I read the Wednesday article regarding the leased land by the Tulalip Tribes with sadness. At one time I had the pleasure of living on Mission Beach.
While I have respect for the Tulalip Tribes of the past, I’m not sure I do today. If Glen Gobin does not accept a meeting, how does he know they are unwilling to recognize the tribes’ sovereignty?
This is not a situation, from what I can see, of us against them. This is a situation of doing what’s right. For years, people leased the land, bringing in a nice amount of money for the tribe.
The 2004 Tulalip Hazard Mitigation Plan, which can be found on the tribes’ Web site, states that the communities that are extremely vulnerable to landslides are Tulalip Shores, Tulare Beach and Sunny Shores. There is no mention of Mission Beach.
It is not that the people who lease the land don’t recognize the tribes’ sovereignty. It’s that the Tulalip Tribes have become what they have accused the white man of – being greedy. Would they be asked to leave if Wal-Mart and Home Depot had not come to town, helping to create Quil Ceda Village? What about the casino and the amphitheatre? All of this is bringing in quite a nice amount of cash for the tribe. If none of those were around today, would the people be asked to leave?
Either let them stay or do the decent thing and buy their houses. Goodness knows they have enough money to do so.
Ann Gibson
Everett
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