We Are Still Here: A Film Screening and Conversation on Duwamish Resilience

On October 13, 2025, the University of Arizona community is invited to Gallagher Theater at 6:00 p.m. for a special screening of the short documentary We Are Still Here, followed by a reception and conversation with guest q́ʷaťələmu ɫukʷalabəɫ (Nancy Jo Bob).
 

Directed by Tommie Lorene, a 2025 MA graduate in Human Rights Practice, this short documentary was made possible via the UA Native Pathways Haury Graduate Research Grant. It tells the story of the Duwamish Tribe’s ongoing struggle for federal recognition. As the first people of Seattle and signatories of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, the Duwamish continue to press for rights long promised but not delivered. This film highlights the Tribe’s cultural strength, resilience, and enduring activism in the face of erasure.
 

q́ʷaťələmu ɫukʷalabəɫ brings both expertise and lived connection to this conversation. An enrolled member of Lummi Nation and a descendant of Duwamish and Jamestown S’kallam leaders, she serves as Executive Director of the House of Living Languages. Her work centers on revitalizing Coast Salish languages, supporting tribal language programs, and creating resources that sustain Indigenous knowledge.
 

Join us in honoring the Duwamish story and engaging in dialogue about recognition, language, and cultural survival.