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31 Days, 31 Writers at Cascadia Magazine: Karin Jones
Karin Jones is a talented journalist, and sex/relationship columnist based in Bellingham, Washington. Her feature for Cascadia Magazine, “Polyamory in the Pacific Northwest” brought a empathetic but also critical eye to the growing popularity of polyamory and consensual non-monogamy in Cascadia. For more on her experience interviewing a variety of people who practice polyamory, read her fantastic post “Polylandia” at the Erotic Review Magazine. In this essay, Karin takes a more personal look at the lessons she took from writing the feature article at Cascadia Magazine.
And if you appreciate great writing like this, please make a contribution during Cascadia Magazine’s Fall Fund Drive. Without your support, we literally can’t continue to publish journalism like this. Find out more at our donate page.
Yakama & Lummi Nations call for removal of 3 dams on Columbia
In a stunning announcement on Indigenous People’s Day, the Yakama and Lummi Nations called for the removal of three major dams on the lower Columbia River, Lynda Mapes at the Seattle Times reports. In an effort to recover salmon runs and orcas in the Salish Sea, the tribes have called for the removal of Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day dams–which generate enough electricity to power 2 million homes. Find more in a detailed feature at IndianZ.com. In related Indigenous People’s Day news, Gregory Scruggs reports on Real Rent Duwamish, a project in which Seattle residents and businesses support the Duwamish Tribe, on whose lands most of Seattle is located. The Duwamish have sought federal recognition for years to no avail.
The complexities of BC riding mirror Canadian federal election
As Canada heads for its national general election on Monday, October 21, The Tyee looks at the race in BC’s Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding: a four-way battle between the Greens (who currently hold the seat), the NDP, Liberals, and Conservatives. As the party leaders converge to campaign in Vancouver this week, the Tyee also looks at whether anyone has a shot of dislodging the Conservatives from power and shifting to a green agenda in northern BC, while CBC profiles Syrian refugees in Vancouver voting in their first election.
Portland antifa activist killed in hit-and-run
OPB reports on the death of Sean Kealiher, a well-known activist in the Portland antifa community (who was also known as Armeanio Lewis) and was killed by an SUV in a hit-and-run incident. It’s unclear if there was a motive, or if guns were fired–the incident happened near Cider Riot, where right-wing protesters were arrested for inciting a brawl with antifa activists in August. The SUV was found crashed near the headquarters of the Democratic party nearby.
Reintroduction of grizzlies sparks opposition at public forums
NW News Network reports on a public forum in Washington’s Okanogan county intended to brief residents on a four-year-old study to re-introduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades. Local Congress member Dan Newhouse spoke out against reintroduction, as did most of those who gave public comments. Meanwhile, supporters of reintroduction are screening the documentary Time for the Grizzly and hosting a panel discussion afterward at 6:30 pm Oct. 17 at the Winthrop Barn in Winthrop, WA.
2019 WA Book Awards to Griffith, Oluo, Da’ & others
Over at the Seattle Review of Books, find a list and various writing by and about the winners of this year’s Washington Book Awards, including Nicola Griffith’s So Lucky for fiction (read Sharma Shields’ essay/review of So Lucky at Cascadia Magazine), Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race in the nonfiction category, and Laura Da’s Instruments of True Measure for poetry. Do take a moment to read Nicola’s sharp observations on receiving the award, her acceptance speech, and her fight against ableism.
Poetry by Ellen Welcker
Spokane poet Ellen Welcker has a poem, “Pennsylvania,” online in Indolent Books’ “What Rough Beast” series. It’s about swimming, toxic chemicals, and being a girl:
“Phthalates, I say, parabens &
phenols, BPA, PBDEs & perchlorate—
whose little baby drank rocket fuel”
Read the full poem here, and while you’re at it, read Ellen’s poem “Abyssopelagic” at Cascadia Magazine.
That’s today’s collection of news, arts, poetry, and other stuff from across the Pacific Northwest. Please take a moment to support our writers, photographers and illustrators by contributing to Cascadia Magazine’s Fall Fund Drive. Thanks! –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit: Bonneville dam by Kirt Edblom via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0