The Urban Indian Experience
Winner of the Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) for 2005: Sports Reporting - 1st Place
Reporting and photography by Cathy Duchamp
When you think of American Indians you probably envision life on the reservation, or an historic battle scene like Little Big Horn. The reality is that American Indians are a vital part of contemporary American culture. In fact, more than half of the nation’s first people live in cities, including Seattle.
This month, KUOW brings you a four–part documentary on the American Indian urban experience. It’s the story of how Native Americans from more than a hundred different tribes came to call Seattle home. It’s the story of the struggle to maintain culture against the forces to assimilate.
In terms of numbers, Native Americans are often a footnote in local Census figures. But the diversity of Native American people in Seattle, and their stories, creates a rich fabric of customs and traditions that most people don’t know about.
Listen to the full documentary (Real Audio)
Funding for The Urban Indian Experience was provided by the KUOW Program Venture Fund. Contributors include Paul and Laurie Ahern and Puget Sound Energy.
Mary Lou Slaughter, Duwamish weaver
The Urban Indian Experience: The Duwamish, Seattle's Landless Tribe
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Today we bring you the first in a four-part series on Seattle’s urban Native American community. It’s the story of the Duwamish, Seattle’s first people. The tribe lost its land, fishing rights and, more recently, federal recognition, in part because of the forces of urbanization. KUOW’s Cathy Duchamp reports. More »
Adeline Garcia, Haida Elder
The Urban Indian Experience: A Place to Call Home
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
In part 2 of our documentary on Seattle’s Native American community we bring you the stories of the volunteers and social workers who built a safety net for people who came from more than a hundred different tribes. KUOW’s Cathy Duchamp reports. More »
Shirley Aragon
The Urban Indian Experience: Reconnecting to Culture
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Today in part three of our documentary on Seattle’s American Indian community we bring you stories of people who opted out of native culture… and came back to it, in ways you might not expect. KUOW’s Cathy Duchamp reports. More »
Sage Cree Bear & Derek Gracek-Janos
The Urban Indian Experience: Surviving on a Shoe String
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Connie Bonelli coaches an all-native youth basketball team in Seattle. It’s a shoe-string operation, compared to many reservations teams, which are funded through federal or casino money. But Bonelli and other parent volunteers are determined to teach native youth sportsmanship and clean living. We go on the court with KUOW’s Cathy Duchamp, in the final part of our documentary on Seattle’s Native American community. More »
Related Links
- Duwamish Tribe Website
- Mary Lou Slaughter's baskets
- Lawney Reyes' autobiography
- Seattle Indian Health Board
- Basketball Team Contact Information: P.O. Box 84465 Seattle, WA 98124
