Nickelsville now on tribal land inside Discovery Park
SEATTLE -- Nickelsville has moved again.
A week ago the city told the tent city residents to pack up and get off the city's land in South Seattle. After fighting with the mayor's office and watching police arrest almost two dozen homeless residents who refused to go, the residents packed up and left on Wednesday night.
They moved to a new location, which was kept secret, hoping it would turn out to be their permanent home. They settled inside Discovery Park next to the United Indians of All Tribes' Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
"I'm extremely positive. I can't wait to get to our next spot," said Teresa Rollins, as she packed up.
But the new location offers residents no more security than the last. The land belongs to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundations, and their residence could have major implications, including reaction from federal agencies.
Some residents remain convinced, however, that setting up Nickelsville on what they call native land will offer the tent city protection from city laws.
The United Indians of All Tribe gained the rights to the land by way of the Fort Lawton occupation in 1970. Seattle agreed to give them the land on which the cultural center now sits.
Unlike other tent cities, Nickelsville has plans to eventually transform itself into a shanty town complete with wood walls and corrugated roofs.
The group of about 100 campers initially set up camp on West Marginal Way Southwest in West Seattle and named it Nickelsville as a jab at Mayor Greg Nickels' lack of low-cost housing.
The city kicked them out of the location last Friday, and nearly two dozen were arrested for refusing to leave.
But many of the occupants of the "old" Nickelsville, located in a grassy field off West Marginal Way, moved next door to a parking lot owned by the state Department of Transportation and, with the help of the governor, stayed until they were forced to move once again on Wednesday night.
"These people--we're not going to evaporate," said resident Anne Rider. "If we're not here tonight, we're going to be somewhere -- on your door step...in your backyard."
"There is a need for this and we're just trying to be part of the solution," said Nickelsville resident Aaron Coyler. "I'm willing to go to jail as many times as it takes."
A week ago the city told the tent city residents to pack up and get off the city's land in South Seattle. After fighting with the mayor's office and watching police arrest almost two dozen homeless residents who refused to go, the residents packed up and left on Wednesday night.
They moved to a new location, which was kept secret, hoping it would turn out to be their permanent home. They settled inside Discovery Park next to the United Indians of All Tribes' Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
"I'm extremely positive. I can't wait to get to our next spot," said Teresa Rollins, as she packed up.
But the new location offers residents no more security than the last. The land belongs to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundations, and their residence could have major implications, including reaction from federal agencies.
Some residents remain convinced, however, that setting up Nickelsville on what they call native land will offer the tent city protection from city laws.
The United Indians of All Tribe gained the rights to the land by way of the Fort Lawton occupation in 1970. Seattle agreed to give them the land on which the cultural center now sits.
Unlike other tent cities, Nickelsville has plans to eventually transform itself into a shanty town complete with wood walls and corrugated roofs.
The group of about 100 campers initially set up camp on West Marginal Way Southwest in West Seattle and named it Nickelsville as a jab at Mayor Greg Nickels' lack of low-cost housing.
The city kicked them out of the location last Friday, and nearly two dozen were arrested for refusing to leave.
But many of the occupants of the "old" Nickelsville, located in a grassy field off West Marginal Way, moved next door to a parking lot owned by the state Department of Transportation and, with the help of the governor, stayed until they were forced to move once again on Wednesday night.
"These people--we're not going to evaporate," said resident Anne Rider. "If we're not here tonight, we're going to be somewhere -- on your door step...in your backyard."
"There is a need for this and we're just trying to be part of the solution," said Nickelsville resident Aaron Coyler. "I'm willing to go to jail as many times as it takes."