@tasmitchell
Native American (Swinomish)/Asian (he/him), Indigenous Scientist, Geologist, Environmental Protection @ Swinomish Tribe. Husband & Dad. Certified Indigenous science teacher. Skeets my own. IG: @tasmitchell; @swinomishdep; Swinomish territory, WA, USA ππ΄π
sΙxΚ·pupuhigα΅Ιd (suhw-POO-POO-ee-gwud),
Moon of the Windy Time,
2nd moon of the Swinomish 13 Moons cycle.
A time to hunt water fowl, elk, and deer; make tools and baskets like those made from ironwood.
Cloud & Wind hat pin beaded by forest.valley.craft! #IndigenousSTEM π‘πβοΈπ§ͺ
See our latest video about the first modern traditional fire management brought back to Swinomish in 2023 for our Generations Camas Project! π₯
#IndigenousSTEM π§ͺβοΈπ‘π
Continuing our Swinomish Generations Camas project video series. See our activities in early 2023 in preparation for our first modern cultural burn!
#IndigenousSTEM π§ͺβοΈπ‘π
Sugar cookies in the shape of groundhogs iced with grey frosting and a sugar eye.
On another note to take a break from the news cycle, itβs that time of year for the groundhog cookies and winter weather forecast by a large rodent!
"I'll give you a winter prediction: it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be gray, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life." - Phil
Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51L patch. Depicts the shuttle launched from Earth over a circular background with stars and stripes and Haleyβs Comet over the shuttle. Crew names are around the outer silver border of patch: McNair, Onizuka, Resnik, Scobee, Smith. with added on names at bottom, McAuliffe π, Jarvis.
40 years ago, STS-51L, Teacher in space.π
Watched in HS class with rest of country.
Place of honor on my patch jacket. Depicts Haleyβs comet as intended missionβs research.
Iβd read patches like this were payload on Challenger, recovered, framed and gifted to each state as commemoration. π§ͺπ‘βοΈ
If you're interested in our books, our order form is in our Swinomish DEP Linktree: linktr.ee/swinomishdep...
This moon typically encompasses, Xmas, New Yearβs, and my Bday!! This is my 13 Moons series beaded hat pin by @forest.valley.craft based on an idea for a Moon mask by my bud, Brandon W!
13 Moons, the 13 lunar phases, and how they guide the Swinoimsh People, A publication of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. A landscape paperback book with above text in white on blue background that includes ghosted images of the 13 moons Northwest Coast art image of 13 moon phase 'masks' arranged in an "X". Our Traditional books request form is accessible from our Swinomish DEP Linktree: https://linktr.ee/swinomishdep?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
Northwest coast salish style circular beaded moon mask face image made in hat pin. Beads are mostly in white with eyes, eyebrows in black, nose and rounded O mouth in red. Inner circular ring in black, with 13 light blue arcs representing 13 Moon next, more white, then a final ring of silver beads.
Restarting 13 Moons bead posts, didnβt get βem all last year
pΙdxΜaΚxΜaΚ - Moon of the Sacred Time, last moon of annual cycle as well as the beginning moon of the next Swinomish 13 Moons cycle; time to reflect on the last year, recharge your spirituality, plan for the next year.
#IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺπβοΈ
Minneapolis leads the way. Fascism cannot stand against a people who rise up by the millions against it.
Start with a Shore Friendly site visit with my staffer Jason by filling out the request form via our link tree: linktr.ee/swinomishdep...
WE ARE HIRING Environmental Science Communicator/ Outreach Specialist KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: β’ Develops outreach for DEP programs through graphic design, social media, and in-person activities β’ Coordinates with DEP staff and other SITC government departments for community engagement β’ Create outreach campaigns to increase scientific literacy β’ Contribute to reports, presentations, and research proposals SALARY: $33.94 - $34.52/HOUR TO APPLY: https://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
Please pass the word...
we are hiring 3 different positions in our Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection:
- Environmental Science Communicator/Outreach Specialist
Also, Water Quality Analyst & Vegetation Specialist
www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
#IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺπβοΈ
WE ARE HIRING Water Quality Analyst KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: β’ Provides analytical and programmatic support for the Swinomish DEP water resources programs β’ Data collection and management, data statistical analysis and reporting β’ Administration and planning of water resources projects β’ Preparing technical reports, presentations and reviewing documents SALARY: $36.06 - $39.00/HR DOQ TO APPLY VISIT: https://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
Please pass the word...
we are hiring 3 different positions in our Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection:
- Water Quality Analyst
Also, Vegetation Specialist & Environmental Science Communicator/Outreach Specialist
www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
#IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺπβοΈ
WE ARE HIRING VEGETATION SPECIALIST KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: β’ Programmatic, field, technical, and administrative support for the Swinomish DEP environmental programs β’ Supervising vegetation fieldwork tracking, reporting, and data collection; β’ Operate ATVs, tractors, powered spray equipment, and tools including chainsaws and brush cutters; β’ Vegetation field crew leadership β’ Reforestation and traditional plant restoration efforts SALARY: $24.33 - $29.95/Hr TO APPLY: https://www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
Please pass the word...
we are hiring 3 different positions in our Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection:
- Vegetation Specialist
Also, Environmental Science Communicator/Outreach Specialist, & Water Quality Analyst
www.swinomish-nsn.gov/jobs
#IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺπβοΈ
Tags say:
βThis ornament is made from a branch from Lone Tree that was blown out in 2016. Lone Tree is about 250 years old (same as the Declaration of Independence or older!
Happy Holidays 2025, Todd Mitchell & Jen Willup, Swinomish DEPβ
Hopefully, these are adorning everyoneβs Xmas trees, so, we all have a bit of Lone Tree with us as a keepsake of our Tribal monument and special and sacred traditional place where thee Lone Tree has stood watch over our beaches for centuries.
2 wood discs cut from douglas fir branches with bark. Each is laser etched with Swinomish Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) logo on one side and a NW Coast stylized clam on the other side. Each has a red hanging ribbon and a green tag written as described in the follow up post. Both are sitting on a copy of the book Christmas Clams written by my late father, Ray Mitchell and illustrated by Mark Oakley - itβs a story of when my Dad went with his Dad clam digging at Christmas time at Lone Tree point in the 1940βs.
Hereβs the Christmas ornaments we made and gave out to our Tribal Community along with more Christmas Clams books. Wood discs cut from Lone Tree windfall wood with illustrated clams and our DEP logo laser etched on each side.
#IndigenousSTEM ππ§ͺβοΈπ‘
NW Coast art style of big old Basket Ogress throwing rocks in the river under a crescent moon and a big clam basket with 4 children behind her.
back cover of book says, βBasket Ogress captures a group of children playing outside after dark. Her plan is to cook and eat them, but the. children escape. This is a story Indian parents told their children to see if they could get them to mind.β Illustrations shows a big rock splashing the water near Little Hunchback who is paddling away in a canoe trying to get away from Basket Ogress.
Our next Swinomish childrenβs book came! Basket Ogress as told my late grandfather, Dewey Mitchell in Lushootseed in the 1970βs. Thanks to Jill LaPointe for sending yrs ago from her grandmotherβs papers. Now the Mitchells are 4 generations of authors continuing storytelling! #IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺβοΈπ
Graph showing peak observed Skagit River flow at Mount Vernon gauging station a 37.73β at 12 AM 12/12/2025 thatβs above the record line of 37.4β (from 1990).
News TV video screenshot viewing Skagit River and Mount Vernon river walk looming south from Division St bridge east side approach. Dry ish parking lot to right, flood wall in middle (with all metal slats and braces installed and flooded river walk on right. top of river walk hand rail just visible at right.
Graph showing peak projected Skagit River flow at Mount Vernon gauging station a 42.13β near 12 AM 12/12/2025 thatβs well above the record line of 37.4β (from 1990).
Peak Skagit River flow lower than predicted, still 1/3β higher than 1990 record.
I didnβt go look but news last nite showed water near top of river walk guard-hand rail (far right).
Floodwall keeping downtown Mt. Vernon safe, hope they can open up soon for more Xmas shopping!
#IndigenousSTEM π§ͺβοΈππ‘
Graph showing river stage in Mount Vernon WA predicted to peak December 12th at 41.31 foot stage which is above the line showing the record flood stage of 37.4 feet
Cell phone public safety alert stating GO for immediate evacuation for cities of Sedro and Burlington
Predicting a big flood on the Skagit River ~5β above the record. Mount Vernon west of I-5 evacuated. Hope all our Skagit County community makes it thru ok.
We live way up on the hill cuz of geologists (us) house buying criteria back 20+ years ago.
#IndigenousSTEM
haha, gonna look at my plates differently now
a dinner plate with an array of popcorn, buttered toast, jelly beans, and pretzel stick ala Charlie Brown Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is for cooking, thanksgiving eve is for no cooking like Snoopy and Charlie Brown!
Thanksgiving eve dinner!
Happy Thanksgiving, #IndigenousSTEM friends!
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Flat green leaved Christmas cactus with lots of big pink and white ombrΓ© tissue paper-like flowers, almost like many pink flowy finned goldfish. with a light colored ragdoll cat in background looking away.
Christmas cactus blooming like itβs an early Xmas!
Pesto in background is not impressed.
Author wearing dark shirt with graphic in style of βWhere the wild things areβ but of a native boy telling a monster a scary story of explorers ships.
Itβs the season for Scary Stories (Tee by @ntvsclothing ).
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day!
#IndigenousSTEM π‘π§ͺπβοΈ
#IndigenousSTEM
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3 business cards on a wood background. Top card says: Swinomish Indian Tribal Comnuminty Office of Planning & Community Development Todd Mitchell Environmental Specialist - Water Resources. 2nd card says: Swinomish Indian Tribal Comnuminty Office of Planning & Community Development Todd Mitchell Water Resources Manager. 3rd card says: Swinomish Indian Tribal Comnuminty Department of Environmental Protection Todd Mitchell Environmental Director.
25+ years (and 3 boxes of biz cards) at Swinomish doing Geology, Environmental, and Indigenous Science work. And as department director for 12 years!
Thanks to all those who've helped along the way and my Tribe for putting their faith in me to protect our homeland!
a fluffy ragdoll cat wearing a harness is outdoors in the grass smelling a tall yellow flower
Pesto smelling the flowers!
Important new piece by Indigenous scholarsβincluding ecologists @1nativesoilnerd.bsky.social and @niiyokamigaabaw.bsky.social (who is here at #ESA2025 this week)βwho set out eight steps to stop marginalization in academia and to enable a shared Indigenous agenda in science.
Thanks to Chapter 7 lead @ecohugger.bsky.social for including our narrative!
Check out Volume 2 Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report. With @kjrm.bsky.social, we contributed a short narrative on Kukutali Preserve for Ch 7 Indigenous Lead Conservation as an example of leading the work at the first co-owned/managed Tribal State park in the nation.
π§ͺβοΈπ #IndigenousSTEM
