Do you have ideas, suggestions, or complaints you would like to bring to the attention of tribal leadership?
Feedback forms are available on the Tribe’s web site at the top of each department’s main page. Your feedback will go directly to the director as well as to the Director of Operations.
Tribal Council also has a feedback form at the top of their page.
Take a few minutes to share your insight with tribal leadership.
Wishing a Happy Birthday To
Claudia Jeanette Guijosa-Meas
Redwolf S. Krise
. . . . .
No Birthdays Tomorrow
Today’s Elders Meal
Ministroni Soup, Ham Sandwiches
Please check the community calendar regularly for upcoming events.
Other information will be posted on the Community Bulletin.
Squaxin Island Tribe Community Calendar
Squaxin Island Tribe Community Bulletin
Clam, Oyster, and Shrimp Regulations
Geoduck and Sea Cucumber Regulations
Contact Information Update Form
Request for Proposals (RFP) (Updated with a landscaping project April 16)
NEW! – Jeanette and Richard Charman Scholarship
This Thursday
This Friday!
This Saturday!
Running for Tribal Council Member 3
Vince Henry
Hi all! Vince Henry, Sr. here, and I would like to take the healthy risk and put in my run for re-election of my position on Tribal Council.
I have thought long and hard about this decision and come to the conclusion that it is necessary for me to retain my seat, because we have a lot on our plates that still needs a lot of work.
I humbly ask for your support so I can continue to help get our tribe back in order so we can all continue to move forward in a good way.
I see lots of opportunity coming our way; we just have to be patient and let projects develop.
I will not give up on our tribe.
I am strong, dedicated, and compassionate of Squaxin Island Tribe and know we will always persevere.
It would be a huge honor to serve on our Council again.
Thank you!
– Vince Henry, Sr.
Running for Tribal Council Vice Chair
Jaimie Cruz
My name is Jaimie Cruz, and I’m honored to formally ask for your support as I run to retain my seat as the Vice-Chair of the Squaxin Island Tribe.
I am a proud mother, daughter, auntie, sister, cousin, and community leader who is committed to OUR people, OUR traditions, and OUR future.
About Me
• Granddaughter of Evelyn Miller Krise and Buddy Miller
• Daughter of Leanora Mesplie-Krise (Squaxin) and Timo Cruz
• Mother to Hazel Sesal and Angeline Slocum – Jay Lehman
• Lifelong Squaxin Island Tribal member
• Cultural leader and community caretaker
• Clam digger, geoduck harvester, and advocate for OUR lands and waterways for our U&A
My Vision
• Is a community that uplifts one another – especially OUR youth and those who are struggling
• Empowering youth through education, support, and leadership rooted in tradition and culture
• A transparent and economically strong tribal government that is accessible to our General Body
• Support stronger mental health rooted in cultural knowledge and practices for more efficient healing of OUR people’s traumas
• Protection of OUR lands, waters, and ways of life for future generations
• Unity through respect, even when we hold different values or ideas
Qualifications and Experience
TRIBAL EMPLOYMENT
• Squaxin Island Tribe Education Department since 2013
• Teen Advocate – Tu Ha’ Buts Youth Center (2018 – Present)
• Truancy Prevention Specialist (2021 – Present)
LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
• Affiliated of the Tribes of Northwest Indians, Squaxin Delegate
• Turning Pointe Board of Directors
• Kamilche Canoe Club Member (since 2016)
• Squaxin Island Canoe Family – Active Member
• Vice-Chairwoman of the Squaxin Island TribE 2022 – present
• Council Representative for the Enrollment Committee, Housing Commission, and Musuem Board
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
• Coordinated voter registration drives
• Opening/Closing speaker – Environmental Lobby Day at the Capitol
• MC Squaxin General Body 2023 & 2024
• 2024 Young Leaders Panel, Centennial Accord Suquamish, WA
Running for Tribal Council
Cameron Henry
Hello everyone, for those of you who don’t know me, my name is Cameron Henry. My parents are Marvin Henry Sr. and Kathy Anderson (Hurley). I’ve been married to my beautiful wife, Annie-Beth Henry (Whitener), for 15 years and we have three amazing children, Bailie, Brooke and Bennett. I want to take a moment to announce my intentions of running for Tribal Council.
My dad raised my siblings and me on the reservation and a lot of my friend’s moms helped to parent me as well and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have grown up in such a tight knit community. My wife and I also lived in tribal housing for a few years until we were able to purchase our home between the village and Shelton. The Village will always be my “home”.
I was raised hunting, fishing, and clam digging, and I am still an active participant in all of these things. Our treaty rights are something I’m very passionate about and I’ve been an outspoken advocate for our rights since I was old enough to sit on our committees. Over the years I’ve been a member on our hunting, fishing, and shellfish committees, and am still a member on the combined “Natural Resources” committee.
As someone who has, and still does rely on the income from clam digging, I’d like to see other buyers allowed to purchase our shellfish. We’re currently limited by Salish and their market for how many digs we can have per week. I feel like it would be a huge benefit to our harvesters if we allowed other buyers on private tidelands and tribally enhanced beaches instead of only state tidelands like it currently is. More and more of us are participating these days, so it doesn’t make sense to limit our people because Salish is only capable of taking so many pounds per week. I understand that the biggest reason that other buyers aren’t allowed on our enhanced beaches is because the tribe paid for the seed and manpower of planting and maintaining them. A possible solution would be to impose a shellfish tax on enhanced beaches to cover the cost of enhancement.
I feel like something we can work on is getting more of our youth involved in our treaty rights. More needs to be done to encourage participation. Whether that means gifting new clam diggers their first fork and bucket, or giving incentives to our fishermen and hunters for bringing youth out with them. When I was a kid, the Tribe offered hunter’s education and that’s something I’d also like to see offered again. The resources we have are extremely important and the interactions with relatives and other tribal members are just as valuable. I remember the first time my cousin invited me to go beach seining or hunting and I’ve been hooked ever since. I encourage everyone to get out there and practice some or all of our treaty rights.
Another thing I’d like is to give our tribal member employees a way to be able to speak their minds without the fear of retaliation. As a tribal employee myself, I’ve seen firsthand the retaliation some of our people get for speaking out on topics they don’t agree with. In my eyes that’s not right. As tribal members we shouldn’t have to fear reprimands or potentially losing our jobs for bringing awareness to certain issues and I’d like to see us come up with a solution for this.
Education is no doubt important and we need to keep encouraging our people to seek higher education. We also need to acknowledge that not everyone is the same, and we should also be encouraging people to join the trades. We also need to come up with a solution for our relatives that aren’t meant to work in a 9-5 setting. If we allow other buyers on our clam beaches, it would increase opportunity and give those relatives the income they might need to make it in these crazy times.
Economic growth is another important topic. I’ve said it before that I feel like our neighboring tribes have been leaving us in the dust when it comes to economic growth. I’m grateful to be seeing and hearing about the projects that we have planned and I’d like to keep the momentum going. I’d also like to see the tribal members more informed on current and future projects as well.
These are just a few things that I’ve been thinking about and I can go on and on but I’ll keep it somewhat short for now. I’m always open to discussion and enjoy hearing others thoughts and opinions. Without open communication, we won’t be able to truly understand the needs of the community as a whole and enact positive change. I’m dedicated to doing everything it takes to learn and be the best I can be in the position. Thank you for the consideration and I’d appreciate your support at the General Body meeting to be an advocate for our people.
Questions? Contact:
Jaclyn Meyer:
(360) 462-4206
JEMeyer@squaxin.us
Choice Transfer Portal to request enrollment at Griffin School for the 2025-26 school year (if you live in another district) is currently out of order due to a hardware issue. This portal may not be back up and accessible for another two weeks. Please let your families know that we are postponing our review of choice transfers until the portal comes back up.
Please don’t worry, there is still plenty of time for review for the next school year.
Thank you for your patience!
Kelli Anderson
Public Relations/District Coordinator
Griffin School District #324
Superintendent’s Office
Direct (360) 866-5908
https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/support-programs/student-transfers
Tuesday Tips and Tricks
Flowers for sale by Willow Henry
Willow Henry has flower arrangments for sale every Tuesday.
Jars of flowers are $10.
Bouquets are $20.
She will take custom orders and, in a couple of weeks,
will have a stand by the road on Klah-Che-Min Drive.
Contact Willow at (360) 932-2342.
She will deliver within reasonable distance.
Flower Basket Fund Raiser
Roklyn Peterson-Sigo and Madison Mowrey-Raham are selling flower baskets.
Baskets are $40 each and will be delivered before Mothers Day.
Please email Janita jraham@squaxin.us or text (360) 704-9060
We are excited to share that our Lead Driver/Dispatcher, Windy, has been nominated for the prestigious Driver of the Year award with CTANW. Windy has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, professionalism, and a positive attitude, making her a vital part of our team.
To show our appreciation and support for Windy, please vote for Windy and recognize her outstanding contributions.
Voting Link: Community Transportation Association of the Northwest
Fish War is being shown at Olympia Film Society
NWIFC, Salmon Defense, and Olympia Film Society present:
FISH WAR w/ Post-film Q&A
Tickets and details here:
https://olympiafilmsociety.org/fish-war
The film is also now available for pre-order!
Master Planning Update:
New – Estimated Costs Included
Housing and Wellness Center Developments
As part of the Squaxin Island Tribe’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of our community, we are excited to introduce the initial phases of the comprehensive Master Planning process. This effort incorporates 164 unique contributions from community members, focusing on housing, cultural infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.
Housing and Wellness Center Renditions
The first phase of the Master Planning process addresses the urgent need for housing and supporting infrastructure, including:
• Immediate Housing Projects: Infrastructure-supported developments like Slocum Ridge III (6-plex) are
at the forefront.
• Future Growth Areas: Expansion of housing projects near current infrastructure will ensure both accessibility and sustainability.
• Community and Cultural Facilities: There will be plans for a longhouse, expanded community and cultural
centers, and other spaces to support gatherings and cultural preservation.
Strategic Alignment for Long-Term Goals
This phased approach allows for prioritization of immediate needs while laying the groundwork for future development:
• Phase One: Focused on immediate housing near the Wellness Center site, ensuring alignment with infrastructure improvements and community priorities.
• Phase Two: Identification of development areas near Slocum Ridge for additional housing projects.
• Phase Three: Comprehensive planning for the Tribal Center campus, incorporating sustainability and cultural integration.
Community Involvement and Next Steps
This process reflects the Council’s commitment to transparency and community engagement. Feedback received has shaped these priorities, and we encourage continued participation:
• Community calendars: will be available on the Tribe’s website for review.
• Public comment: Go to squaxinisland.org’s Home page to view the plans and vote on the option you think should be the top priority. The comment period will remain open until the end of February.
At the conclusion of the public comment period, the Council will finalize decisions for the direction of this first phase, providing a clear and actionable path forward for housing and infrastructure improvements.
Your voice continues to be essential as we plan for a stronger, more connected future. Thank you for contributing to this important effort, and we look forward to reporting back with updates as we move into the next phases of development.
VOTE Here – New: Estimated Costs included
Electricians and General Labor Needed
With the renovation happening in Tower 2 of the hotel, we want to reach out to see if there are any qualified Tribal members with electrician experience. We are also seeking General Labor assistance.
Interested members can call our superintendent, Malcom Bennett at (619) 646-9088.
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Thought for the Day
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