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Underscore Native News
@underscore-news.bsky.social
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Indigenous-centered news organization, producing high-quality journalism in the Pacific Northwest.

🔗 https://linktr.ee/underscore.news
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All of us here at Underscore want to thank you for supporting Indigenous-centered journalism! This Giving Tuesday, we hope you consider donating to us, and thanks to Newsmatch, every donation right now will be matched dollar for dollar! Thank you for being a part of our community. ❤️
Thank You for Supporting Underscore Native News!
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December 3, 2025 at 1:04 AM
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Donate $10 or more to Underscore Native News on the Give!Guide website, today only, and be entered to win 3 great prize packages!

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#GivingTuesday
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
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@lunabreyna.bsky.social latest piece continues ICT’s ongoing series on the complicated issues of Indigenous identity.

#TwoSpirit #LGBTQIA2S #2SLGBTQ #Indigiqueer #identity
underscore-news.bsky.social Underscore Native News @underscore-news.bsky.social · 10d
Two-Spirit people have always existed in Indigenous nations, carrying sacred responsibilities and shaping community life. Today their voices are guiding a resurgence that honors tradition while confronting ongoing colonial harm.

✍️:Luna Reyna, UNN + ICT

www.underscore.news/justice/recl...
Reclaiming Two-Spirit Roles Across Native Nations - Underscore Native News
Two-Spirit people have always existed in Indigenous nations, carrying sacred responsibilities and shaping community life. Today their voices are guiding a resurgence that honors tradition while confro...
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November 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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Two-Spirit people have always existed in Indigenous nations, carrying sacred responsibilities and shaping community life. Today their voices are guiding a resurgence that honors tradition while confronting ongoing colonial harm.

✍️:Luna Reyna, UNN + ICT

www.underscore.news/justice/recl...
Reclaiming Two-Spirit Roles Across Native Nations - Underscore Native News
Two-Spirit people have always existed in Indigenous nations, carrying sacred responsibilities and shaping community life. Today their voices are guiding a resurgence that honors tradition while confro...
www.underscore.news
November 27, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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A newly proposed Senate bill removes $7 million from the 2026 budget request for Native Community Development Financial Institutions, a decision Tribal leaders say threatens critical access to capital in Native communities.

✍️: Lyric Aquino, UNN + RFA

www.underscore.news/justice/prop...
Proposed Senate Bill Strips NCAI Request for 2026 Native CDFI Budget By $7 million - Underscore Native News
A resolution that began in the ATNI has gained support across Indian County, including NCAI. The resolution calls to protect CDFIs as funding cuts and the recent government shutdown put Native economi...
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November 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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The newly elected National Congress of American Indians executive committee was sworn in during the annual conference held in Seattle, Washington from November 16-21, 2025.

The executive committee will serve a two-year term from 2025-2027.

✍️: @lunabreyna.bsky.social, UNN + ICT

#NCAI2025
NCAI Leadership Elected for Two-Year Term - Underscore Native News
Members of the largest and oldest tribal organization have selected its executive committee leaders.
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November 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
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NOAA Fisheries spokesman Michael Milstein, who is based in Portland and has been supporting this permitting process for years, said after he was only able to provide a short emailed statement from the agency.

✍️ : Luna Reyna, Underscore Native News + ICT and Bellamy Pailthorp, KNKX
Makah Tribe’s Treaty-Protected Whaling Rights Remain Blocked More Than 25 Years Later - Underscore Native News
Federal officials have not responded to the October deadline for the tribe’s permit for a traditional summer/fall subsistence hunt of eastern North Pacific Gray Whales, covered by the Makahs’ 10-year ...
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November 19, 2025 at 11:16 PM
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In the Seattle Culinary Academy’s kitchen on October 2, Native cuisine made up the entire menu, for Native Grown and Gathered: Ancestral Table and Slow Food Feast.

🔗 : www.underscore.news/culture/indi...
✍️ : Lyric Aquino, Underscore Native News + Report for America
Indigenous Chef’s Night Brings First Foods Fine Dining - Underscore Native News
Native chefs came together for one night only in Seattle for a traditional gastronomic showcase, featuring dishes by Sean Sherman, Pyet Despain, Rob Kinneen, and Luke Black Elk.
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November 19, 2025 at 12:55 AM
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The updated policies, released in July, are intended to improve a program that has left hundreds of eligible homes from completing the transfer process to Native ownership.

🔗 : www.underscore.news/justice/two-...

✍️ : Luna Reyna, Underscore Native News + ICT
🎨 : Kyra Antone, Underscore Native News
Two Decades Later, a Federal Native Homeownership Program in Washington Has Yet to Convert a Single Home to Ownership  - Underscore Native News
The number of homes eligible for ownership through a state-managed federal housing program has grown to more than 300, a year after an audit miscounted the number of eligible homes while identifying f...
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November 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
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Underscore Native News is excited to announce our partnership with Willamette Week’s Give!Guide. If you donate $10 or more to us on the Give!Guide website during a Big Give Day, you can be entered to win one of these amazing gifts!

Donate: giveguide.org/nonprofits/u...

#Giveguide
November 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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“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
‘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...
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November 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
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“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
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.
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October 30, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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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-...
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.
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October 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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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
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.
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October 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
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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.

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‘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.
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October 23, 2025 at 11:01 PM
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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
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.
www.underscore.news
October 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
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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
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.
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October 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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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
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.
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October 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
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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
“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.
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October 15, 2025 at 12:04 AM
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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...
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.
www.underscore.news
October 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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“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
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.
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October 6, 2025 at 8:16 PM
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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
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...
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September 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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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
‘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.
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September 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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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
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.”
www.underscore.news
September 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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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
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...
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September 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM