David Buerge

Clues for Sustainability: Three Ancient Creeks into Lake Washington

It took Americans only three generations to level lowland forests and ransack the fisheries.  Modern clues to how the Duwamish and their neighbors succeeded may be found in three watersheds I want to examine: Thornton Creek in north Seattle, and McAleer and Lyons Creeks in Lake Forest Park. 

Blood-Soaked Histories: Ukraine and the American West

It is not difficult to understand why Ukraine would seek freedom from Russian domination.  But Russia’s refusal to let go of Ukraine and its Russian-majority provinces can also be understood.

Look West: Choreography of the Stars

Gazing westward these nights, it is possible to grasp how we fit into this stupendous ballet. 

Thousand-Year Wonders: The Majesty of Northwest Forests

Left alone, these forests will last thousands of years and rise to immense heights.  Can we live in such close proximity?  The Duwamish did.

Oso Strong: Scene of the Slide

A week after the slide, a spokesman for the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management said, “…the hillside that collapsed had been considered ‘very safe’ and the slide came out of nowhere.”

Skin-of-the-Teeth Survival: Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Of crushing historical weight, the days -- the Event -- beg remembrance. 

Haves and Have-Nots: Why were Seattle’s First People Erased at West Seattle Bridge Reopening?

Recognized tribes, with billions in gambling revenue to fund generous political donations, have worked to erase the unrecognized Duwamish Tribe as a threat and a tribe.

Thanks to Queen Elizabeth, I Became a Teenage Royalist

In my dark and threatening world the Royal Family glittered. 

The Real Duwamish

A tragic, 167-year-old question in local history: Why did the Duwamish receive no reservation in their homeland? 

Succession: Russia’s Troubled Leadership Transitions

Russia's history is marked by violence and assassinations. Somehow, in some way, Russian politicians must find ways to enable the peaceful transfer of power.

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