Nisqually: Police officer arrested on suspicion of DUI in Rochester - A Nisqually Tribal Police officer was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence and hit-and-run early Friday morning.

Nisqually: Grants available for salmon work - The Nisqually Indian Tribe is seeking grant proposals for salmon habitat restoration and protection projects in the Nisqually River watershed. Approximately $415,000 in federal and state funds are available for on-the-ground habitat restoration projects, land acquisitions or assessments that will lead to projects. Prospective applicants should contact Chris Ellings, salmon recovery program manager for the Nisqually Tribe Natural Resources, at 360-438-8687 ext. 1270 or ellings.christopher@nisqually-nsn.gov.

Nisqually: A Model for Restorative Justice in America - Midway through the schematic design for the new Nisqually Public Safety Complex, I experienced a “wow moment.” I realized that our client, the Nisqually Tribal Police and Corrections Departments, practiced a remarkably successful form of restorative justice. The Nisqually form of restorative justice fuses traditional cultural values of spirituality, family and community with a highly respected and modern system of justice. Rather than a system designed to punish, it’s a form of justice designed to restore victims, offenders and their families.

Nisqually: Tribe to promote ‘wellbriety’ - Community members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe will promote life without drugs and alcohol during a three-day weekend of dancing, music and food. The 12th Annual Nisqually Wellbriety Powwow is March 23-25 at the Nisqually Youth and Community Center, 1937 Lashi St. N.E., Olympia.

Nisqually: Fire causes $10,000 damage to Nisqually Tribal Center - A trash can placed too close to a wall heater caught fire Friday morning, damaging the Nisqually Tribal Center. No one was inside the building and no injuries were reported. The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage.

Nisqually: Tribe breaks ground on new admin building - Since the 1970s, the Nisqually Tribe has grown significantly, and it will continue to grow, according to Planning Director Joe Cushman. "A lot has changed since then and the tribe has accomplished more than anyone would have expected," he said. Plans for the tribe’s continued growth lies within a master plan, which includes building a new administrative building.

Nisqually: New Building To Add To Tribe's Growth - The Nisqually Indian Tribe is building a $7.9 million administration center, one of many projects helping to transform the small tribe into a major player in south Puget Sound.

Nisqually: Tribe gets $588,000 HUD housing grant - The Nisqually Indian tribe is among 25 tribes in Washington state to receive more than $33 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Indian housing block grants.

Nisqually: Lines for gas form at tribe’s station - While cities in the Nisqually Valley were without power for a number of days, access to gasoline for vehicles and generators was scarce. As drivers made their way around fallen tree limbs and through snow and ice, the gas stations in Yelm, Rainier and Roy were shut down as a result of the power outage. Those who needed a fill-up drove to the Nisqually Reservation’s Rez-Mart, located next to the Red Wind Casino. "We were certainly busy, at least four times the normal volume," Quinton Boshoff, Red Wind Casino Manager said.

Nisqually: Roy welcomes home salmon - Not even rain, wind gusts and near freezing temperatures could thwart off Roy Salmon Homecoming supporters. More than 50 people attended last Saturday’s 14th annual event at Roy City Park. Once again, no chum salmon were seen making their way up Muck Creek, yet that was only a minor disappointment. Last year’s salmon run was about 50,000, but David Troutt, natural resources director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe, said this year’s will be closer to 60,000.

Nisqually: New center for ‘urban Natives' - Native Quest opened in October in a building on the edge of downtown, at the intersection of South 25th Street and Jefferson Avenue. The site was previously the home of Commencement Bay Coffee Co. Seed money from the Nisqually Tribe helped launch the effort, and organizers of the nonprofit center are seeking more grant dollars and volunteer help. Crafts, jewelry and art produced by Indian artists are for sale, along with books from MacRae’s Indian Books, a fixture in downtown Enumclaw for decades. Kathy MacRae Foy – daughter of bookstore founder Ken MacRae – is now the executive director of Native Quest.

Nisqually: Roy, tribe to celebrate return of chum salmon - As chum salmon make their way up Muck Creek, plans are set for the annual Roy Salmon Homecoming. This year’s event, hosted by the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the City of Roy, will be held on Saturday, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Roy City Park.

Nisqually: Ecology to announce water supply package for Olympia, Lacey, Nisqually Tribe - The state Department of Ecology was to announce today that it has granted major water rights for the cities of Olympia and Lacey and the Nisqually Tribe to support growth and development for the two cities and tribe for the next 30 years. The water supply package took more than 15 years to complete, largely because new withdrawals of water in the Nisqually and Deschutes river basins are restricted to protect stream flows. The Nisqually Tribe will also receive water from the new well field to fuel economic growth on the tribal reservation. The agreement also restores tribal access to McAllister Springs. "Medicine Springs (McAllister Springs) is a location of tremendous cultural and spiritual significance to the tribe," tribal Chairwoman Cynthia Iyall said.

Nisqually: 18 projects awarded funds for land, water conservation - $170,000 for the Nisqually Indian Tribe to work with partners in the upper Nisqually River watershed near Eatonville on a market-based approach that encourages landowners to protect and restore their forested properties, and be compensated for their efforts, noted Dan Stonington, executive director of the Northwest Natural Resource Group, a Seattle-based nonprofit.

Nisqually: Conservation group buys historic Eatonville-area swath of property - A new visitors center in Eatonville is poised to open in the spring. It will be staffed by volunteers and will have information on businesses and activities and a diorama of the Nisqually Watershed done by the Nisqually Tribe.

Nisqually: Restoration garners national honor - Along with 190 acres of wetlands restored by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Nisqually Delta represents the largest estuary restoration project in the Pacific Northwest to assist in the recovery of Puget Sound salmon and wildlife populations.

Nisqually: Restoration Team receives national honor - The Coastal America Partnership, which includes the Executive Office of the President, recognized the work of the Nisqually Estuary Restoration Team in an award ceremony on Saturday, Dec.10 at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Nisqually: North Thurston embraces ethnicity - About 25 parents, grandparents and youths gathered at Nisqually Middle School last week for Family Culture Night, sponsored by North Thurston Public Schools’ Native Student Program.

Nisqually: Consortium lauds philanthropists

Nisqually: Weak run forces Tribe to close coho fishery early

Nisqually: 2 meetings this week on public safety complex