MUCKLESHOOT MESSENGER

Muckleshoot indian reservation, wash.
From the Front Page

Councilwoman Virginia Cross Honored at Centennial Accord Meeting

Councilwoman Virginia Cross was an original signatory of the1989 Centennial Accord. She was honored by Governor Inslee andTribal leaders at a meeting that took place this Summer over two days at House of Awakened Culture, Suquamish Reservation.

SUQUAMISH — Muckleshoot Tribal Councilwoman Virginia Cross received recognition from Gov. Jay Inslee and Tribal leaders from around the state at the Centennial Accord meeting this year. Cross was an original signatory of the 1989 Centennial Accord, which was a formal commitment to implement government-to-government relations between Washington’s Federally Recognized Tribes and the State.

Governor Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire, who was Washington State Attorney General at the time, joined Tribal chairs from throughout the state in 1999, on the eve of the new Millennium, to reaffirm the Accord and agreed to implement the terms of the Accord on a day-to-day basis.

"It is critical for people to realize that the establishment and continued function of the state of Washington is based on contracts, or treaties, with the Native American nations. As we enter the new millennium, we must all understand that these contracts are the law of the land, as defined in the Constitution of the United States," Gregoire said.

The intent of the 1989 Accord continues today in no small part because Tribal leaders such as Cross, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s longest serving Council member, have been unrelenting in holding the state accountable to its promises.

More from This Edition

view pdf

More from the Messenger

October 2025
Edition

Tribal Council Elections: Dates to Remember

In preparation of the 2026 Tribal Council Election, Muckleshoot Tribal members should familiarize themselves with the following important dates

read article
October 2025
Edition

City of Seattle Tribal Nations Summit

On September 16th, Mayor Harrell joined Tribal leaders, City officials, and community partners at the second Biennial City of Seattle and Tribal Nations summit.

read article
October 2025
Edition

Tribal Councilwoman Garcia-Jones Meets with Congressional Leaders

Secretary Jessica Garcia-Jones traveled this summer to meet with several important political figures including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (KY).

read article
October 2025
Edition

Federal Hatchery Funding Restored

As we enter the season of harvest and preparation for the colder months that follow, we know that many in the community are busy exercising our Treaty-protected rights to fill their freezers with fish and game to carry us through the year.

read article

About the Muckleshoot Messenger

The Muckleshoot Messenger is a Tribal publication created by the Muckleshoot Office of Media Services. Tribal community members and Tribal employees are welcome to submit items to the newspaper such as news, calendar items, photos, poems, and artwork.


Submit Feedback About the messenger