Press Release:Seattle Native Organizations Celebrate the Appointment of Debora Juarez to the City of Seattle
Chief Seattle Club, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle Indian Services Commission, and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Colleen@seattleindianservices.org
7/28/2025
Seattle Native Organizations Celebrate the Appointment of Debora Juarez to the City of Seattle
SEATTLE, WA — Chief Seattle Club, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle Indian Services Commission, and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation proudly celebrate the appointment of Debora Juarez to her new role with the City of Seattle.
As the first Native American elected to the Seattle City Council — and the first to serve as its President — Debora Juarez has long embodied the power, resilience, and vision of Indigenous leadership. Her appointment reflects the City’s continued recognition of the critical importance of Native voices in civic life and marks a step forward in building a more equitable and inclusive Seattle.
During her previous tenure representing District 5, Juarez worked with conviction to ensure Native communities were not left behind. She championed Sacred Medicine House, a Chief Seattle Club supportive housing development (located in District 5) that now serves members of the urban Native homeless population with dignity, cultural relevance, and wraparound care. She also played a key role in the opening of the Seattle Indian Health Board’s Lake City Clinic (also in District 5), expanding access to vital health services in a historically underserved area. She initiated the Indigenous Advisory Council, the first formal City of Seattle committee centered on Indigenous leadership and sovereignty. Most recently, she has been a vocal supporter of the development of the new Thunderbird Treatment Center — a culturally grounded healing space for Native people seeking recovery and restoration.
“Debora’s vision and determination helped make Sacred Medicine House a reality — something our community had needed for decades,”said Derrick Belgarde (Siletz and Chippewa-Cree) CEO of Chief Seattle Club. “She doesn’t just talk about equity; she builds it into the systems that shape our lives. We look forward to working with her and the full City Council to continue advancing housing solutions together.”
“Debora Juarez’s voice and leadership will be essential as we continue providing critical services across Seattle,” said Esther Lucero (Diné), President & CEO of Seattle Indian Health Board. “She brings a pragmatic community-centered approach. Her focus on bricks-and-mortar solutions—like our Lake City Clinic—is exactly the kind of leadership our city needs.”
“Debora’s leadership reflects a balance of strength and cultural grounding,” said Mike Tulee (Yakama), Executive Director of United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. “She brings our values with her into government spaces — and ensures those spaces work for our people.”
“Debora’s historic appointment is a moment of great significance for our communities,” said Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee and Athabascan), Interim Executive Director of the Seattle Indian Services Commission. “Her leadership continues to inspire and uplift Native people across the region. We celebrate all she’s accomplished and all that is yet to come.”
We believe that Native leadership is not only essential for Indigenous communities — it’s good for everyone who calls Seattle home. Debora’s bold, effective leadership in the transformation of the Northgate area, including her strategic role in securing the Seattle Kraken partnership and redevelopment of the training center, is a testament to her ability to deliver tangible progress that uplifts entire neighborhoods. Her work is a powerful example of how Indigenous values, innovation, and stewardship can shape a better future for all.
Together, Chief Seattle Club, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle Indian Services Commission, and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing Native leadership at every level of government — and to building a city where Indigenous communities thrive, belong, and lead.