Honoring humanity creates an equitable and just society.
Washington, with beautiful landscapes from the beaches of Neah Bay to the rolling fields of Asotin and every place in between, is home to a beautiful tapestry of people seeking to make a life for themselves and a better future for their children, grandchildren, and generations to come. Yet, American Indian/Alaska Native people still do not have the same opportunities to thrive as their nonmarginalized counterparts across nearly every measure including education, wealth, employment, health, and more. Inequities continue to be deep, pervasive, and persistent, and they come at a great economic and social cost.
The Washington State Office of Equity partners with numerous internal and external stakeholders to receive anti-racist, decolonized, disaggregated data in order to produce relevant information that results in American Indian/Alaska Natives having full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.
Washington State has 36 Native American tribes, 29 of which are federally recognized, meaning that they have a special, legal relationship with the U.S government, also known as a government-to-government relationship.
This government-to-government relationship is the result of sovereign and independent tribal governments being incorporated into the fabric of our Nation, of Indian tribes becoming what our courts have come to refer to as quasi-sovereign domestic dependent nations. Over the years the relationship has flourished, grown and evolved into a vibrant partnership in which over 500 tribal governments stand shoulder to shoulder with the other governmental units that form our Republic. George Herbert Walker Bush
The federal government has long broken promises to Native American tribes who have been on this land since time immemorial. With her appointment, Congresswoman Haaland will help me strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship. Joe Biden
It does not require many words to speak the truth. Chief Joseph, Nez Perce