Several local environmental organizations will be attending the Oct. 18 "Community Forum to discuss the Past, Present and Future of the Duwamish River." The event will be held at Camp Long 5200 35th Avenue s.w. from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“There has been a lot of great work done for the Duwamish by several local organizations,” said Brian Allen,
Sustainable West Seattle President. “What we’re hoping to do with our Community Forum is bring more attention from the broader community to this issue.”

Once a source of livelihood for native people, the Duwamish River over time became a dumping ground for toxic waste and a repository of pollution for Puget Sound.

Local activists have been working for years on the monumental task cleaning up the river.

Sustainable West Seattle’s monthly Community Forum will feature several of the key individuals involved in this effort who will describe what’s being done and what help is still needed.

Scheduled speakers include:

• Rob Holland, Port of Seattle Commissioner
• BJ Cummings of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
• Heather Trim from People for Puget Sound
• Cecile Hansen chief of the Duwamish Tribe
• Genevieve Aguilar from Puget Sound Sage

Questions and discussion from the audience will be a key part of this meeting.

For more information and updates, see:
http://www.sustainablewestseattle.org/2010/09/october-community-forum-t…

For more background on the history of the Duwamish River, visit http://www.duwamishcleanup.org/