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.