If there was a to-do list for Suquamish, Imagine Day would be at the very top. Even so, it would also be the one “chore” that had been put off the longest.

While tribal and non-tribal community members have extended meeting invitations to one another on issues ranging from the preferred fate of Old Man House State Park to whether the Suquamish Incorporation Project would work, the June 26 event is notable because it will truly bring all parties to the table for discussion.

It has to.

All the major players are sponsoring the event. Members from the Suquamish Tribe, Suquamish Olalla Neighbors, the Friends of Old Man House State Park, the SIP, Suquamish Congregational United Church of Christ and Kitsap County will be on hand.

This one will be a true test of Suquamish residents’ resolve to work and live together. It’s a real chance to get things out in the open that are currently discussed in hushed tones and behind closed doors. Participants must not be afraid to discuss the tough topics — not as debaters but as neighbors. Only then will a true vision for the community begin to emerge.

Ignoring the elephant in the living room has too long been a way of life in Suquamish.