About Us
Tshimakain Creek Labs (T-Creek) specializes in analytical water services, drug testing, and drug screening supplies. With the ability to receive samples from both national and regional entities, T-Creek offers accurate, reliable, and timely results combined with personalized customer service.
T-Creek is the first venture owned by the Spokane Tribe to conduct commercial business off the Reservation since the 1980s. The leadership of a progressive Tribal Council paved the way to a reorganization of the tribal entity, placing the business under the direction of the Enterprises Board of Directors. The board of directors immediately began strategizing how to expand a small water analysis lab into a company that would compete with much larger companies and expand into diverse scientific markets.
Our Mission and Values
Tshimakain Creek Labs is a leader in the industry and exists for the purpose of providing the best value for services and products, growing the Spokane Tribe’s economy, and providing employment opportunities for Spokane Tribal Members. T-Creek Labs represents the values and culture of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, including respect for all people and our environment. T-Creek employees are expected to be representatives of the values of the Spokane Tribe, including the highest possible standards for ethics, honesty and integrity.
Doing Business for Years
Tshimakain Creek Labs began roughly 20 years ago. The Spokane Tribe of Indians Fisheries Department created “Spokane Tribal Water Lab” as a tribal program intended to reduce costs within the Fisheries Department. Within a few years, “The Water Lab” as it was commonly referred to began providing services to other tribal departments, including Lake Roosevelt Fisheries, Indian Health Service, and the tribe’s Water Resource Program, that were interested in testing surface water and drinking water.
Over the years, The Water Lab expanded to provide water testing for numerous Conservation Districts, homeowners associations, the Spokane Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Kalispel Tribe. Because of the growing interest for The Tribal Lab services, the Spokane Tribe moved the lab to Spokane Valley and obtained a Washington State Business License on March 21, 2004. The lab transformed from a tribal program to a tribal government enterprise, doing business as “Spokane Tribal Laboratories.”
Spokane Tribal Laboratories (STL) conducted business on a relatively small scale but it became apparent that the lab could become a more substantial business enterprise for the Spokane Tribe. Spokane Tribal Laboratories was converted into LLC form in November of 2008 under the Spokane Tribe’s Limited Liability Company Act.
In November 2010, the Spokane Tribe Business Council assigned the operational management of Spokane Tribal Laboratories LLC to the Office of Tribal Enterprises. The name of the enterprise was changed from Spokane Tribal Laboratories LLC to Tshimakain Creek Labs LLC. Currently, Tshimakain Creek Labs LLC (T-Creek Labs) performs testing on drinking water, surface water, and groundwater for certain pollutants. T-Creek Labs is certified with the State of Washington Department of Ecology. The business has been run by the same full-time manager for 15 years, Darren Lantzer. The Enterprise Board of Directors for the Office of Tribal Enterprises oversees Tshimakain Creek Labs LLC. “
A Dedication to Customer Service
Tshimakain Creek Labs is committed to providing analytical and sampling services carefully tailored to the needs of our customers. Moreover, we welcome the opportunity to work with other entities for 8(a) sub-contracting and procurement opportunities.
T-Creek offers a full range of analytical and microbial services for water testing. We also offer drugs of abuse testing for pre-employment, randoms, and reasonable suspicion. Sampling plans and services for water analysis or drugs of abuse can be designed to meet the specific needs of the customer.
At T-Creek the definition of customer service extends beyond sampling and data output. Our experienced staff is available to answer questions about water quality analysis and analytical chemistry. Rush and emergency sample services are available to meet tight deadlines. Arrangements need to be coordinated with lab personnel prior to delivery. In addition, courier services or extended delivery hours are also available.
A Tradition of Quality
At Tshimakain Creek Labs, we regard water as a precious natural resource. Because of this, only the highest quality techniques, standards and procedures are used to collect and analyze water samples.
Water quality analysis is meaningless without an operating plan to insure that the data produced in the lab can withstand scientific and legal scrutiny. T-Creek operates under a comprehensive QA Plan. The QA Plan (QAP) presents objectives, QA policies, facilities, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Written Standard Operating Procedures encompass the analytical and operational activities of the laboratory.
The QAP was developed under EPA guidelines and insures sample and data integrity. All personnel are familiar with the QAP and SOPs and are committed to following them. The QAP and SOPs are available for inspection.
Leadership
Tshimakain Creek Labs is overseen by the Spokane Tribe Enterprise Board of Directors. The Board is made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds from many different business settings. This allows leadership perspectives from many different disciplines contributing to T-Creek’s success.
Tribe Information
The Spokane Tribe of Indians is a federally recongized tribe, living primarily on the Spokane Indian Reservation and surrounding communities, including the City of Spokane.
For more information about the Spokane Tribe, please click here