SEATTLE — Duwamish members and supporters voiced concerns in Seattle City Council's transportation committee meeting Tuesday, zeroing in on a project a mile from the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center that would feature artwork by two other tribes.
"The non-inclusion of the Duwamish tribe for the artwork that's supposed to be done that's in such close proximity to our home is offensive. We weren't consulted," said Ken Workman, Duwamish tribal councilman. "And so often we are left out of these intergovernmental talks because we are not federally recognized. We're in that struggle, we're fighting that now, and with these sort of things, possession of place is important to us."
Council Bill 120726 would facilitate the "Fauntleroy Columns Art Project," entering the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) into an interlocal agreement with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Suquamish Tribe to deliver the Fauntleroy Columns art projects.
Paul Nelson, a Duwamish tribal councilman, said he acknowledges the rights of the other tribes to enter into these agreements but would like to see more inclusion.
"I believe we should just be part of that story, as well," Nelson said. "The tribes are made up of many tribes, many people, in the area, and so not even being included is I think the biggest point. Having us be a voice there is reflecting on the history where tribes came together and tribes worked together and that's all we've ever wanted. We're not trying to be the only ones- we want to be with everyone."
This is just one project, but Nelson and Workman said it's a struggle for federal recognition that leaves them out of government-to-government agreements like these. They are referring to a fight that's been waged for decades to recognize them as a tribe and receive the legal rights that come with it.
Several tribes in Western Washington dispute their claims and have fought against their petitions; the Duwamish say their fight is not with those tribes but with the federal government. They hope in the meantime, local leaders will give their concerns an ear.
"We appreciate [governmental agencies] do the best they can, but oftentimes when new people come in they don't understand the politics of this local region so they get trapped into these endless circles of, we think we're doing the right thing, only to have it backfire so then everybody feels bad," Workman said. "It's not a good day when everybody feels bad. I'd rather have it the other way."
Ultimately, the meeting ran long and a vote on the proposal was tabled. Seattle city councilmembers Joy Hollingsworth and Rob Saka thanked the speakers for sharing their perspectives and pledged to reach out and meet with them to hear more about their concerns.
A spokesperson for SDOT said the department collaborated with the Duwamish Longhouse Cultural Center on various projects including safety improvements and an art project near the longhouse, funded by $60,000 from the 1% for Arts and Municipal Art Plan funding.
According to the spokesperson, SDOT "is committed to respectfully and inclusively engaging with all Tribes and Native communities, whether recognized federally or not," and "SDOT and the City of Seattle as a whole are also committed to respecting the sovereignty of the federally recognized Tribes in the area and to maintain a government-to-government relationship."
The SDOT said the relationship facilitated the decision to enter interlocal agreements with Tribal Nation partners on the Fauntleroy Columns art project, "a significant stride in the City's journey toward acknowledging and honoring the sovereignty of the Muckleshoot and Suquamish Tribes."