Vol. 1 No. 5 Raising Awareness of Cascadian Bioregionalism August 2012

Drafting Cascadia: Mapping the Geography of the Pacifi c Northwest

By Adam Rothstein was known successively as New Spain, New Caledonia, New Archangel, New Georgia, and the Columbia District, as control of the Originally Published by The State land was swapped between various powers http://www.thestate.ae/ and corporations with little if any input by When trying to identify the geographical ley1 the people who lived there. After Ernest 4 lines that demarcate geo-political boundaries, Callenbach’s novel Ecotopia was published in everything becomes a bit pseudo-scientifi c. 1975, the counter-cultural elements collecting Boundaries shift depending on where you are in the declining economy of the waning standing, when, and whether you are the person shipbuilding and lumber industries had a holding the weapon, or the person having the design-fi ction script on which to place their weapon held at you. You might be better off environmental aspirations. And just in the past trying to use a crystal than a GPS receiver, year, the local Occupy protests have brought 2 because at least no one could dispute your out the language and fl ag of “Cascadia ” in new subjective impressions of psycho-geography, numbers. The name was invented by David 3 and you would lack the false impressions McCloskey and his Cascadia Institute in 1970. of being shielded by political borders and Today, it is a way of supporting locally-oriented citizenships that ought to save you from being organizing strategies, defending the ecological on the wrong end of techno-politics, before you heritage of the region, and proclaiming are vaporized by a drone-fi red missile. ideological and physical separation from any overbearing government. While it could be argued that the local population’s approval rating of the national government has nowhere to go but up, it seems equally likely that in this political climate, whatever the geography of Cascadia is, it will only become more deeply migration mean that water is no less important ingrained in the psychological landscape. for its quantities. While the vociferous voices of Cascadia 3)Cascadian Subduction Zone – this tectonic articulate its identity as a regionalism spanning area of the region is further away from the every ethic from political, to athletic (the ecosystemic arguments for Cascadia, but is still Cascadian fl ag designed by Alexander Baretich closely linked to a symbolic relationship with “The Doug”, fl ag designed by Alexander Baretich has become the unoffi cial banner of Portland’s Timbers soccer team), to the merely beer- My current terrain is the geographic drinking (see Hopworks Brewery’s relatively exploration known as “Cascadia”, that is slowly decent “Secession Black IPA”), I fi nd four main warming in the (relatively cool, by temperature lines along which the border of this non-state record standards) Northwestern United could be mapped: States. This area of the country was always 1)Bio-regionalism – One of the most often primed for festering secession movements. cited rationales for the general defi nition From the perspective of its history, the area of Cascadia as lower British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and perhaps parts of Idaho and Northern California, is that there are similarities in the ecosystem that make these In This Issue: disparate political entities indispensable from Around Cascadia ...... 5 each other as a whole. This ties in well with the environmentalism lingering from the Ecotopia- Contact List ...... 12 themed inspirations for Cascadia. 2)The Columbia Watershed – Similar to History of Cascadia ...... 8 the bio-regional argument, this defi nition Interview ...... 3 incorporates all land that drains into the Columbia River. Other defi nitions add other July in Pictures ...... 7 river watersheds to the Columbia. Water may be cliche as a “life force” in one of the most rain- News ...... 4 soaked areas of the continent, but local farming initiatives, natural sewage treatment options, Sports ...... 5 and reliance upon natural cycles such as salmon Continued on page 6 What is Cascadia?

Cascadia is the name for bioregion formed east (such as Eastern Washington) should be primarily by British Columbia, Washington and included. Long united by similar indigenous Oregon. cultures, Cascadia was once briefl y a single Defi nitions of the region’s boundaries vary, political unit: the Oregon Territory - shared by but usually include the area between the several nations. Cascade Range and the PacifiWhat c Ocean, and some The regionis has sinceCascadia? been divided into part of the Coast Mountains. Other defi nitions different political jurisdictions, but Cascadia still follow theCascadia boundaries is ofthe existing name subnational for biorgeion Territoryretains a sense- shared of self by identity. several In his na- book, Nine entities,formed and primarily usually include by Britishthe territory Columbia, of tions.Nations of North America, author Joel Garreau BritishWashington Columbia, and Washington, Oregon. and Oregon, claimed that the Pacifi c Rim region he called The region has since been while othersDefinitions also include of partsthe region's of California, bounda- dividedEcotopia had into a different different culture political from that of Idaho,ries vary, Alaska but and usually Yukon. include the area be- jurisdictions,what he called The but Empty Cascadia Quarter still to the east, tweenIn general, the Cascadethe area in Range and around and the Pacific retainsand was a necessarilysense of self different identity. economically In as Ocean, and some part of the Coast Moun- his book Nine Nations of North Cascadia region is more commonly referred well as ecologically. It must be noted that the tains. Other definitions follow the bounda- America,concept of “Ecotopia,” author Joel which Garreau is specifi c in its tories as the of Pacifi existing c Northwest. subnational The area’s entities, biomes and claimed that the Pacific Rim re- andusually ecoregions include are thedistinct territory from surroundingof British Co- gionboundaries, he called does Ecotopia not identically had a matchdif- that of areas.lumbia, The resource-rich Washington, Salish and Sea Oregon, (or Georgia while ferent“Cascadia,” culture which from varies that in ofits defi what nition. Basin)others is shared also includebetween British parts Columbia of California, he The called Northwest The Empty is home Quarter to more tothan 15 Idaho, Alaska and Yukon. the east, and was necessarily dif- and Washington, and the Pacifi c temperate million people, along with diminished but still ferent economically as well as rain forests,In comprising general, the the areaworld’s in largest and around ecologically.impressive numbers It must of be salmon, noted eagles,that grizzly temperatethe Cascadia rain forest region zone, is morestretch commonly along the re- thebears, concept killer whales,of "Ecotopia," and wolves. which It boasts an coastferred from to Alaska as the to California. Pacific Northwest. As this vast area The iseconomy specific that in generatesits boundaries, more than does $650 billion area's biomes and ecoregions are distinct not identically match that of hasfrom common surrounding economic areas. concerns The in resourcethe primary-rich worth of goods and services each year, which sector of industry, it is a matter of debate "Cascadia,"would place Cascadia which variesin the top in 20 its economies of Salish Sea (or Georgia Basin) is shared be- definition. whethertween the British arid rain Columbia shadowed and areas Washington, further the world. and the Pacific temperate rain forests, com- The Northwest is home to prising the world's largest temperate rain more than 15 million people, forestMap zone, drawn stretch by Cynthia along Thomas the on coast the basis from of forestalong data with in Conservation diminished International, but still Ecotrust, and Alaska to California. AsPacifi this c GIS, vast “Coastal area hasTemperate impressive Rain Forests numbers of North ofAmerica,” salmon, Portland, 1995. common economic concernsSee in alsothe Davidprimary D McCloskey eagles, “Cascadia,” grizzly Cascadia bears, Institute, killer Seattle, 1988 sector of industry, it is a matter of debate whales, and wolves. It boasts an whether the arid rain shadowed areas fur- economy that generates more than ther east (such as Eastern Washington) $650 billion worth of goods and should be included. Long united by similar services each year, which would indigenous cultures, Cascadia was once place Cascadia in the top 20

briefly a single political unit: the Oregon economies of the world. Map drawn by Cynthia Thomas on the basis of forest data in Conservation Cascadia Monthly Staff—Join us! International,Finding Ecotrust, us and Pacific online GIS, “Coastal is Temperate easy! Rain Forests of North America,” Portland, 1995. See also David D McCloskey “Cascadia,” Editors: Adam Munson Cascadia Institute, Seattle, 1988 Cascadia Brandon Monthly Letsinger Staff—Join us! Michael Hodges You can always email us at: Editors: Adam Vickie Munson Phelps Finding us online is easy! Brandon Letsinger Contributors: Michael Adam MunsonHodges [email protected] Alex DeVeiteo Contributors: Adam Alexander Munson Baretich You can always Alex Brandon DeVeiteo Letsinger email us at AlexanderNate Jenson Baretich Brandon Dana Guthrie Letsinger Martin [email protected] us on Twitter:

Masthead:Cascadia Monthly Josh is a Coward publication put out by the Seattle Cas- cadia Project. Everyone is encouraged to submit articles, let- @CascadiaNow tersCascadia to the Monthly editors, isphotography, a publication cartoons,put out by andthe Seattlepretty Cascadiamuch Follow us on Twitter: Project.any thing Everyone of and is relatingencouraged to Cascadia. to submit articles,Please letterssend submission to the editors, or@CascadiaNow join the conversation photography,to [email protected] cartoons, and pretty much anything of and relating to Cascadia. Please send submission to [email protected] withor hashjoin thetag #Cascadiaconversation Editorial Policy: with hash tag #Cascadia CascadiaEditorial Policy:Monthly reserves the right to edit any text submit- ted.Cascadia Stories, Monthly articles, reserves graphics, the right comics to edit and any such text published submitted. by Stories,this newspaper articles, graphics, may not comics reflect and the such opinions published of theby thiseditorial newspaperstaff. may not refl ect the opinions of the editorial staff. Join our group on Facebook: Join our group on OurOur Mission Mission Statement: http://www.facebook.com/Facebook: TheThe goal goal of thethe Seattle Seattle Chapter Chapter of ofthe the Cascadian Cascadian Independence Independ- Projectence Projectis to raise is awarenessto raise awareness of the idea of of theCascadia, idea of to Cascadia, increase to groups/cascadianow/http://www.facebook.com/ bioregionalincrease bioregional independence independence within our communities within our socially, communities politically, economicallysocially, politically, and environmentally, economically to further and environmentally, democratic governing to groups/cascadianow/ further democratic governing principles, civil liberties, digital principles,privacy, humancivil liberties, rights digital and regional privacy, sustainabilityhuman rights and in a regional respect- sustainabilityful and peaceful in a respectful manner, andas well peaceful as to manner, network as andwell coordinateas to Check out subreddits: networkwith groups and coordinate with similar with goals groups within with similarthe framework goals within of the frameworkCascadian of Independence the Cascadian IndependenceProject. Project. r/CascadiaCheck out subreddits: r/Cascadia

r/CascadiaOrganizersr/CascadiaOrganizers NEWS Interview with David McCloskey at the Oregon County Fair regarding Cascadia and the Cascadia Institute, July 13, 2012

Transcribed by Paul E Nelson KLCC – I see you mention “respectful an east side. And if you’re in Bend you have acknowledgement” of that area. What does that this INCREDIBLE panorama, of those peaks. mean exactly? You see six, eight peaks. On the top of Middle David McCloskey, a former sociology professor at Sister you can see Shasta, you can see Adams Seattle University, is credited for defi ning the term DM – For many years we’ve still been in and Hood. So there’s two sides to that. About ‘Cascadia’ in the early 1970’s, examining the distinct an imperial mindset. The colonialist mindset. seventy percent of the regional population lives geographic, cultural and ecological boundaries that And we’ve had all these different names for within sight of a Cascade volcano. Most people make the Pacifi c Northwest unique. He now lives the region: New Caledonia; New Spain; New think it’s the I-5 side, the wet (side). No, it’s the in Eugene, Oregon and runs the Cascadia Institute Georgia; all the rest of these things. But the other side as well. (http://cascadia-institute.org/). We also thank Paul fi rst name that’s true to the spirit of the place Nelson for transcribing this interview. He operates is Cascadia. And it’s named not after the KLCC – The east side and the west side are so SPLABS (http://splab.org/) in Seattle, which held a mountains, but the waters. And it’s what the completely different in terms of environment, bioregional Cascadia Poetry Festival earlier this year. waters do, or what the mountains do, is cascade. but you’re saying that they’re the same. The initial interview was originally done by KLCC. That image of cascading waters is what the DM – No, well the Cascades and the BC place itself literally does. So it’s the fi rst name Coast Range, they create the rain shadow. So the true to the spirit of the place, because it says dry east side is a creation of the same mountain. KLCC – David McCloskey is the Founder what it does and does what is says. What people don’t understand is that they of the Cascadia Institute, among other things, KLCC – Is there acknowledgement of this go over there and they see the lava, they see known as the “Father of Cascadia” in this region outside of this region at all? the basalt and they see all that dry thing and bioregion. A region he’s brought attention to they think “ooh, this is a different world and I through maps and all sorts of other ways of DM – In terms of the bioregional don’t like it.” That world is created by the same presenting this ecoregion to us and he is with us movement (that’s) been going on for quite geological forces that created the whole region. at KLCC. Thank you, David, for being here. a while, Cascadia by far is the most mature consciousness and self-designation in all of They’re not different. They’re part of the same DM – Thank you. North America. The map’s right in front of you. formative process. KLCC – Well, how do you defi ne Cascadia I’ll show you an example of that. Also, I want KLCC – And so how is your participation as a bioregion? What are its boundaries in a to say, by its own strange alchemy, Cascadia and your work being presented here at the Fair? physical sense? has passed into regional consciousness here, far What are you bringing to the Fair this weekend? DM – From the Coast to the Crest, from the more than any other place. There are literally DM – Well, I gave a talk; just fi nished a little Pacifi c Coast to the Continental Divide, and hundreds of groups, & companies who call while ago, called Coming Home to Cascadia. from Northern California and the Great Basin, to themselves Cascadia. That’s an extraordinary And besides Cascadia, it’s that image of home Southeast Alaska. So the three corners, which are process. and what it means to be welcomed home. The extraordinary places, are Cape Mendocino on the KLCC – One of the things you talk about place is a gift. The question is how we receive coast, Yellowstone on the Continental Divide, is “sparking the imagination” and “helping that gift. We need to learn how to receive that and Icy Bay and Mt. St. Elias and the glaciers people get their feet on the ground.” What’s gift in a much deeper way than we’ve been hitting the sea up in Alaska. the relationship between imagination and doing. KLCC – And if you had to defi ne the region in groundedness? KLCC – Is there any particular key to terms of character, what kind of characteristics DM – Well, you can have an imagination receiving that gift, in terms of our spiritual do you see coming through this region? that is not grounded. And we’ve often had that openness or, what helps us to receive better? DM – Well, everyone would know it as a when we bring in identities from elsewhere. But DM – The tree laws of Moral Ecology would common landscape. It was once known as the when you begin to sing the place, for instance, help. Number one: The Gift has a spirit of its Oregon Territory, or the Oregon Country. But and the spirit of the place infuses that and you own and so what we need to do is honor that clearly the forests. (It’s) the fi rst thing people see. get that spirit, then you begin to get grounded spirit. The second one is The Gift must move. I just saw the salmon parade go by my talk and it and you begin to – what I’m trying to do is call And the third is that you have to give as you was swimming upstream. forth a new culture here. are given. Now, if THAT became the basis KLCC – How appropriate! KLCC – Well, how is that manifesting in a of an ethic, a regional ethic, that would then new culture in terms of the institute itself? What put us back in, actually the only true spirit – And we were just talking on the way DM are you active in with the institute at this point? of the region, and that’s the potlatch spirit in about the removal of the Elwha Dam. And which is a giveaway and the giveaway starts the Condit Dam and how fast those salmon are DM – The purpose of the institute is with the land itself and that’s signifi ed by the coming back. In a couple of months they’re back. education about the character and consciousness Cascades. Because that’s what they do, they give So they’ve been doing that for millions of years. and context – you have to use the old phrases themselves away. The water fl ows through us. So, the two icons, the forests and the salmon are like Greater Northwest as a distinctive the most identifi able, but there are a lot of other geographic, ecological and cultural region. So KLCC – And we are very much made dimensions. that’s what we’ve been doing for a long time. through water more than anything else. It is the The maps are a good example. This talk is like water of Cascadia. – Any particular dimensions you’d care KLCC that. And I help, I don’t know how many people to highlight? DM – We are, yeah. (Laughter.) week in and week out try to clarify, get their DM – Well, sure. I mentioned Cape feet on the ground, (as to) what the region is. KLCC – We’re talking to David McCloskey of Mendocino in California. That’s where the San Actually, most people don’t know the region the Cascadia Institute. You can fi nd more on the Andreas Fault runs out to sea. That’s where very well. They know the I-5 and I want to say Cascadia Institute website: our own earth plates begin. That’s where the Cascadia is not an I-5 conceit. That’s a mistake. Cascadia-Institute.org And thank you so much Cascadia Subduction Zone begins. We’re one of for your presence here at the Fair on KLCC, KLCC – How would you correct that the few bioregions in the world that has our own David. mistake? earthquakes. That geology continues to ripple DM – Thanks very much. and create, through the whole region, all the way DM – Well, you just think of the Cascades. to the Continental Divide. We love all these mountains, but they have a west side. That’s where the I-5 is, but there’s NEWS Northern Lights Visible Cascadia: Where even the New Memetic Cascadia throughout the Northwest Oceans are Caffeinated Class Lattes are washing out to sea. A new Held every Tuesday, “Memetic Cascadia: Most of Mother Nature’s shows in the study has found elevated levels of caffeine at The Color of Revolution” class began on July month of July were focused around incredible several sites in Pacifi c Ocean waters off the 17. Taught by Alexander Baretich, designer of lightning and thunder displays, but, beginning coast of Oregon. The study was conducted by the Cascadian fl ag, the class examines ways in the early morning of Sunday July 15, the Portland State University graduate student Zoe to transform the abstract idea of Cascadia, the skies lit up with the Northern Lights. Sightings Rodriguez del Rey and her faculty adviser Elise bioregion, into a contagious idea associated were reported in Lyman, Friday Harbor, Granek, assistant professor of Environmental with our regional identity. The course also Sahale Glacier and even further south, with Science and Management, in collaboration with explores nonviolent struggles and revolutions, a display caught over Sparks Lake in central Steve Sylvester of Washington State University, as well as using materials that lay out a step by Oregon. The best time for viewing took place Vancouver. Researchers aren’t quite sure the step process on creating populous nonviolent during midnight and 1:30am, and according when or why of it, and early thinking that the socioeconomic change. to Spaceweather.com, at fi rst the solar storm caffeinated areas were related to waste water The class meets every Tuesday 5:30-7pm at appeared weaker than forecast, but a second treatment plants has actually turned out not to St. Francis Parish in the Che Room on SE 12th wave later in the night added some power to be the case. So pour yourself a double latte and & Pine in Portland, OR. For further information the solar storm and the aurora energized, with stay tuned for further updates! contact [email protected]. sightings as far south as Oregon and California.

1st Comprehensive Earthquake Study on the Cascadia Subduction Zone

The most comprehensive study of earthquake history off the Pacifi c Northwest coast has found that the Cascadian Subduction Zone has been trying to break off from the United States both geologically and politically, much longer and with greater force than earlier anticipated. The 13 year study, done by scientists at Oregon State University analyzed clues beneath the surface of the Pacifi c Ocean, such as the movement of mud, sand, sediment, and fi ne particles, trying to go back 10,000 years. That history shows 19 huge earthquakes along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, typically 8.7 to 9.2 on the Richter scale. Chris Goldfi nger, a professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atospheric Sciencies, believes there is a 40 percent chance of a major earthquake of a size comparable to the recent Japan event in the next 50 years, but that it is more likely to occur in the southern end of the subduction zone, meaning Oregon. “Major earthquakes tend to strike more frequently along the southern end - every 240 years or so - and it has been longer than that since it last happened,” writes Goldfi nger. “The clock is ticking on when a major earthquake will strike the zone,” wrote a co-author of the study. If there is no big quake by 2060, we’ll have exceeded 85 percent of all known intervals of earthquake recurrence in the last 10,000 years, he concluded. AROUND CASCADIA The Cascadia Bowl: A Proposal

By Nate Jensen my attention. It might have a little bit to do with all the re-alignment that goes on, but I’ve lost a little My focus on soccer has really made me take bit of passion for watching college a look at other regional rivalries in sports. football. It might be that I don’t In our current state of affairs the only major have a team to cheer for. I didn’t professional sports rivalry we get in Cascadia go to any of the schools that are is in Major League Soccer. However, there are usually televised, so my attachment some pretty big college sports rivalries around is minimal. If my attitude towards the area, and I got to thinking about how I could college football were a worldly enhance those sports as a viewer and as a fan. item, it’d be a rust-encrusted slab of The biggest sport outside of professional metal in someone’s backyard.

I realize that not everyone is going to be excited about something like this; it’s okay, I’m not asking you to be excited. I’m really not even asking anyone to call it the Cascadia Bowl. This is just part of my transformation as a Cascadian. One day I’d like to see all our college sports played regionally in a Cascadia Division. Not for TV deals. Not for sponsorships. Just for competition. The way college sports were meant to be played. Regional bragging rights.

7th Regional Cascadia Geography Mini- Conference Announced The seventh annual Critical Geographies Mini-Conference, temporarily renamed “Decolonizing Cascadia? Rethinking Critical Geographies,” will be held at the University of British Columbia on November 16th and 17th, 2012. The focus will be on envisioning and critically challenging known geographies of the sports in our region happens to be college Pacifi c Northwest, and that of Cascadia. football. It just so happens that in the Pac-12 there are 4 schools from Washington and Consistent with the previous mini- Oregon that play against each other. There are conferences’ goals, the emphasis is on creating two schools that play each other in the Big Sky a fun, engaging, and friendly atmosphere that conference. This sort of thing goes on down embraces an unsettling of the ‘traditional’ the ladder of college football. It makes sense: conference structure. The conference’s regional play means less travel time, which organizers welcome a wide range of spatially- means less money spent and more time for oriented critical scholarship and encourage study, if you believe the student athlete hype. creative media on various themes from geography and other disciplines. There is no fee Some of these rivalries are already pretty to attend the conference and graduate students huge. There is the Apple Cup, between are particularly encouraged to apply. University of Washington and Washington State. There is also the “Civil War” between I have a plan for this season to scrape off the Responding to discussions at previous Oregon and Oregon State. These are all fi ne rust and apply some oil to shine the metal back meetings, the plenary theme will be and dandy. I enjoy turning on football if there up and make it exciting again. I’ve decided decolonization in which participants critically is going to be a massive rivalry. In my world, to follow sports regionally and keep track of engage with (neo)colonial practices in rivalries are the only reason to watch college head to head competitions between some of the knowledge production, pedagogies, academic football. teams. I’m making the decision that Washington institutions, and regionalisms. Decolonization involves a reimagining of relationships among There is something missing though. State vs Oregon State is not going to be about land, people, and the state. This process requires Something that would make me buy in with all Pac-12 pecking order this year. Nope, for me it is going to be part of the Cascadia Bowl. study, conversation, and continual unlearning. As two of multiple decolonization strategies at That’s right: I’ll be watching the Washington this year’s conference, the organizers recognize and Oregon Schools from the Pac-12, and I’ll be meeting in unceded Coast Salish territory and keeping track of which team does the best only work towards the inclusion of non-academic between those four. A team in this competition knowledges. could lose all the rest of their games, but if they beat the other 3 they can come out as Cascadia More information can be found at: Bowl champions. http://www.geog.ubc.ca/cascadia2012/ AROUND CASCADIA Chapter Updates: Cascadia Kits Released Cascadia Banner Drop

CascadiaNow! is excited to announce new Designed and organized by Kelly Dews on As the clock struck noon-o-clock on July 24th, regional and student coordinators in Okanagan the Cascadia Trifecta Facebook group, the fi rst several CascadiaNow! supporters dropped a County, WA; Washington State University batch of Cascadia kits were shipped out earlier giant banner depicting a sasquatch foot booting in Pullman, WA; Castle Rock, WA; and the this month. As per agreement, for the fi rst run, out an Uncle Sam monopoly fi gure. The banner University of Oregon in Eugene, OR. We also Vancouver BC, Seattle WA, and Portland OR, drop was in protest of a visit by US president have new volunteers who have offered to help each got 30, with each city getting their own Barack Obama, as he attended a $25k per plate research, write and help us fi ll in a few graphic unique patch sewed into the bottom. If you fundraiser lunch. In a press release, those blanks on our website. missed out on this fi rst one, not to worry: since involved declared that “those in the Cascadia If you’re in these areas, feel free to contact our the popularity was so high, a second run is Now! Movement are interested in strengthening new coordinators: likely in the works. Stay tuned. local community economies through sustainable and equitable means, not through the continued Okanagan County practices of war for oil and continued climate- Chandra Ashlin - [email protected] catastrophic coal mining. Bioregionalism is a Washington State University new phenomenon rising from the people’s need Doug Woods - [email protected] to withdraw support from their war-obsessed governments, protect watersheds and unify University of Oregon and strengthen communities against attacks Alex Jones - [email protected] from multinational corporations.” The letter More information about current fi nished with “Cascadians are uniting to create CascadiaNow! coordinators and chapters can be a different way forward, one that does not found on our website at support endless overseas wars. We support http://cascadianow.org/chapters-and-groups Bioregional independence for Cascadia.“ If you do not see your area represented, please visit http://cascadianow.org/get-involved We’d love to talk with you more about your ideas and envisioning for Cascadia and ways to get active.

CascadiaNow! Facebook, Twitter and Reddit Milestones

Interest in the idea of Cascadia has continued to grow rapidly, refl ected in our various different social platforms. Our twitter account (@CASCADIANOW) has more than doubled in the past 2 months, surpassing 500 followers earlier this month (only 15,583,500 left to go!), while our facebook group climbed past 1800 Drafting Cascadia alternative to notorious traffi c jams. State lines members, and the http://reddit.com/r/cascadia continued from page 1 are little hindrance to the realities of social and subreddit is on pace to blow past 3000 by the economic migration. time of publication. We’ve also started a new the land under one’s feet. It is worth noting that What is more curious than the fact that these CascadiaNow! Facebook page (http://facebook. the volcanoes of the Cascades are not silent–in different ways of establishing a geographic area com/cascadianow ) which already has more fact, “Cascadia Day” is celebrated on May 18th, differ, is that they actually seem to cohere, at than 200 likes, as we’re slowly fi guring how this the anniversary of Mt. St. Helens eruption in least to the extent that the can share a common thing called the ‘internet’ works, and what all 1980. Furthermore, the entire region lives under name. It is hard to overlook the enforced the buttons do. the shadow of “the big one”: a large earthquake sovereignty of the United States’ and Canadian expected in the next hundred years. governments, which Cascadian identity must bow before. However, the establishment of a 4)Transportation – One of the more curious non-sovereign territory is well underway in The Bioregion of Cascadia and anthropocentric defi nitions, this boundary Cascadia. The future is a fractalized potential draws on the ecosystem of human technology, – New interview Available of demarcation methods. The days of Lewis identifying Cascadia as one of many new and Clark are over. The people who live on the For part of the Republic of PDX PropCast, “megaregions” in North America. Interstate terrain are picking up the drafting pencils to Portland CascadiaNow! Coordinator Elona 5 runs straight through the major population draw the new maps. Trogub and Abram Goldman-Armstrong, centers of Cascadia, from Eugene, Oregon to founder of the Cascadian Dark Ale style, Vancouver, BC. This boundary line is more Additional links: sat down to discuss the culture, politics and of an axis than a limit, and is often used in 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_line geography of what exactly the Cascadian arguments for economic cooperation and 2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_ Bioregion is. This interview is available in full transportation development between the cities (independence_movement) at: http://thepeoplespdx.com/the-bioregion-of- and existing governmental boundaries. Amtrak cascadia/ also currently has a line running from Eugene to 3) http://cascadia-institute.org/index.html Vancouver called “The Cascades”, that provides 4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotopia quick service along the I-5 Corridor as an July in Pictures ONWARD TO CASCADIA From the Annals of Cascadian History: A Brief Timeline of Independence

1813: A Letter from Thomas Jefferson logical creation of a country along the Pacifi c 1841: Charles Wilkes Expedition fi rst maps An 1813 letter from Thomas Jefferson to Coast, stretching from California through what will later become the Cascadia Bioregion John Jacob Astor congratulated Astor on the the entirety of the Oregon Territory, then Military Commander Charles Wilkes, establishment of Fort Astoria (the coastal fur comprising Oregon, Washington, Idaho and leader of a 1841 expedition to map the Pacifi c trade post of Astor’s Pacifi c Fur Company) and British Columbia. At this time, the Oregon Northwest was the fi rst to fully document what described Fort Astoria as “the germ of a great, country was a neutrally aligned area in which later became known as the Cascadia bioregion. free, and independent empire on that side the British, American, Russian governments all His map, published in 1845 fully documents of our continent,” and said that “liberty and had a stake, with Spain still controlling large the interconnectedness of the then Oregon self-government spreading from that as well swaths of California. Territories. The illustration cuts off in the north as from this side, will ensure their complete In the article, the author argues that the due to Imperial Russian control, and in the establishment over the whole.” general prevailing sentiment of the US populace south due to Imperial Spanish control. He went on to dub this the “Republic of the was the country was large enough, noting that Pacifi c.” In his mind, this nation was to be home “The feeling is now very prevalent that we have to a “great, free and independent empire,” territory enough. It is in every one’s mouth, ‘We populated by American settlers, but separate have territory enough, why do we want more?” from the and it would be hard indeed to persuade the United States people to relish a war for a tract of land most of politically and them do not want, and many of them would be economically, unwilling to have attached to the United States. eventually With the merchants, and the people against becoming a it, shall we have war for Oregon? Will the great trading Executive, will the Congress plunge the nation partner in carnage and blood against the people’s will, exploring for a tract of country the nation cares but little its own for? democratic He goes on to argue that “during this time, experiment. while the United States and England are 1855-1861: The Movement in Oregon for the with the greatest ceremony disputing and Establishment of a Pacifi c Coast Republic negotiating, thousands will be pressing into 1825: The Cascades are Given Name the territy. It will be settled, and Oregon and On June 15th, 1846, the treaty with Great Throughout the 1820’s, Scottish naturalist California will be united in a common cause and Britain was signed that secured to the United David Douglas, after whom the Doug Fir destiny. Then will come the realization of the States the territory of Oregon lying south of the was named, spent much time exploring the event which Mr. Jefferson predicted, and “the 49th parallel. It was assumed that the American Pacifi c Northwest. While he was searching for whole extent of that coast will be covered with government would then organize a government plants near the mouth of the Columbia gorge free and independent Americans, unconnected for the newly acquired territory. However, in 1825 he was struck by the area’s ‘cascading with us, but by the ties of blood and friendship.” the bill providing this organization didn’t waterfalls’. As he writes in his journals he talks occur until August 14, 1848 due to pro-slavery He even argued the important role that leaders in Congress who opposed a clause in in depth about the mountains by these ‘great bioregionalism would play “Nature herself has cascades’ or later, just simply the Cascades, the the Oregon Provisional Government declaring marked out Western America for the home of an that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, fi rst written reference independent nation. The Rocky Mountains will to the mountain range except as punishment for crime, would ever be be to Oregon, what the Alps have been to Italy, permitted in the territory. that would later bear or the Pyrenees to Spain. The Nation which this name. It would be extends itself across them, must be broken in the The citizens of Oregon, many who felt it from this delineation centre by the weight of the extremities. When was through their efforts that the territory had that the term Cascadia we merely glance at a map, it seems absurd to been acquired, were outraged at what they felt would later be created. suppose that Oregon is to belong to a nation was then a refusal by the US government to whose capital is on the Atlantic Seaboard. What! grant them necessary assistance and protection. Must the people of that land be six months In addition, the inability for citizens to elect 1839: The Argument journey from the seat of Government? Must their own representatives, those instead being for an Independent Pacifi c Coast Republic they send their delegates four thousand miles appointed by the Eastern federal government, In the February edition of the Oregonian to represent them in the legislature of a nation led to a dramatic increase of dissatisfaction and Indian Advocate, a case was laid out by with whom they can have but few common throughout the 1850’s, culminating in a growing an article’s author, known only as ‘W,’ for the interests or sympathies?” movement to demand Independence.

Los Angeles in 1869. Main portion of Los Angeles, taken from the site where the Court House now stands. This is summed up well in by an article in reserved for conservation and low-intensity 1970: David McCloskey defi nes the 1855 from a periodical the Standard (run by grazing, reframing the national Jeffersonian ‘Cascadia Bioregion’ the Democratic Party) entitled “Our Future”, grid already in place. These calls however, were In 1970 the term “Cascadia” was adopted by published in Portland: soon trumped over in favor of the continuing David McCloskey, a Seattle University sociology expansion of powerful timber, coal and railroad “In a new country there are no old associations, professor, to describe the region. McCloskey interests, which strongly affected late 19th and no stereo typed habits which fi lter in an accustomed describes Cascadia as “a land of falling waters.” early 20th century US development patterns. routine our actions and our thoughts. Yes, it is He notes the blending of natural integrity and indeed too true that we must look for new and 1916: Documenting the Movement for sociocultural unity that gives Cascadia its energetic governments in recently settled countries. Independence: defi nition. . . . Can it be possible that within a few years the These earlier attempts towards independence Pacifi c coast will ask, and can secure, an independent in the Pacifi c Northwest continued to be well government? . . . documented. In a 1916 article in the Oregon “If Nature ever marked out the division of countries, Historical Quarterly, author Dorothy Hull it has done so in North America. The vast chain helps capture these earlier sentiments: “To of the Rocky Mountains present an unmistakable fully understand the political tendencies of the boundary, and we have reason to believe that these West it is necessary to understand the Western boundaries, laid down by an over ruling providence, spirit, for political platforms are but a more or ought to be more strictly regarded.... Should we less clear refl ection of the spirit which animates secure anything to our advantage by coming into those who frame them.” the Union which we could, not have by ourselves? Let us think before we act. The growing disparity She continues, “The West has always been the of habits between us and the Atlantic states, and home of democracy. The Western movement the pecuniary advantages or disadvantages of a in the United States from its fi rst inception was separation from the states, are not the only questions a democratic movement. The fur traders who which ought to be considered. Is it policy for us to blazed the trail to the West, and the ranchers join a government, the different sections of which are and farmers who followed in their wake forging even now antipodal on a most exciting question, and the broader path for civilization were not which are cultivating a spirit of disunion by their aristocrats, but the common people – rugged, altercations? “ self-reliant and ambitious… seeking cheap lands, and a chance to work out their political These sentiments continued to grow, and social ideas free from the aristocratic spawning into the Klamath, Trinity and Jackson organization of the East. Hence in the West movements, largely dying with the beginning of democracy, social and political, became the the US civil war in 1861. dominant force.” “The early isolation of the West, and the 1890: Proposal to Draw Western State completeness of its geographic separation Borders along Bioregional Lines from the political center of the nation fostered These earlier arguments fi t into a growing an intense feeling of local independence. It movement towards the creation of Western was not surprising then that in times of great ... a land of falling waters. US States based on bioregional principles, public danger when vital sectional interests primarily that of watersheds. In a series of maps were believed to be at stake, this spirit of local “ David McCloskey, 1970 published in 1890, soldier, explore and geologist independence should fi nd expression in the doctrines of popular sovereignty, states-rights, nullifi cation and even secession.”

McCloskey is the source of the proposed Cascadian bioregional boundaries that include ”the complete watershed of the Columbia River, including the territories of what are now Idaho, western Montana, and smaller parts of Wyoming, Utah, and northern Nevada. The West has always been According to McCloskey, this “initial” Cascadia included parts of seven jurisdictions (Northern “the home of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Western Montana, British Columbia, and Southeast democracy. The Western Alaska), running from the northernmost reaches of Southeast Alaska in the north to movement in the United Cape Mendocino, California in the south–and covering all the land and “falling waters” from States from its fi rst the continental divide at the Rocky Mountains to the Pacifi c Ocean. McCloskey, founder of inception was a the Cascadia Institute and co-chair of Seattle University’s New Ecological Studies Program, saw Cascadian identity as something which democratic movement. transcends political or geographic defi nitions; it John Wesley Powell laid out his proposal for the is more a cultural, ideological identity. “essential units of government, either as states or as watershed commonwealths.” David McCloskey returns to the original Dorothy Hull, bioregional model of the Pacifi c Northwest Using the arid regions of the United States as Oregon Historical Quarterly, 1916 which he dubs ‘Cascadia’ a basis, he argued that only a small fraction of the American West was suitable for agriculture and that the bulk of arid regions should be ” This Month In Cascadian History By Alex DeVeiteo August 6, 1969 – A member of America’s Blue Angels August 12, 1963 – Hip Hop artist Anthony Ray, aerobatic team practicing a routine for the Regatta better known as “Sir Mix-a-Lot,” is born in Seattle, festival inadvertently causes chaos in nearby city of Washington. August 1, 1988 – Deep Rover, a single occupant Kelowna, British Columbia. The pilot unintentionally research submarine designed by marine engineer August 13, 1895 – Author Samuel Clemens, better goes through the sound barrier while fl ying too low, Graham Hawkes and built by Deep Ocean known as Mark Twain, gives a 90-minute solo creating a sonic boom which shatters glass, injuring Engineering, is unveiled at Crater Lake, Oregon performance to an audience of 1,200 at the Seattle six people and generating a broken glass bill of a Theater, located downtown at the corner of 3rd quarter million dollars. Avenue and Cherry Street in Seattle, Washington. “A August 7, 1971 – The Gastown Riot, also known CONTINUOUS LAUGH” is the headline of a Seattle as “The Battle of Maple Tree Square,” occurs in Post-Intelligencer review article that continues, “To Vancouver, British Columbia. Following weeks tell the story of such a lecture is like trying to narrate of arrests by undercover drug squad members in a laugh. Those who heard it enjoyed it, and those Vancouver as part of a special police operation who did not cannot conceive of it.” directed by Mayor Tom Campbell known as “Operation Dustpan,” designed to sweep up the “hippie problem” in Vancouver’s trendy Gastown district, police attack a peaceful protest Smoke-In in the Gastown neighborhood organized by the Youth International Party and local merchants against the use of undercover agents and in favor of the legalization of marijuana. The Vancouver police are quickly accused of heavy-handed tactics including indiscriminate beatings with their newly issued riot batons and using horseback charges on crowds of August 2, 1970 – BC ferry Queen of Victoria and onlookers and tourists. Of the 1200 protesters, 79 are Soviet freighter Sergey Yesinen collide in the Active arrested and 38 are charged with various infractions, Pass. while more than a dozen are sent to the hospital. August 3, 1885 – The fi rst Chautauqua on Puget August 8, 1971 – The Enchanted Forest‘s Storybook Sound is held at Dilworth Point on Vashon Island. Trail fi rst opens to the public at 2pm on Sunday. Named after Chautauqua, New York, where it was Roger Tofte, a draftsman and artist for the Oregon founded in 1874, the movement is a summertime State Highway Department, builds the park on 20 presentation of lectures, discussions, and cultural acres of land off Interstate 5 south of Salem he had activities lasting several days to a week in a resort purchased for $4000. Despite no formal art training and little cement work experience, he gets to work atmosphere. August 14, 1933 – A logging operation located on the and builds the fanciful theme park. Rides and August 4, 1889 – “The Great Fire” breaks out shortly slopes above the North Fork of Gales Creek, west of features have been added frequently the past four after 6:00 p.m. in the city of Spokane Falls, destroying the town of Forest Grove, Oregon sparks a massive decades; the Enchanted Forest is still run by the Tofte the city’s downtown commercial district. Due to forest fi re known as the Tillamook Burn in the Coast family. technical problems with a pump station, there is no Range Mountains, located in northern Oregon, water pressure in the city when the fi re starts. In an 50 miles west of Portland. The fi re begins around effort to starve the fi re, fi refi ghters begin demolishing noon, started by friction produced when loggers buildings with dynamite. Eventually winds die down drag a large Douglas-fi r log across the dry bark of a and the fi re exhausts of its own accord. 32 blocks wind-fallen snag, igniting a large amount of logging of the city’s downtown are destroyed, but only one debris in the area. Weather conditions help ignite and person is killed. While the damage caused by the fi re spread the blaze; within an hour, the fi re destroys 60 is a devastating blow, it sets the stage for a dramatic acres of the surrounding land. building boom, and the city is reincorporated under The wildfi re that grows out of this will burn 311,000 its modern name of “Spokane.” acres (1259 km²) of forest before it is extinguished by seasonal rains. August 15, 1929 – Renowned stunt fl yer, and military and commercial aviator, Nicholas Bernard “Nick” August 9, 1878 – Due to delays and broken promises Mamer, and his mechanic and copilot, Art Walker, of a railway to British Columbia, the legislature in take off from Spokane’s Felts Field in their latest Victoria votes nineteen to nine in favor of succession model Buhl “Sesquiplane” on a history-making feat from Canada. This gives impetus to fi nancing of of endurance fl ying. The two men stay aloft fi ve days the Canadian Pacifi c Railway and Imperial loan and nights, and despite not breaking the existing guarantees. record of hours in the air, they succeed in setting a August 10, 1979 – Screenwriter, fi lm producer, and record in nonstop mileage (more than 7,200 miles) novelist Ted J. Geoghegan is born in Beaverton, and achieve the fi rst transcontinental refueling fl ight, Oregon. He is best known for his work in the horror, fi rst night refueling, and fi rst refueling at an altitude science fi ction, and fantasy genres. above 8,000 feet. August 5, 1990 – The Seattle Goodwill Games August 11, 1774 – Spanish Explorer Juan Perez and conclude. Two world records are broken during the his crew on the ship Santiago sight The Olympic Games: the 200-meter breaststroke mark is topped by Mountains (originally called “Sun-a-do” by the all three medalists in the race, with Mike Barrowman Duwamish) on the Olympic Peninsula, naming improving the record to two minutes and 11.53 them “Cerro Nevada de Santa Rosalia.” Juan Perez’s seconds. Nadezhda Ryashkina completes a world Spanish expedition represents the fi rst European record of 41:56.21 in the women’s 10 km race walk. discovery and exploration of “Nueva Galicia,” the Pacifi c Northwest. This Month In Cascadian History August 16, 2003 – Workers building a graving August 21, 1922 – Motorists in British Columbia August 26, 1805 – Captain Meriwether Lewis and dock for the Washington State Department of switch to driving on the right hand side of the road the main party of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Transportation (WSDOT) near Ediz Hook in Port at midnight. cross the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass, leaving Angeles, Washington uncover a shell midden. August 22, 1964 – The Beatles hold a concert at the newly purchased United States territory into the Discovery of the refuse pile, and, shortly thereafter, Empire Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. before 20,000 disputed Oregon Country. many human remains and artifacts, reveals the fans, playing songs from their newest album, largely intact Klallam First Nation village of Tse- “Something New.” whit-zen under layers of industrial rubble and fi ll. The event is hosted by DJ Red Robinson, with a top Tse-whit-zen, which occupies the Port Angeles site ticket price of $5.25. Vancouver police cut the concert for at least 2,700 years until supplanted by industrial short after 27 minutes, fearing a riot by fans. development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, turns out to be one of the largest and most signifi cant archeological sites in Washington, providing important insights into Klallam life before and at the time of fi rst contact with Europeans.

August 27, 1914 – Fire destroys 17 buildings and 20 stores in downtown Shelton, Washington. Shelton’s Mayor, Mark Reed, is in Seattle on business when he heard of the fi re, and drives the 100 miles of mostly unpaved roads back to Shelton in just under three hours. Reed, who is also head of Simpson Timber, the county’s largest employer, tries to put a positive spin – A lightning storm starts over 200 August 23, 1970 on the situation, using the disaster as an opportunity fi res in the Wenatchee National Forest which merge to rebuild the downtown area. into fi ve fi res named Gold Ridge, Entiat, Mitchell (Read more about Tse-whit-zen: http://seattletimes. Creek, Shady Pass, and Slide Ridge, though they are August 28, 1963 - The Evergreen Point Floating nwsource.com/html/localnews/klallamday1.html ) collectively called the Entiat Burn. The fi res burn for Bridge (also known as the “520 bridge”) connecting Seattle & Bellevue offi cially opens. At 7,500 feet (2,300 August 17, 1907 – Pike Place Market is opened 15 days, consuming 122,000 acres and threatening m) long and running across Lake Washington from overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, the town of Ardenvoir, Washington before they are Seattle to Medina, it is the longest fl oating bridge on Washington. It will become one of the oldest contained and rain begins to put them out. Earth. continually operating public farmers’ markets in August 24, 1852 North America, and remains one of Seattle’s most – Fur-trader and popular tourist destinations. colonial governor James Douglas founds the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, and takes possession of local coal deposits for the Hudson’s Bay Company. August 25, 1917 – The August 29, 1968 – The Canadian government in American Theater in Walla Ottawa cancels support for the observatory under Walla opens for business with the Norma Talmadge construction on Mt. Kobau, near Osoyoos, British fi lm “The Law of Compensation”. The theater was Columbia. originally conceived by A. W. Eiler, who chose a August 18, 1775 – While very unique design scheme. In an era when Chinese, August 30, 1935 – A dance marathon/walkathon cruising along the Oregon coast Egyptian, Arabian, or other exotic motifs tended to closes in Fife, a community just north of Tacoma, south of Arch Cape, Basque dominate theater design, the exterior of the American after 1,376 hours (55 days or almost two months). The explorer Captain Bruno de was based on traditional Dutch architecture. Standing event is popular with citizens of nearby Seattle and Heceta discovers and names three stories tall on Walla Walla’s E Main Street, Tacoma, both of which have city ordinances banning Cape Falcon, also known as on the very spot upon which Fort Walla Walla had dance endurance contests. Attendees pay 15 to 25 False Tillamook Head. stood in 1858. The theater boasts a seating capacity of cents to watch a mixture of hopeful amateurs and professional dance marathoners compete for prize August 19, 1902 – A Doukhobor 1,000, with each seat made of mahogany and Spanish sect known as “The Sons leather. Patron amenities include a nursery, smoking money. Contestants dance around the clock with of Freedom” responds to room, and checking room for coats and packages. 15 minutes off their feet each hour. They were fed, confl icts with Canadian policy by staging mass standing at a chest-high table, 12 times per day. nude protest parades and engaging in arson across August 31, 1912 – The Bellingham & Skagit Railway’s British Columbia as a means of protesting against Interurban railroad line opens between Bellingham materialism, land seizure by the government, and and Mount Vernon, as well as Burlington and Sedro compulsory education in government schools. This Woolley, with passenger trips to every two hours will lead to many confrontations with the Canadian during the day and freight operating at night. government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police well into the 1970s. August 20, 1881 – The Spring Hill Water Company is incorporated in Seattle. This privately owned water system is Seattle’s fi rst integrated distribution system, and later will play an integral role in the creation of the municipal water system. Cascadian Contacts Seattle University: OREGON Ashland: Kelton Sears Portland: William Barondeau [email protected] Lumen Cascadia [email protected] [email protected] Ellensburg and Central Washington Roseburg: University: Portland State University: Keith Barger Eric Seitz Jimmy Hanson [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CALIFORNIA CascadiaNow! Washington State University Portland State University: San Francisco: Regional Coordinators, Doug Woods elona trogub Matt Cascadia Groups and Chapters: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Planet Drum Foundation) Cascadian Independence Project: Spokane: University of Oregon http://cascadianow.org Patrick Adams Alex Jones BRITISH COLUMBIA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ [email protected] [email protected] Vancouver BC: Cascadia_(independence_move- Sebastian R. Kaplan Portland Community College ment) Centralia: [email protected] Benjamin Bricker Alexander Galloway [email protected] CascadiaNow! Volunteer Contact: [email protected] Victoria Brandon Letsinger Astoria: Patrick Newman [email protected] Okanagan County Jay Carlisle [email protected] Chandra Ashlin [email protected] CascadiaNow! Media Liaison: [email protected] Michael Hodges Salem: [email protected] Palouse: Isaac Kindel Andrew Stephenson [email protected] WASHINGTON: [email protected] Bellingham: Walla Walla: Pendleton: Eric James Jeremy Ross Bobby Fossek [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Seattle: Tacoma: Eugene: Adam Munson Jacob Benson Patrick Maxwell [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] http://seattlecascadiaproject.org http://www.unifyingcascadia.net/ Olympia and Evergreen University: University of Washington: Christopher Bade University of Oregon: Robert Foxcurran [email protected] Alex Jones [email protected] http://olympiacascadianow.word- [email protected] http://uwcascadiaproject.org press.com/ Bend: Seattle Central Community College: Mel Sweet Maxamillion Shuman [email protected] [email protected] http://cascadiamatters.org