Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe issues charitable contributions

Darrington The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe awarded a total of $12,500 with five deserving organizations in the Darrington community receiving $2,500 each on Friday, March 2.

Darrington The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe awarded a total of $12,500 with five deserving organizations in the Darrington community receiving $2,500 each on Friday, March 2.
This is the second year the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe has presented Charitable Contribution Awards for those organizations helping others.
Among the recipients of $2,500 contributions from the Tribe were Larry Johnson, Superintendent of the Darrington School District; Steve Eksrand and Ian Morgan of the Darrington Fire Department No. 24; Ray and Mikey Colman of the Darrington Volunteer Ambulance Association; Martha Rasmussen of the CWA Mansford Grange No. 710; and Diane Boyd and Denise Baird of the Darrington Community Center.
The Tribe chose from a total of 14 applications.
One of the recipients, President of the Darrington Community Center Diane Boyd shared a little history with those in attendance.
The Darrington Community Center was built by the Darrington community 50 years ago, she said.
The heritage of this building is years of entertainment such as sports activities, family reunions, gatherings and celebrations. Monies provided by the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe will be used to replenish kitchen supplies and for repairs, she said.
Another recipient, the Superintendent of the Darrington School District, Larry Johnson said that his share of the distribution will go toward new wrestling mats for the athletic department of the school district.
The wrestling program has improved considerably and the new mats are sorely needed, he said.
Sauk-Suiattle Chairwoman Janice Mabee began her opening remarks with a reference to the meaning of sharing.
Our beliefs about sharing were once taught to our young ones by our tribal elders, she said. Now this assembly of community representatives serves as a reminder to all that the culture of sharing with others refers to the integrated society of today, she said.
Mabee added that the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe takes great pride in awarding these funds to help its neighbors for the good of the community.
As its tradition teaches, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe shares its resources by treating recipients to a salmon dinner and listening to a traditional elder give a blessing.
Vi Hilbert, an 89-year-old a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe who was born in 1918, gave the blessing in her Native Lushootseed language and in English.