By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Heritage Division Manager and Puyallup Tribal Elder Connie McCloud was selected as one of four 2025 Enduring Spirit Honorees by the Native Action Network at the Enduring Spirit Honoring Luncheon on Oct. 24 at the Muckleshoot Casino & Resort.
Native Action Network Co-founder Iris Day said the purpose of the Enduring Spirit Award is to highlight women for their lifetime commitments to building strong, healthy Native communities. Day and fellow Native Action Network Co-founder Claudia Kauffman blanketed McCloud on stage during the event.
“The Native Action Network is so honored to recognize Connie McCloud for the incredible work she has done, not only across Washington, but our region. She is doing so much across the country, and we just wanted to acknowledge her and present her with the Enduring Spirit Award,” Day said. “That is the entire purpose behind the Enduring Spirit Award, to really highlight women in our communities that are making incredible differences throughout their community, and leaving a legacy with all the work that they have done.”
McCloud has worked for the Tribe in various capacities for the past five decades, getting her first job with the Tribe when she was 20 years old.
“The work that we are doing is for our youth and for our future. When I began, the Tribe had very little in terms of services. When I started, we had around 600 members around 50 years ago,” McCloud said.
Over the years, McCloud said she is proud to have brought traditional medicine to the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority.
“That program has really grown,” she said.
McCloud said the Tribe had the opportunity to host Canoe Journey in 2018, and the effects of that event live on today.
“By bringing the culture that was shared through Canoe Journey, we got more people involved with song, dance, drumming and participating. Now, have programs that are growing,” McCloud said. “It is really all about what are going to leave to our youth in the future.”
