In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Converge looks back at an interview on the Morning Update Show with Executive Director of the human services agency Chief Seattle Club Colleen Echohawk in November 2020. Alongside hosts Omari Salisbury and Trae Holiday, Echohawk discussed the significance of Native American Heritage Month and the resources for Indigenous people she passionately worked to create and share at the Chief Seattle Club.

Echohawk dove into the disproportional impact that the pandemic had on Native Americans, and her strategies in fostering equal access and representation for Indigenous people in housing, health and wellness, and fundamental rights across the board. Referencing the transition into 2021, she outlined a surge in underrepresented voices in advocacy she observed, calling for more collaboration between these communities in making shared resources readily available while breaking down barriers that restrict access to Indigenous people and beyond.

Happy Native American Heritage Month!