B. “Toastie” Oaster
At Indigenous Sacred Sites, Seeing Things I’m Not Supposed to See
Western journalism tends to value transparency as a public good. But as an Indigenous reporter, I face a unique set of challenges: Include too-specific cultural details, and I risk endangering my community.
by B. “Toastie” Oaster, High Country News,
Local Reporting Network
Washington State Solar Project Paused Amid Concern About Native Cultural Sites
The decision comes after an investigation by High Country News and ProPublica found that a land survey funded by the developer omitted more than a dozen sites of archaeological or cultural significance.
by B. “Toastie” Oaster, High Country News,
Local Reporting Network
In a Push for Green Energy, One Federal Agency Made Tribes an Offer They Had to Refuse
The Yakama Nation wanted to consult on the development of a project on sacred land. But when the tribal nation refused to disclose confidential information, the agency moved forward without tribal input.
by B. “Toastie” Oaster, High Country News,
Local Reporting Network
Washington State Is Leaving Tribal Cultural Resources at the Mercy of Solar Developers
The Badger Mountain solar project reveals gaps in the state’s permitting system that tribal nations say perpetuates a legacy of “cultural genocide.”
by B. “Toastie” Oaster, High Country News,
Local Reporting Network