Collaborative Action Network Blog

Canoe Journey, also known as Tribal Canoe Journey, is an annual cultural celebration and traveling canoe revitalization effort that occurs in Coast Salish territory of Turtle Island (also known as the Pacific Northwest). This includes parts of Washington State,...

In Coast Salish territory we have two types of canoes. Traveling canoes, which are used on Canoe Journey, were traditionally built to carry families and their supplies for hundreds of miles on the traditional highways known as the Salish Sea waterways and beyond. They...

Let’s Talk ‘Protect Thacker Pass’ and Other Native Environmental Justice Movements “Protect Mother Earth” “Land Back” “Mní Wičóni (Water Is Life)” “Protect Thacker Pass” Photo of “Thacker Pass Six” from Press Release: Activists Sued by Mining Company Tell Their...

dxʷtalx̌cut - mental health in Lushootseed haʔɬ x̌əčil - behavioral health in Lushootseed May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health as well as emotional well-being are often tied to cultural traditions for Native people. There are many examples of how...

The pow wow season has begun in Coast Salish territory (spring and summer) and it is an exciting time to get to see Native culture in action. Whether it is a one-day pow wow or a three-day long pow wow, all are fun, vibrant, and a time of celebration with unique songs...

The late Billy Frank Jr. was a Nisqually tribal member and is most commonly known as one of the major Native leaders during the ‘Fish Wars’ of the 1960s - 1970s that occurred in Washington State. Billy Frank Jr. was first arrested at age 14 for fishing in his usual...

Language Revitalization - Traditional Dialects and Native Language Resurgancies  Tribal nations across Indian Country have built up Native language revitalization efforts in their nations with the purpose of retaining, rebuilding, and strengthening the fluency of...

There are eight tribes in what we call the North Sound region. Most, but not all have tribal health centers. And most, but not all are currently exercising tribal sovereignty through the Indian Health Care Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Program. There is a long...

On October 12, 1992, Berkeley, CA became one of the first major cities to adopt ‘Indigenous Peoples Day’ while ousting ‘Columbus Day.’ Attributed to the activism and social justice of Native people in the Bay Area, from across Indian Country, and the Resistance 500,...

This is a story that is commonly told to Native children in Coast Salish territory tribes. It is a spooky tale with many lessons embedded throughout the story. The audience is traditionally for Native people and specifically Native kids, so when I say ‘we’ that is who...