
The Muckleshoot Easter Weekend Sla-Hal celebration returned to the White River Amphitheatre April 3–5, bringing together families, players, and visitors from across Indian Country for a weekend of community and competition.
Throughout the weekend, the grounds were filled with songs, laughter and visiting as families gathered around the games and spent time together. Saturday’s main stick game tournament drew large crowds as teams competed for cash prizes, while open games continued throughout the weekend.
Sla-Hal, also known as the stick game or bone game, has been played by the Muckleshoot people and other Coast Salish Tribes since time immemorial. Long before modern casinos, the game was one of the earliest traditional forms of gambling among Native people and continues to bring communities together.
Topping things off was Sunday morning’s Easter egg hunt, which brought smiles to all the youth.
Photos from the weekend captured moments of competition, celebration and families enjoying time together during another successful Easter Weekend Sla-Hal gathering.

The Seattle Mariners have announced a long-term, multi-faceted partnership with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and its Tribal enterprise, the Muckleshoot Casino Resort.

120 canoes and well over 10,000 people came to our territory for Paddle to Muckleshoot 2023. Enjoy a selection of the many thousands of pictures shared by professional photographers as well as Tribal member attendees.

Chairman Jaison Elkins thanks all involved in making the Paddle to Muckleshoot such a success; John Daniels, Jr. offers words of encouragement and appreciation to Tribal Dads, Donny Stevenson reflects on a new age of Indigenous excellence.

Joseph Martin, Muckleshoot Tribal Education Officer, shares an overview of Muckleshoot graduates including high school and college graduates, and all-time record number of graduates from Muckleshoot Department of Education programs.
The Muckleshoot Messenger is a monthly Tribal publication. Tribal community members and Tribal employees are welcome to submit items to the newspaper such as announcements, birth news, birthday shoutouts, community highlights, and more. We want to hear from you!