LITTLE BOSTON — Two new members have joined two re-elected members on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Council. Elections were July 9. Kyle Carpenter and Dawn Mae Purser took their oaths with re-elected Jaime Aikman and Chris Tom.
Carpenter, a Head Start teacher for the Tribe, said, “I have the overwhelming task of teaching these children, right from wrong, what is fair, sympathy and empathy by being a role model in the classroom and in the community to the most fragile minds in our Tribe. I know the importance of our children and how we now make decisions that impact our future generations.”
Purser wrote, “It is our responsibility as Tribal Council to represent and serve our membership as thoughtfully and respectfully as we can.”
Aikman wrote, “My focus remains on the health and safety of our community and on providing services and programs.”
Chris Tom was re-elected as vice chair, and wrote, “I am proud that I am a Tribal fisherman and my family, like many other Tribal families, depends on our fishing and hunting rights for our livelihood. My loyalties are with our Tribe and Tribal people and if re-elected, I will continue to fight for our families now and in the future.”
The four join council member Eugene Purser and Chairman Jeromy Sullivan.