City Council honors tribal leaders amid significant losses

During a recent meeting of the Pallisville City Council, members engaged in significant discussions surrounding community relations and local projects. The meeting commenced with a poignant land acknowledgment by Councilman Stern, recognizing the ancestral lands of the Suquamish people and honoring the recent loss of key tribal members, including elder Aggie Pratt and carver Duane Pascoe. Stern emphasized the importance of these acknowledgments in fostering inclusivity within the council's discussions and actions.

The council also approved an amended agenda that included a resolution committing funding for the Nordic Cottage project, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance community infrastructure. Following the agenda approval, the council moved to citizen comments, but no public input was received.

In the mayor's reports, Councilwoman Crow expressed gratitude for the cooperation with the Miss West Sound Scholarship Program, which will utilize the council chambers for its events. The council discussed quorum requirements for an upcoming graveside ceremony honoring Chief Seattle, scheduled for Saturday.

Councilman McVeigh shared reflections from his recent travels in Europe, advocating for improved mass transit and pedestrian-friendly initiatives in Pallisville, inspired by European practices. The council also reviewed updates from the intergovernmental committee meeting with the Suquamish tribe, which focused on collaborative projects, including the expansion of the Olympic College Regional Allied Health Center and discussions about honoring the tribe with banners on Front Street for Treaty Day in January.

The meeting concluded with a brief executive session regarding potential and existing litigation, followed by the approval of routine consent agenda items. The council's commitment to community engagement and collaboration with the Suquamish tribe remains a focal point in their ongoing discussions.