Underscore Native News

Mission

Underscore produces Indigenous-centered journalism that illuminates the intersections of sovereignty and justice and portrays the rich diversity of Native communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Bottom Line for Portland

Indigenous communities have historically been underrepresented — and often grossly misrepresented — in media coverage, contributing to harmful stereotyping, invisibility and erasure that persist as modern forms of racism. At Underscore, we’re building a better news model that addresses those wrongs, tackling structural inequities in media while exposing governmental and societal systemic inequities through our in-depth and investigative reporting. 

From 2023 to 2025, our journalism earned 58 national and regional awards, including a host of first-place selections from the Indigenous Journalists Association and Society of Professional Journalists, among other honors. We’re based in Portland, which has one of the highest urban Indigenous populations in the U.S., and our reporters live and work here, regularly producing journalism that is critical to the city’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents alike.

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“Underscore is instrumental in building positive media relationships with Tribes and Indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest that correct misrepresentations created by historical biases and the withholding of Native American and Alaska Native lived experiences in our U.S. education system. Please support Underscore to continue their work in support of our Tribal and Indigenous communities, and other communities of color and culture.” — Renea Perry (Tlingit/Inupiat/N.Euro), Executive Director of Portland All Nations Canoe Family
 

“I’m really happy that Underscore exists because bringing forth Native news is important and holding people accountable is important, and it doesn’t always happen. It’s important to me as a Native woman to know what’s going on.” — Cecelia Lente (Pueblo of Isleta), IDA Program Coordinator at Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
 

“Underscore is an irreplaceable source of news and information about tribal communities. Other news organizations have made efforts — some well, some not so well — to do this coverage, but Underscore surpasses them in quality and relevance.” — Brian Bull (Nez Perce), longtime journalist and former assistant professor of journalism at University of Oregon

Incentives

Thanks to our participation in NewsMatch, the largest grassroots fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news in the U.S., the first $12,000 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar, which means your donation — up to $1,000 — is doubled!

Partner(s)

Friends of Willamette Week: Willamette Week provides Portlanders with an independent understanding of how their worlds work so they can make a difference. Friends of Willamette Week make this possible!
Oregon ArtsWatch: Produces independent journalism covering Oregon’s arts and cultural life.
Oregon Humanities: Connects Oregonians through dialogue, storytelling, and community-based programs.
Oregon Journalism Project: Delivers investigative reporting to inform and empower Oregonians.
Native Arts and Cultures Foundation: Advances equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the U.S.
Street Roots: Publishes a street newspaper that provides income opportunities to people experiencing homelessness.
The Lund Report: Provides independent journalism on health care issues.
The Immigrant Story: Underscore Native News produces in-depth, Indigenous-centered journalism in the Pacific Northwest.
XRAY.FM: Creates independent, hyperlocal, community-focused media centering ideas, music, and creativity.

Additionally, we have a wide network of media partners who co-report stories with us or republish our work, ranging from metro dailies to rural and tribal outlets.

Our Give!Guide business partner is Coral Story Beauty, a Native-owned organic makeup and skincare store in Portland.