This time of year, we see the season change, and our students and the community continue to progress. As graduation season approaches, we hope you and your family are ready to celebrate.

Similar to last month, national news headlines have been turbulent. Muckleshoot Tribal Council is closely monitoring actions coming from D.C. and listening to the concerns of our people. This Spring, Muckleshoot Tribal Council sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. to carry your voice to key Senators and Members of Congress.

A priority that the Muckleshoot Tribal Council advocated for is the protection of the Head Start program. We took immediate action when our Intergovernmental Affairs and D.C. teams raised the alarm about the current Administration’s consideration of eliminating the Head Start program. As one of the first tribal Head Start programs in the country, Muckleshoot proudly shared our history and success delivering comprehensive child development services and support to our children and families. Members on both sides of the political spectrum understood the importance of Head Start and were impressed with how Muckleshoot’s program provides a foundation for our community. We are pleased to share that your voice successfully reached D.C., and the President’s Budget Request to Congress did not include the proposal to eliminate Head Start.

The Tribal Council also discussed rising concerns about the current Administration’s ambitious plan to reorganize the Department of the Interior and Department of Health and Human Services. These departments play a significant role in fulfilling the federal government’s treaty and trust responsibilities to protect the health, land, resources, sovereignty, self-determination of the Muckleshoot Tribe. Muckleshoot Tribal Council communicated to our federal partners that any plans or significant changes to programs or services to tribal nations need robust tribal consultation and incorporate recommendations from the Muckleshoot Tribe. We will continue advocating for the Muckleshoot Tribe’s self-determination during this process.

Muckleshoot Tribal Council continues to actively advocate for our fisheries. Caught in the transition of this Administration are funds that support our hatcheries and federally-approved assistance to address previous fishery disasters. Like many funds across the federal government, these are queued for review by the new Administration and require additional approvals according to recent executive orders. Muckleshoot Tribal Council communicated with our federal partners that this funding is critical to ensure the continued success of our fisheries, and we will continue working in a bipartisan manner to support our hatcheries and tribal members.

There is a lot of action and discussion occurring both locally and nationally. The Muckleshoot Tribal Council is actively engaged in D.C. and will continue asserting our treaty rights and trust obligations with our federal partners to ensure that Muckleshoot’s sovereign priorities are supported and our voice is heard.

We wish you all a happy and safe graduation season.

— Muckleshoot Tribal Council

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