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Dear
friends,
Here's what you'll find in this
email:
* Report from the June 1st meeting in
Seattle and the 16th
meeting in Suquamish on
Old Man House Park.
* Imagine Suquamish - June
26th
* August 12th - come to Port
Angeles
* Reminder of Suquamish Olalla meeting on July
14th
JUNE 16th, SUQUAMISH
MEETING WARM &
CROWDED
On June
16th the Parks Commission staff took comments on the
proposed return of Old Man House Park to the Suquamish
Tribe. The hearing was the second and
last intended to take comments to pass along to
the commissioners. In very warm and standing room
only conditions- over 75 people attended. Attending
were opponents of the plan to return the park to the
Tribe as well as a number of Suquamish Tribal members,
Suquamish Olalla members, several representatives from the
faith-based communities and others. As far as I could tell,
the only opposition to the Tribe continues to come from the
same group of Suquamish residents that we've seen before. The
supporters far out-numbered the opponents.
The June 1st
meeting in Seattle was likewise a success with strong
support for the Suquamish Tribe, from other Native
peoples, the faith community, Tribal members from Suquamish
and Suquamish Olalla Neighbors.
A BIG thank you
to all of you who showed up and gave your support. All
indications are this is going well. The state Democratic
Party is now on record supporting the transfer (an endorsement
is included in the state party platform). When combined with
church endorsements, support from public officials, other
faith groups, human rights groups, tribes around Washington
State, and the authorization from a bi-partisan majority of
the legislature, there seems to be a green light to this
transfer. However, it would be a mistake to take anything for
granted. Among other things, the opposition to transfer is now
discussing a lawsuit(!)
The Washington State
Parks staff will be compiling all comments from both meetings
into a transcript that will be available online and sent to
all those who registered on the sign up sheets.
Further written
comments will then be accepted regarding the transcript.
Park staff will continue to take additional comments and
letters up until the hearing on August 12th. If you
haven't already commented and would like to do so, here's the
contact information.
Randy
Person
Washington State Parks
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia,
Washington 98504-2650
or by e-mail at
mailto: randy.person@parks.wa.gov.
FAX: (360)
753-1594
please send copies to:
Rich Brooks
The
Suquamish Tribe
rbrooks@suquamish.nsn.us
and
Suquamish Olalla Neighbors
olalla@soneighbors.org
More info on our
website: www.soneighbors.org
IMAGINE
SUQUAMISH - JUNE 26
Commissioner Chris
Endresen called together Suquamish Olalla Neighbors, Friends
of the Park, the Suquamish Tribe, the Suquamish Incorporation
Project, and the Suquamish Congregational UCC to convene
a meeting on June 26 we're calling Imagine Suquamish. The
purpose of the meeting will be to hear from everyone what
their hopes and dreams are for the community of
Suquamish.
The sponsoring groups
settled on this question for the gathering:How shall we make
Suquamish a stronger community for everyone who lives here now
and who will live here in the future?
An outside
facilitator will help everyone who would like to lead a
session or participate in a session to do so. Please
come and see what we can create together. 9am - 3 pm at the
Suquamish United Church of Christ on Division Street. Lunch
provided.
AUGUST 12 - OLD MAN HOUSE HEARING AND
DECISIONBE THERE IN PORT
ANGELES
We'll get more information to you as the
time gets nearer. We'll arrange transportation or car pooling,
and discuss how to make the strongest statement. Please put
this on your calendar.
NEXT SUQUAMISH OLALLA
MEETING - JULY 14TH
At the Suquamish United
Church of Christ at 7 pm as usual. We'll get caught up on all
that's happening, try to answer questions, and make some
plans.
Thanks again to all of you for your
letters and support!
Sarah van
Gelder
co-chair
Mary Ann
Dow
secretary
PS Here's a new EXCITING NATIONAL
EVENT:
JULY 4th: ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Local governments and
Indian tribes across the country will call for
national
security through energy independence the coming July 4th by
declaring the date
"Energy Independence
Day." The groups say they will pledge on that date to
voluntarily
reduce their carbon
emissions through conservation, energy efficiency and the use
of renewable energy sources. Already, more than 150 local
signatories have endorsed the initiative sponsored
by NativeEnergy, the Intertribal
Council on Utility Policy and the International Council
for Local Environmental Initiatives which also calls on
federal leaders to work toward shifting the US energy system
toward renewables. Contact: www.energyindependenceday.org Native Energy
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