Shelter Bay lease forum held at Swinomish

Since 2015 talks had stalled regarding negotiation of a new master lease between Shelter Bay and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Now folks are talking again.

Shelter Bay and Swinomish residents and leaders last week attended the first of planned traditional Native American open floor discussions hosted by lease consultants Dr. Wil James and Ava Goodman at the tribal social services building.

Most came away with a positive view of the three-hour session, which invited a frank but respectful dialogue stressing common ground approaches to solving complex issues.

“The 900-pound gorilla in the room is the lease,” acknowledged Shelter Bay board member Monte Hicks. Because it expires in 2044, banks will not write 30-year mortgages. That is a difficulty for potential homebuyers.

Hicks added a Shelter Bay infrastructure upgrade need: the continuing closure of its more than half century-old swimming pools, an issue he suggested could be addressed by Shelter Bay, Swinomish and perhaps the Town of La Conner.

“I’d like to try to work with the tribe and La Conner for a joint pool,” said Hicks, adding that “we need to get more people involved. This is a great place to live.”

Swinomish Tribal Senate Chairman Steve Edwards struck a conciliatory tone in brief remarks from the floor.

“We appreciate you gathering here,” Edwards told the sizeable Shelter Bay contingent. “We respect you and we respect your community. As neighbors, we can get along. I wanted to stop in, just to listen. This is your time to speak and express your feelings. God bless you.”

The goal, said James, a medical doctor, is to secure a new lease that both assures Shelter Bay sustainability and pays Swinomish and individual allotees true market value for the land.

It will be a difficult balancing act, James conceded.

“With a new master lease,” he said, “home values will go up. But not everybody living in Shelter Bay currently will be able to pay the new rate.

“This is,” he stressed, “the most beautiful place in the world.”

Several Shelter Bay residents said they appreciate residing on tribal land and have enjoyed the cultural diversity and becoming acquainted with Swinomish traditions. A number said they had volunteered at Canoe Journey a decade ago and attended annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies.

One, saying he has lived at Shelter Bay since 2019, called it a “magical, unbelievable, special place.”

“Any knot,” he insisted, “can be untied if we work together. You can get quite a lot if you work together.”

Swinomish Senate Vice-Chair J.J. Wilbur and tribal member Jay Bowen, a local artist, provided unique perspectives as Shelter Bay homeowners.

“When the Shelter Bay deal was signed,” said Wilbur, who represents the Shelter Bay director district on La Conner’s school board, “it provided a little more income for our people other than federal aid. We don’t want to see Shelter Bay go away. We’re going to keep working on this on our side.”

“As a homeowner in Shelter Bay with family ties in the (Swinomish) village, I have a high stake in this community,” said Bowen, who served as sergeant-at-arms for the Tuesday forum. “I have cousins who are (Shelter Bay) leaseholders, who live on that money.”

Tony Cladoosby, older brother of former longtime Swinomish Tribal Senate Chair president Brian Cladoosby, struck a humorous chord speaking as one of four official open floor witnesses.

Cladoosby drew laughter, noting as he looked around the room that he saw “persons of a certain age” who likely won’t be affected when the present lease expires in just over two decades.

“It’s good that you have your sense of humor,” he said, quickly switching to a more serious tone.

“We opened our front door to you,” said Cladoosby, pointing out that the Shelter Bay entrance sign is one of the first things seen by visitors to Swinomish Reservation.

“We don’t want you to leave,” he said, expressing the hope residents can pass homes to their heirs.

James and Goodman, who reside in Shelter Bay and have deep Swinomish roots, were retained two years ago, at $10,000 per month, to break what had become a lengthy impasse in negotiations.

They have conducted numerous personal outreaches and developed YouTube videos outlining the history of Shelter Bay’s the master lease’s development.

“Shelter Bay didn’t cost the Swinomish Tribal Community anything other than deferred rent,” James said. “At the time, Swinomish didn’t have any money. Shelter Bay has upheld for the most part its end of the bargain.

James said that historical trauma related to Native Americans and land has some questioning whether the lease should have been entered into in the first place.

He is not in that camp.

“Their initial response is to take it back,” he said. “But I have to trust that my ancestors who made this deal acted in the best interests of my people.

“I believe in the future,” said James. “It’s not 2044. Our ancestors made the deal and left the responsibility to us.”