Land Acknowledgment

At Change the Narrative, we acknowledge that we live and work on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the Tulalip, Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle, and Snoqualmie tribes. These sovereign nations have stewarded these lands, waters, and communities since time immemorial and continue to do so today.

We honor their enduring relationship with this land and their deep-rooted cultural, spiritual, and ecological wisdom. As we strive to foster justice, healing, and opportunity through our work, we commit to listening, learning, and acting in ways that respect the lived experience, knowledge, and leadership of Indigenous peoples.

This acknowledgment is a first step—one of many—in our ongoing responsibility to support Indigenous sovereignty and to co-create a future where all communities thrive.

Labor Acknowledgment

We recognize that the growth and prosperity of this region, and this nation, have been built on the labor of many whose contributions have been historically overlooked or erased.

We acknowledge the forced labor of enslaved Africans and their descendants, whose stolen lives and labor laid the foundations of the United States economy. We honor the generations of Black workers who, despite systemic violence and exclusion, have led movements for justice and equity.

We acknowledge the exploitation of immigrant and migrant workers, especially Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities, whose labor has sustained our agriculture, construction, caregiving, and service industries, often without fair wages, rights, or protections.

Again, we acknowledge the ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples whose lands were stolen, who were often forced into unpaid or underpaid labor, and who continue to resist economic systems that have marginalized their communities.

We also uplift the voices of undocumented workers and low-wage laborers, many of whom continue to face unsafe conditions, wage theft, and barriers to organizing.

At Change the Narrative, we commit to honoring this legacy by centering justice, dignity, and equity in all of our work, recognizing that true progress cannot exist without labor justice.

Tribes of Snohomish County

In Snohomish County, only three tribes are federally recognized, Tulalip Tribes of Washington, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. The Snohomish Tribe of Indians, while maintaining a distinct cultural identity and community presence, is not federally recognized. Their petition for federal acknowledgment was denied in 1986, and they continue to seek recognition through legal avenues.

  • Tulalip Tribes of Washington are a sovereign nation comprised of Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish peoples. These South and Central Coast Salish tribes are Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest Coast and continue to thrive with their cultural traditions, governance, and stewardship of the land. Learn More

  • Snohomish Tribe of Indians traditionally lived along the Snohomish River and surrounding areas, including what is now Marysville, the southern tip of Camano Island, Whidbey Island near present-day Mukilteo, and upriver as far east as modern-day Monroe. Their deep connection to the waterways and lands remains central to their cultural identity. Learn More

  • Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians descend from the Stoluck-wa-mish River Tribe and have historically lived along the Stillaguamish River and its many tributaries. Today, their tribal headquarters are located in Arlington, Washington, where they continue to preserve their traditions and advocate for the health of their communities and environment. Learn More

  • Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe have ancestral roots along the Sauk, Suiattle, Cascade, Stillaguamish, and Skagit rivers, with their homeland centered in Sauk Prairie at the base of Whitehorse Mountain in the North Cascades. Their tribal headquarters are located in Darrington, Washington, where they continue to uphold their rich cultural heritage. Learn More

Labor Learning

  • Unpaid labor is the term used to describe the collective contribution of the first 12 generations of Black people in America (1607-1865). These first 12 generations were vital to the birth, growth, and survival of the United States as they worked as unpaid laborers for 250 years to form the foundation of our country. Learn More

  • The Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford University is a multidisciplinary research initiative launched in 2012 to recover and honor the experiences of the thousands of Chinese migrants who built the Transcontinental Railroad between 1864 and 1869. Through archaeological studies, oral histories, and digital archives, the project sheds light on the workers' lives, labor conditions, and enduring impact on the American West. Learn More

  • Slavery was integral to the Southern economy, with enslaved labor driving the production of cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane. By the Civil War's onset, the South produced 75% of the world's cotton and had more millionaires per capita in the Mississippi River valley than anywhere else in the U.S., underscoring the immense profitability of slavery. Learn More