The Path of Water

A Guided Audio Experience along the Duwamish River
By Timothy White Eagle with Crystal Cortez
Commissioned through the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility Public Art Program

The Path of Water is a public walking and listening experience inviting visitors to connect with the Duwamish River through three audio tracks accessible via QR codes along the shoreline. These pieces blend sound, story, and ecology to honor the river as a living presence.

Audio Tracks

  • A River’s Story — Spoken reflections on the river’s history, industrialization, recovery efforts and future visions..

  • Sound of Water — A ambient soundscape by Crystal Cortez, designed as quiet counter the invasive industrial sounds often heard along the Duwamish.  The records literally trace the journey of water from the Green River headwaters to Puget Sound, offering a moment of calm amid industrial noise.

  • Voices of the River — Memories and stories from those who descend from communities along the Duwamish.

Together, these works invite deep listening and stewardship for a river long impacted by industrialization and pollution—reminding us it still breathes, teaches, and remembers.

Community Invitation
This project is rooted in listening—not only to water and wind, but to the voices of those who hold living relationships with the Duwamish River. We are hoping to connect  Duwamish community members hold and would be willing to be recorded while sharing memories, stories, and songs about the river—its history, changes, and the ways it continues to sustain life.

Beginning in early 2026, we will host informal conversations and recording sessions to gather these contributions in a welcoming, respectful environment. Participants will receive an honorarium in gratitude for their time and stories. Submissions may take many forms: oral history, poetry, sound, or song.

Our goal is to weave together Duwamish voices into the Voices of the River audio track—creating a living archive that honors the wisdom of community and the enduring spirit of the river itself.