Episode 40 - Rosalie Fish (Cowlitz & Muckleshoot), Activist & Student-Athlete at the University of Washington

Grounded with Dinée Dorame

“Running for survival is not political. [Saying] ‘Stop killing Native women’ is not political. Representing myself as an Indigenous person is not political.”

Rosalie Fish (Cowlitz & Muckleshoot) is an activist and student-athlete running Division I Track/Cross-Country at the University of Washington. After a successful run at the junior college level running for Iowa Central CC, she joined the 2021-22 UW Track and Cross-Country recruiting class. She was the first member of her tribe to sign a National Letter of Intent for college athletics. Rosalie is well-known for her advocacy work in bringing awareness to the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit+ epidemic. She gained global attention in 2019 when she followed in the footsteps of Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel by painting a red handprint over her face during competition the WA state track meet and running honor of her missing relatives. In this conversation, we talk about what her experiences as a Native student-athlete, and particularly a runner, have been like since high school. We also talk about her training, life as an athlete at the Division I level, and goals for the future.

In This Episode:

• “‘When I run about it, people will notice’: Rosalie Fish runs for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,” by Dave Trimmer, SeattleTimes.com, June 7, 2019.
• “Rosalie Fish Is Taking Her Activism for MMIW to the University of Washington,” by Taylor Dutch, RunnersWorld.com, April 8, 2021.
• We Need to Talk on CBS: Rosalie Fish is a Beacon of Hope
• Wings of America
• Grounded Pod Episode 1 – Jordan Marie Daniel
• “Jordan Marie Daniel ran and prayed for 26 #MMIW names at 26.2 mile Boston Marathon,” by Vincent Schilling, com, April 23, 2019.
• Urban Indian Health Institute – Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls 2018 Report
• The Way of the Househusband on Netflix

Follow Rosalie Fish:

• Instagram: @rosaliefishx

Follow Grounded Pod:

• Instagram: @groundedpod
• Twitter: @groundedpod
• Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.