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
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
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 Black Arts Legacies: Lamentation and revelation in Porter Ray's hip hop The Seattle rapper keeps memories of the Central District alive with vivid lyrics and a jazz sensibility. by Kemi Adeyemi / August 11, 2022
Culture Black Arts Legacies: Barbara Earl Thomas cuts her own path The longtime Seattle artist creates presence through absence with meticulous skill and a communal approach to her work. by Kemi Adeyemi / July 21, 2022
Culture Black Arts Legacies: Architecture reflecting Black culture One of the few Black women in her field, Seattle architect Laurie Allison Wilson is working to build projects that honor the diversity of Black life in the city. by Kemi Adeyemi / July 14, 2022
Culture Black Arts Legacies: Showcasing Blackness through pop art Tariqa Waters, a Seattle-based curator, gallerist and artist, is resisting the art establishment with big and bold immersive experiments. by Kemi Adeyemi / July 7, 2022
Culture Black Arts Legacies: The visceral verse of poet Anastacia-Reneé With an emphasis on experimentation, the artist’s practice is ever expanding. by Kemi Adeyemi / June 16, 2022