Published September 2001

Tulalip Tribes building economy, pride

Much has been written about the dynamic economic growth of the Tulalip Tribes on the Indian reservation west of Marysville.

And, much more will be written as residents of neighboring communities, the county, the state and those in other states watch the Tulalips play out their new economic game plan.

Historically, tribal history speaks of “stick games” in Tulalip longhouses for entertainment at their social gatherings. Now, the tribes are into gaming in a big way. Their modern longhouse where the games are played is huge, glitzy and packed with people. So many people want to socialize and gamble there that the Tulalips are planning a larger casino, three times the size of the present one.

For those who will be going to the casino in the Tulalip Tribes’ new Quil Ceda Village, the tribes are including a few amenities around the new gaming facility — including a Wal-Mart, a Home Depot, two hotels, a water park, a retail center, an RV park, an amusement park and 120 discount outlet stores.

By 2004, when Quil Ceda Village is completed, the multimillion-dollar development will have become a regional magnet for people seeking shopping, dining, entertaining, gaming, amusement rides, conferences and conventions.

There should be a lot of celebration in 2004, but it shouldn’t just be for the completion of the business, retail and amusement park.

The real celebration should be for the Tulalip Tribes — all of the visionaries, board members, project managers and tribal members who have succeeded so well in changing their economic destiny at the same time they are preserving their heritage and contributing to the economic growth of Snohomish County.

Many of the county’s 600,000 residents don’t know much about the history of the Tulalip Reservation. But they should, to put today’s events into perspective.

On Jan. 22, 1855, leaders of the Native Americans known as the Snohomish, Skagit, Samish, Suiattle, Snoqualmie, Stillaguamish and allied bands signed the Point Elliott Treaty at Mukilteo and later became known collectively as the Tulalip Tribes.

Yielding to the power and authority of the new settlers in the Puget Sound region, they gave up land their ancestors had lived on for thousands of years. Moving to the new “reserve” where they were to be confined dramatically altered their lives, lifestyles and feelings of self-worth. They were ordered to not speak in their native tongues and told to abandon much of their tribal culture.

Today, celebrating the Tulalip Tribes’ present accomplishments should recognize not only their Native American culture and language but also their advancements in economic achievements, education and health care. They also have dedicated themselves to preserving environmentally sensitive areas of their reservation, even establishing their own salmon hatchery many years ago.

The tribal members have emerged with a new vision for themselves and for their economy. The leaders of the Tulalip Tribes wanted more than just money; they wanted the benefits money could bring to their people: jobs for Indians in their own facilities to end decades of high unemployment on the reservation, new health programs and economic strength to give them fresh options for helping their tribal families.

The Tulalip Tribes should be commended for accomplishing so many of their goals, and setting new ones, in partnership with their neighbors — a partnership that’s most evident in their leadership roles in the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce and their sponsorship of the North County Summit meetings.

No doubt about it, the Tulalip Tribes’ successes will have a great impact on the adjacent business communities. The development of Quil Ceda Village will create both competition and opportunity.

If competing businesses creatively offer their own attractions, maintain their competitive enthusiasm and promote collaborative business partnerships, they will benefit from the opportunities offered by the millions of people who will be drawn to the Tulalip attractions in coming years.

Congratulations to the Tulalip Tribes. They are definitely earning their successes. And, by accomplishing so many of their goals, they have changed what it means to be a member of the Tulalip Tribes, even what it means to be Indian. Together, all tribal members have given new meaning to the bumper stickers occasionally seen around Marysville: “I’m Tulalip, and proud of it!”

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