Tim Lehman (Northern Arapaho) didn鈥檛 set out to become Seattle鈥檚 first Indigenous planning strategist. As a teen, he was drawn to the hands-on craft of masonry. It wasn鈥檛 until his time at the 天美影视传媒 (UW) 鈥� and a FEMA-supported coastal hazard mitigation project 鈥� that he discovered a love for design.
That turning point launched a career grounded in equity, environmental justice and community-rooted planning. After earning from the UW College of Built Environments (CBE), Lehman began working with Native communities across the country, from elder care facilities in Oklahoma to shoreline restorations at Seattle鈥檚 Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.
In 2023, he made history as the city of Seattle鈥檚 first Indigenous planner 鈥� a role he advocated to create. He鈥檚 now leading efforts to integrate Indigenous knowledge into city systems through wayfinding, culturally relevant housing and land stewardship practices.
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