Moving Waters
January 28, 2021
As part of Shape Our Water’s Fireside Series, local Tribal members offer their perspectives on water and their cultural relationships to water, rooted in historical methods of water management, with lessons from the past that can inform our future. Through storytelling and discussion, participants explore the essentialism of water, why water is a source of life, water’s role in our modern lives, and how we can maintain our connections to water. The conversation spans across generations as speakers share their experiences in the context of the urbanization of the Seattle area over time. This conversation was originally presented on January 28, 2021.
Featured Speakers in Moving Waters
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Ken Workman is a member of the Duwamish Tribe, the first people of Seattle, and the 4th generation great-grandson of Chief Seattle. A retired systems and data analyst from The Boeing Company, Ken is also a former President of Duwamish Tribal Services (the non-profit arm of the Duwamish Tribe) and a former Tribal Council member. He is a Board Member of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and (Emeritus) member of DRCC (Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition). Today Ken enjoys a retired life on a river, in the mountains, East of Seattle in the peace and quiet of birds chirping and a river flowing.
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Rachel Heaton is a culture educator for the Muckleshoot tribe in the Cultural Resources Department, working to learn, build, and sustain their cultural practices. She is also the co-founder of the Indigenous-led divestment organization, Mazaska Talks.
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Stephanie Sxhaalghen Masterman is the Retail Manager for Seattle’s first ever Native-owned cultural art flagship store, Eighth Generation, located within the heart of Seattle at Pike Place Market. She has served in several leadership roles for her tribe. Stephanie is also a member of the Burke Museum’s first cohort of the Indigenous Research Family.
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Justice Bill is a cultural research intern with the Muckleshoot Culture Division, an enrolled member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Tak’deintann from the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska. Justice recently graduated with his AA from Seattle Central College and is now a student at the University of California, Berkeley where he is majoring in Native American Studies. Justice has been participating his native cultural traditions since he was young through the Alaska Kuteeya Dancers and the Muckleshoot Canoe Family. More recently, he has been studying Muckleshoot history under the tutelage of elder Gilbert “Hoagie” and Tallis King George.
The Fireside Series during Shape Our Water, organized by the project Design Team, brings local and national leaders together to discuss water concepts relevant to community issues. The series highlights innovative planning initiatives, projects, and/or programs to inspire strategic and creative approach to multi-benefit drainage and wastewater infrastructure. The series features speakers whose experiences and expertise will explore answers to critical questions:
How have our connections to water shifted throughout time?
What does it mean to lead with equity in infrastructure projects?
How can we build a bold and mutual vision that can guide future infrastructure investments?
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