Native Americans

Race & Identity

Seattle Archdiocese to address Catholic Church’s Indigenous boarding school legacy

The Archdiocese of Seattle, a regional governing body of the Catholic Church in Western Washington, says it’s working to comply with new nationwide priorities for engaging with Native American communities. It's part of an effort to address the negative effects of abusive Native American boarding schools on Indigenous communities.

Crime

Lummi chair commends federal drug bust connected to tribal deaths

Officials at the Lummi nation say this week’s arrests in a drug ring linked to recent overdose deaths could offer a measure of justice. The Lummi Nation near Bellingham put a national spotlight on the fentanyl epidemic last September, when four members died of drug overdoses in a matter of days and the tribe declared a state of emergency.

Crime

FBI busts up Seattle drug ring. Arrests include prominent activist

Federal law enforcement officials in Seattle have announced the arrests of more than a dozen local people charged with conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs and commit money laundering across multiple states. Those charged include a prominent voice in Seattle’s violence prevention efforts.

Health

For Native Americans in Washington, stark health care disparities and preventable deaths endure

Education

Missing children, unmarked graves, unanswered questions: Washington's Native American boarding schools

A new report from the U.S. Department of the Interior documents the atrocities carried out over the course of close to 150 years at U.S. maintained and supported Native American boarding schools.

Environment

Northwest tribes' salmon hatcheries get $240 million federal boost

West Coast tribes are getting nearly $240 million from the federal government to improve their salmon hatcheries.

Law & Courts

BNSF Railway ordered to pay $395 million after years of trespassing on Swinomish land

A federal judge has ordered BNSF Railway to pay the Swinomish Tribe $395 million for illegally running mile-long oil trains through the tribe’s reservation for nearly a decade.

Car crashes take deadly toll on Native Americans in Washington state

Fatal traffic crashes are up in Washington state, and they are hitting especially hard among Native American communities, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Arts & Life

Lily Gladstone represents at 2024 Met Gala — one of just four Indigenous attendees

Gladstone's attendance at the Met Gala was yet another reminder of her talent, grown at Mountlake Terrace High School. But for some onlookers, it was also a reminder of a persistent trend in fashion: a dearth of Indigenous stars, designers, and other attendees.