crosscut.com : Native People

Sausage Links, money for nothing edition

Crosscut — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:15:01 PDT

Was the latest Elway poll a little off? Released Monday, Aug. 4, the poll showed Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi by a whopping 16 points. Today, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly says Elway "may be wrong." Meanwhile, both candidates are still sparring over Gregoire's recent accusations of racism in a Republican attack ad. Rossi, however, has responded by saying: How could the ads be racist? I'm part Native American myself. ...

Sausage Links, top-two headache edition

Crosscut — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:23:01 PDT

David Postman had a busy morning. First, The Seattle Times chief political writer reported the proper way to describe the ~~death with dignity~~ "assisted suicide" initiative. Then he dropped a political firebomb, reporting the state's political parties haven't yet given up trying to ax the "top-two" primary, with both Republicans and Democrats claiming the entire '08 election won't count. I thought that headache was over. Turns out it's just getting started. ...

Polimedia (late) lunch links, 'Belch if you love democracy' edition

Crosscut — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:15:01 PDT

The Right blogosphere is all over the GOP's call to investigate Gov. Christine Gregoire's gambling compact with a Washington state native tribe, here and here — while Eric Earling at Sound Politics also makes an interesting observation about The Seattle Times' lack of coverage on the issue.

Gregoire's gambling compact should shock us all

Crosscut — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:46:01 PDT

Since my return to Seattle more than seven years ago, I have noted many changes in the state and local political cultures. The most disappointing has been the degree to which supposedly "liberal" governors, legislators, mayors and others accept as business-as-usual policies and practices which are shockingly self-interested and against the interests of a majority of their constituents.

Wanna rent a ranger station?

Crosscut — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:00:01 PDT

America's national forests are in the middle of a "heritage" crisis as historic structures fall victim to budget cuts, vandalism, and neglect. Northwest forests are not immune, but citizens can help. How about vacationing in a fire lookout this summer?

Seattle's Hollywood 'Head Hunter'

Crosscut — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:20:01 PDT

For Northwest history geeks, the most anticipated film event of the season is a rare chance to see a rare film, the just-restored 1914 silent, In the Land of the Head Hunters by Seattle's photographic master Edward S. Curtis. Known most for his monumental work photographing North American Indians, Curtis is mainly remembered and widely collected as a still photographer. Yet he also worked in film (including a stint for Cecil B. DeMille) during cinema's infancy. The "shadowcatcher" caught moving pictures, and his feature will be on screen again in June.

The Northwest's real fairy tales

Crosscut — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:08:01 PDT

When it comes to Northwest legends, we usually think big: There's Bigfoot, D.B. Cooper's Big Heist, Paul Bunyan and his Big Blue Ox — even the Big White Worm of the Palouse. This tradition goes back. When Jonathan Swift documented Gulliver's travels in the early 1700s, he placed the land of the giants, Brobdingnag, in the Pacific Northwest — somewhere between what we know today as British Columbia and Alaska. But we have our mini-myths, as well. Yes, Northwest giants are fun to think about (remember Olaf?), but take a minute to think about our munchkins.

How the West was nuked

Crosscut — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:56:01 PDT

One of the best trends in historic commemoration is a greater willingness to honestly embrace history some would like to forget. In the bill containing Washington's new Wild Sky Wilderness that just passed Congress, there is funding for a National Park Service memorial on Bainbridge Island commemorating the shameful internment of Japanese civilians during World War II. The internment proposal was pushed hard by Rep. Jay Inslee and Sen. Maria Cantwell. Coming to terms with our nuclear past is another problematic area, but one that is also getting a more attention in the West.

Tongue ties: a language bridge across the Bering Strait

Crosscut — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:00:01 PDT

A Western Washington University professor has compared native languages in North America to those in Asia and found ties that suggest they come from the same ancestors.

Go fish: The government's answer to depleted stocks

Crosscut — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:01 PDT

While officials are calling for a moratorium on commercial salmon fishing along much of the West Coast, they're opting for a different tactic in Puget Sound: continued fishing.

Tacoma: Dam if we do

Crosscut — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Tacoma's Cushman dam reduced parts of the Skokomish to a trickle years ago, and the time to repair the damage — to salmon habitat and to the Skokomish people — is now.

2007 in review: The Seattle density debate

Crosscut — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:00:01 PST

Trying to find a saner, more just "ethic of place." Good luck with that, Seattle. Two important new books explain why.

Look out! The Olympic mascot's got a gun!

Crosscut — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 05:31:01 PST

The 2010 Vancouver Olympics has unveiled their cuddly new mascots: Quatchi, Miga, Sumi — and a sidekick named Mukmuk, a Vancouver island marmot. Picking mascots for major events is never easy: they have to be a graphic icon, irresistible to children, and ridicule-proof. Sometimes mascots are based on real animals, sometimes they're totally invented creatures. Vancouver seems to have followed a middle path by basing theirs on local First Nations mythology: Sasquatch (Quatichi), Sea Bear (Miga) and Animal Guardian Spirit (Sumi). Cuddly as they are, they have a serious job to do. One of Sumi's jobs is to brandish a gun in peace-loving Canada.

The warpath not taken

Crosscut — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:00:01 PDT

How would Pacific Northwest history have differed had we taken pioneer James Swan's advice about how to treat the native population?

Michael Medved sticks up for his column on slavery in America

Crosscut — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 05:00:01 PDT

The Seattle-based national radio host has been the talk of the blogosphere this week. And he was flamed as the "Worst Person in the World" by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann for an article about America's culpability in the institution of slavery. He spoke with Crosscut's David Neiwert about why he believes he was right.

Putting on the Doggerel: All the news that's fin to print

Crosscut — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:00:01 PDT

What do Paul Allen, a gray whale, and the Washington State Ferries have in common? They all displace a lot of water. Or two of them are running out of gas, and one of them is all gas. You decide.

Nature and the great nearby

Crosscut — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:00:01 PDT

An exhibition in Seattle features a 150-year scrapbook of images highlighting our relationship with nature, from dead eagles and illuminated orcas to sacred groves and horned loggers.

'Nature in the Balance': a gallery

Crosscut — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:00:01 PDT

A baker's dozen of pictures from an exhibition highlighting the Northwest's relationship with nature.

Her feet complete a circle in time

Crosscut — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:00:01 PDT

Last of four parts: On Day 5, the author, an historian, completes her circumnavigation of Lake Washington on foot, returning to Kirkland, which was a spectacular failure as a steel town but is a booming modern suburb. Her total distance: 67 miles. Duration: centuries.

Barn Again!

Crosscut — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:00:01 PDT

Some of the most interesting and odd-ball historic preservation work is going on outside of Seattle in the land of vanishing farms, strip malls, and "Kung Pao weiner schnitzel."