Office of Tribal Relations (OTR)
Tribal communities have been the stewards of the lands of Washington State since time immemorial. The Department of Commerce respects their continued stewardship and actively work to honor their Tribal Sovereignty by engaging in meaningful government to government work as illustrated by the Centennial Accord.
Tribal News and Updates
Office of Tribal Relations hosts second annual COMTAC gathering
Tribal partners reviewed proposed updates to the agency tribal relations policy and can now access all tribal-relations-focused team members through new shared inbox. On June 23, Commerce’s Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) held our second annual Commerce Tribal Advisory Committee (COMTAC) gathering, graciously hosted at the Northern Quest Resort in Airway Heights. As our agency grows in the area of tribal relations, we have been shaping COMTAC to serve as
Proposed changes to agency Tribal Relations Policy
In the afternoon, we focused on the work we have been doing internally around updating our tribal relations policy and responding to calls to pull back authority to consult under Executive Order 21-02 Archaeological and Cultural Resources (PDF). The announcement of our commitment to recalling the authority to consult was met with much surprise and support! Our Tribal Resource Group has spun off a small taskforce to begin mapping the
The Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) was created June 2023 and consists of Michelle Gladstone-Wade (Suquamish), Tribal Liaison and Alden (AL) Andy (Yakama), Deputy Tribal Liaison. To demonstrate our agency’s dedication to tribal relations, Director Fong has separated the Tribal Liaison from the Government Affairs and Policy team and created the Office of Tribal Relations. The first addition to the Office of Tribal Relation is a Deputy Tribal Liaison who
Sam Askew appointed to Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Advisory Committee
Leading hospitality industry veteran will give voice to Tribal communities and interests OLYMPIA, WA — Sam Askew, Executive Director of Resort Operations at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, has been appointed to the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Advisory Committee by Commerce Director Lisa Brown. Askew fills a vacant position on the four-person committee reserved for representing the interests and perspectives of Washington’s Tribal communities. “Sam’s energy and extensive background in
The Department of Commerce’s new Tribal Liaison, Michelle Gladstone-Wade attends Governor Inslee’s landmark bill signing at the Tulalip Resort (3/31/2022) Chairwoman Rosemary LaClair, Nooksack Tribe, Michelle Gladstone-Wade Tribal Liaison COMM Council Member Lisa Wilson, Lummi Nation Michelle Gladstone-Wade Tribal Liaison COMM, Althea Wilson, Lummi Nation Governor Inslee signed the following bills into law: HB 1015 – Creating the Washington equitable access to credit act. HB 1571 – Concerning protections and
Commerce welcomes Michelle Gladstone-Wade as Tribal Liaison
Michelle Gladstone-Wade joined Commerce in February 2022 and is honored to serve as the Tribal Liaison and lead Commerce’s efforts to develop and maintain positive government to government relationships with our Tribal partners. She comes to Commerce via the Washington State Department of Revenue and before coming to state service, Michelle spent 10 years working in the Tribal College setting in student services, foundation management, and as faculty. Her experience
Links
Contact
General Inbox
Email: Tribal.Relations@Commerce.wa.gov
Michelle Gladstone-Wade, Tribal Liaison
Email: Michelle.Gladstone-Wade@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2902
Al Andy, Deputy Tribal Liaison
Email: Alden.Andy@Commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-791-2595