By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
More than 100 individuals ignored frigid temperatures hovering in the mid-30s for an unforgettable celebration on the Puyallup Reservation.
The Puyallup Tribal Health Authority officially broke ground on a brand-new building on Dec. 4. Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud, Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller, Councilwoman Annette Bryan, Councilman James Rideout, Councilwoman Anna Bean, Councilwoman Monica Miller and Councilman Fred Dillon were in attendance, shoveling the first pieces of dirt to ceremoniously break ground on a facility slated to be completed by November/December 2025.
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud gave the blessing in front of an inspired crowd and drummers and dancers performed for the festivities.
PTHA Executive Director David Tonemah was beaming with pride throughout the entirety of the event. Tonemah said the new administration building will be a four-story, 27,000-square-foot facility when finished. It will be adjacent to the Kwawachee Counseling Center and across the street from the Takopid Health Center.
“It will house 60 to 70 non-patient facing staff members which will include billing, coding, administration, finance, human resources and information technology. We want to use the vacant space (freed up by the new administration building) to expand services and increase access to care,” Tonemah said. “I’m very excited and proud of the people that were involved in this process. It happened relatively quickly, at least in my opinion. I’m glad we had the support of the Tribal Council to make this happen.”
Alan Shelton worked for the Tribe as a doctor from 1984 through 2022. Although he hung up his stethoscope two years ago, he remains firmly entrenched in the community. He echoed Tonemah’s sentiment with regard to the expansion providing more opportunities for care.
“I’m not a clinician anymore. I stopped seeing patients two years ago but I’m still involved with administrative projects,” Shelton said. “What this expansion means is there will be more space for clinical work, for patient care and behavioral health in the medical building.”
Shelton knows he made the right decision nearly four decades ago to work as a doctor for the Puyallup Tribe.
“It has been awesome. Somehow it was where I was meant to be. I felt a connection early on with this Tribe and with these people,” Shelton said while motioning toward a packed Spirit House. “I felt at home and part of the community. That is worth more than salary or anything else when you feel connected to the people.”
PTHA Technical Support Analyst Robert Gaschk, who was one of the individuals tasked with setting up microphones and the sound system before the event began, was glad to see everything click on all cylinders from start to finish.
“One of my old bosses back when I worked for an AV (audio and visual equipment) company used to say, ‘You’re only as good as your last show,’” Gaschk said. “If something goes wrong, people notice it. Today went off super well. It’s a wonderful celebration for what the Tribe has done. You want to showcase that and you want it to go off flawlessly. That is what it’s all about.”
Tonemah said the exact location where the new building will be constructed resulted in the recent removal of prominent cedar trees from the site.
“We recognize that cedar trees have a significance to the Puyallup Tribal people. We wanted to make sure that we cut them down in a good way. We had a blessing for the trees and we donated the trees to the Heritage Division,” Tonemah said. “Parts of the trees were also harvested for medicinal purposes providing patients with our traditional medicine.”
Here is an excerpt from what each Tribal Council Member said when they addressed the crowd and PTHA employees at the ground-breaking ceremony.
Chairman Bill Sterud
“I was a patient when we had a modular up here. … I’m in a modular back 40 years ago and people were getting healed then, people are getting healed now from this great clinic. I’m so proud of this clinic. … You are the healers, you take care of people, you take care of health and I want to thank each and every one of you. We’re expanding, we’re growing and we’re getting bigger. All of that is good.”
Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller
“It is amazing to have people with such quality, people who care and that’s you guys. … It warms my heart. It really makes me happy to see that we have come and grown so far. Each and every one of you should be very proud to be an employee here. I feel that you guys do so much for everybody. It’s important that our healthcare be taken care of first no matter what way it is and you guys do that. … Thank you so much to each and every one of you. We appreciate you more than you ever know. Hands up to each and every one of you. We love you so much.”
Annette Bryan
“The thing I remember about this space specifically, is the sweat lodge. … For years I sweat here, prayed here and healed here. Many, many people healed on this spot right here where our ancestors are. I just want to thank our ancestors and thank all of our spiritual leaders and spiritual guides for all of the work that was done here. … I want to thank each one of you staff for being here. … I want to thank you guys for putting your heart and soul into the community. … The health and wellness of our people is at a critical need right now, and I’m really grateful to be part of a Tribal Council that is making that a high priority.”
James Rideout
“Being on Tribal Council, we have been tasked with the responsibility to move the Tribe forward and make decisions that are based upon the future. … I (saw) something in David (Tonemah) that I know he is going to advocate for us. He is going to find the financial means that are necessary to move the Tribe forward in the direction that we need to go. … I’m thankful today and I’m thinking about my mom. My mom only got 43 years here, and it’s a blessing she gets to watch me from over there. I’m going to have a story for her in my after-life. … I’m thankful to the Tribe and each and every one of you for all that you do in supporting us to support you.”
Anna Bean
“I’m excited along with Dave (Tonemah) in talking about the expansion of services that will happen in house. We’ll have less people being referred out over time, which is a beautiful thing to able to have people come into one place and handle it all in one space. … Thank you each and every one of you for your participation and work in each one of these departments. … Sometimes you might feel alone in the work that you do, but I promise you that you are not and we very much greatly appreciate every single thing that each one of you do. … You think about all of the people who have been part of building the PTHA to the level that it is. It is absolutely exciting to stand here and be witness to it all.”
Monica Miller
“We have gone a long way, what I am getting at is all of you guys, you employees, made this happen. Without you guys, it wasn’t just Council, it’s the past Council, it’s everyone that put this together. This Tribe has grown so much. We started with 500 Tribal Members back in the 70s. We are now at 6,000 Tribal Members. Our employees and our business entities have grown and grown… This new admin addition is for you guys because you are growing and growing. I want to thank you very much for taking care of our people, our Tribe and our community everywhere. Thank you so much.”
Fred Dillon
“Thanks to each and every one of you from the oldest people who have been working here the longest to the newest one. This is part of you guys and this is part of your history right here. … This means a lot to me. I reflect on a lot of our loved ones that have passed on that don’t get to benefit from what we enjoy today. It’s all one family here, we’re the Puyallup Tribe, the Puyallup Tribal community. I just raise my hand to each and every one of you guys to remember where we come from. … This is the Puyallup Tribe, the homelands of the Puyallup Tribe. Thank you.”
