NICOLE SUTTON

Nicole was born and raised in Renton, Washington with stints in Northgate, Shoreline, and Sumner. She is a second-generation immigrant through her Filipino father Antonio Barandon with a deep love for their heritage, home, and family in Naga City, PHL. Her Puyallup enrollment is gifted through her mother Lisa Davis, grandmother Mary Lou Marcyes, great-grandmother Lucille Reed, great-great-grandmother Hattie Allen, and great-great-grandfather Silas Cross’ vast ancestry. Nicole is grateful to live on Rez with her husband, daughter, and doggies and feels blessed to witness language revitalization and participate in her Puyallup culture.

Nicole returned to serve her Puyallup community in 2013 as an Administrative Assistant in Children’s Services. She then studied for many years in Historic Preservation as the Outreach Specialist, spent a minute in Grants, supported the Tribal Community Wellness Division Manager, and now coordinates for the Language Program. Her txʷəlšucid journey started a decade ago playing təpil čəxʷ with her first teacher Chris Duenas at the old Spanish Church that no longer stands off Portland Ave. Now, her favorite ways to learn are through our storytelling and songs.