In 1970, Bernie Whitebear and Native leaders from across the nation carefully organized a grassroots community occupation of Seattle’s Fort Lawton to reclaim the land taken from them and declare that Indigenous people belong in these spaces. While activists faced harsh resistance from military police, the movement gained nationwide attention… [ 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 ]
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 ]
Every year on the second Monday in October, we come together to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day: a day that centers Native people by celebrating our ongoing presence and uplifting the deep connections to this land that have existed since time immemorial. Here in Seattle, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more than… [ 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 ]
A new report has been released detailing progress on commitments made at the first Tribal Nations Summit held in May 2023. This historic gathering of Tribal and City leaders sought to identify actions and desired outcomes that uphold the sovereignty and treaty rights of federally recognized Tribes and to build partnerships,… [ Keep reading ]
The Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), which was formed in 2022, just celebrated their first full year of collaboration. This year, they collaborated with the Office of Intergovernmental Relations to host the first Tribal Nations Summit, which resulted in plans and actions including those that further their mission to be a… [ Keep reading ]
by Rena Priest Welcome to Indian Country Where is Indian Country? It’s everywhere we stand. It’s anywhere we dance. It’s where the earth loves the feel of our feet. Welcome to Indian Country. What does that mean? It means this is where we lift our voice in song and make… [ Keep reading ]
