Native Americans

287 Stories

Government

Deaths at rural Washington jails highlight perilous conditions: 'Failures at almost every level,' critics say

There’s turmoil in Klickitat County over a proposal to close the local jail and send inmates elsewhere. The move comes after one person's death and a second inmate was found in a life-threatening condition last year.
Amy Radil
Environment

Meaty razor clams bring profits, protein to Quinault Nation in Washington state

Thousands of Washingtonians are expected to head to the beach to dig up razor clams for food and fun in March and April.
John Ryan
Education

'Overturning historical trauma.' Tulalip Tribes celebrates new laws supporting Native education in Washington schools
Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez
Environment

Salmon-spilling company ends fight to resume farming at Puget Sound sites

The company behind a massive spill of Atlantic salmon in 2017 has thrown in the towel on its efforts to keep farming fish at two locations in Puget Sound.
John Ryan
Arts & Life

In 'Thunder Song,' a Coast Salish punk creates her own form of medicine

If you read her award winning memoir, you may know Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe as a "Coast Salish punk." Now, LaPointe is back with a new essay collection, titled "Thunder Song: Essays". In it, LaPointe takes a raw, unflinching look the complexities of indigenous identity, the punk scene, and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
Libby Denkmann

Noel Gasca
Crime

Why did it take over a year for police to investigate a missing child case?

For marginalized communities, especially ones with whom trust has been broken for so long, it’s easier for people to slip through the cracks. Often the safety nets that are meant to protect them don’t activate properly. In this story, those safeguards missed an Indigenous teenager named Kit Nelson-Mora.
Libby Denkmann

Sarah Leibovitz
Environment

How a Northwest tribe is escaping a rising ocean

In a mossy stretch of forest on Washington state’s outer coast, streets and sidewalks have appeared in recent weeks.
John Ryan
Arts & Life

New guidelines tied to Indigenous human remains leave museums racing against the clock

The Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act was created over 30 years ago to establish a framework for museums and other institutions to return certain objects to tribes, like human remains and funerary objects. But critics say museums have taken too long to return many of those items. Under new regulations that went into effect this month, institutions must prepare to repatriate all human remains and funerary artifacts within 5 years.
Mike Davis

Noel Gasca
Government

UW's Burke Museum working with Native tribes to repatriate tribal objects

Northwest museums may no longer display some Native artifacts without permission under a new federal rule.
Ann Dornfeld
Arts & Life

Seattle area grad Lily Gladstone becomes first Native American actress nominated for an Oscar

Lily Gladstone has made history as the first Native American person nominated for an Oscar in the best actress category.
Katie Campbell

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