Puyallup Tribal Council

Tribal Administration Employee Appreciation Event Returns

Tribal Administration Employee Appreciation Event Returns

The annual Tribal Administration Employee Appreciation Event and BBQ luncheon returned on May 18 for an in-person gathering at the EQC Tacoma Event Center. Employee appreciation kicked off with Tribal Council acknowledging all the hard work the Puyallup Tribe is doing to serve its members. “You start out as employees but in no time at all you become family,” said Chairman Bill Sterud, the now longest serving Councilmember for the Puyallup Tribe. Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller shared her appreciation, “I appreciate every single one of you. The ones that have been here for only one day. The ones that have…
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Legislation would smooth way for Puyallup Tribe and other Tribal governments to reclaim original land

Legislation would smooth way for Puyallup Tribe and other Tribal governments to reclaim original land

For two decades, one of the most frustrating obstacles to tribes reclaiming certain stolen land was state law, specifically law that prevented environmental mitigation property from going through the fee-to-trust process. It often worked this way: The state Department of Transportation would ask a tribe for right-of-way to complete a construction project. In exchange the state would transfer land to the tribe. But there was a catch: If the land included environmental mitigation properties in the transfer, then by state law, the tribal government would have to waive sovereign immunity and agree not to place property into trust status. The…
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Chairman Sterud testifies on land exchange bill

Chairman Sterud testifies on land exchange bill

Photo by Puyallup Tribal News staff Chairman Bill Sterud testified virtually before the state Senate Transportation Committee today in support of legislation that would smooth land exchanges with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The legislation would remove the requirement that a tribal government must waive sovereign immunity and agree not to place property into trust status in order to participate in exchanges for property that requires environmental mitigation. Chairman Sterud pointed out that waiving sovereign immunity can be a non-starter in negotiations, and typically such exchanges begin with the state approaching a tribe and asking for land to…
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Puyallup Tribe, Amazon bring 520,000-square-foot sort center to Fife

Puyallup Tribe, Amazon bring 520,000-square-foot sort center to Fife

Oct. 19, 2021 Puyallup Tribe, Amazon bring 520,000-square-foot sort center to Fife Project expected to bring more than 500 jobs to area and bolster Tribe’s economic portfolio PUYALLUP RESERVATION, TACOMA, Wash.—The Puyallup Tribe and Amazon.com Inc. have partnered to open a 520,000-square-foot sorting center in Fife that is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area and strengthen the Tribe’s economic portfolio. The building is expected to launch soon. It includes 122 loading docks and 280 trailer stalls and is being built on about 41 acres of land at 7449 45th St. Ct. E. The land is within Fife’s…
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Puyallup Tribe buys Ram, Shenanigans locations on Ruston Way

Puyallup Tribe buys Ram, Shenanigans locations on Ruston Way

Under deal, Tribe will lease The Ram restaurant back to owner; acquisition marks major diversification of Tribe’s economic development portfolio  October 1, 2021 PUYALLUP RESERVATION, TACOMA, Wash.—In a historic move into commercial real estate, the Puyallup Tribe has purchased more than 2 acres of land on Ruston Way in Tacoma. The land is well-known to Tacoma residents: Both The Ram Restaurant & Brewery and C.I. Shenanigans restaurant buildings are on the acreage and are part of the purchase. Shenanigans closed in 2020 during the pandemic. Under the purchase terms, the Tribe will lease The Ram back to the previous owner,…
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Puyallup Tribe’s PRIDE event was fabulous, honey!

Puyallup Tribe’s PRIDE event was fabulous, honey!

Tribal community members turned out to show support and solidarity at the Tribe’s annual Pride Event on Sunday. This year’s event – in-person after last year’s virtual celebrations – included cotton candy, tie-dye masks, a bounce house, face painting, the selection of Pride royalty and more. Many Tribal departments and Tacoma’s Rainbow Center were there to offer resources for visitors. The Tribe’s volunteer Pride Working Group put on the event with the support of Tribal Council. Filthy FemCorps put on a live music performance with hits such as "Like a Prayer" and led the Pride Walk, which was lined with…
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