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Chief Seattle Club, the city’s only place for at-risk
and homeless Native Americans, is getting a home of its
own. And director Vernell Lane is trying to spread the
word and raise the funds to complete the Pioneer Square
offices. Lane enjoys the challenges of offering a day
shelter, referrals, and arts programs; she is also proud
to be the organization’s first Native American director.
This summer, Lane and several clients of the center will
participate in the Intertribal Canoe Journey, an annual
expedition that navigates Puget Sound and the Strait of
Juan de Fuca. Lane, a Lummi, says that this event “promotes
healthy lifestyles. When you join a canoe you have to
respect traditional cultural values — you need to
eat a healthy diet and abide by the canoe’s etiquette.”
Additionally, the chance to “be around our people,
speak our own language, and sing our songs” closely
reflects her organization’s mission to “provide
a sacred space to renew and nurture the spirit of Native
peoples.”
—Rachel Rubinstein
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