Why Monthly?

While one-time donations are essential to the upkeep of the Longhouse, paying monthly rent represents a continuing effort and desire to acknowledge the Duwamish while recognizing that we are visitors on their land who are profiting from being here. Monthly giving keeps the land's original inhabitants on the forefront of our thoughts. Through our monthly contribution and acknowledgement, we can be more deeply connected to this wonderful place.

What's the Right Rent For You?

Just as everybody’s financial situation is unique, so is the amount of rent that will feel right for you. You may choose to give a percentage of your income or monthly rent or mortgage, or perhaps there is another number that holds symbolic significance for you. 

For example, paying $54 a month could serve as a powerful reminder of the 54,000 acres of homeland that the Duwamish Tribe signed over to settlers in 1855. ​

​In the end, any amount is the right rent as long as it’s meaningful to you!
Or, click here to try out this donation calculator.

A few words from other Seattleites...

"I choose to pay rent to the Duwamish because I love this land that I live in and know that the Duwamish have lived in it and cared for it for countless generations. I believe it is essential to our collective future for indigenous peoples to be able to inhabit their ancestral lands, and to be seen, known, and honored by their settler neighbors. May the Duwamish people and culture thrive in this place for generations to come!"
--Cameron, Seattle
"I pay Real Rent to the Duwamish Tribe monthly because as a white settler on this land, it is my responsibility to acknowledge the land I live on belongs to the Tribe and  they deserve to be compensated by all of us, regardless of what our government has determined.  I choose to pay $20 a month as this amount feels like what I will always be able to afford and I have donated at least $20 monthly to local and national social justice causes I believe in."
--Kathryn, Seattle (Capitol Hill)
"As a white person who moved to Seattle from California, I want to stay aware of how my presence here is connected to a long history of colonial imperialism. My Real Rent payments are one way to remain aware, while giving needed support to the Duwamish people. As an educator, I don’t make much money, so my current payment is $10. As my situation changes, I expect my Real Rent to change as well!
--Rosie, Seattle (Maple Leaf)