Welcome & Inclusion Statement

We are committed to being an anti-racist, inclusive organization as a core component of our mission of education and engagement. Our communities include people who have experienced exclusion and oppression on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, age, and socio-economic status, both within and outside the maritime field. 

As an organization with access to power and privilege, we have been part of allowing these biases to persist, and commit to taking action to dismantle them. Our responsibility as a community organization is to work towards access, inclusion, and belonging for those most marginalized; our mission will be stronger when it celebrates all the voices and experiences of our region.

Leading with respect and resilient compassion, we are committed to engaging with people of all backgrounds and viewpoints in an effort to foster community and growth. What is respect? “The root of respect is not the full understanding of other people; it is the recognition of people’s non-negotiable humanity” -OluTimehin Kukoyi. At Northwest Maritime, we treat all people with dignity, we listen, we honor their multidimensional lived experiences, and we remember that we are all human. We expect you to do the same. 

That said, our priority is making the maritime world a space in which people who have been traditionally excluded feel welcome. When viewpoints and actions jeopardize the wellbeing and safety of any people, we hold the line of community care. We commit to safeguarding our spaces so all people can explore the maritime world, whether they’re engaged in a class or simply wandering our campus. NWM strives to be a compassionate refuge, a safe port in rough weather, and a place where people can show up in their full humanity and be seen and heard.

Our world is diverse, and while maritime experiences worldwide are multiracial, and the thousands of years of Indigenous maritime activity that continues to this day, here in the present day Pacific Northwest mainstream maritime spaces are disproportionately white, male, and eurocentric.  

Northwest Maritime is committed to building a maritime sector which represents that diversity, and part of that work is amplifying those role models who are outside of that norm- not by tokenizing them but by using their examples as ways to redefine the narrative and normalize a more inclusive understanding of what maritime is.  We believe this effort will result in communities which are more connected to each other, to career opportunities and to the sea.  A rising tide lifts all boats and if our diversity is represented that will benefit everyone. 

Prosperity in the maritime industry should uplift the communities most impacted by those industries, and building diversity in our maritime workforce and communities will only make our communities and workforce stronger. 

Since time immemorial, every waterway and coastline where we do our work has been home to vibrant Indigenous maritime cultures. From boatbuilding to ocean navigation to sustainable fishing practices, Native communities shaped traditions that form the foundation of much of our mission.

Yet, western maritime culture has often ignored these Indigenous roots—even as we’ve grown on the same lands and waters where they began and continue today.  As an organization committed to connecting people with the sea, part of our responsibility is to reconnect with, respect, and honor the maritime traditions of Native peoples—past and present.

As part of that intention, Northwest Maritime works to support and amplify a number of tribal partners’ programs and offerings through use of our facility, programmatic partnerships, and using our events, media, and spaces as opportunities to showcase indigenous maritime life. 

For example, our partnership with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has taught us to listen more deeply, guided our learning and decision-making, and enriched our understanding of Indigenous aquaculture and sovereignty. It has also brought meaningful gifts—the Welcome Pole, Nootka canoe, and interpretive sign about Salish canoe culture—reminders of connection and responsibility.  

Our work with other Indigenous projects, initiatives, and people continues to enrich our mission.  We commit to continuing this learning, expanding our awareness, and weaving that understanding into our programs, leadership, and organizational decisions.

It’s important to us that we approach the work of inclusion with integrity. For us, that means that we are interested in the outcome of equity rather than applause for appearing to do the right thing. 

Part of our work is the ongoing evaluation of how we operate and the evolution of our practices.  We know the sea of public opinion is going to change around us and we commit to keep learning and keep listening – especially to the perspectives of people at the margins but even to those perspectives that run contrary to our values.  We can disagree and still understand. There are lessons in nuance, and value in empathy.