THE FIRST RESIDENTS
OF THIS AREA
New Era of Collective Advocacy
Native people were the first residents of the area now known as King County, and Seattle is a city that visibly celebrates its Indigenous heritage. Yet Native presence has been over the years actively resisted, obscured, ignored and even prohibited within its borders.
Today’s urban American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) in King County grapple with a number of serious issues including:
- Persistent invisibility in funding circle.
- Disproportionately poor health outcomes.
- Elevated rates of homelessness.
Despite these and other challenges, the Native community in and around Seattle is multicultural and vibrant, and increasingly served by Native-led nonprofit organizations providing culturally attuned services and support.