
Washington DC — Building and maintaining relationships with state and federal leaders is central to getting things done for Tribal government.
And it is not enough just to focus on our friends at the state, local, and federal levels in the State of Washington; we must expand our relationships beyond its borders and the borders of our ceded territory.

Secretary Jessica Garcia-Jones did just that this summer when she traveled to meet with several important political figures including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (KY), whose name has been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2028.
The meetings gave her the opportunity to spread knowledge about the Muckleshoot Tribe and its Treaty rights while building meaningful relationships for the Tribe in the future. This sort of active diplomacy is at the core of Tribal sovereignty and it is something that every Tribal Councilmember does on a daily basis.

The Muckleshoot Police Department hosted a successful National Night Out 2026 on Aug. 4, bringing families, youth, and community members together for an evening of connection and fun at the MIT Community Center.

This June marked three years since the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe opened the doors to the Community Center and Youth & Teen Center – a milestone that celebrates not just a building, but the growth, connection, and strength of our people.

On Aug. 3, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe was honored to welcome representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to our homelands.

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier visited the Muckleshoot Early Learning Academy on Aug. 7, meeting with Muckleshoot leaders and staff to learn more about the Head Start program and the work being done to support the well-being of Muckleshoot children.
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!