>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT
THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING WILL COME
TO ORDER.
IT'S 2:00 AND PRESENT PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE.
>> GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> FLORES.
O'BRIEN.
>> HERE.
>> CHECK O.
>> HERE.
>> SALIENT.
>> HERE.
>> PRESIDENT HERALD.
>> HERE.
>> AND I AM PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AT THIS POINT I MOVE TO ADOPT
THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER SWAT
MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO
SAY ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HERALD.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED BY
INTRODUCING
RESOLUTION ENTITLED A
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE
YOUTH LED SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE
URGING SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TO SUPPORT ITS
STUDENTS RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND
PARTICIPATE IN THE
GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE AND
AFFIRMING THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE EMPLOYEES MAY REQUEST
UNPAID LEAVE FOR A DAY
OF CONSCIENCE ON SEPTEMBER 20,
2019 AND BY REFERRING
IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
ADOPTION ON MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 AND A FEW
MORES THINGS.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> I SECOND.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD AND
ELABORATORY.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST A FEW THINGS.
THE RESOLUTION IS IN
COLLABORATION WITH 350 SEATTLE
AND MANY OF THE YOUTH ACTIVISTS
WHO HAVE BEEN
SHOWING TREMENDOUS COURAGE ON
THIS ISSUE AND MANY OF
THEM ARE DOING FRIDAYS FOR THE
FUTURE EVEN AT CITY
HALL PLAZA.
YOU MAY ALL REMEMBER THE
AMAZING STUDENT WALK OUTS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD LAST
SPRING TO PROTEST
POLITICAL INACTION ON CLIMATE
CHANGE AND NOW
BUILDING FOR STUDENT WALK OUTS
AS PART OF A GLOBAL
CLIMATE ACTION LATER THIS MONTH
AND THIS RESOLUTION
IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THOSE
EFFORTS.
AND WE INTEND TO HAVE A VOTE
NEXT MONDAY IN ADVANCE
OF THE ACTION.
>> MOVE AND SECOND IT.
I'LL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.
WHEN I WAS INFORMED ABOUT THIS
AND CERTAINLY I AM IN
SUPPORT OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO DO I ACTUALLY
THOUGHT IT WAS BEING REFERRED
TO A COMMITTEE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GOING
FULL COUNCIL TO FULL
COUNCIL SO I'M JUST GOING TO
ASK THE CHAIR AND
PROPOSER OF THE AMENDMENT I'M
SURE IT'S GONE THROUGH
CENTRAL STAFF AND LAW AND THE
APPROPRIATE CHALLENGE
BEFORE IT GETS TO THE FULL
COUNCIL?
MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A
LITTLE BIT.
>> YES IT HAS GONE THROUGH ALL
OF THE APPROPRIATE
CHANNELS AND I DIDN'T WANT TO
MAKE A FORMAL
ANNOUNCEMENT BUT WE ARE WORKING
ON HAVING A
DISCUSSION IN MY COMMITTEE
TOMORROW.
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A
FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT BOPS
WE ARE TRYING TO ARRANGE YOUNG
PEOPLE TO BE AT THE
TABLE.
>> THE RESOLUTION IS BEING
DRAFTED AND COUNCIL
MEMBER YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IT?
>> I'M SORRY.
I ASSUMED THEY WOULD BE HANDED
OUT BY BUT I CAN DO
IT MYSELF.
>> OKAY.
SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE
REFERRED CALENDAR BY REFERRING
THE RESOLUTION YOU
HAVE A HARD COPY TO THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK
AS MOVE TO SECOND THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
AMENDMENT TO THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR PLEASE SAY AYE.
OPPOSED.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ADOPTION
OF THE CALENDAR AS
AMENDED PLEASE HOLD AYE.
OPPOSED?
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
NO OBJECTION TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
THERE ARE NO MINUTES FOR
APPROVAL TODAY.
PRESENTATIONS, WE DON'T HAVE A
FORMAL PRESENTATION
TODAY.
WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM MANY OF OUR
GUESTS ON THE LEGISLATION AND
COUNCIL MEMBER WARS
WILL PROPOSE.
SO AT THIS POINT AND LET ME
SORT OF EXPLAIN THIS WE
HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND
WHICH WILL BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE LEGISLATION
WE'LL HAVE TODAY UNDER
COUNCIL MEMBER WARIS'
LEADERSHIP BUT IN TRADITION WE
WOULD LIKE TO GO A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF ORDER FOR A
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT IS NOW THE PART WHERE WE DO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND WE WELCOME OUR GUESTS.
I DID WANT TO AND WILL EXTEND
IT FOR 20 MINUTES.
I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE
MANY ELECTED LEADERS
OF TLAIB COUNCILS IN WASHINGTON
STATE THAT HAVE
TRAVELED HERE WITH THE PRESENCE
AND NOTHING THOSE
ARE I DO APOLOGIZE IF I MISS
PRONOUNCE ANYONE'S
NAME.
PLAINEDDA FROM THE SNOQUALMIE
TRIBE, VIRGINIA OF THE
AND JESSICA GARCIA JONES FROM
THE MUCK O SHOOT AND
OF COURSE OUR FORMER STATE
SENATOR AND LEADER
CLAUDIA COUGH MAN HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
SO IF THOSE FOUR PEOPLE WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK FIRST,
YOU'RE VERY WELCOME TO.
AND WHY DON'T I JUST SAY IN
THAT ORDER AND THEN
WE'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST HERE
AS WE SPEAK.
SO UNLESS YOU HAD A PREARRANGED
ORDER, I'M JUST I
HAVE A LIST HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I SCREW IT
UP ROYALLY OR JUST
KEEP GOING?
>> KEEP GOING.
>> OKAY.
WOULD ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS LIKE
TO SPEAK FIRST?
ANY OF THOSE FOUR?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MAN
HERALD AND DEBRA.
MY NAME IS VIRGINIA CROSS.
I'M FROM THE TLAIB COUNCIL.
I AM THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE
TRIBAL COUNCIL.
I I'M JUST NOW A COUNCIL MAN.
BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY AS
COUNCIL MEMBER WARS'
INVITATION AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT SHE HAS
ENTERED THIS RESOLUTION IN FOR
COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND
ACCEPT.
WITH ME TODAY IS JESSICA GARCIA
JONES FROM THE
TRIBAL COUNCIL AND HER DAUGHTER
FARRA AND CLAUDIA
KOFFMAN.
LENA BAKER.
THIS YEAR FOR ONE OF OUR POW
WOWS IS HERE TODAY.
HER NAME IS AIDA MCDANIEL AND
WITH HER IS SUSAN
STAR.
DID I MISS ANYBODY?
OKAY.
SO WE ARE THE GROUP TODAY.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT
DEBRA JUAREZ HAS BEEN
DOING FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
AND WE WOULD LIKE
US--LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT
THE TERRITORY INCLUDES
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO BE
REMEMBERED IN THAT WAY.
WE HAVE--THIS HAS BEEN OUR HOME
TERRITORY FOREVER.
WE ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND
THESE EFFORTS THAT
YOU'RE DOING TODAY IF YOU DO IT
REALLY REFLECT IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR
PARTICIPATION.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT I DID
HAVE A NIECE WHO WAS MURDERED
ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO THESE REALLY DO COME TO OUR
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU MS. CROSS.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE
ORDER HERE AND CLAUDIA
KOFFMAN YOU ARE UP NEXT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HEROLD,
MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD MY NAME
IS CLAUDIA AND I'M A
MEMBER OF THE TRIBE FOR THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
RESOLUTION FOR MURDERED
MISSING AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN
THE RESOLUTION WHICH IS
PARAMOUNT ON THE FOUNDATION IN
WHICH WE COULD MOVE
FURTHER POLICY AND FURTHER
ACTION AND COMMITMENT
FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT IS ALSO DRIVEN AND
INCORPORATES COMMUNITY WHICH
IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL COMMUNITY
BE INCLUDED IN THIS
POLICY DECISION.
I THINK THIS IS A MONUMENTAL
TIME FOR US.
THIS IS NOT ONLY A LOCAL ISSUE.
IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED
TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
AND PROVIDE ACTION BEHIND.
AND ACTION NEEDS TO BE
MEANINGFUL AND RESULTS
DRIVEN.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION
DOES IS I WANT TO
PERSONALLY THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
DEBRA JUAREZ FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR
THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THIS
AREA NOT ONLY IN
SEATTLE BUT ACROSS THE REGION.
AND SO I'M HERE JUST IN SUPPORT
OF THAT RESOLUTION
AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
SUSN STAR FOLLOWED BY CHELSEA
HENDRICKSON.
>> MY NAME IS SUSAN STAR.
I'M NATIVE FROM THE TRIBE.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR
LEADERS AND OUR
FAMILY HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT
THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
I MYSELF AM VERY LUCKY THAT I
HAVE MY LIFE TODAY
BECAUSE BACK IN THE 80S WE USED
TO RUN AROUND AND
THINK THAT WE COULD RUN AROUND
AND NOT LISTEN TO OUR
PARENTS.
WE ALWAYS PAIRED UP IN TWO BUT
THERE WAS A TIME THAT
WE DIDN'T PAIR UP IN TWO AND I
LOST ONE OF MY GOOD
FRIENDS IN THE 1980S.
SHE NEVER CAME HOME TO THE
RESERVATION.
SHE LEFT HER HOME IN TACOMA
WASHINGTON IN THE CITY
TRYING TO MAKE IT HOME AND
NEVER MADE IT HOME SO
THAT DAY LEFT AN OPEN HEART-
-LEFT AN OPEN HOLE IN MY
HEART FOREVER.
ON THAT TIME AS YOU HEARD ME
SAY I WAS ALSO ONE OF
THESE WOMEN THAT I'M VERY LUCKY
TODAY THAT I AM HOME
THAT I'M VERY LUCKY TO SAY THAT
I HAVE A LIFE
BECAUSE I ALSO WAS ASSAULTED AS
A YOUNG WOMAN
BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING AROUND
AND NOT OBEISMING OR
LISTENING TO THE LAWS OF MY
PARENTS AND NOT KNOWING
TODAY HOW BIG THAT THIS WAS
GOING TO BE BUT THAT
IT'S BIG AND I'M REALLY
GRATEFUL TODAY THAT I'M
ALIVE AND THAT I CAN STAND HERE
BEFORE YOU AND SAY
THANK YOU AND PLEASE LOOK AT
THIS RESOLUTION AND
MAKE IT COME TO YOUR HEART
BECAUSE IT'S HUGE INTO
OUR HEART AND I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU MS. STAR.
FOLLOWED BY ABIGAIL ECKELHUCK.
>> MY NAME IS CHELSEA
HENDRICKSON.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTHERN
ARAPHOE TRIBE AND I'M
ALSO FROM ALASKA.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M A
FAMILY MEMBER OF A
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMAN.
MY AUNT WAS MURDERED IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE 21 YEARS
AGO.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE WOULD NOT
HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT
HAD SHE NOT COME IN CONTACT
WITH A LOT OF RACIST AND
BIASED POLICIES THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE HAS WHEN
SHE WAS IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND
THE COUNTY JAIL.
I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION 31900 AND
WANT TO RAISE MY HAND TO DEBRA
JUAREZ AND ABIGAIL
ECKELHUCK FOR ADVOCATING ON
BEHALF OF ALL INDIGENOUS
WOMEN IN SEATTLE AND ACROSS
INDIAN COUNTRY.
I DO BELIEVE THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SEATTLE TO
TRULY BE PROGRESSIVE AND TRULY
UNPACK AND UNWEAVE
THOSE RACISTS AND BIASED
POLICIES THAT ARE EMBEDDED
IN ALL INSTITUTIONS OF POWER
AND THAT YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY HERE TO WRITE SOME
OF THE WRONGS OF
SEATTLE'S PAST AND I WANT TO
HONOR ALL OF THE MMIW
WOMEN THAT ARE NOT HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
FOLLOWING ABIGAIL WILL BE IS IT
ADELE MCDANIEL?
AIDA?
SORRY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M ABIGAIL ECKELHUCK.
I'M A CITIZEN OF THE NATION OF
OKLAHOMA AND I'M A
CHIEF RESEARCH OFF THE URBAN
HEALTH INSTITUTE AND
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE EVERY
DAY IN THIS CITY IN
THIS LAND IN THIS STATE IN THIS
NATION OUR
MATRIARCHS ARE DYING OF
VIOLENCE THAT IS BASED ON
ONE THING THAT THEY ARE
INDIGENOUS WOMEN LIVING IN A
COUNTRY BUILT ON GENOCIDE WITH
CONTINUING
COLONIZEATION THAT RESULT IN
THE HISTORICAL TRAUMA
THAT OUR WOMEN ARE DYING.
THE VOICES THAT SHOULD BE
SINGING AT EVERY ONE OF
OUR CEREMONIES, THE HANDS THAT
SHOULD BE COOKING THE
FOOD TO SERVE THE NEXT
GENERATIONS, THE THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS ALLOWING FOR OUR NEXT
GENERATIONS TO
CONTINUE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE
WE'RE LOSING EVERY
SINGLE DAY AND HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE NOT ONLY
ARE WE PART OF IT IN THE STUDY
I WAS A COAUTHOR OF
THAT WAS RELEASED IN 2018 THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WAS
NUMBER ONE FOR THE NUMBER OF
MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN THE COUNTRY
AND I KNOW THAT DATA
TO BE WRONG AND WHAT I KNOW IT
TO BE WRONG IN IS I
KNOW THE CITY OF SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
RACIALLY MISS CLASSIFYING
AMERICAN INDIAN ALASKA
NATIVE WOMEN IN THEIR DATA SO
THAT IS ACTUALLY A
GROSS UNDER COUNT.
THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN WHO
WERE NEVER COUNTED IN
THAT DATA AND AS THE WOMEN THAT
I TALK TO AND I HAVE
ALSO BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED
BY MISSING AND
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AS WE
CRY TOGETHER, LAUGH
TOGETHER, FIGHT FIERCELY
TOGETHER, WE HAVE
DETERMINED THAT THIS WILL NO
LONGER CONTINUE AND I
WANT TO RAISE MY HANDS TO THE
INCREDIBLE DEBRA
JUAREZ, OUR COUNCIL WOMEN, OUR
TRIBAL MEMBER AND
LOVED ONE WHO HAS PUSHED US TO
THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PASS IS
THE VERY FIRST LEGISLATION IN
THE COUNTRY WITH REAL
MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
WE WILL LEAD NOT ONLY HERE IN
SEATTLE.
WE WILL LEAD THE STATE AND WE
WILL SHOW THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY THE WAY IT SHOULD
BE DONE BECAUSE OUR
VOICES WILL NOT BE SILENT.
WE WILL SING THOSE SONGS AGAIN
AND OUR WOMEN WILL BE
PRESENT.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS AIDA MCDANIEL.
FOR ME THE MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN STARTED FOR MY
FAMILY IN THE MID 60S.
MY SISTER WAS MURDERED IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WITH
NO INVESTIGATION.
HER BODY WAS BROUGHT BACK AND
BURIED.
TO THIS DAY EVERY DAY I THINK
OF MY SISTER THAT
SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE IN MY
FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN
MURDERED WITH NO INVESTIGATION
SO I'M GOING TO
SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION WITH MY
DIGNITARIES AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU
HAVE DONE FOR US.
AND I BELIEVE THE SPIRITS ARE
HELPING GUIDE THE
INVESTIGATION THAT HAVE BROUGHT
FORTH AND BEEN
DISCOVERED IN THE PAST SIX
MONTHS THAT I'VE SEEN.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AIDA.
OUR NEXT THREE SPEAKERS MARINE
HILL, MARISSA PEREZ
AND ESTHER STARTS WITH AN M.
OH, AN L. I EVEN I DO NOT GOT
THAT WRONG.
>> I WANTED TO START OFF WITH A
PRAYER BECAUSE WE
ALWAYS START WITH PRAYERS IN
OUR COMMUNITY SO I
WANTED TO DO A REALLY QUICK
PRAYER FOR US ALL.
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE].
>> THANK YOU GREAT-GRANDFATHER
FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL
BLESSED DAY AND CREATING THIS
HISTORY IN OUR
HOMELAND.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO
ALL OF THE LEADERS THAT
ARE INVOLVED IN THIS WORK
THAT'S BEEN DONE TO CREATE
THIS RESOLUTION AND TO THE WORK
OF ANITA FOR THE
WORK SHE'S DONE AS WELL AND I
WANTED TO JUST
INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
MOTHER NATURE FOUNDER
AND WE ARE OUR FRONT LINES
DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER
FOR WOMEN WHO ARE SUFFERING
FROM GENDER ABUSE
VIOLENCE.
I HOPE THAT THE HEALING THAT
WORKS WITH THE FAMILIES
AND THEIR CHILDREN AND THE
SUPPORT THAT WE BRING IN
TO FOLKS THAT ARE OFF RESERVE
AND ON RESERVE.
WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT TRIBES
IN THE COMMUNITIES
OVER THE YEARS.
WE HAVE A NATIVE WOMENS
RECOVERY HOUSE IN SEATTLE AS
WELL AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER
PRAYERS TO THOSE
FAMILIES AND I ACKNOWLEDGED A
RESOLUTION AND PRAY
THAT YOU GUYS SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN SET
OUT IN FRONT OF YOU THERE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK
GOING INTO THAT
RESOLUTION AND A LOT OF WORK
ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR
OUR NATIVE SISTERS THAT CAN'T
SEEN AS THE WARRIORS THAT TOOK
THAT SACRIFICE FOR US
AND WE HAVE TO DO GOOD BY THEM
AND OFFER THESE WORDS
FOR THEM AND OFFER THIS SUPPORT
FOR THEM AND I
WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL
MEMBER DEBRA JUAREZ
FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO IN
THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S VERY NICE TO HAVE ONE OF
THE SISTERS HERE ON
COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR GIVING US TIME
TO SPEAK AND BRINGING LEADERS
TOGETHER SO I PRAY YOU
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN SET
OUT IN FRONT OF YOU
AND REMEMBER I GUESS THE WORDS
YOU HEAR TODAY AND
ALSO THE CULTURAL HEALING THAT
COMES WITH THAT.
WE'RE WILLING TO PARTNER AS AN
URBAN NATIVE
ORGANIZATION AT MOTHER NATURE
TO SUPPORT THE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE FOR
THOSE SURVIVORS THAT ARE
STILL OUT THERE THAT NEED THE
HEALING CIRCLES THAT
NEED TO BE DONE.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE
AS A NATIVE PEOPLE TO
REMEMBER WHO WE ARE BECAUSE IT
WAS TAKEN FROM US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARISSA PEREZ.
I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE SINCE 2004 FIRST
AS A COLLEGE STUDENT AT SEATTLE
PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
AND NOW A U.S. ARMY VETERAN AND
ANTI VIOLENCE
ACTIVIST.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF
OUR PEOPLE TODAY AND BEING
WILLING TO COME ALONG
SIDE AND SHOULDER SOME OF THE
BURDENS THAT WE ARE
CARRYING.
IN 1926 MY GRANDMOTHER WAS SENT
ALONG WITH HER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO A
BOARDING SCHOOL IN SOUTH
DAKOTA.
13 YEARS LATER SHE LEFT
CARRYING THE IMMENSE WEIGHT
OF SHAME THAT HAUNTED HER FOR
70 YEARS.
SHE TOLD HER GRANDCHILDREN THAT
WE WERE NO LONGER
INDIAN.
THAT THE NUNS AND PRIESTS HAD
BEATEN THE INDIAN OUT
OF HER.
I AM ASHAMED I DO NOT SPEAK MY
LANGUAGE, TO WEAR A
RIBBON SKIRT AND GO TO A
CEREMONY.
I HAVE CARRIED THE SHAME THAT
CAUSED THE ABUSE OF MY
FATHER AND AUNT, THE MURDER OF
MY COUSIN, RODA
TWIST, THE FETAL ALCOHOL
DISABILITY OF MY BROTHER,
THE SHAME THAT MY FATHER STILL
CARRIES TODAY WHEN
FACED WITH A CHOICE TO TEACH
HIS GRANDCHILDREN THEIR
HERITAGE OR TO LET THE PAIN OF
THESE WOUNDS LIE
FORGOTTEN IN THE PAST.
THE SHAME OF INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA THAT LEADS TO
OUR WOMEN BEING MURDERED AND
STOLEN FROM THEIR
FAMILIES
MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO
CARRIES THIS BURDEN.
NEARLY 50% OF OUR WOMEN HAVE
BEEN RAPED.
OUR MEN ARE IMPRISONED AT RATES
FOUR TIMES HIGHER
THAN WHITE MEN AND CHILDREN ARE
PUT IN FOSTER CARE
AT RATES FOUR TIMES THAT OF
WHITE CHILDREN.
THIS SHAME IS KILLING OUR
PEOPLE AND I HAVE COME
HERE TODAY TO SAY NO MORE.
I AM NOT CARRYING THE SHAME NO
LONGER.
IT IS YOUR TURN.
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR
GOVERNMENT YOU ARE
REPRESENTING THOSE WHO LAID THE
SHAME ON MY
SHOULDERS AND IT IS NOW TIME
FOR YOU TO TAKE IT
BACK.
FIND OUR WOMEN, RETURN OUR
CHILDREN TO THEIR
GRANDMOTHERS AND STOP THE
MURDER OF OUR MEN.
YOU MUST LISTEN WHEN WE SPEAK.
YOU MUST WALK ON OUR LAND WITH
REVEREND REINCE AND
REPAIR THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
WERE FRACTURED LONG
AGO TO CARRY THAT SHAME BECAUSE
I REFUSE TO PASS IT
ONTO MY CHILDREN.
IT IS YOUR TURN NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON PRESIDENT
HERALD AND MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ESTHER LOUISER O AND
I AM LAT YENA AND
I'VE HAD THE ABSOLUTE HONOR OF
BEING THE CEO FOR THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD FOR
ALMOST FOUR YEARS
NOW.
I TOO LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE
EXPERIENCED A FAMILY
MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN MURDERED
AND SHE'S A WOMAN THAT
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS NOT
ONLY AFFECTS OUR WOMEN,
IT EFFECTS OUR TWO SPIRITS AT A
SIGNIFICANT RATE.
I'M STANDING HERE WITH GREAT
HUMILITY BECAUSE THESE
ARE MOVEMENTS THAT OCCURRED 30
YEARS PRIOR TO EVEN
MY ARRIVAL HERE AND I RAISE OUR
HANDS TO OUR
RELATIVES WHO CARRIES THOSE
VOICES OF OUR ANCESTORS
FORWARD SO WE CAN STAND HERE
TODAY WHEN YOU ARE
PROPOSING A RESOLUTION THAT
CREATES TRUE CHANGE
BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST THAT
I'VE SEEN OF ITS KIND
ACROSS THIS NATION WHERE IT HAS
RESOURCES BEHIND IT
WHERE IT HAS POWERFUL TANGIBLE
ACTIONS AND THAT IS
POWERFUL.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE THE CITY OF SEATTLE CAN
SET THE MARK FOR
OTHER CITIES ACROSS THIS NATION
AND THAT'S WHAT I
WANT TO SEE HAPPEN TODAY AND
I'LL TELL YO THAT THIS
COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT
THE LEADERSHIP OF
COUNCIL MEMBER DEBRA JUAREZ.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
SEE OUR FACES REFLECTED
IN OUR CITY COUNCILS.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
TODAY FOR HEARING US
AND PLEASE MOVE THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU ESTHER.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> OUR NEXT TWO SPEAKERS MARTY
RAY RAMSY AND THEN
GLAM AND ESTHER JUST I
APOLOGIZE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE
AN M BY THE WAY.
.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARTY RAY RAMSY AND
I COME HERE FROM THE
NATION LOCATED IN CENTRAL
OREGON AND EVEN TODAY AS I
TESTIFY BEFORE YOU I HAVE A
LITTLE RESERVED CONCERN
BECAUSE MY 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
IS TRAVELING HOME
FROM SCHOOL AND WHEN I HEAR THE
STATISTICS AND THE
IMPACT AND HER MOTHER WHO WORKS
THE FRONT LINES I
WORK WITH MOTHER NATION AND HOW
TO SERVE AS ADVOCATE
THAT MEANS EVERY DAY AND EVERY
WEEK I'M A FIRST
RESPONDER TO ABUSED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE LIKE.
AND KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE RISK
THAT INDIGENOUS WOMEN
FACE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE
HERE AND TO HONOR THEIR
WORDS AND HER WORK AND YOUR
WORK HERE FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL.
I HOPE THAT ME BEING HERE
RELOCATING TO THIS LAND
AND SERVING MY INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE ESPECIALLY MY
SISTERS THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BE
SENT TO MY LAND TO DO
THE SAME WORK AND TO TAKE
ACTION LIKE THIS AND IEMSZ
VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE AFTER I
READ THE RESOLUTION
ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE
PARTS THAT PERTAIN TO
RELATIONSHIP WITH SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE
I WORKED ONE ON ONE WITH WOMEN
WHO HAVE COME AND
BEEN INTERVIEWED AND SAID OKAY,
LET'S HEAR THE REAL
TRUTH NOW AND THAT'S THE REAL
TRUTH IS THAT A LOT OF
TIMES WE'RE NOT BELIEVED.
A LOT OF TIMES NOT ONLY ARE WE
MISS ACCOUNTED FOR
BUT WHEN WE SIT THERE AND TELL
OUR TRUE STORY IT'S
NOT EVEN TAKEN AS SERIOUS.
AND WE WORK WITH WOMEN WHO--AND
FAMILIES WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED MULTI TRAUMAS NOT
JUST ONE TIME.
AND THEY'VE COME HERE TO
RELOCATE LOOKING FOR SAFETY
ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY'RE STILL
IN JEOPARDY AND I
REALLY HOPE THAT AS THIS
FOUNDATION IS LAID THAT
THERE REALLY IS TANGIBLE, YOU
KNOW, POLICY THAT'S
ENFORCED AND PLACED IN
TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE AND
RESPECT FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND
FOR THESE PEOPLE
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT I'M
GLAD FOR THE
FOUNDATIONAL WORK BUT THERE IS
MUCH MORE TO BE DONE
AND SO I HONORABLY THANK YOU
FOR WELCOMING ME INTO
YOUR CITY AND TO THE TRIBES
ALLOWING MY FAMILY TO BE
HERE TO RESIDE HERE TO
REPRESENT MOTHER NATION AND
MY FAMILY AND THIS COMMUNITY TO
SERVE BECAUSE
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHEN YOU
EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND
ON THE FRONT LINES OF WOMEN WHO
ARE HURT AND ARE
BATTERED.
IN THE MONTH OF JULY ALONE
THERE WAS 19 NEW PEOPLE
THAT CAME TO MY CASE LOAD AND
THAT IS AN AVERAGE.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ADVOCATE
AND LOOK FOR THEM.
THE NEED IS SO GREAT THAT
THEY'RE THERE.
AND SO AS MY SERVICE AND MY
POSITION OF EMPLOYMENT I
CONSIDER THAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BE--GET IN TO
THEIR--THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE ARE
19 WOMEN THAT HAVE
BEEN PREVENTED FROM
EXPERIENCING THIS ATROST.
SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE
TIME.
THANK YOU DEBRA JUAREZ.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN AND
I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE TURN OUT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GLEN, EVETTE AND THEN SARAH
PATTON.
>> ELECTED OFFICIALS, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING THIS TIME
TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS GLEN.
I'M AN OUT REACH WORKER.
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS SOMETHING
TO YOU THAT YOU MUST
REALLY UNDERSTAND.
WHEN ONE WOMAN HURTS, WHEN ONE
WOMAN HURTS THEY ALL
HURT.
WHEN ONE WOMAN FEELS TRAGEDY
EVEN IF THEY DON'T KNOW
THE PERSON, THAT TRAGEDY
AFFECTS ALL OF THEM.
THAT TRAUMA GOES INTO THEM
BECAUSE WE'RE ALL
CONNECTED SPIRITUALLY.
WE'RE NOT JUST CONNECTED WITH
OUR MIND.
WE'RE NOT JUST CONNECTED BY A
PIECE OF PAPER.
WE'RE NOT JUST CONNECTED WITH
OUR WORDS BUT WE ARE
CONNECTED WITH SOMETHING THAT'S
BIGGER AND YOU
REPRESENT THE BIGNESS, THAT
THING THAT HOLDS US
TOGETHER BEING AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL.
I REALLY SINCERELY ASK THAT YOU
REMIND YOUR WORKERS
THAT WHEN THEY DEAL WITH THIS
KIND OF ISSUE, BECAUSE
I COME FROM YACKA MA.
I'LL EXPLAIN THIS REAL QUICK.
MID 70S TO THE 80S WE HAD 29
WOMEN MURDERED WITHIN
FIVE YEARS YOUNGER OR OLDER
THAN ME AND I KNEW ALL
OF THEM AND I JUST WANT TO LET
YOU KNOW THAT YOUR
CHAPS TO GIVE SELF CARE TO NOT
JUST THE WOMEN ALL
WOMEN BUT ESPECIALLY TO
YOURSELF THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY
CHALLENGING.
AND YOU MIGHT HAVE YOUR WAY IF
IT'S HEALTHCARE BUT I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE A GOOD
DECISION, A STRONG
DECISION THAT HAS VISION FOR
THINGS THAT DEALT WITH
THE PAST TO RIGHT NOW
ESPECIALLY FOR TOMORROW FOR
THOSE THAT ARE STILL ON BOARD
YET.
SO THIS IS A HUGE THING THAT
YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO,
SOMETHING THAT'S SETTING AN
EXAMPLE FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE].
>> I AM GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO
BE HERE TODAY AND MY
NAME IS EVETTE AND I AM FROM
OKLAHOMA.
MY SHYANN NAME.
AND MY PEOPLE COME FROM A LONG
LINE OF GENOCIDE AND
I AM ALSO A DECENTENT AND COME
BEFORE YOU TODAY TO
EMEMPLOYER AND ASK YOU TO PASS
THIS RESOLUTION.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION.
I TOO LIKE MANY OF OUR
NEIGHBORS HERE, OUR VILLAGE
HERE HAVE ALSO LOST FAMILY
MEMBERS TO MISSING FAMILY
MEMBERS TO MURDERED OR MURDERED
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS.
I HAVE A BROTHER THAT WAS
MISSING FOR TWO YEARS AND
IT TOOK A YEAR FOR THEM TO
IDENTIFY HIM.
AND ALSO I AM THE CULTURAL
SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR
MOTHER NATION AND I FACILITATE
HEALING CIRCLES AND
ALSO I'LL SCHEDULE SWEATS FOR
OUR GATHERING OF WOMEN
AND I WORK WITH OUR UNSHELTERED
RELATIVES AND OUR
UNSHELTERED RELATIVES COME TO
US AND THEY COME TO US
WITH BROKEN HEARTS AND BROKEN
SPIRITS AND WE WORK
REALLY HARD TO HELP THEM HEAL
AND WE HAVE OUR OWN
MEDICINES TO HELP THEM HEAL AND
THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY AND
THEY TOO GRIEVE WHICH
MEANS WE GRIEVE AND WE WANT TO
HELP THEM.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM HEAL.
WE WANT TO HELP THEM WITH GOOD
MEDICINE AND GOOD
THOUGHTS AND GOOD FEELINGS AND
I HOPE THAT THIS
RESOLUTION IS PASSED AND I JUST
WANT TO HONOR DEBRA
AND ALL OF YOU.
ALL OF YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
ALL OF YOU LIVE IN THIS CITY
JUST LIKE WE LIVE IN
THIS CITY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOOD
THINGS HAPPEN.
WE LIKE TO SEE POSITIVE THINGS
HAPPEN.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT PASSED
AND MAKE THAT CHANGE
AND SUPPORT AND HONOR OUR
UNSHELTERED RELATIVES AND
OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS THAT
HAVE GONE MISSING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST THREE SPEAKERS THAT
HAVE SIGNED UP ARE
SARAH PATTON, MARY CUSTOMER AND
THEN SUSAN.
>> HELLO.
I'M SARA PATTON AND I'M
ACTUALLY HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION BUT I FEEL
QUITE FORTUNATE THAT
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEND
MY PERSONAL
ENDORSEMENT AND HAPPINESS TO
SEE THAT MY CITY IS
TAKING SUCH A LEADERSHIP
POSITION TO TRY TO END THE
MURDER AND ABUSE OF INDIGENOUS
WOMEN SO THAT'S A
GREAT FOR THAT REASON AS WELL
AS TO BRING YOU THE
FRIENDS OF THE MARKET CONCERN
ABOUT THE RESOLUTION
31891 AND JUST TO GET INTO THE
RECORD THE FACT THAT
THE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION FOR THE PUBLIC
MARKET APPROVED THIS DESIGN FOR
THIS RENOVATION OF
THE APARTMENT ON AUGUST 28 AND
PUT IN THREE PRETTY
IMPORTANT CONSTRAINTS ON THAT
DESIGN PROCESS.
ONE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
SHOULD REINSTALL THE
TOTEM POLES BEFORE THE PARK
REOPENS.
REPLACE THE PAVILION BEFORE
REOPENING AND THERE WAS
PAINT COLORS CHANGED FROM
BRONZE TO DARK GREEN WHICH
IS IMPORTANT FOR CONSISTENCY
WITHOUT THE MARKET.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE WERE ON THE
RECORD FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THE
DESIGN TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> HELLO EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MARY COMER AND I AM
FROM INDIAN NATION
BUT I AM WORKING IN AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED LATCH
FUND RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
WE ARE REALLY HONORED TO BE A
PART OF A COLLECTIVE
OF SEATTLE URBAN NATIVE NON
PROFITS FOR TEAM
ORGANIZATIONS SO I'M READING A
COLLABORATIVE
STATEMENT FROM 14 NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS.
THE SEATTLE URBAN NATIVE NON
PROFIT SUN
COLLABORATION SUPPORTS THE
RESOLUTION.
WE ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CONSULT AND PARTNER WITH
NATIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
ORGANIZE IN DEVELOPING
PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS MISSING
AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS IN
CRISIS.
WE CALL ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO
PROVIDE A SUSTAINABLE
FUNDING FOR NATIVE COMMUNITY
LED APPROACHES TO THIS
HEARTBREAKING CRISIS.
FURTHER WE URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL TO CREATE
MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION THAT IS
RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF NATIVE COMMUNITY OF
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY
AND INCLUDES SYSTEMATIC REFORM
THAT HOLDS LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE IN DATA
COLLECTION AND
REPORTING.
THE SEATTLE URBAN NATIVE NON
PROFIT COLLABORATIVE
BRINGS 14 NATIVE LED NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS WITH
COLLECTIVE POWER AND ADVANCE IN
HEALTH AND WELL
BEING OF THE URBAN NATIVE
COMMUNITY AND CITY OF
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE SUSAN AND THEN CELIA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SUSAN THE EXPECTATIVE
DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE SUN
COLLABORATIVE MEMBERS.
WE ARE INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND
GIRLS FUND.
WE SERVE NATIVE COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND WE'RE BASED RIGHT
HERE IN SEATTLE.
EVERYBODY SAID MANY WONDERFUL
THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT I CAN
ADD EXCEPT THAT I
THINK WHAT HAS BEEN
DEMONSTRATED HERE TODAY IS AN
INCREDIBLE PASSION OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH OF
AN ISSUE THIS IS FOR US.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN DOING THIS
WORK FOR A LONG
TIME.
I WAS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AT A
GATHERING WHERE THEY
WERE PRESENTING ABOUT SOME OF
THESE ISSUES MANY
YEARS AGO AND I GOT A REALLY
BAD FEELING IN MY
STOMACH THAT SEATTLE WAS A HUB
FOR SOME OF THIS
ACTIVITY AND BECAUSE OF A LOT
OF THE CHARACTERISTICS
THAT WERE IN THE REPORT I KNEW
THAT OUR PORT CITY
WAS AMONG THE TOP AND I WAS
RIGHT.
AND IT IS.
SO WE ARE REALLY DOING OUR PART
IN OUR COMMUNITY THE
BEST THAT WE CAN WORKING WITH
VICTIMS, SURVIVORS,
TRYING TO CREATE HEALTHY
PATHWAYS FOR OUR PEOPLE AND
I JUST WANT TO URGE YOU TO BE A
LEADER IN THIS AND
DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PUT
SOME TEETH INTO SOME
REAL LAWS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FAR
TOO LONG AND WE ARE
VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION AND
WE ARE READY TO STOP
IT AND TO REALLY MAKE POSITIVE
CHANGES AND WE URGE
YOU TO LEAD THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS CELIA.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO ADDRESS THIS BODY
TODAY.
I'M ORIGINALLY FROM ALASKA AND
I AM CURRENTLY A
CENTRAL COUNCIL DELEGATE
REPRESENTING A FRACTION OF
OUR NATIVE PEOPLE HERE IN THE
WASHINGTON AREA.
I'M CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING THAT IS SO
HORRIBLE.
MY GOD DAUGHTER, MARIA FLORES
IS MISSING.
SHE WAS MISSING SINCE MAY 20
AND OUR FAMILY JUST
FOUND OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THE STEPFATHER AND THE NEW
STEPMOTHER DIDN'T LET US
KNOW.
WE FOUND OUT FROM A COMPLETE
STRANGER.
SO I KNOW THE PAIN AND THE
HORROR THAT'S INVOLVED
WITH THIS.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO FIND HER.
SHE'S A MISSING CHILD.
SHE'S 17 AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER
IF SHE WAS 40 OR
SOMETHING.
WE WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THE
SAME PROCESS.
WE'RE FINDING OUT WHAT DOORS WE
CAN GO THROUGH AND
WHAT DOORS WE NEED HELP OPENING
SUCH AS THE FBI,
MILITARY, CID, IT'S AN
INTERESTING PROCESS AND I
WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON ANYBODY.
IT'S HARD.
I'M THANKFUL WE HAVE FAITH IN
OUR CREATOR AND THAT'S
HELPING US THROUGH THIS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS IS
A GOOD FIRST STEP
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND BRINGING IT
INTO THE LIGHT BECAUSE IT IS
REALLY UGLY AND WEIVESZ
HAD PEOPLE ASK US DO YOU THINK
IT'S HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND WE DON'T EVEN
WANT TO GO THERE WITH
OUR THOUGHTS BUT WE HAVE TO.
AND NO ONE HAS SEEN ANY TRACE
OF HER SINCE MAY.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT IT MAKES ME THINK THOUGH
IS THIS COUNTRY NEEDS
TO SAY NOT IN OUR LAND.
WE NEED HARSHER SENTENCES FOR
PEOPLE IF THERE IS IN
FACT HUMAN TRAFFICKING GOING ON
MORE HARSHER
SENTENCES FOR THOSE THAT WOULD
THINK THAT'S A WAY TO
MAKE MONEY OR EVEN THE
CUSTOMERS THAT PAY MONEY TO
DO THIS WITH CHILDREN.
AND IT'S SO UGLY TO ME.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T UNSEE IT.
SO I AM HOPING THAT THIS WILL
LEAD TO SOMETHING
HARSHER IF IN FACT IT DOES LEAD
DOWN THIS TRAIL AND
WE DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR THE BEST.
WE'RE HOPING FOR THE BEST BUT
WE'RE ALSO GUARDING UP
OURSELVES YOU KNOW IN CASE WHO
KNOWS WHERE IT WILL
LEAD.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT OUR
MAYOR PACIFICA IS
HERE BUT I DON'T SEE THE MAYOR.
SHE IS?
OH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE OUR
MAYOR FOR THE CIVICS
SINCE 2013 IF I RECALL.
DID YOU WANT TO SEE ANY WORDS
OR YOU'RE VERY WELCOME
AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE YOU EARLIER BUT
THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER WHO
HAS BETTER EYES THAN
ME.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERALD AND
COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SPEAK.
I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE
IS PRETTY WONDERFUL.
I'M HERE ON THE NATURAL GAS
LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING
TO BE RELEASED TODAY AND THE
UNITED NATION OF PIPE
FITTERS WHICH MANY OF YOU ALSO
KNOW I REPRESENT
THEM.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE AS THE
LEGISLATION AND THAT'S ALL
I WANT TO SPEAK ON TODAY.
>> THANK YOU AND WE'RE GETTING
STAGES AND I THINK
COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN IS HERE
FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND THANK
ALL OF YOU FOR HEART
FELT TESTIMONY.
AND SO LET ME MOVE TO A SECTION
BEFORE WE GET TO
THAT LEGISLATION PAYMENT OF THE
BILL SO PLEASE READ
THE TITLE.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119619 FOR THE
WEEK OF AUGUST 30,
2019 AND ORDERING PAYMENT
THEREOF.
>> OKAY.
I'LL MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
119617.
IT'S BEEN MOVED.
FURTHER COMMENTS?
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES AND CHAIRS SIGN
IT.
BILLS ARE PAID FOR ANOTHER
WEEK.
PLEASE READ THE FIRST AGENDA
ITEM.
>> THE REPORTED CIVIL RIGHTS
UTILITY COUNCIL MEMBER
119288 RELATING TO THE CITY'S
CODE HELD MAY 20,
2019.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS LEGISLATION PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE BACK IN MAY
IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO HAD RACIAL
EQUITY CONCERNS WE DECIDED TO
HOLD THE LEGISLATION
UNTIL TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAS COMMITTED TO
LEADING A PROCESS TO ENGAGE
STAKEHOLDERS AND WORK
THROUGH THE CONCERNS THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED.
THIS PROCESS IS ON GOING.
CONSEQUENTLY I MOVE TO HOLD THE
BILL UNTIL
OCTOBER 8, 2019.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO HOLD
THE LEGISLATION UNTIL
OCTOBER 8. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF THE MOTION PLEASE VOTE AYE.
AYE.
OPPOSED?
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THAT ITEM IS HELD UNTIL OCTOBER
8. PLEASE READ THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
>> PACIFIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC
ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COUNCIL BILL 119616
TO SEATED PARKS AND
RECREATION A REAL PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1902
NORTHEAST 98TH STREET THE DEED
FOR OPEN SPACE PARK
AND PURPOSES FOR THE COMMUTER
RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF THE
1902 NORTHEAST 98TH STREET
SOUTH CREEK UP IN
DISTRICT FIVE FOR OPEN SPACE
AND RECREATION
PURPOSES.
THE CITY PUBLIC ASSETS
RECOMMENDS FULL COUNCIL PASS
THIS ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS OR CONCERNS?
IF NOT THOSE IN FAVOR OF
ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION.
>> IT'S A BILL.
I WAS EXITED.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED.
>> BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
NOW READ THE RESOLUTION.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE APPROVING
THE DESIGN FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK FUNDED
THROUGH THE 2008
PARKS AND GREEN SPACES LOBBY.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION WILL IMPROVE
DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
FUNDED THROUGH THE 2008 PARKS
AND GREEN SPACE LEVY.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS FULL
COUNCIL PASS THIS
RESOLUTION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THE PARK RESOLUTION?
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE
RESOLUTION PLEASE
VOTE AYE.
AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE READ THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR RESOLUTION
31900 RECLAIMING THE
INHERENT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
CITY TO PROTECT MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGING TO THE HIGH
RATE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
TO ADDRESS THE
MISSING WOMEN AND GIRLS CRISIS
AND TO SALVAGE A NEW
RACIALLY APPROPRIATE FRAMEWORK
OF UNDERSTANDING AND
APPROACH TO ENDING VIOLENCE
AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN
AND GIRLS AND CALLING ON THE
MAYOR OF SEATTLE TO
DRIVE REFORM THAT REQUESTS AND
HOLDS ACCOUNTABLE
CITY DEPARTMENTS HOLDING IN
COOPERATION WITH NATIVE
COMMUNITIES TO BUILD STRONG AND
THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I HAVE A NOT
REAL LENGTHY BUT
THERE ARE THANK YOUS I WANT TO
GET OUT OF THE WAY
BEFORE I GO INTO THE TEXT OF
THE RESOLUTION AND ON A
MORE PERSONAL HISTORICAL NOTE
IF THAT'S FINE WITH
YOU.
>> PLEASE DO.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO START BY THANKING
ELECTED LEADERSHIP FOR
FORMER CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBER
VIRGINIA CROSS WHO
CAME HERE TODAY AND GAVE HER
STAFF THE DAY OFF TO
COME DOWN HERE TODAY WHICH WE
WANT TO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN
A TRIBAL LEADER DO
THAT BUT I LOVE IT WHEN WOMEN
ARE IN POWER.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK JESSICA GARCIA
JONES WHO ALSO
ACCOMPANIED COUNCIL MEMBER
CROSS FROM THERE WITH HER
DAUGHTER AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK MELINDA WHO
DIDN'T WANT TO COME UP
HERE.
AND AS ALWAYS CENTER CLODDED
KOFFMAN WHO I HAVE
KNOWN SINCE I WAS 13 AND WE'RE
STILL HERE.
I WANT TO GO INTO BASIC THANK
YOUS AND THE
LEGISLATION AND WHAT IT DOES
TODAY AND WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT AND MONUMENTAL.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE MARY JENNY, THE
CHIEF OF POLICE, THE CITY
ATTORNEY PETE HOLMES WHO I
BELIEVE IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND
JEAN COAL WELLS FOR
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT ON A
REGIONAL LEVEL.
WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT OUR
PARTNERS WORKING WITH
US AND WE'VE HAD GREAT
DISCUSSIONS WITH CHIEF BEST
AND MR. HOLMES AND THE MAYOR
ABOUT HOW WE GET THIS
LEGISLATION DONE AND HOW WE GET
IT FUNDED.
CENTRAL STAFF I WANT TO THANK
THE THREE A'S, ASHA
HER LAST NAME.
I'M GOING TO SAY IT WRONG.
THANK YOU.
AMY GORE AND ALY AND I ALSO
WANT TO THANK GREG DOSS
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
AMAZING WORK DANA ROBINSON
WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON OUR
MEDIA AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO THANK
FROM MY OFFICE WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY ON THIS
FOR ABOUT SIX
MONTHS.
VERY BRIEFLY, SOME OF THESE
PEOPLE GAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY BUT MY DEAR
FRIEND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GOOD WORDS BEING HERE THE CEO
OF THE SEATTLE HEALTH
BOARD AND THE CHIEF RESEARCH
OFFICER, ERIN SPECK THE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER WHO
I ALWAYS BUMP INTO IN
WASHINGTON D.C. FRAN CHESTA
THERE YOU ARE.
PHENOMENAL WORK WITH OUR STAFF
AND POLICY AND
CENTRAL STAFF IN DRAFTING THIS
OUT WARD ADVOCACY
THAT WE WENT TO SUBJECT MATTER,
EXPERTISE FOLKS AND
YOU DRAFTED THAT LEGISLATION SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND BRAD.
ARE YOU HERE?
OUR MEDIA GUY, THANK YOU BRAD.
GOOD JOB FROM THE HEALTH BOARD.
AND OF COURSE AGAIN ONE MORE
TIME THE AUTHORS OF THE
MISSING MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND GIRLS REPORT,
ABIGAIL AND THE ANITA LUCIA.
DP I SAY IT RIGHT?
GOT IT.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW THAT I GOT THAT OUT OF THE
WAY LET ME JUST GO
RIGHT INTO THE MECHANICS OF
WHAT THIS RESOLUTION
DOES AND IT'S NO ORDINARY
RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF.
THE MISSING MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND GIRLS
CRISIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR
DECADES.
IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY WHERE
THEY HAVE TAKEN THE
STAGE THROUGH MEDIA, GOVERNMENT
AND THE REST OF THE
WORLD TO PAY ATTENTION.
IT HAS BEEN PIVOTAL FOR CURRENT
LEADERS TO EDUCATE
THEMSELVES AND UNDERSTAND OUR
HISTORY AND DIVERSE
IDENTITIES FROM ONE TRIBE TO
ANOTHER.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
SYSTEMATIC BARERS FOR LEADERS
TO ADDRESS MISSING MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND
GIRLS POOR DATA COLLECTION,
RACIAL DATA REPORTING,
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND
LACK OF STRONG
GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS.
THIS CRISIS SPANS THE ENTIRETY
OF THE UNITED STATES
AS WELL AS INTO CANADA.
BACK IN 2016 AS YOU HEARD
CANADA ISSUED THEIR REPORT
WHICH IS ABOUT 1200 PAGES LONG
AND AFTER THOUSANDS
OF INTERVERY MUCHS AND DAYS OF
INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS
THEY DECIDED THAT NATIVE WOMEN
WERE MORE VULNERABLE
TO VIOLENCE AND LACK OF STATE
ACTION.
AND THE UNITED STATES OUR
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
PUSHED FORWARD POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING THE
ACT AND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN ACT AND
UNFORTUNATELY THESE PIECES OF
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
FAILED.
WE'RE EXCITED THE STATE THROUGH
HOUSE BILL 1713
PASSED THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TO
CREATE A LIAISON WITHIN THE
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
TO WORK WITH INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
STATE.
HERE IN SEATTLE THE HEALTH
BOARD AND I HAVE BEEN
WORKING HARD THESE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS TO HELP
FAMILIES RIGHT HERE AT HOME
WITH LASTING SYSTEMATIC
CHANGE.
YOU'VE HEARD OF SOME OF OUR
PARTNERS TODAY FROM
MOTHER NATION AND THE HEALTH
BOARD.
I'M OFFERED TO JOIN IN THE
EFFORTS BY LOOKING AT
WHAT THEY DID IN WASHINGTON
D.C. AND WHAT THEY DID
IN WASHINGTON STATE BY TAKING
THIS ACTION WITH
RESOLUTION 31900.
THIS RESOLUTION ALIGNS THE
CITY'S RESOURCES IE MONEY
TOWARDS CORRECTING THIS
HISTORICAL PATTERN OF
NEGLECT OF INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES AND DECONSTRUCTING
CONSTITUTIONAL RACISM WITH THE
FIRST STEP THAT IS
PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THE HEALTH BOARD THE NATIONAL
LEADER AND THE FIGHT
AGAINST MISSING MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS
CRISIS.
SEATTLE HEALTH BOARD'S CHIEF
RESOURCE OFFICER
ABIGAIL AND COLLEAGUE DOCTOR
PUBLISHED THE NATION'S
FIRST RESPONSE AND OUR CITY IS
NOT PROUD OF THE FACT
WE'RE RANKED THE NUMBER ONE
CITY WITH THE MOST
MISSING MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND GIRLS BUT WE
CAN COUNTERACT THAT BY BEING
THE FIRST CITY TO
ADDRESS THAT.
EWHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS
THE SEATTLE HEALTH
COALITION IS TO PROVIDE
RESEARCH AND POLICY
EXPERTISE TO DECOLONIZE THE
DATA FOR INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND
WE SEE THIS IN THE
RESOLUTION.
THE NUCLEAR LUIS OF THIS
RESOLUTION WITH THE URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH INSTITUTE
RESEARCH PUBLICATION
PUBLISHED IN SPRING OF 2019 THE
REPORT THAT ABIGAIL
WAS HOLDING WHEN SHE GAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS IS THE
FIRST EVER PUBLICATION IN THE
NATION ON MISSING
MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND
GIRLS FOR NATIVE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
INCLUDING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
ACCORDING TO THE STUDY, SEATTLE
RANKS NUMBER ONE AS
HAVING THE HIGHEST RATE OF
MISSING MURDERED
INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT OUR RESOLUTION ASKS OF THE
CITY AND LEADERSHIP,
NUMBER ONE WE DECOLONIZE THE
DATA BY REPORTING
METHODS, WORKING WITH CHIEF
BEST, MAYOR, CITY
ATTORNEY, AND CHIEF DAN IN
THEIR SUPPORT AND
LEADERSHIP.
NUMBER TWO, ENGAGE WITH THE
TUBAL COMMUNITY AND
CONFER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO
ALLOW EXPERTISE AND
WILL LEVERAGE THE GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT
RELATIONSHIP WE SHARE WITH
TRIBES AND ALL OF THEIR
VAST RESOURCES.
MY AIM IS FOR A FAMILY OF
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.
NUMBER THREE SUPPORT CAPACITY
BUILDING ASSISTANCE TO
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SEATTLE
INDIAN HEAD HEALTH
BOARD.
THE CITY CAN IMPACTED BY
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT.
AND LASTLY TO PROVIDE A
LIAISON.
A REAL ACTUAL HUMAN BEING WITH
SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTISE AND CULTURALLY
ATTUNED TO BRING INDIGENOUS
APPROACHES, RESOURCES AND
TRAINING TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
PROSECUTORS OFFICE AND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION
AND PRACTICES.
MY RESELECTIONS A NECESSARY
FIRST STEP FOR THE CITY
TO RESPOND.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR THEIR FIERCE
COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE AND
COMMITTEE AND I
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS
HISTORIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
I'D LIKE TO END ON A MORE
PERSONAL NOTE A LITTLE
HISTORICAL NOTE FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO KNOW ME MY NAME
IS WHICH MEANS HOLY MOUNTAIN
WOMAN.
WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU
IS THAT LATE IN THE
1970S AND EARLY 1980S INDIAN
COUNTRY AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS HAD A RESURGE YENS,
A REVIVAL OF OUR
SOVEREIGNTY.
MAJOR CASES FOR THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT AND
DECISIONS AND LAWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL RIGHTS WERE
PASSED REGARDING OUR BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS MOST NOTABLY
JURISDICTIONAL LARPS, LEDGES
PROTECTIONS.
TRIBAL DERNTLE SOVEREIGNTY AND
EVEN FINELY
RECOGNIZING THAT TRIBES WILL
DETERMINE CITIZENSHIP
OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE NOT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO FAST FORWARD FROM 1978 TO
2019, 41 YEARS BUT 41
YEARS BUT IN 1978 A VERY
IMPORTANT LAW WAS PASSED.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S COMMON
KNOWLEDGE NOW BUT I
REMEMBER THAT I WAS 19.
THAT TOOK AN ACT OF CONGRESS TO
STOP THE GOVERNMENT
BOTH STATE AND LOCAL FROM
TAKING OUR BABIES.
UP UNTIL 1978, FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES COULD TAKE
OUR CHILDREN WITH NO
DUE PROCESS, NO HEARING.
THIS REEKS UNIMAGINABLE
HORRIFIC HAVOC ON OUR
TRADITIONAL FAMILY, OUR SOCIAL
STRUCTURES AND THE
BREAKUP OF NATIVE AMERICAN
FAMILIES.
THE ACT WAS BROUGHT AND PUSHED
BY NATIVE WOMEN TO
PROTECT INDIAN CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES FROM REMOVAL BY
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DENY THEM
OF THEIR BIRTHRIGHT
AND TODAY IN MANY LANGUAGES WE
HAVE A WORD FOR THEM.
THEY'RE CALLED THE LOST ONE AND
WE'RE STILL LOOKING
FOR THEM.
SO THAT MEANS EVERY CHILD BORN
BEFORE 1978 COULD
LEGALLY AND LEGITIMATELY BE
TAKEN BY THE COURTS AND
THE STATE BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY
WERE NATIVE AMERICAN
CHILDREN.
SO TODAY LIKE 1978 WE'RE
CORRECTING OR RIGHTING THE
HISTORICAL WRONGS OF
INSTITUTIONAL OPPRESSION AS YOU
HEARD MANY OF THE WOMEN SAY
TODAY.
MISSING MURDERED INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND GIRLS IS AN
UNJUST MANIFESTATION.
THEIR POLICIES, PERSPECTIVES,
PROCEDURES THAT DON'T
VALUE OUR LIVES OR DON'T SEE US
AS HUMAN.
EXCEPT TODAY UNLIKE THE INDIAN
ACT WHICH TOOK 18
YEARS TO GET PASSED THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HAS BYPASSED
CONGRESS, BYPASSED THE STATE
AND IS POISED TO PASS
LEGISLATION TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS
AND FUND THIS VERY
IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS
INITIATIVE.
TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS IN HUMAN
TERMS, EVERY NATIVE
HAS FELT THE PAIN AND TRAUMA OF
LOSING OUR CHILDREN.
ABORTING SCHOOL, A RELOCATION
OF TERMINATION, A
SIMILEATION, COLONIZEATION.
WE KNOW THAT TRAUMA.
EVERY NATIVE IN THIS ROOM HAS
FELT THE TRAUMA AND
PAIN OF BEING INVISIBLE.
OF LOVED ONES BEING LOST AND
NOBODY LISTENING.
WE HOPE THAT TODAY WHEN OUR
MOTHERS SISTERS
DAUGHTERS AUNTS AND COUSINS GO
MISSING THAT PEOPLE
WILL HEAR US, THAT THEY WILL
SEE US AND THEY WILL GO
LOOKING FOR THEM.
WE HOPE THAT WHEN OUR PEOPLE
DISAPPEAR IT WON'T JUST
BE OUR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THEM
BUT IT WILL BE THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL BE THE KING COUNTY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
IT WILL BE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
IT WILL BE THIS COUNCIL.
I SUBMIT THAT IS MY PROMISE TO
YOU.
WE HOPE THAT WHEN ONE OF US IS
MURDERED OR LEFT
DYING THAT WE WILL BE
IDENTIFIED SO WE CAN BE
BROUGHT HOME TO THE LOVING ARMS
OF OUR NATIVE PEOPLE
AND OUR TRIBE SO WE CAN BE
BURIED THE RIGHT WAY AND
RECOGNIZE THAT OUR LIFE DIDN'T
JUST EXIST FOR
NOTHING.
OUR PEOPLE NEED TO BE RETURNED
TO THEIR FAMILY, TO
THEIR TRIBE, TO THEIR PEOPLE,
TO OUR WAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO END THAT WE
WILL BE INVISIBLE NO
MORE.
THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
AND OUR VERY FIRST
STEP IN MAKING SURE THAT WHEN
WE LOSE OUR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN THAT SOMEBODY WILL BE
THERE TO GO LOOK FOR
THEM.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
THIS IS A VOTING ITEM SO
COMMENTS ARE CERTAINLY
WELCOME.
COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
SHORTER THAN I
EXPECTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
I AM HONORED TO BE WITH YOU
THROUGH THIS.
AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE
TODAY WHO HAVE BEEN
INVISIBLE, YOU'RE VERY MUCH
VISIBLE TO ME.
YOUR STORIES HAVE JUST BROKEN
THROUGH.
THE FACT THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS
THROUGH YOUR
COMMITTEE IS A WONDERFUL WAY OF
DEMONSTRATING HOW
YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR HISTORY
ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS
THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR
LIFE, YOU ARE SITTING
HERE AND BECAUSE YOU ARE
SITTING HERE YOU HAVE
BROUGHT THIS TO US.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT SO MUCH AND TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MY GOOD FRIEND THE
HOLY MOUNTAIN AND TO
SAY THANK YOU.
AND ALSO HELLO MICHAEL.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE
TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
OR I THINK IN THIS SITUATION
THE POWER IS HOW MUCH
WE SUPPORT YOU AND WHAT YOU
BROUGHT TO US AND THE
COMMUNITY SO I THINK WE SHOULD
HAVE OUR SILENCE IS
POWERFUL IN THIS AND I'VE NEVER
SEEN THIS BEFORE SO
THANK YOU.
OKAY, LET'S VOTE.
NOW YOU GOT ME A LITTLE TEARY
EYED.
>> SORRY.
>> YEAH YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE.
OKAY.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE
RESOLUTION PLEASE
VOTE AYE.
>> AYE.
>> THOSE OPPOSED VOTE NO.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND
THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
[ CHEERING ].
>> I HAVE A COLD.
>> BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
>> IT'S OKAY TO CRY.
>> WITH THAT WE STAND
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
[ CHEERING ]