Cowlitz Indian Tribe

In June, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s Community Wellness Garden Program hosted qáwmʼ the Camas Harvest and Bake. Thanks to funding from the HEAL Act Tribal Capacity Grant, we are proud to share a short film that highlights this and uplifts the importance of First Foods, food sovereignty, and connection. We invite you to watch and share this story that honors the Cowlitz People and the land that sustains us. The film also features the Gospodor Camas Planting Restoration Project, which is part of the Tribe’s broader commitment to Camas restoration. Since its start in 2021 with one-acre plantings, the project has grown to include four parcels, each with 4,000 Camas bulbs. The long-term vision is to restore a thriving Camas Prairie where traditional harvesting can once again take place. This work reflects a continued dedication to cultural traditions and ecological stewardship. Learn more about the Tribe's Natural Resources Department: https://lnkd.in/gku7q8tA

With support from the HEAL Act Tribal Capacity Grant, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is excited to present a new short film that honors our cultural traditions and commitment to environmental stewardship! This film showcases the impactful work of our Fish Distribution Program. Learn more about the Tribe's Natural Resources Department: https://lnkd.in/gku7q8tA

We’re currently accepting applications for multiple roles across the Tribe, with opportunities closing soon! At the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, we believe in building careers that support both personal well-being and collective purpose. Our employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, and a dedicated cultural day to reconnect with heritage and community. Working for the Tribe is more than just a job. It’s a chance to contribute to meaningful work that serves the Cowlitz people and future generations, while growing in a supportive, values-driven environment. If you're looking for a role where culture, care, and community come first, we encourage you to apply today! Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ghBmHR2k

The NAYA Family Center’s new Waterfront Gateway affordable housing property broke ground in downtown Vancouver last Wednesday! The Cowlitz Indian Tribe has been a proud financial supporter of this project with its Native-influenced architecture and a solution to alleviating housing instability for Indigenous people. “This project will provide sustainable housing for many Tribal members,” said Cowlitz Indian Tribe's Chairman Bill Iyall. “In particular in our homeland, it will be very important to bring our family here in a supportive environment that is both financially supportive but also culturally supportive.” Read more on the groundbreaking ceremony and project in The Columbian: https://shorturl.at/oNTKz

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is proud to support this initiative of affordable housing for the Indigenous community, and we're honored to have had our Chairman Bill Iyall and Tribal Council Member, Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, attend the groundbreaking ceremony. 

What if leadership looked more like the communities it serves? With support from the Cowlitz Indian Tribe through the work of the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation, Leadership Clark County (LCC) is expanding access to civic leadership across our region. Partnership with the Foundation has supported LCC’s commitment to strengthen Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging through program facilitation, alumni training, and scholarships for underrepresented leaders. The result? A representative, inclusive, and connected leadership network in Clark County. One LCC Class Alumni shares: “This was the most educational DEIB training I’ve ever experienced.” We’re proud to support leadership that reflects and uplifts all of us. #CowlitzCares

For families facing hard choices, access to affordable vet care changes everything. With support from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation, Kitsap Humane Society is transforming access to affordable veterinary care through its Community Clinic that offers low-cost spay/neuter services, end-of-life care, and urgent treatment for families in need. In 2024, the clinic served thousands of pets and is continuing to grow: expanding hours, hiring a fifth vet, and growing Sam’s Fund, their “angel fund,” for lifesaving care. As the only Washington-based ambassador for Greater Good Charities’ GOODS Program, Kitsap Humane Society also distributes pet food and supplies across six counties, ultimately helping keep families and their beloved pets together. #CowlitzCares

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is proud to be an economic support in Southwest Washington! Along with our ilani Casino, we support nearly 2,000 local jobs and contribute millions of dollars to the regional economy. A recent statewide report highlights the vital role Washington State Tribes play, generating $7.4 billion in gross state product and $3.9 billion in wages and benefits. “These investments ripple through our communities—strengthening families, supporting small businesses, and building long-term infrastructure,” said Chairman Bill Iyall. “We’re committed to a resilient, self-sufficient future for the Cowlitz people and our neighbors. The progress we’ve made is only the beginning.” Read more in The Columbian article: https://bit.ly/3IS1gV5

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is deeply honored to receive the 2024 National Rise to the Future Award for Tribal Accomplishment from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the U.S. Forest Service! This national recognition celebrates the hard work and dedication of our Habitat Restoration and Conservation Program, including Justin Isle, Pete Barber, Katie Fielding, Dalton Fry, Eli Asher, Rudy Salakory, and many others, whose efforts have been instrumental in the restoration of the Cispus River–Yellowjacket Creek. This award reflects our Tribe’s enduring commitment to restoring and protecting the lands and waters that have sustained our people for generations. Through collaboration, cultural stewardship, and science-based restoration, we are proud to help lead the way in healing ecosystems and supporting species that are culturally and ecologically significant. We thank our partners at the Forest Service and beyond for walking this path with us. Together, we are making a lasting impact.

Community shows up for community! 💙 Council for the Homeless sprang into action this month, distributing multiple pallets of bottled water to unsheltered neighbors across the region. This donation of nearly 15,000 bottles of water was made possible by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe through the work of the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation - and was especially helpful as this month's temperatures exceeded 90 degrees. What makes this even more powerful? CompassUSA and Eurest USA helped us secure the bottled water and Council for the Homeless invited partners from the City of Vancouver, Washington's Homeless Assistance and Resistance Team (HART), Share of Vancouver, Sea Mar, Outsiders Inn, and Hope Village (operated by Live Love Outreach) to pick up cases for the people they serve. That’s collaboration in action. We’re honored to see our community respond with care, speed, and unity! #CowlitzCares