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How was Suquamish Olalla Neighbors started?
We started in May 2001. A handful of people gathered to think together about how we might respond to the recent desecration of Chief Seattle's grave. We called a meeting at the United Church of Christ in Suquamish and 60 people gathered to discuss how to respond to the tragedy of that particular incident and how to build stronger relationships between tribal and non-tribal people in and around the Port Madison Reservation.
What does your name Suquamish Olalla Neighbors mean?
Suquamish is, of course, named for the beautiful town where we are based on the Port Madison Reservation and for the
tribe that resides here. Olalla is a name given to us by one of our members, who is also a Suquamish
tribal member. It means the place where the fresh water and salt water meets, and it is an area particularly productive of the reeds used for basket weaving. Neighbors are people who live near each other. Ideally, they are friends, available in times of needs and celebration, but not people who get too much into each other's business.
Who can join Suquamish Olalla Neighbors?
Anyone can join who agrees with our purposes:
The purpose of the Suquamish Olalla Neighbors is to foster a sense of community and understanding among tribal and non-tribal residents of the Port Madison Reservation and the surrounding area.
Our objectives are to:
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Promote friendship and healing between tribal and non-tribal residents. |
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Support the tribe's right of self-determination and governance. |
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Educate ourselves and the larger community about the history of tribal and non-tribal people of this area. |
Dues are any amount between $5 and $50, you decide. You can join on line at
www.soneighbors.org, or at one of our meetings or potlucks.
Who are your members?
Our members are people who live in and around the Port Madison Reservation, mainly from Suquamish, Indianola, Poulsbo, Kingston, and Bainbridge Island. Among our members are Suquamish
tribal members, Native people from other tribes, and non-Natives.
Where does your funding come from?
Our funds come from membership dues and small donations, and sometimes from raffles. We have no staff and no office, so our funding requirements are small. We welcome contributions to help with printing, office supplies, computer hosting. We do not have tax exempt status, however.
Do you receive funding from the Suquamish Tribe or any Native American organizations?
No. We are proud to have members from various tribes. But we have neither asked for nor received funding from any
tribes or other governments, or any Native American advocacy groups.
When do you meet?
We meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm at the Suquamish United Church of Christ. We are not affiliated with the church, but we are grateful for their on-going hospitality in the use of their facilities for our meetings.
What activities are you involved in?
Last year worked in partnership with the Suquamish Tribe to persuade the state of Washington to return Old Man House State Park to the Suquamish Tribe.
We hold annual potlucks in the spring to celebrate our community and to honor people in the community who have especially provided leadership. Our first potluck honored the young people in the Suquamish who had recently completed the carving of a cedar canoe. The second potluck honored the teachers and staff at Suquamish Elementary School who worked with the young people on creating a Basket Marsh, a beautiful pond and wetland that grows native plants, including those traditionally used for weaving baskets. The young people are also learning the native Lushootseed language and basket making. The third potluck
honored our honorary co-chair, Ted George, an elder with the Suquamish Tribe and a leader within the S'Klallam Tribe.
We recently helped get dozens of people to a hearing of the county commission to urge them to adopt language in the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council document acknowledging the need to
work collaboratively with tribal governments.
We have made presentations to various religious and community groups, and we offer opinion columns and letters to the editor, which are published in local papers and, once, in the
Seattle PI .
So what are you trying to accomplish?
We believe that the tribes are not going away, nor are the
non-tribal residents of this area. Given that, we believe the best way to improve the quality of life in this area is to respectfully discuss our aspirations for this region as well as our differences. We believe that we will have a far richer and more pleasant community if we appreciate the diverse cultures represented here. We hope that Suquamish can be a place where everyone of any background, income level, or culture can thrive in a community characterized by respect and appreciation for diverse ways of life. |
