By Katie Manzanares

Muckleshoot Tribal Council Secretary Jessica Garcia-Jones and Councilmember Louie Ungaro traveled to San Diego, California, Aug.7-8 to represent the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe at the DCCC Leader’s Circle Weekend and Issues Conference at Torrey Pines.

Throughout the weekend, our Tribal leaders had the opportunity to connect with congressional leaders and candidates from across the country, strengthening relationships and bringing Muckleshoot priorities directly into conversations with current and future federal leaders.

Among the issues important to Muckleshoot are protecting our treaty-reserved fishing rights and salmon, defending Tribal sovereignty and gaming, and ensuring federal funding and policies continue to uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations.

For our people, having a voice in these spaces matters. Our ancestors fought to protect our rights and sovereignty, and today that work continues by showing up, building relationships and making sure Muckleshoot priorities are heard by those making decisions that impact Indian Country.

We are proud to see Muckleshoot represented and our leaders continuing to advocate for our people, our sovereignty and generations to come.