Cell: (206) 999-3912
2023 Suquamish Canoe Journey Route & Timeline
This is the latest draft of the route the Suquamish Canoe Family will take during the Tribal Journey.
PLEASE NOTE: DATES AND ADDRESSES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Check back here for updates!
| Nation/Village/Place | Landing Day | Departure Day | # Days |
| Lummi/Stommish Grounds (by Barge/vehicles)
(arriving Lummi Stommish Grounds 2295 Lummi View Dr. Bellingham WA 98226) |
Sunday, July 23, 2023 | Monday, July 24, 2023 | 1 |
| Samish
(Landing: Seafarers Memorial Park, 601 Seafarers Way, Anacortes, WA 98221) (Camping 17275 Reservation Road La Conner WA 9825) |
Monday, July 24, 2023 | Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | 1 |
| Swinomish Youth Center
(Landing: 16969 Reservation Road, La Conner, WA 98257) (Camping: 17275 Reservation Road La Conner WA 98257) |
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | Wednesday, July 26, 2023 | 1 |
| Cama Beach
(2269 Lowell Point Rd, Camano Island, WA 98282) |
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 | Thursday, July 27, 2023 | 1 |
| Tulalip Gym
(Landing: 6722 Totem Beach RD Tulalip WA 98271) |
Thursday, July 27, 2023 | Friday, July 28, 2023 | 1 |
| Suquamish/HOAC
(7235 NE Parkway Suquamish WA 98392) (7/21/19 Suquamish leave on TCJ) |
Friday, July 28 2023 | Sunday, July 30, 2023 | 2 |
| Muckleshoot
(Landing: Alki Beach 2665 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116) (Camping: Pow Wow Grounds 17300 SE 392nd St. Auburn WA 98092) |
Sunday, July 30, 2023 | Sunday, August 6, 2023 | 7 |
| Ground Crew return – Suquamish/HOAC
(7235 NE Parkway Suquamish WA 98392) |
Monday, August 7, 2023 | 1 | |
| Suquamish Canoe Family – Suquamish/HOAC pick up gear/clean-up equipment, UHaul truck, barge, canoe shed, bring gear to storage unit | Tuesday, August 8, 2023 12:00 pm | 1 | |
| Whole Journey | 16 | ||
2023 Suquamish Tribal Journey Registration
CODE OF CONDUCT AGREEMENT
This agreement explains how to represent the Suquamish Tribe (who sponsors this trip) and Suquamish People, the following conduct will help ensure a peaceful time for everyone:
- Everyone is expected to be ready, and capable of doing their share of work involved with setting up, cooking, cleaning, and breaking down camp, clean up on support boats, canoes, and vehicles while participating in Tribal Canoe Journey.
- Each person participating will be assigned a random team number that will be your number throughout the journey. Each team will be assigned a camp duty to be performed for the day. This duty will change each day. Not listening or participating in duties will not be tolerated, if persistent you will be sent home. Team leads assignments are made prior to leaving. Barge Captain, Head Cook and Ground Crew Lead will not be assigned a team.
- Everyone is on kitchen duty. You must help with cooking, cleaning, dishes and packing up the kitchen every day. You will also be responsible for purchasing, cleaning and storing your own mess kit (i.e. plates, bowls, silverware, water bottle, and hot cup), we will have some for canoe family members unable to purchase their own.
- Every morning, we will have a canoe family circle (meeting). Additional circles can be scheduled at any time. It is your responsibility to be at all circles, on time, and ready to participate.
- Before heading out on the last morning, your tent, sleeping bag, and totes will be packed and brought to the U-Haul Truck in a timely manner.
- For ceremonial purposes and safety, absolutely no use of alcohol, drugs, (THC) marijuana or misuse of prescription medications. Any person involved with and/or under the influence of a substance, will not be permitted to continue to participate in the Tribal Canoe Journey and will be sent home. Weapons are prohibited. If over the age of 18, cigarette smoking is only permitted 25ft outside of camp.
- Physical violence, verbal abuse, bullying, and intimidation WILL NOT BE tolerated.
- Be respectful of others. Be mindful of your language, remember camp is for everyone’s use. Be respectful while using technology, including social media platforms as well as individual communications (no bullying, posts of inappropriate behavior, etc.). This includes all social media platforms. Be mindful of time, volume, etc.
- If you see that someone needs help, help them out. All participants are required to help around camp, with the barge, and around canoes. Journey is not a “vacation,” even if you use your vacation to attend and even if your mother is there, you will pick up after yourself. If you see garbage or other items don’t walk over them, pick them up and place where they belong.
- Elders are to be respected. If you see an elder in need of help, or struggling to do something, jump in and help. If you’re near an elder, Suquamish or otherwise, offer to assist them. If you’re sitting somewhere and space is limited, give your space to an elder. If you’re at a meal and you see an elder without food, ask if you could get them some.
- Visiting the tents of participants of your sexual/romantic preference is strictly prohibited. No public displays of affection. (PDA)
- Remember to be respectful of other people’s belongings. You don’t want your stuff messed with and no one else does either. You are responsible for your own possessions. If you bring things of value (i.e. phones, iPods, games, jewelry, regalia or money) you are responsible for lost or stolen objects. If something is lost or broken notify Staff/Chaperone as soon as possible. If possible, we can repair or replace said item.
- Stealing or shoplifting is illegal and if you are caught, you will not be permitted to continue to participate in Tribal Canoe Journeys.
- All minors (anyone under 18) will be in camp, or with an approved chaperone.
For community care, we advise that you report any illness and take necessary precautions. Hand sanitizers, masks, and COVID tests will be available at camp.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SUN CONTACT INFO TO GET TRIBAL JOURNEY TEXT ALERTS
If you have not yet signed up for SUN Alerts please do so here.
If you already get SUN Alerts but need to update your information, you can do that here.
For the current draft timeline and route Suquamish Canoe Family will be taking click here.
Health Clinic Closed July 3rd & 4th
Suquamish Tribe Healing House will be closed July 3-4
For Emergencies, Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest urgent care clinic or hospital ER
Justice Gorsuch opinion in ICWA ruling is worth reading
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch offers a masterclass on tribal sovereignty in his concurring opinion offered in the court’s recent decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act.
“In affirming the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Court safeguards the ability of tribal members to raise their children free from interference by state authorities and other outside parties. In the process, the Court also goes a long way toward restoring the original balance between federal, state, and tribal powers the Constitution envisioned,” he writes in a 43-page opinion.
“I write separately to add some historical context. To appreciate fully the significance of today’s decision requires an understanding of the long line of policies that drove Congress to adopt ICWA. And to appreciate why that law surely comports with the Constitution requires a bird’s-eye view of how our founding document mediates between competing federal, state, and tribal claims of sovereignty.”
Burn ban now in effect
Wildfire risk rising
The Suquamish Tribe, in cooperation with the Kitsap Fire Marshal, has declared a Phase 1 Burn Ban on the Port Madison Indian Reservation starting immediately. The ban, which limits most outdoor fires, is in effect until further notice.
Under a Phase 1 ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited except for:
- Small recreational fires
- Cooking
- Ceremonial fires
Permitted fires must be kept within approved devices and safe locations. Open recreational fires must be:
- Located at least 25 feet from any structures
- Contained within a designated fire pit less than 3 feet in diameter
- Not exceed 2 feet tall
- Not be used as a substitute for burning yard debris
With an early start to the fire season in western Washington, local fire districts are seeing an increase in fire responses.
Higher than normal temperatures are likely to continue and lower than normal amounts of rain are predicted over the next few weeks, worsening fire risk in a landscape that’s already dry.
Escaped outdoor fires are the leading cause of wildfires, sparking nearly 85% of all blazes.
For information on burn permits please visit the North Kitsap Fire and Rescue Outdoor Burning Information page
For further information regarding the burn ban please contact Eric Quitslund, Office of Emergency Management Operations Officer, at equitslund@suquamish.nsn.us.
A statement from Suquamish Tribal Council on Brackeen v Haaland Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court decision upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is an affirmation of Tribal sovereignty and the rights of Indian nations to raise our children and the next generation of citizens and leaders.
The Indian Child Welfare Act protects our children, families, and communities from earlier government-sanctioned practices of family separation. Forced attendance at boarding schools – along with child welfare practices that removed children from parents, extended families, and tribal communities – have traumatized our people. This was a deliberate federal policy of assimilation designed to eradicate our culture and dispossess our land.
With today’s ruling, the majority of Supreme Court justices stand with us – along with child welfare advocates and legal experts – in understanding that we as tribal communities have the right to raise our children. The Supreme Court also reminded the states of the unique legal and political relationship between Indian Tribes and the United States Congress.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday, June 15, in Brackeen v Haaland should put to rest questions about the future of ICWA legal protections for our families.