Muckleshoot Elder Doris Allen

The Muckleshoot Indian tribe is a mixture of several Native American tribes that have inhabited the region surrounding the White and Green rivers for centuries. The tribe numbers in the thousands, and employs most of its members through fisheries, gaming, small business, and tribal government. The Muckleshoot Tribe is known for their leadership, strong sense of community, and for improving the lives of their people.

The Muckleshoot Senior Services Program, managed by Wendy Burdette, provides supportive services to almost 600 Elders aged 50 years and older. The services offered include congregate and home delivered meals, chore services, transportation, cultural activities, and much more. Says Burdette, "We strive to offer quality services and to maintain a program that captures the voice of our Elders by listening to their concerns and requests, and following through on our end. After all, it is their program, not ours."

Leah Moses weaving a traditional Coast Salish cedar hat _____________________

The 2009 activity highlights included the Traditional Foods Feast, an intergenerational activity that marked an historical renaissance of their traditional foods. According to "Honoring Our Elders—The Creation of a Traditional Foods Feast," which appeared in the February issue of the Muckleshoot Monthly, the tribe's teachings emphasize that the way to offer someone healing is to feed them—and what better way to give love to Elders than to offer them traditional foods? Youth workers from the Muckleshoot Drop-in Center, along with volunteer cook mentors, harvested and prepared the meal, which included duck, goose, salmon, clams, oysters, deer, elk, huckleberries, and huckleberry leaf tea. The event was successful in connecting youth to the traditional ways of their ancestors and the sacrifices they made.

Muckleshoot tribal staff were also instrumental in planning this year's first annual Washington State Tribes Caregiver Conference, held in February at Quinault Beach Resort. The purpose of the conference was to provide information and training for caregivers. Conference workshops covered traumatic brain injury, CPR, first aid, exercise and physical activity, traditional medicine, and cedar weaving. The conference also honored stories, songs, prayers, and traditional cuisine.

The Muckleshoot Tribe partners with Aging and Disability Services (ADS) to provide case management services to the tribe's Elders and community members. For the past four years, Keith Rapacz, an ADS Case Manager, has worked as a liaison, which has helped improve communication between ADS and tribal staff. "My success as a liaison is all about relationship building with clients, their families, and tribal staff," says Rapacz. "Most of the elders I serve have memories of being sent to boarding schools and other past governmental abuses. I respect where they have been, and do my best to foster trust by embracing their vision for their future." Keith was a recipient of the Seattle Human Services Department 2009 Max Award for helping establish a professional relationship with the Muckleshoot Tribe and for developing a case management program specific to their tribal Elders.

Over the past decade, the Muckleshoot Tribe has enhanced development throughout the reservation due in part to revenue generated by their successful gaming enterprise. Among their goals for 2010 are plans to develop a new seniors' facility to include a new senior center, assisted living facility, and condos.

Photos: John Loftus, Muckleshoot Monthly