LITTLE BOSTON — Talia DeCoteau, a geoduck diver pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Tribal Government and Business Management, was elected July 11 to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Council.

Chris Tom was reelected vice chairman; he ran unopposed. Renee Veregge was reelected to council position 1.

In her Intent to Run letter, Veregge stated that her passion for helping Tribal members strongly influenced her decision to run for a second two-year term. “I am very passionate about the Tribal membership side of being on council, which was one of the main reasons I wanted to run. I feel that the most important areas for me as a Tribal member and council member are our youth, our elders, education, and the health and well-being of all our people.”

DeCoteau topped a field of five candidates for council position 4. Jamie Aikman did not seek re-election.

Each of the six Tribal Council members serve two-year terms, with three of the positions up for re-election each year. Only enrolled Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe members age 18 or older can run for positions on the council or vote in elections.

The council is the legislative body of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, an indigenous nation and, with the United States, is a signatory to the Treaty of Point No Point of 1855. Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that treaties are the “supreme law of the land,” and the Tribe has a government-to-government relationship with the U.S.

The Tribe owns The Point Casino & Hotel, Gliding Eagle Marketplace, Ravenwood Market, and Heronswood Garden. Government departments and services include Career & Education, Children & Family Services, Court Services, Cultural Resources, Early Childhood Education, Health Services, Housing Authority, Natural Resources, Planning & Land, Public Safety, Self-Governance & Special Projects, and Utilities.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam reservation is more than 1,300 acres — at 2 square miles larger than Vatican City and the Principality of Monaco. However, the S’Klallam treaty signers reserved for their descendants cultural and resource rights throughout their historical territory — 438,430 acres, an area almost three times the size of Singapore.