Crossposted from Metro Matters

By De’Sean Quinn, King County Metro Assistant General Manager for Strategy and Partnerships

As Native American Heritage Month comes to a close, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the privilege of living in a region shaped by the deep history and enduring contributions of Native American communities.

In Washington state, 29 tribes are part of a network of more than 500 federally recognized tribes across the United States. In King County, we live on the ancestral lands of the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Puyallup, Tulalip, Suquamish, Coast Salish Tribes, and the Duwamish people. For countless generations, these tribes have been stewards of this land. However, this land was acquired through broken treaties and unfulfilled promises, leaving a legacy of displacement and injustice. Recognizing this history is essential to understanding the ongoing challenges Native communities face today. Read more.