Writes of Way acknowledges that white settlers built Seattle — our principal subject — on the traditional land of its first people, the Duwamish Tribe (dxʷdəwʔabš). They — and their names — are still here, still seeking federal recognition. We honor with gratitude the Duwamish Tribe and the land itself.

We also recognize that many other descendants of the dəwʔabš, xacuʔabš, and xáx̌əʔčuʔabš are members of these federally recognized tribes: the Lummi Nation, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Suquamish Tribe, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington.