Members of the Suquamish Tribe made a special appearance at the Jan. 7 Poulsbo City Council meeting, which included a land acknowledgement given by tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman, a traditional song performed by tribal members, and the unveiling of a ceremonial tribal paddle for a second time, displaying reconciliation efforts between the two entities.

The paddle had been given to the city in 2010 and has been on display in City Hall since. But the paddle is now displayed vertically instead of horizontally, as newly elected Mayor Ed Stern said he learned that a horizontal placement of a paddle symbolizes aggression in Native American tradition. The paddle features a carving of a deer and was crafted by J.R. Morrissette, who recently passed away.

The city’s relationship with the tribe dates back to 2005, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both entities. The tribe suspended relationships with the city following the fatal police shooting of Stonechild Chiefstick, who had Suquamish ties, at Poulsbo’s 3rd of July fireworks show in 2019. The two entities resumed their government-to-government relations in 2022.

“Here in the north end, we’re blessed with our closest and oldest neighbors, the Suquamish Tribe,” Stern said at the meeting. “I think today represents a second ‘Red-Letter Day’ of renewal, of hope, of faith, of peace, of deeper understanding and cultural awareness, not only between the city and the tribe, but the people of our community. The journey starts and commences again today. We never arrive; we must renew it.”