By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Before the Seattle Sounders FC/LA Galaxy soccer match kicked off, the crowd at Lumen Field saw the Puyallup Tribe on center stage May 16 in Seattle.
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud stood just outside of the touchline near the middle of the field, delivering the pitch blessing before kickoff in front of the crowd. Puyallup Tribal Members, students from Chief Leschi Schools, neighboring school districts and their guests walked to the center of the field to place the center circle banner at midfield before the match, as well.
McCloud said the individuals on the field who placed the banner at the game had never done it before. With the World Cup kicking off in June, McCloud said it will be an opportunity to share the Puyallup Tribe’s culture on a worldwide level.
“For me, this gives us an opportunity to move forward into the future so all of our people can think, ‘I can do this. I can go here and I can go there, and I can still be a Puyallup Tribal Member,’” McCloud said. “We’re not limited by the boundaries of the reservation. We now have a doorway to the world.”
