We look forward to welcoming you to our Annual Dinner celebration on Sunday, November 19! Registration for Renton and Spokane in-person gatherings is now closed. However, if you missed the deadline and would still like to support you can register for the live-streamed event and join from your home. We invite you to join from home with friends, family, and others from your faith community.

Go to our event webpage and click on the Online buttons to purchase your ticket. 

We’re delighted to welcome travel expert and advocacy supporter Rick Steves, again in person in Renton. We will also hear from 41st District Rep. My-Linh Thai, who champions so many bills that FAN works on and speaks our language of love and hope. We seek to raise our Hope together and Unite our multi-faith movement for social justice. As our major fundraiser of the year, you can help keep FAN strong for the year ahead! 

November is Native American Heritage Month! Native American Heritage Month celebrates the traditions, culture, languages, and stories of Indigenous peoples. Across our state there are 29 federally recognized tribes and there are more still seeking recognition. We encourage you to learn more about the tribes of the lands on which you reside. The Department of Interior picks a theme for every Native American Heritage Month and this year’s theme is “Celebrating Tribal Sovereignty and Identity.”  

Locally, you can find a great summary of events happening this November from the Inlander here.  

Part of tribal sovereignty and identity is language. Only in 1990 with passage of the Native American Languages Act (NALA) were Indigenous languages recognized as unique and deserving of protection by the federal government. As a result of genocide, ongoing colonization, and boarding schools that stripped Indigenous people of their cultures, there are very few fluent Salish language speakers left. Spokane is home to the Salish School of Spokane, one of only four indigenous language immersion schools in North America. The Salish School’s mission is Dynamic Salish Language Revitalization powering cultural renewal and building a stronger, healthier community. Culture and language revitalization are at the center of their focus. 

It is imperative that we center the voices and solutions of Indigenous peoples in our communities and across our state. We also must face the truth about colonization and understand it’s ongoing effects. As a multi-faith network, we seek to understand and counter the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery and Boarding Schools. For resources specific to how faith communities can work to examine their complicity and build solidarity with tribal communities click here.  

Photos Courtesy of Leah Berkowitz

FAN Eastern Washington Organizer, Brianna, joined members of Congregation Emanu-El and Temple Beth Shalom last month to plant daffodil bulbs around the synagogue grounds. This planting is part of a global Holocaust memorial project, entitled "The Daffodil Project." Across the world synagogues, churches, schools, city parks and botanical gardens have planted 861,000 daffodils and counting in remembrance of the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust.

The daffodils are chosen for their yellow color which represents the yellow stars that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust and as the color of remembrance. Daffodils are resilient, returning each spring with their bright color signifying hope, renewal and beauty. The daffodils also honor those who survived the Holocaust and went on to build new lives.

We look forward to seeing the bulbs in bloom this spring and remembering their message of hope and resilience. May our hope for the future move us to act for a more just world today.

Photo Courtesy of Erick Doxey

On October 19, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission passed the controversial proposal to expand GTN Xpress Pipeline, despite messages of concern from 1000s of NW residents, WA and OR governors, WA and OR Senators, state legislators, West Coast Attorneys General, and dozens of community organizations.  

To bring attention to this issue of grave concern, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light organized a Vigil for Community Safety at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on November 5th. FAN co-sponsored the vigil along with The Lands Council, The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, 350 Spokane, 350 Seattle, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, and WA Physicians for Social Responsibility.  

The vigil featured circles to represent both the expanding potential for pipeline explosion and the space of change where people of faith and conscience can advocate for community safety. 

The coalition is encouraging community members to write to FERC and urge them to appeal the decision. You can do so here.

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