Indigenous Affairs Native nations lead salmon restoration efforts in Columbia Basin The number of returning adult salmon and steelhead has doubled since the 1990s, but is still only halfway to the NWPCC’s goal of 5 million. by Nika Bartoo-Smith Underscore + ICT / February 10, 2025
Culture A $4M makeover awakens Pacific Northwest Ballet’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ With costumes by Wicked designer Paul Tazewell and sets by artist Preston Singletary, PNB hopes to breathe new life into the 19th-century classic. by Marcie Sillman / January 27, 2025
Indigenous Affairs Cowlitz Tribe youth help lead this year’s First Salmon Ceremony “It’s what we do to thank the salmon for what they give,” said Lydia Hodges, 15, part of the new generation carrying on the sacred ritual. by Nika Bartoo-Smith Underscore + ICT / June 24, 2024
Indigenous Affairs Yakama Nation’s new public safety campus gives justice room to grow The tribal court system, which had occupied a cluster of trailers since the ’50s, plans to add services like a mental health or a veterans court. by Nika Bartoo-Smith Underscore News and ICT / January 9, 2024
Culture Pacific Northwest Ballet’s new guard brings diversity center stage Seattle’s largest dance company is at a turning point with a fall roster that’s younger and 50 percent BIPOC. by Marcie Sillman / September 13, 2023
Equity Snoqualmie Tribe starts land protection sales tax at Salish Lodge The 2% tax will preserve ancestral sites such as Snoqualmie Falls, and could be a model for other Indigenous nations. by Nika Bartoo-Smith Underscore/ICT / July 17, 2023
News The Washington mental health lifeline made for and by Native people The Native and Strong Lifeline provides connection and culturally specific care to callers in crisis. by Nika Bartoo-Smith Indian Country Today and Underscore News / June 19, 2023
Culture A “Venn diagram” of genres keeps this Seattle dance fest afloat With an emphasis on local contemporary dance, organizers hope to attract new audiences amid a challenging arts climate. by Marcie Sillman / June 12, 2023
Culture Seattle’s Black dance history gets the spotlight in a new show Drawing upon archival photos and old films, Black Collectivity presents an original performance rooted in little-known legacies. by Marcie Sillman / April 5, 2023
Culture Seattle’s Dance Church is taking its movement gospel to the masses Could the local exercise craze be the next Zumba? With $4.7 million in venture capital, leaders must balance an artist-led mission with national expansion. by Marcie Sillman / March 15, 2023