10 Years

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate ten years of work by the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (CARW) and raise funds for the Duwamish Tribe’s Legal Defense Fund!

The people of the Duwamish Tribe are the First People of the City of Seattle and much of King County, Washington. Currently the tribe is suing the federal government for re-recognition, asking to reverse the 2001 Bureau of Indian Affairs decision that the tribe had gone extinct. The Duwamish Tribe was recognized at the end of the Clinton administration only to have that positive determination overturned by the incoming Bush administration. Throughout 2010, CARW is raising funds for the Duwamish Tribe’s Legal Defense Fund.

CARW filled the Duwamish Longhouse with over 120 members past and present, friends, family and supporters for a wonderful evening of history and celebration. Through ticket sales, the silent auction, a rousing dessert dash and generous donations, we raised $7,500 for the Duwamish Tribe, surpassing our goal of $5,000. Additionally, nearly 100 people wrote postcards to President Obama and/or Congressman McDermott urging them to support Federal Recognition for the Duwamish.

After sipping on wine and bidding for irresistible silent auction items (art lessons, massages, yoga, cabin retreats and an awesome bike bag!), we were welcomed to the Longhouse by Tribal Chair Cecile Hansen.

During the program, co-founders Martin Friedman and Scott Winn shared the story of the first meeting of CARW. We learned of the co-founders’ grappling with how to create an accountable organization for white folks to organize other white folks into the movement for racial justice. We learned of CARW’s evolution over time and recognized many of our ally groups past and present.

Mary Flowers of the People’s Institute Northwest gave a stirring call to action for white antiracists to continue our work. She urged us all to commit to this work for the long haul because, despite some notable progress, our collective work is far from done.

Thank you to our wonderful performers—Alex Guy, Oscar McNeery and Tin Tree Factory—to everyone who donated their time, money and goods and to everyone who celebrated with us! We are looking forward to the next ten years of work together with you for racial justice.

Check back soon for photos!