
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 Port of Seattle and Muckleshoot Indian Tribal Government signed a Memorandum of Agreement on June 29, 2023 that will expand their government-to-government relationship, including regular and structured communication between leadership.

Our very first Canoe Journey since before COVID! On July 30th, around 100 canoes will be landing at Alki Beach in Seattle as Muckleshoot hosts the Inter-Tribal Canoe Journey for the first time since 2006!

Testimonies by the Chairman and Vice Chairman touched on the significance of regional waterways to the Tribe, and the exciting opportunity to educate the public about Muckleshoot heritage and sovereignty through the Seawall Project.

Major accomplishments for the Tribe this year include protecting Tribal gaming, advancing efforts to address MMIWP, and securing state investments in local infrastructure projects in and around the Muckleshoot Reservation.
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!