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Pierce County puts focus on tribal relations

The goal is to foster respect between county and tribal governments.
Puyallup Tribe on the Salish Sea

Respecting government-to-government relations with Native American tribes is at the center of a renewed effort in Pierce County.

Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier recognized Puyallup Tribal Councilmember Tim Reynon during his State of the County address this week.

“It's very important that we work together and have that open line of communication," said Reynon, "We all have important needs and important interests that we have to respect.”

Reynon said when people think of Native Americans, they often think about the cultural side. While that is important, he says it’s also imperative to recognize Native American tribes as sovereign nations.

"I think there's a lot of people that don't really recognize that tribes are governments. We govern ourselves," said Reynon.

Economic development may be one of the most visible forces on the Puyallup Reservation with the construction of a new casino underway.

"We contribute millions of millions of dollars to the county economy... to the city’s economy,” said Reynon. He says it's important that county and city governments recognize that.

This year, Pierce County hired its first tribal liaison, Sarah Coleen Sotomish, from the Quinault tribe. "We're going to respect the tribes and we're going to go out and talk to them when we implement laws, policies and procedures that would impact the tribe it's land or it's tribal members."

The goal is foster respect and iron out differences.

"We are living in the same place and we have similar interests, but we are also bumping up against each other and we need to figure out how to live together."

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