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.
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.
Ten years after signing the Elliott Bay Seawall Memorandum of Agreement, the city and Muckleshoot Tribe have agreed on a building for a Tribal center, located directly across the street from the Seattle Aquarium and the new Waterfront Park.
Fighting brings Shane White Eagle closer to his culture and helped him grow into a leader. He exemplifies the warrior spirit and represents his family, his team, and the Muckleshoot Tribe. Hear from Shane, in his own words.
Mountain to Sound has garnered national recognition and is fully funded through grants. Mountain to Sound is the first and only classroom on federal land in the entire country and is a world class, land-based program in which MTS ...
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!
Please direct Media Inquiries to Muckleshoot Intergovernmental Affairs.
Official Government Website for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
© Muckleshoot Indian Tribe 2026
