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Louie Ungaro- MIT’s Newest Tribal Council Member (from an interview with John Loftus in April 2012)

Well, first of all, I’m greatly humbled and honored to be chosen for the Tribal Council and to not only be nominated, but to be elected too. And I’m grateful to all of those ones that mentored me along my way and who helped me out with my campaign and supported me and I’m thankful to my family and my community for believing in me and for giving me this chance to honor them and honor our tribe in a positive good way and to be an advocate at the Tribal Council level. I have a lot of hope in my heart for good things to happen in these next few years. I really have a positive feel for everything and to learn and experience that I am honored to get by being elected to the Tribal Council. And the things that I hope to see is to instill hope in our people again and self-worth in our communities. And the first resource that I wanna see get rebuilt and to me, that’s the most important, is our people being stewards of the land and being a fishing community and a fishing village and hunters and gatherers that we need to help our people remember that, who we are as a people, as an Indian people. And I hope to be a positive role model for not only my son and my family, but for other people and to instill that hope that anything’s possible in our lives if we set our mind to be determined and sacrifice things in a selfless way. And in saying all of that, I am only one of nine people up there on the Tribal Council with ideas and things that are going on and I hope to be a positive twist and, but I’m still learning these things. This is all new to me and it’s come so fast and through prayer and guidance and help from my community and committees and the learning processes that you go through in your first term that it will be a positive twist for our Muckleshoot people through jobs and small business and education and not only just academic education, but other types of education through our oral histories and through not only that, but through being stewards of the land and the other resources besides just the people and re-instilling that back into our community and to our membership. And that my one true dream of all is that the hope will never die and that we’ll always have one another to rely on, you know, and that even through disagreement, we don’t have to have a hate for one another, but we can learn from one another and see where one another are coming from and in a positive and a good way and through patience and perseverance that we will all come to a greater good for what’s best for our membership, our community and our tribe as a whole and also for our employees. So, saying that, I just wanna give my thanks to my family, to God up above and to the ones who paved the way for us, our ancestors that brought us here to where we are sitting here today as the Muckleshoot Tribe and a successful tribe as that and the councilmen before us and the councilmen to come, that we can keep that light and that vision and that dream alive and that we

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can learn more to rely on one another and that this isn’t just a Tribal Council level, but this is in a community level that we all have to reach as a team, you know, with all of our players being from the membership to the top leaders like Tribal Council. So, I think with that, I think I’m gonna end. Are you gonna continue fishing? Well, I promised to people just on a handshake and a cuff [sounds like] that I would not be a fisherman that was gonna be out there and being our biggest competitor, but to be more of a community service fisherman, that my proceeds will go to the Shaker Church, which I belong to, as a Shaker man and to our tribal elders and to families who don’t have fishermen in their family. But, I believe that it is such a way of life for me that it would be hard and unfair to myself to stop fishing as a whole, but to be self-sustaining as a living for it, yes, I will stop doing that. But, I’m still gonna be a fisherman out there that is gonna be a subsistence fisherman for our community and for the people who don’t have fishermen in their families. And I hope to see everybody out there and that we can all be able to sit and visit and talk and I’m gonna share ideas and not only that, but I will also have an open-door policy that I want people not to be afraid to come and speak to me and tell me their ideas and their visions and the way that they see things, because I believe that everybody has something to offer, if you just take the time to sit and listen. And I hope I can be that ear to sit and listen to those things and those ideas and hopefully, try to find a solution for them, if at all possible. [end of Louie Ungaro-040412a] Well, I’m really gonna be piggybacking along my committees and looking for their guidance and they’re actually just running my committees as a chair and being the chair and running my meetings and actually really advocating with them on a level and having trust within them to make the decision to where I can take it upstairs to the next level and be able to bring it to the rest of the Tribal Council, so we can kick it around and discuss it and make that decision at that level. But, I’m really gonna be relying on my committees and working with them and I’m excited about these next three years. I really feel good about it and I feel that we can all work together as a team and be an advocate at the Tribal Council level for my committees and build that relationship with trust and hope within each and every one of us and even on a confidential level, but still be able to be open and be able to voice their concerns and still walk out of the room and have a relationship when we leave there, whether we agree or disagree. [end of Louie Ungaro-040412b]

Traditional Springer Drive Held on White River (published in August 2012 Muckleshoot Monthly)

It was an opportunity that was just too good to miss: The Corps of Engineers had lowered White River water levels to do some repair work farther upstream and the Spring Chinook were running – a perfect setup for a good old-fashioned fish drive! When advised of the possibility by staff, the Muckleshoot Fisheries Commission didn’t hesitate and scheduled two days of fishing for July 17 & 18. For some of the sure-footed older fishers, getting into that cool water with spear, gaff hook or net in hand was like wading back in time, to their youthful origins when they stood with the elders of the day that led them in rebellion during the era of the Fish Wars. For the younger set, it was a totally new experience, and feeling the river tugging on their legs and the roundness of the stones beneath their feet was a baptism of sorts. And they, too, were traveling back to their origins. It was especially touching to see fathers and sons standing side-by-side, poised, ready and alert. Meanwhile, back on the shore, the elders awaited their return... Louie Ungaro, Chair of the Muckleshoot Fisheries Commission, shares some thoughts on those two special days: The Springer Drive has been a long time coming. These fish were really special to our people back when all of the rivers ran together. I hear stories from my grandmother and my mom, and a lot of my elders, about how special that time of year was. The Springers are the first salmon that hits the river and, when word got out around the community, all of the families would grab their nets and their gaffs and go down to the river to harvest them. This year’s Springer Drive was a real special occasion for me and my family, and for our reservation, and the people in our community. It was so good to see everybody come together in a nice, happy way. Everybody was so happy. They had their gaff hooks and their spears and their dip nets, and their nets to actually drift with. Everybody came together and jumped in the water and worked together. Those two days were so special for us as an Indian people – for everybody who participated in the fish drive, for everybody who stood on the shore, and for all who shared the potluck afterward. In doing this, we were actually honoring our ancestors, our people who’ve gone on before us, our people who fought through the Boldt Decision, and fought through the Indian Fish Wars. All of these things honor our people, going all the way back to our treaty days, and all the way before that. We were honoring all of our ancestors who used to do this as their way of life, and I thank the Lord for bringing us all together. You know, I sat there and pondered on it for awhile, sitting and just observing everybody – watching, listening to the stories, seeing all the smiles on everybody’s faces, and all of the kids, and the people watching out for other people’s kids. It was an honor for me to get to go down and hang out with some of their little boys and take them down to the river and bring them fishing

with me and my son. Seeing the community come together in this way warmed my heart. You know, I didn’t see one little kid cry for two days. I didn’t see any arguments. I didn’t see anybody upset. Everybody I saw was really happy, and I could feel that happiness. I could feel the presence of our ancestors being there and walking down the shores with us. Practicing our treaty rights and our sovereignty as we did on those two days is something that there needs to be more of, and not just with the Springer Drive. Practicing your treaty rights is always honoring your ancestors, whether it’s fishing with your children, or going out gillnetting, or heading up in the mountains to pick huckleberries, or harvesting roots or other kinds of plants, or anything like that. We can do these things today because they were included in the treaties that our ancestors signed. They actually thought far enough ahead to where, in 2012, we can still do the things they did. Because of their wisdom and foresight, we can know what an honor it is to be a Native American with treaties, and how special it really is, and how good it makes you feel in your heart to do these things. It’s the healing that our people need. It’s what’s going to get us back to where we need to be as an Indian people in 2012.  

Making  New  Memories  in  Muckleshoot’s  Mountains  (published  in  Muckleshoot  Monthly  August  2014)  

 On  August  8  &  9th,  2014  Hancock  Forestry  hosted  the  first  annual  Muckleshoot  Community  Day.    Witnessing  what  took  place  over  those  two  days  and  the  months  of  truly  thoughtful  preparation  brought  out  many  reflections.    The  first  thing  that  comes  to  mind  is  the  gratitude  in  my  heart  for  our  ancestors  and  those  leaders  before  us  who  had  such  a  strong  vision  and  commitment  to  setting  us  up  for  success  in  being  able  to  have  the  way  opened  for  us  to  take  the  opportunity  to  purchase  96,000  acres  of  our  traditional  homelands,  just  0.5%  of  what  our  lands  once  were  before  we  ceded  it  to  the  United  States  Government.    Although,  even  in  that  moment,  when  our  ancestors  gathered  to  negotiate  the  treaties,  they  knew  we  would  be  here  at  this  time  and  they  knew  the  right  thing  to  do.    For  this  I  thank  God,  and  the  ones  who  came  before  me,  the  councils  that  spent  conservatively  and  came  before  todays  tribal  council,  the  folks  who  made  sure  we  made  it  through  courtroom  battles  that  directly  affected  our  identity  like  the  Indian  Determination  Act  of  1975  and  the  Boldt  Decision  of  1974-­‐  all  of  these  battles  our  blood,  the  same  blood  coursing  through  the  fabric  of  this  community,  stood  for  and  carried  the  forethought  of  a  time  when  our  community  would  be  presented  an  opportunity  like  the  purchase  of  this  land.        This  vision,  a  true  blessing,  was  surely  present  for  those  two  beautiful  August  days  as  we  gathered  to  take  a  look  and  spend  time  in  our  new  acquisition.    It  could  be  found  in  the  food  that  was  harvested  from  that  very  same  watershed-­‐  the  salmon,  the  elk  and  deer,  the  berries  and  medicines  that  were  presented  on  our  plates.    It  could  be  found  in  the  stories  and  testimonies  that  were  shared-­‐  recalling  a  time  not  that  long  ago  when  the  people  would  put  away  their  boats  at  the  end  of  the  fishing  season  and  head  towards  the  hills  to  log.    That  opportunity  exists  again  today,  and  this  time  we  are  the  managers  driving  a  process  to  restore  a  way  of  life  that  is  healthy  and  honorable.    What  a  great  moment  for  Muckleshoot  and  what  a  statement  to  make-­‐  it  took  a  little  over  165  years  and  here  we  are  bringing  those  homelands  back  to  the  people,  the  people  who  have  managed  it  for  thousands  of  years.    It  brings  hope  to  our  people,  our  extended  family  and  our  relatives-­‐  the  plants,  the  animals,  the  fish,  the  trees  and  the  water  that  deserve  to  thrive  in  those  hills.        We  have  the  opportunity  to  be  stronger  activists  now  more  than  ever,  picking  up  the  responsibility  of  our  ancestors  to  be  powerful  advocates  for  those  relatives  and  taking  on  the  knowledge  of  how  to  cultivate  the  land  in  such  a  way  that  our  future  distant  community  members  can  thrive  here  as  well-­‐  as  those  who  came  before  us  have  done.    We  can  do  this  by  using  sustainable  forestry  practices  and  cultivating  the  land  with  our  traditional  ecological  knowledge  driving  the  work,  reawakening  and  teaching  our  future  generations.    In  this  way,  we  can  heal  from  the  assimilation  our  people  have  endured  in  being  disconnected  from  these  practices  as  well  as  these  homelands,  here  in  this  opportunity,  in  this  gift-­‐  as  our  people  have  done  for  thousands  of  year’s  pre-­‐treaty  times.    This  is  now  secured;  we  no  longer  need  to  ask  

permission  from  the  state  or  other  landowners,  to  access  the  trails  our  ancestors  still  walk  in  this  drainage  ever  again.    We  give  free  keys,  stickers  and  access  permits  through  the  wildlife  department  to  tribal  members  to  get  up  there.        I  am  not  sure  the  last  time  our  Indian  people  were  up  there  cooking  salmon  on  a  stick  in  that  way.    Creating  this  new  memory,  inspired  from  a  not  so  distant  past  helped  me  to  remember  the  puzzle  we  are  all  a  part  of.    How  we  are  all  needed  in  order  to  set  the  table,  restore  our  communities  health  and  uphold  the  responsibilities  that  come  with  treaty  rights.    With  that,  I  strongly  encourage  you  to  access  your  homeland  and  to  visit  with  your  family  and  environmental  relatives,  to  get  grounded  in  the  medicine  that  quietly  awaits  your  visit  in  those  lands.        I  want  to  thank  all  of  the  ones  who  participated  in  this  community  event.    The  cooks  who  come  and  prepared  traditional  foods,  the  ones  that  participated  from  fisheries  and  wildlife,  the  loggers  who  showed  up  to  speak  to  the  youth  who  were  interested  in  job  opportunities,  to  the  youth  crew  that  built  the  trail  system.    That  took  a  lot  of  hard  work,  and  completed  the  puzzle.    With  this  being  done  hopefully  it  will  awaken  that  voice  in  your  heart  and  spirit,  the  voice  that  we  all  need  and  that  is  a  sense  of  community,  togetherness  and  family.    Everybody  had  to  come  together  for  this  to  work,  not  one  piece  was  missing.  Every  little  piece  connected,  made  this  a  successful  event.  That  it  was.    Our  ancestors  are  out  there,  wandering  these  lands  forever…  as  we  will  be  and  this  is  how  we  can  become  the  cultivators  as  our  ancestors  once  were.    Thanking  God  and  giving  Him  all  the  glory.      

The  Social  Fabric  of  a  Community  By  Louie  Ungaro  

 “I   believe   that   our   community’s   first   resource   is   the   people,   and   that   it   is   our  

responsibility  to  protect  and  be  good  stewards  to  the   land,  ourselves,  each  other  and  our  religions-­‐  all  of  which  are  a  legacy  left  for  us  by  our  Ancestors.”    

 On  July  21-­‐22nd,  hundreds  of  Muckleshoot  community  members  gathered  on  the  

White   River   to   participate   and   witness   the   work   of   our   second   Annual   Springer  Drive.     The   weather   was   beautiful,   several   Spring   Chinook   blessed   us   with   their  presence  and  perhaps  most  importantly  we  took  the  opportunity  to  come  together  as  a  community  and  practice  our  culture,  strengthening  our  sovereignty.    

 It  took  several  months  of  collaborative  efforts  with  the  Army  Corps  of  Engineers,  

the   Fish   Commission   and   our   tribal   Fisheries   department   in   order   to   make   this  event  happen.    Every  year  Army  Corps   repairs   tunnels   in   the  Mud  Mountain  Dam,  located   just   upriver   from   our   Springer   Drive   gatherings.     Because   Mud  Mountain  Dam  was  constructed  in  1947,  after  the  Flood  Control  Act  of  1936  was  passed-­‐  it  is  in   need   of   closely   managed   maintenance.     However,   because   we   won   the   water  rights  on  our  traditional  and  accustomed  river  systems  our  voices  are  required  to  be  at  tables  where  discussions  around  the  dam  maintenance  happen.    Lowering  water  levels   are   of   particular   interest,   as   it   provides   an   opportunity   for   us   to   practice   a  form  of  fisheries  that  have  existed  for  thousands  of  years.    

 As   a   young   man,   I   heard   testimony   shared   by   my   Mother   and   Grandmother  

recalling   a   time   not   so   long   ago  when   the   community  would   gather   down   on   the  river   each   year   with   their   nets   and   spears   to   celebrate   the   return   of   the  Springers.    We  would  work   together,   construct   campsites   and   spend   our   summer  days   gaffing   these   precious   fish.     My   Mother   remembers   seeing   Lawrence   Starr  heading  towards  the  river  behind  the  Shaker  Church  with  his  rifle  and  a  spear  and  returning  with  a  fresh  caught  salmon  in  one  hand  and  a  deer  on  his  back.    

 In   recent   discussion   with   Sqialupcub   (Hoagie   King   George)   he   shared   a   story  

with  me  about  fishermen  racing  to  see  who  could  spear  the  first  Springer.    He  recalls  Buddy   Lozier   always   being   the   first   to   spear   one.     This   story   stands   out   to  me   in  particular  because  at  one  point  during  this  years  drive  I  had  a  hold  of  the  net,  along  with  Bud  Moses,   and  when  we  pulled   it   across,   scaring  up   the  Springers   in   to   the  riffle,   one   of   Buddy   Loziers   direct   descendants  was   standing   there   and   gaffed   the  first  fish.    It  was  in  that  moment  I  felt  the  presence  of  our  Ancestors  with  us,  proudly  watching   their   descendants   carrying   on   with   the   work   they   dedicated   their   lives  to.     This   brought   joyful   tears   to   my   eyes   to   witness   this   work   and   feel   such  presence.        

 It   is  the  unity  of  these  Ancestral  actions  that  truly  hold  us  together  as  a  people  

and   that   was   mirrored   in   the   work   of   bringing   us   all   together   on   the   river   last  

month.    The  young  ones  were  assisting  the  Elders,  and  the  Elders  were  assisting  the  young  people.    Folks  showed  up  to  potlatch-­‐  sharing  food,  stories,  prayer  and  a  good  feeling   in   their   spirit.     It   is   this   type   of   opportunity   that   brings   us   together   in  solidarity  and  weaves  together  the  social  fabric  of  our  Muckleshoot  people  making  us  strong  in  body,  mind  and  spirit.    We  have  the  salmon  people  to  thank  for  such  an  opportunity,   our   teachers   who   remind   us   of   the   unity   we   hold   with   all   living  things.          

 These   types  of   gatherings,  with   that  much  enthusiasm  and   support,   absolutely  

need   to   happen   throughout   the   year.     I   am   reminded   of   how   we   are   a   seasonal  people   and  when   the   salmon   run  we  are   in   the   river  with   them,   just   as  when   the  berries  are  ripe  we  gather  in  the  high  mountain  meadows  and  when  the  four  legged  are  ready  to  be  harvested  we  are  on  the  landscape  in  their  pursuit.    By  following  the  lead  of  our   foods,  we  honor   the  practices  of  our  Ancestors  and  simultaneously  we  strengthen   our   sovereignty   by   actively   exercising   our   treaty   rights.     In   return,  we  are   gifted   with   memories   of   not   just   today   but   also   a   distant   passed-­‐   and   those  memories  heal  us,  reminding  us  of  who  we  are  and  the  stewardship  responsibilities  we   carry   with   the   land.     It   activates   what   is   inside   of   each   and   every   one   of   us,  breathing  life  in  to  us.  

 I  want  to  thank  everyone  who  helped  to  set  this  up.    Public  works  and  Fisheries  

made  sure  the  land  was  cleared  and  prepared  for  us  to  have  a  safe  couple  of  days  on  the   banks.   For   those   who   stayed   behind   to   clean   up,   those   who   took   part   in   the  work,  those  of  you  who  made  gaff  hooks  and  harvested  the  materials  for  people  to  learn,  everyone  who  shared  stories,  prayers,  potlucked  and  potlatched,  you  lift  us  all  up.    You  are  the  reason  this  event  was  so  beautiful.    I’d  also  like  to  thank  the  Salmon  People  and  our  Ancestors  who  were  with  us,  walking  on  the  riverbank,  blessing  our  actions  and  making  sure  the  way  for  this  work  was  open.  

 Thanking  God  and  Giving  God  all  of  the  praise  and  glory,  

Louie  Ungaro  

Growing Opportunities for Today and Future Generations (published in Muckleshoot Monthly December 2014)

The Muckleshoot Tribe purchased the Tomanamus Forest (formerly known as the White River Forest) in November of 2013. In a short amount of time and under the direction of the Forestry Board, numerous initiatives have been instantiated with the intention to increase involvement of Muckleshoot tribal members in all aspects of natural resources management- including state, federal, private, and tribal systems. Much progress has been made in just one year and numerous members have been involved in both the implementation and participation of these initiatives which are centered around three focus areas: education, outreach, and opportunity. So far, many strides have been made in the education focus through the implementation of a comprehensive natural resource curriculum that is offered at the Muckleshoot Tribal School and is offered from kindergarten through high school and also includes a complimentary transition to college level study. This has been done through a partnership with “Project Learning Tree”; a natural resource based supplemental curriculum that integrates scientist principal with hands on field experience is being implemented. The program not only provides for a natural resources education platform but also results in increased test scores on standardized tests. A grant was written in support of this program and was awarded $150,000. The results are students that have a solid footing in science, math, and the language arts to allow for success in natural resources based degree programs. To further ensure success of the education component we are developing programs with local institutions. This includes multiple meetings with the University of Washington and Green River Community College to develop seamless programs allowing for the successful transition from high school to college. Specifically the opportunities at Green River Community College will include concentrated courses allowing for completion of courses in shorter duration than traditional course, and allowing for on job training to count for credit. Further, there is the opportunity for the Muckleshoot to host a Muckleshoot student dorm. Another aspect of education is on the job trade learning opportunities. There are a variety of contractors that have professional and trade positions open to Muckleshoot members that working on the Tomanamus Forest. These positions, include timber cruiser, summer stewardship youth crew, summer intern assistant forester, equipment operator, logging crew, road maintenance crew, forest technician, silviculture crew. Approximately 13 members have worked on a part time basis and another 12 members are currently working on a full time basis. Each is gaining valuable experience that will allow for employment in the various facets of natural resources management. Outreach to Muckleshoot members has been ongoing through a number of avenues and include the following:

o Students at the Tribal School will learn more about natural resources opportunities at Native American career day and will also experience these through direct interaction with professional resources managers.

o A stewardship club K-12, designed as an enrichment program to introduce natural resources management into the classroom through hands on participation in the

classroom and afield will be implemented this school year. The initial project will be the Christmas Tree Farm Project from plan to harvest.

o A natural resources summer youth camp will be established the summer of 2015. o The first annual Muckleshoot Forest Community Field Day event was held Friday 8/8

and Saturday 8/9. The Community Field Day was an opportunity to experience the Tomanamus Forest, including forest management through informational booths, presentations, and live demonstrations.

Opportunity development in the form of jobs and contract opportunities has also been ongoing. These include development of Muckleshoot contractors for road silviculture, security, and harvesting. Results have been positive. Currently, two Muckleshoot owned businesses are active on the Tomanamus Forest and another two other business relationships are in process. The emphasis and focus has and will continue to be on developing Muckleshoot member businesses. Further opportunity includes maintaining and building on the Muckleshoot cultural tie to the land, through the Cultural Plant Project and Cultural Area Project. The cultural Plant Project will result in the development of written materials that present information on culturally important plants, their ethno-botanical uses and tribal resources that guide readers to finding more in-depth information from community members who hold plant knowledge. Workshops for Muckleshoot members to gain skills in plant identification, basic plant uses, and sustainable harvest techniques will also be implemented. Further forest management practices will include inventorying, mapping, and cultural plants. The Cultural Area Project will result in maps of cultural areas such as historical trails. The desire is to increase ease of access and protect these areas for Muckleshoot Tribal members, as well as aid the management of the forest. This will be a project that documents the Muckleshoot’s relationship to the forest past, present and future and that tells the story of the Muckleshoot Tribe's relationship with the fores t and mountains. The purchase of the Tomanamus Forest has been and will continue to benefit future generations well into the future. With focus, dedication and strong collaboration, Muckleshoot professionals and Muckleshoot owned businesses involved in natural resource management are becoming a reality. As this writing portrays, many large strides have been made in a short amount of time and we are proud of this progress. Clearly, the purchase of the Tomanamus Forest is an opportunity to continue the Muckleshoot legacy of active management and stewardship of the land and we are driven to cultivating those relationships between the land, the people and future generations.