After years of community organizing, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in 2014 to approve legislation designating the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Then Councilmember Bruce Harrell said, “We are not reveling in the pain of our past, but indeed we are rejoicing in the celebration of… [ Keep reading ]
On this five-year anniversary of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), the Department of Neighborhoods spoke with Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez (District 5), Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chair Donny Stevenson, and Indigenous Advisory Council Liaison for the Department of Neighborhoods Kolbi Monasmith about the history, the story, the background, the impact,… [ Keep reading ]
We recently caught up with Francesca Murnan (Shawnee and Cherokee), former Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) Liaison for the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) who now serves as the Tribal Relations Director at the Office of Intergovernmental Relations. Learn more about what drew Francesca to DON, her role in launching the IAC,… [ Keep reading ]
Indigenous Advisory Council, the Department of Neighborhoods, and Seattle Urban Native Non-Profits invite community to Seattle City Hall on Friday, September 18, 2026, for the inaugural Indigenous Civic Engagement Day. The event will be a full day of interactive workshops, panels, networking, activities, and discussion all with the goal of building and strengthening reciprocal relationships… [ Keep reading ]
Kolbi Monasmith joined the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods as the new Indigenous Advisory Council Liaison in January 2026. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, though she grew up in the Seattle area. Kolbi attended Seattle Central College and the University of Washington studying Political Science, Human… [ Keep reading ]
” A long time ago, the sky was too low. Tall people kept bumping their heads. Many different communities gathered to do something about it. They spoke different languages but realized they only needed to know one word in common to understand each other. That word was yəhaw̓ – that… [ Keep reading ]
For Coast Salish peoples, plants are more than resources: they are relatives, teachers, and the foundation of life. Since time immemorial, native plants like camas, chocolate lily, Garry oak, and Western red cedar have nourished bodies, healed communities, and built homes and canoes. What some may see today as untamed… [ Keep reading ]
Indigenous Advisory Council Accepting Applications for Open Position The City of Seattle is calling on community leaders to come forward and apply for an open seat on the Indigenous Advisory Council, a nine-member commission that ensures Native voices help guide the future of our city. If you are passionate about strengthening… [ Keep reading ]
Seeking Indigenous youth aged 18-29 for open council position. The City of Seattle is now accepting applications for the youth position on the Indigenous Advisory Council, a nine-member commission representing the Seattle region’s Indigenous communities. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2025. All members shall demonstrate a commitment to advancing Indigenous knowledge, values,… [ Keep reading ]
The Fall 2024 edition of the National Civic Review features an article titled “More Than a Land Acknowledgement: Authentic Tribal and Urban Native Engagement,” which highlights the work of the City of Seattle’s Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) and Francesca Murnan, the Department of Neighborhoods IAC Liaison. The article highlights Seattle’s… [ Keep reading ]
