Underscore Native News

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‘Native Grown and Gathered Food Expo’ Launches Inaugural, and Potentially Last, Gathering - Underscore Native News Native food producers and procurers came together for the first Indigenous foods expo in Seattle this October to connect and help build Indigenous food ways economically, but a one-year run may be all...

“We wanted people to feel held and celebrated,” said Valerie Segrest, Muckleshoot, CEO for Tahoma Peak Solutions. According to Segrest this food expo had been multiple years in the making.

🔗: www.underscore.news/land/food-so...
 ✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

Inspired by Generations Before, Healing Together for Those to Come - Underscore Native News Ei-Shah Pirtle-Wright lives their life focused on community and how to leave a lasting impact on those around them.

“I mostly want people to be able to learn because it helps with mental health, spiritual health, physical health, and even some financial health.” - Ei-Shah
🔗 : www.underscore.news/people-profi...
✍️ : @nikabartoosmith for UNN + ICT
📸 : @Jarrette_Werk for UNN

The Umatilla Tribal Police Ask Public for Any Video in Missing Tribal Elder Case - Underscore Native News 71-year-old Umatilla elder, Wesley Dixon Jones, has been missing since Oct. 5, 2025. Searches are ongoing.

The Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) is seeking help from the public in the search for 71-year-old Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla elder, Wesley Dixon Jones, who has been missing since Oct. 5, 2025.

www.underscore.news/justice/the-...

In Pursuit of Medicine - Underscore Native News First year medical student, Mateo Perez, attributes much of his success to programs built for Native youth to connect with Indigenous health practitioner mentors.

Indigenous youth, Mateo Perez, shares his educational journey.
His biggest piece of advice for Indigenous students interested in medicine is to apply to as many programs for Native students as possible.
🔗: www.underscore.news/peopl.../in-...
✍️ + 📸 : @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for UNN + ICT

‘Going to Get Tougher’: Tribes Grapple With Ongoing Government Shutdown - Underscore Native News On Monday, Oct. 20, the U.S. Senate failed for an 11th time to advance a House-passed measure and end the shutdown.

The United States is 21 days into the third-longest federal government shutdown in history and Indian Country is bracing for an unstable future ahead as reserve funding for many tribes could begin to dry up.

www.underscore.news/justice/goin...

Search for Missing Umatilla Elder, Wesley Dixon Jones, Continues - Underscore Native News MMIW Search and Hope Alliance organizes upcoming three day long search, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2.

MMIW Search and Hope Alliance organizes upcoming three day long search, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 for Umatilla Elder Wesley Dixon Jones.

🔗: Full story linked in bio! www.underscore.news/justice/sear...
✍️: @Jarrette_Werk for Underscore Native News

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Calls on U.S. Government to Reinstate CDFI Fund and Staff - Underscore Native News Amidst a government shutdown, Native-certified CDFIs are looking to secure their previously allocated funds or risk shutting their doors.

As the government shutdown continues, Native-certified Community Development Financial Institutions are left wondering if their previously allocated funding will be paid out.

🔗: www.underscore.news/justice/econ...
 ✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

Klamath River Ecosystem is Booming One Year After Dam Removal - Underscore Native News Despite the hopeful strides the river has taken in healing, scientists say federal funding cuts pose a setback to continued scientific monitoring.

World’s largest dam removal results in healing ecosystem, but Federal cutbacks may impact continued necessary data gathering.

🔗: www.underscore.news/land/klamath...

 ✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

“Honoring Story Bearers:” Confluence Pays Tribute To Three Warm Springs Elders - Underscore Native News Using their art to help shape culture in the Pacific Northwest, Confluence’s annual “Legacy Maker Gathering” recognized the contributions of Lillian Pitt, Elizabeth Woody and Linda Meanus.

The event hosted by Confluence, a nonprofit that aims to connect Native Nations along the Columbia River to, “history, living cultures, and ecology of the Columbia River system through Indigenous voices,” with community gatherings, and educational programming in the arts.

 ✍️: Lyric Aquino, UNN+RFA

Government Shutdown Begins, ‘Too Early To Tell’ The Full Impact On Indian Country - Underscore Native News Impacts will vary depending on how much reserve funding individual tribes have.

The United States government has entered a shutdown, meaning many federal agencies have had funding cut off and are furloughing workers. For Indian Country, this is a violation of dozens of different treaty obligations with no clear end in sight.

www.underscore.news/justice/gove...

Siletz Opens Affordable Housing Project in Salem, Oregon - Underscore Native News The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians held ribbon cutting to celebrate Kloshe Illahee Haws, a new 39-unit affordable housing project open to Siletz citizens and the broader Salem community.

“This housing is more than just a roof and four walls, it’s an opportunity to heal, reconnect and grow. It’s a chance for my family and I to thrive as tribal members in our own community.”

✍️ : @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for UNN + ICT
📸 : @jarrette-werk.bsky.social for UNN

Marie Watt Receives Prestigious $250,000 Heinz Award - Underscore Native News The Portland based artist was recognized this week alongside five other “changemakers,” each receiving a quarter of a million dollars in unrestricted funds to honor their excellence in arts, economics...

Portland based Indigenous artist, Marie Watt, receives a quarter of a million dollars in unrestricted funds. Through her art, she fosters meaningful connections across generations and cultures.

🔗: www.underscore.news/culture/mari...
✍️+ 📸 : @jarrette-werk.bsky.social for Underscore Native News

‘Storm Before The Calm:’ The Making of Tribal Canoe Journeys - Underscore Native News Preparation for the annual voyage across the Salish Sea requires an entire year of preparation with the highs and lows following.

Ahead of the two weeks of strenuous paddling and celebration protocols, canoe families begin preparations months before the canoe ever even touches the water.

🔗 : www.underscore.news/culture/stor...
✍️ : @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for Underscore Native News + ICT and Carrie Johnson

Coast Salish Weavers Bring Meaningful Representation to New Seattle Sounders Jerseys - Underscore Native News Underscore + ICT sat down with two of the Salish weavers, Gail White Eagle and Danielle Morsette, who created the “Salish Sea kit.”

In addition to collaborating with Coast Salish weavers for the jersey signs, the league donated the first $50,000 made from sales of the jerseys to local Native nonprofit organizations.

🔗: www.underscore.news/culture/coas...
✍️: @lunabreyna.bsky.social , Underscore Native News + Indian Country Today

Medicaid Cuts Could Strip Critical Funding from Tribal Health Clinics, Including in Rural Oregon - Underscore Native News The Ko-Kwel Wellness Centers in Coos Bay and Eugene provide essential healthcare for Native and non-Native populations alike, often from rural areas. Now they’re bracing for service interruptions amid...

With Medicaid cuts taking hold throughout the country, essential Tribal health clinics like Ko-Kwel Wellness Center are at risk.

🔗: www.underscore.news/justice/heal...
✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America
📸 : @Jarrette_Werk for Underscore Native News

Mainland Living Native Hawaiians Asked to Contribute to Boarding School Oral History Project - Underscore Native News The National Boarding School Healing Coalition meets with survivors in Portland as part of an ongoing oral history project with the Library of Congress.

On a 20-stop national tour, the National Boarding School Healing Coalition is collecting oral history interviews from federal Indian boarding school survivors. The collection will be housed in the Library of Congress within the next few years.

✍️: Lyric Aquino, UNN + RFA

Work with Underscore - Underscore Native News Staff Jobs We’re hiring! Select the job you’re interested in from the list below to see more details Freelance Opportunities If you’re a journalist with a freelance story idea to pitch, please reach out to Managing Editor Christine Trudeau at ctrudeau@underscore.news.

Join our team!

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and hope to have someone start in the role as soon as September 2, 2025. For any questions, contact the hiring manager, Myers Reece, at mreece@underscore.news.

🔗: www.underscore.news/work-opportu...

Oregon Non-Profits Team Up to Host Their First Indigenous Camping Trip On Mt. Hood - Underscore Native News Hoping to break down financial barriers for Indigenous campers, organizers launch a free three-day culturally immersive camping program focusing on culture, nature and community building.

The camping trip included cultural activities to teach traditional skills and nature-based activities to get people outside and connected with the land. 

✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

Native nations collaborate with WA, OR on Walla Walla water rights The watershed has long been overallocated, but a new plan offers hope for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, whose lands are affected.

From @underscore-news.bsky.social: The Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan endeavors to provide a collaborative path forward for the overallocated river basin. For the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, whose traditional homelands encompass the basin, a lot is at stake.

Coquille Indian Tribe Led Partnership Could Bring Back Chinook Salmon Fishing To Coquille River This Fall - Underscore Native News Oregon officials said the Chinook salmon population would be restored in ten years. With Coquille leadership, they did it in three.

After a four year fishing ban on the Coquille River, a proposed reopening of Chinook salmon fishing on the river that could happen as early as this September.

✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

With Improved Collaboration, High Hopes for Real Solutions in the Walla Walla Watershed - Underscore Native News Funds recently earmarked by Oregon and matched by Washington to support water projects by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are signs of progress on a multi-stakeholder strate...

Washington and Oregon support Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation in addressing the water crisis with the Walla Walla Water 2050 Plan.

🔗: Read full story here: www.underscore.news/land/with-im...
✍️: Adrianna Adame UNN

Global Solidarity at the Mouth of the Klamath - Underscore Native News For members of the Klamath basin tribes who had fought for the river dams’ removal and organized the historic first descent of the newly free-flowing waters, the signing of an international accord bro...

The historic first descent was organized by Paddle Tribal Waters, a program under the nonprofit Ríos to Rivers, and was years in the making, including the participating youth traveling to rivers around the world.

✍️+ 📸 : @jarrette-werk.bsky.social for UNN

Tsunami Warning Impedes Tribal Canoe Journey - Underscore Native News Families work together to get to higher ground.

Canoe families help move each other’s canoes away from the water’s edge, following the issuance of a tsunami warning across the Pacific Ocean coastline.

🔗: www.underscore.news/land/tsunami...
✍️: @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for Underscore Native News + ICT

Tribal Radio Stations Hit Hard by Federal Broadcasting Cuts - Underscore Native News KWSO in Warm Springs is set to lose 40 percent of its budget, while other rural tribal stations across the U.S., which play essential roles in disseminating information such as emergency alerts and na...

The fate of many tribal radio stations, which are often critical sources of information in rural areas, is uncertain following federal broadcasting cuts.

🔗: www.underscore.news/justice/fede...
✍️: Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America

The Paddle to Elwha Has Begun - Underscore Native News Canoe families from across the Salish Sea and beyond have begun their annual canoe journey, this year paddling to Elwha where the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe will host for the first time in 15 years.

The annual Canoe Journey event for Indigenous tribes across the Pacific Northwest and beyond is well underway, with families coming together to paddle to the host nation.
🔗: www.underscore.news/land/the-pad...
✍️: @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for UNN + ICT, and Carrie Johnson

Indigenous youth kayak their free-flowing ancestral waterways, reconnecting the threads almost lost to harmful impacts of colonization and modern agriculture.

🔗: www.underscore.news/land/uniting...
✍️+ 📸 : @jarrette-werk.bsky.social for Underscore Native News

New Online Support Hub Launches for 2SLGBTQ+ People - Underscore Native News Two Spirit Support Boat offers resources and an online community for Indigiqueer adults, caregivers of 2SLGBTQ+ youth and clinicians.

In part as a response to the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric, organizations and individual allies from across the country worked together to create the virtual hub. Creating spaces of love, safety and resource sharing for 2SLGBTQ+ relatives.

✍️: @nikabartoosmith.bsky.social for UNN+ICT

Indigenous Youth Complete 310-Mile Klamath River Journey after largest dam removal in history.

🔗: www.underscore.news/land/indigen...

‘When We’re All Together, We Stand Stronger’ - Underscore Native News Intertribal Canoe Journey is about resilience, caring for others, and keeping the culture alive.

Intertribal Canoe Journey is about resilience, caring for others, and keeping the culture alive.

www.underscore.news/culture/when...