Cascadia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Cascadia?

CASCADIA IS A(N);

  • bioregion defined by the watersheds of the Columbia and Fraser river valleys that stretches from Northern California to south east Alaska and as far east as the Yellowstone Caldera and continental divide. It encompasses most of the states and province of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and parts of southeast Alaska, Northern California and Western Montana. 

  • inclusive social movement to empower every individual and community to be active around issues they care, and find solidarity and support.

  • regional identity, rooted in a love of place and stemming from shared experiences, environment, and need, as well as principles and values.

  • positive vision for a bioregion that is resilient, vibrant and autonomous, that protects the things we find special

The term Cascadia was first used in 1981 by Seattle University professor David McCloskey, as a way to better describe our growing regional identity, and adopted hundreds of early organizers, academics, indigenous activists, policy planners, and environmentalists who came together for what become termed Cascadian Bioregional Congresses. McCloskey describes Cascadia as “a land of falling waters.” He notes the blending of the natural integrity and the sociocultural unity that gives Cascadia its character. Culture stems from place, and we will have more in common with each other, than those in a distant seat of power with little vested interest in our region or people. The Cascadia movement works to create more democratic, decentralized, sustainable, local and ethical models for the world, and is built on the idea that every person can be active around the issues they care about.

Read more on our Cascadia Primer Page

Cascadia Illahee: The Name

Cascadia is the name given to the land by the people who live here. Illahee translates to “Land, country, earth, soil – in both physical and political sense”, and Cascadia Illahee means the Cascadia region, or the land of the Cascadia people (watersheds of the Columbia, Fraser and Snake) in traditional Chinook Jargon. While indigenous groups had many different names for specific areas, there was no unified name for the broader bioregion at large. Many people assume that Cascadia is named after the Cascade Mountains.

Rather, the mountains take their name from the same source as Cascadia: the cascading waters. The first written reference to the name stems from Scottish botanist David Douglas (for whom the Douglas Fir is named), who first explored the Columbia River Gorge in 1825 and wrote of the area’s “cascading waterfalls”. In a more recent context , the name  Cascadia was applied to the whole geologic region by Bates McKee in his 1972 geology textbook Cascadia. Later, the  name was adopted by David McCloskey to identify the bioregion. McCloskey describes Cascadia as “a land of falling waters.”

This name was chosen at early Cascadian Bioregional Congresses by hundreds of academics, activists, educators and indigenous organizers. The Cascadia bioregion is defined by the cascading journey that a single rain drop takes, as it falls on the north western edge of the continental divide as it flows to its final terminus of the Pacific ocean.

Why is a name so important?

“Where are you from?” she asks. “From the Northwest,” he replies automatically, without thinking. Then she shoots back, “Northwest of what?”

Just as any name, Cascadia is a construct that help shapes an identity and place. While names are not necessarily that important – it doesn’t change the borders of the bioregion for example, which has been here before, people, and will exist well after – this region has had many in the near past: New Spain, Chinook Illahee, New Caledonia, New Archangel, New Georgia, the Columbia Department, the Oregon Territory, the Northwest, the Pacific Slope, Ecotopia, the New Pacific, Ecolopolis, each a construct working to serve a purpose or create an image imposed by a different power to be and often thousands of miles away.

However, each of these names is a tool of power, used by a foreign entity to exert its existence and control, just as the United States and Canada do today.

Rather than a term that defines its space from a capitol nearly 3000 miles away, Cascadia is the name of the land, given by the people who live here, and just as it’s a new name, it gives us a new opportunity to forge something new, something positive together, from a culture rooted in place and the shared values that arise from sharing a landbase. Just as the people who have lived here for thousands of years, Cascadia is an opportunity to forge a new shared vision for what is possible, created from the land and people living here. Together, Cascadia has the worlds 13th largest economy, a population larger than many countries, and is roughly the size of Mongolia. Rather than accidents of geo-political history, and arbitrary lines on maps which do not accurately reflect the place or the people – Cascadia seeks to find systems which can better reflect the social, cultural, ecological, economic and political realities of the place we live. 

Reclaiming these names, and working with indigenous peoples and cultures who were here before us to restore, create and envision a better world is simply one way in which we confront domestic colonialism, and create something together that we can be proud of.

Why Cascadia?

Now more than ever, we need Cascadia and bioregionalism. Bioregionalism represents one of the best, yet least understood philosophies which can have a real impact on our world today, by every organizer and supporter, regardless of background or political belief. We will never be able to achieve any type of real decolonization, equity, sustainability while we work within the framework of the United States or Canada. In addition, the challenges we face are incredibly complex and interconnected. We will not be able to solve the crises we face when they are divided up into any one specific issue, or without treating the root causes. Instead we must break down borders and boundaries which are arbitrary or negative, often lines drawn on maps by individuals who had never even visited the areas – and instead work in a holistic way which better accounts for the place, the geography, and the people.

Bioregions are containers – the largest connection of place and people that make sense – to break down large issues that can be overwhelming and vague to a specific level, connect with the change makers already in our communities making the change we need happen, and empower every person to take action about the issues they care about. If a group or organization is not working in the framework of bioregionalism – than to some extent – they have already lost.

Casca
dia is a place and movement for the people who live here. It is the idea that we live in a very special place, with some of the last untouched and largest stretches of old growth rainforest, salmon, whales and hundreds of mountains, islands, oceans, lakes, deserts and so much more. Socially, we have some of the strongest democratic institutions in the country, and a very robust economy and quality of life, with some of the best education and healthcare possibilities in the modern world. But many of these things that make Cascadia so great are shrinking, and despite having one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, the region faces very real threats of homelessness, and an ever increasing disconnect with a political capitol thousands of miles away with little or no vested interest in being able to represent our region effectively. As long as we remain a part of systems which are inequitable and founded on predatory and non-equitable practices, these foundations will remain at risk, available to be taken away at the whim of a corrupt government.

What are the Borders of Cascadia?

Cascadia is a bioregion. What are the borders of Cascadia’s bioregion?

Stretching for more than 2500 miles along the Pacific Coast, the Cascadia bioregion is comprised of 75 distinct ecoregions that spread across an incredible diversity and range of habitats, wilderness and landscapes. These watersheds stretch from South East Alaska to Northern California, and from the crest of the continental divide to the Pacific coast westward. Colloquially, Cascadia is more simply known as ‘Salmon Nation’, and its borders extend as far as salmon swim.

Specifically, the Cascadia bioregion stretches from Mt. St. Alias South East Alaska down the Pacific Coast to Cape Mendecino in the South, and all the way to the Yellowstone caldera in the east, incorporating large portions or all of British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Northern California, Wyoming, Nevada and South East Alaska.

It is defined by the Fraser, Columbia and Snake rivers, and uses watersheds as it’s basis for boundaries, rather than lines drawn by old white men who had never been to the area. This includes the watersheds of the:

  • Clearwater, Eel, Rogue, Deschutes, Bulkley, and Bella Coola.

  • Columbia, Fraser, Skeena, Snake, Stikine,

  • Flathead, Salmon, Nechako, Klinaklini,

  • Klamath, Skagit, Lillooet-Harrison, Clearwater,

  • Shohomish, Homathko, Iskut, Cowlitz, Taku,

  • Squamish, Quesnel, Santiam, Umpqua, Spokane,

  • Willamette, Alsek, Kootenay, Nass, Thompson, and Pend Oreille.

From these, larger ‘ecoregions’ are defined; 75 total within Cascadia, which together make up the entire bioregion.

Learn more on our Ecoregions and Watersheds Page

What is Bioregionalism?

Bioregionalism at its most simple is a philosophy that connects people and ideas into place, which work watershed by watershed, in ways that are sustainable, democratic and just.

A bioregion is a shorthand designation for ‘bio-cultural region’ and is rooted in the idea that culture stems from placed and that human cultures develop in relation to the natural ecosystems they inhabit. It is a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions, and the sum of the ecoregions and watersheds of a particular place that gives a unified sense of geographic, topographic and living flora and fauna that all work together to create a ‘bio-region’. Cascadia is a land of flowing waters, and for the Cascadia bioregion, it is the topographic region that is defined from which a drop of rain hits the western side of the continental divide – and flows into the Pacific – from the headwaters of the Fraser and Columbia, to the headwaters of the Snake, which stems from the Yellowstone caldera.

Bioregionalists work to find solutions to the world’s most challenging issues by using bioregions to break large issues down to a local level, creating or magnifying solutions already being practiced in a community, and create accessible pathways for every person living in a region to be able to get active about issues they care about. Each watershed and community will be different, and each region and community will know their needs the best, and be the best to represent those needs.

What is the Cascadia Department of Bioregion?

The Cascadia Department of Bioregion is a grassroots organization that creates a hub for bioregionalism, building bioregional movements, resources for making positive change in our communities and a hub for the Cascadia movement. We are loosely modeled from the US and Canadian State Departments, and seek to show, rather than tell the world we are building.

Why the Cascadia Department of Bioregion?

The Department of Bioregion is a fun, satirical hub based loosely on the United States and Canadian state departments that promotes Bioregional Movements, Bioregionalism as a Philosophy and that promotes Cascadia and Cascadian interests. We chose the State Department as our base for what we want to do, because, well, the state department does exactly everything that we want to do. Their goal is to advance the interests of America (in our case Cascadia). They train and run diplomats, who promote this goal. They develop policies that help reflect these issues. They issue passports. And ultimately – institutions have their own power, traditions and language – and by subverting them, and infusing it with bioregionalism and our own principles – we begin our own shift towards those ends.

Rather than a State – we promote the Cascadia Bioregion and it’s inhabitants. By shifting the framework in this direction, and using a healthy dose of humor to ensure we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we are able to have conversations, and occupy spaces in ways that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to. In addition, for ourselves – it changes how we think, how we act and how we respond.

Using the principles of Bioregionalism – what would a Cascadia Department of Bioregion look like? How would we respond to different issues? How do we work with indigenous organizers to create a movement or government? What are the volcanoes of Cascadia, what are the statistics? What is the population or GDP? What are the rivers, watersheds, forests, etc? We’re compiling these now – and it’s incredible that they simply don’t exist in any one document because of the US/Canadian border. As we grow these numbers – they can be used, and grows the reality of Cascadia, and we become the primary source of that information.

For a movement and philosophy of several decades – there are a lot of holes that we want to fill, and we want to do it while trying to flush out what a unified vision for a realistic and attainable goal of Cascadia would look like. Cascadia already exhibits every checkbox for what a nation (not a nation state) exhibits. In the summer of
2018, we sent a 31 person team to London through the Cascadia Association Football Federation, this past year that competed in the CONIFA world cup – the largest non-FIFA league specifically for regions and cultural areas not represented by the UN. We played against and with teams like Northern Cyprus, Tamil, Tibet, Tuvalu, Panjab, Isle of Mann and many others – and it was a crash course in geography and sovereignty. I was curious how we would fit in – but people loved it. It was also very neat because we were the only bioregion in representation – and people were very curious about bioregionalism as opposed to many of their goals for nationhood in a traditional sense. Carne Ross – with the independent diplomat works with many of these same organizations in their work to gain international legal recognition and help countries apply for UN recognition.

Satire is a powerful tool, the same way that the Daily Show or Colbert Show were a comedy show that had more news than any actual news show. People treat websites, and icons and symbols incredibly powerfully. I always love the Yes Men as well, or the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, which is used as a teaching example on digital literacy because so many people take the website at face value. Ultimately, one reason that Cascadia is such a powerful tool, and the reason is that the Cascadia Department of Bioregion will be successful, is that it is the most efficient scale and framework for our region – and currently, our local leaders have figured this out, but because they are forced to work within the confines of the US / Canadian systems they are, and always will be hampered. As we continue to work in the framework of Cascadia – we will build our own tools and resources, and build in our own value as we grow them.

Over the next several years, we are excited to grow our followers, host classes, events, develop resources we bring to the table, presentations, share pictures and inspire and build the Cascadia movement. Most importantly, we are excited to train dozens of Cascadian diplomats who have gone through our programs and are seeding whatever other groups, projects or ideas they might have, all around the same common vocabulary and operating principles. Down the road – this includes building other bioregional movements. We want every person to be a Diplomat or Ambassador that can represent Cascadia and the movement in a real way. It’s a new and unique angle – and the Dept of Bioregion isn’t meant to be the be all end all – rather, it’s about the movement building – hopefully together it will help create an ecosystem of actors & groups all working towards the same goal. We look forward to supporting and building that.

What are the 75 Eco Regions of Cascadia?

The 75 eco regions are the: Olympic Chehalis/Willapa Cowlitz/Lewis Columbia Gorge Yakama Okanagan Kettle Highlands Salish Sea Mountain Valleys West Coast Icefields/Fjordland/Sunshine Coast Lillooet Kamloops/Nicola Plateau Fraser Plateau Chilcotin/Nazka Plateau Kwakiutl Anahim/Tweedsmuir Bella Coola/Coastal Gap Nechako Plateau Fraser Basin Bulkley Takla-Stuart/Babine Lakes Lower Skeena Nass Skeena-Nass Tlingit Archipelago Stikine Iskut Stikine Plateau Taku Glacier Bay/Fairweather Alsek Tatshenshini Kluane/St. Elias/Yakutat St. Regis/Bitterroot Palouse Coeur d’Alene/ Spokane Blackfoot/Clark Fork Flathead Kutenai/Kalispell Pend Oreille/Selkirks Kootenay Lakes/Kokanee Columbia Plateau Shuswap/Monashee Highlands Columbia Icefields Thompson/Clearwater Highlands Cariboo/Quesnel Highlands Fraser Headwaters Cape Mendocino/Mattole Upper Eel Trinity Redwood/Humboldt Siskiyou/Klamath Shasta Klamath Lakes /Modoc Rogue/Umpqua Coos/Coquille Siuslaw/Dunes and Lakes Alsea/Siletez Willamette Deschutes/High Level Desert Chinook/Tillamook Snow Cap Plateau Yellowstone Tetons Lost Rivers Bannock Owyhee/Shoshone Sun Valley/Wood River Snake River Plain Boise/Payette Sawtooths Lemhi/Challis Malheur Ochoco/John Day Nez Perce-Wallowa/Grand Ronde Salmon Nez Perce-Clearwater/Selway Walla Walla/Umatilla

What is the Cascadia Diplomatic Corps?

The Cascadia Department of Bioregion is the lead institution for the conduct of Cascadian Diplomacy, and operates from the heart of Occupied Cascadia. The Department functions as the diplomatic wing of Cascadia, handling matters of affairs domestically and inter-bioregionally. The Bioregion Department’s primary job is to promote Cascadian bioregional policy throughout the world. It is up to bioregionalists, each in their own way, to create and promote these changes, and lead the way forward, rather than wait for someone else to do it for us.

We work to:

To promote the interests of Cascadia for a peaceful, prosperous, democratic world that benefits the Cascadia bioregion, it’s inhabitants and our planet.

The Dept of Bioregion is dedicated to placing the idea of Cascadia into mainstream thought as a viable solution to contemporary problems. This mission is shared with people and governments around the planet, ensuring we have a common path forward in partnership as we invest in the shared security and prosperity that will ultimately better prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow.

What is the goal OF BIOREGIONALISM?

A world comprised of watershed movements, each working to make our world more sustainable, democratic and just.

We envision a network of interconnected bioregional movements that work together, connect people into place based bioregional cultures, assist each other in the hard times, learn lessons from around the world, and share their own models for what has worked, and what hasn’t. It is up to bioregionalists, each in their own way, to create and promote these changes, and lead the way forward, rather than wait for someone else to do it for us.

What is a bioregional movement?

Bioregional movements break down global issues and translate the principles of bioregionalism  into direct, local and actionable solutions within a bioregion, and are place based hub that empowers individuals and groups to work together around shared principles and values.

Within these movements, bioregionalists build connections, develop solutions, magnify solutions already being practiced, and create accessible pathways for the millions of inhabitants to connect in with these solutions and shift their habits in a beneficial manner.

Are there other bioregions?

Yes! The world is made up of bioregions. Hundreds and hundreds in fact, and dozens in North America alone.

Are there other bioregional movements?

Yes! Though none as holistically developed as the Cascadia movement currently. Laurentia is a great example, and there are bioregional movements growing around the world. For many years, bioregional movements would gather in Bioregional Congresses, meeting in local regions every off year, and as part of continental congresses on the others. These meetings led to a wide dispersal of bioregional thought and organization.

Can I become a Cascadian Diplomat?

Yes! Diplomats are Cascadians working to advance Cascadian and bioregional interests at home and abroad on behalf of the Department of Bioregion, that have a solid grounding of both things and are able to represent the idea
and movement to a diverse range of individuals and groups. If you would like to become a Diplomat, you can take our course, Toward Cascadia.

Can I become a Cascadia Citizen?

Yes! All current, former, imaginary, future residents, and ambassadors staffing embassies abroad may apply for a Cascadian passport and become a citizen. To further help break down the nation state paradigm, we also welcome all inhabitants, denizens and residents of Cascadia.

How do I get a Cascadian Passport?

Cascadian Passports are coming soon! Stay tuned. The process will be a simple application, passport fee, and then like a standard government, may take anywhere from 2 months-8 years to receive.

What is a Bioregion?

The word bioregion simply means “life-place.” Peter Berg and Raymond Dasmann use the term bioregion to refer to a “geographical terrain and a terrain of consciousness—to a place and the ideas that have developed about how to live in that place.” Kirkpatrick Sale distinguishes bioregions on the basis of “particular attributes of flora, fauna, water, climate, soils, and landforms, and by the human settlements and cultures those attributes have given rise to.”

A bioregion is a shorthand designation for ‘bio-cultural region’ and is rooted in the idea that culture stems from placed and that human cultures develop in relation to the natural ecosystems they inhabit. It is a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions, and the sum of the ecoregions and watersheds of a particular place that gives a unified sense of geographic, topographic and living flora and fauna that all work together to create a ‘bio-region’. Cascadia is a land of flowing waters, and for the Cascadia bioregion, it is the topograhic region that is defined from which a drop of rain hits the western side of the continental divide – and flows into the Pacific – from the head waters of the Fraser and Columbia, to the headwaters of the Snake, which stems from the Yellowstone caldera.

For more information, please see the website: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/archive/policy_innovations/briefings/000241

What is the difference between an Ecoregion and a Watershed?

A Watershed is simply the area created from where a rain drop falls, to the body of water it connects to. Ecoregions are comprised of these watersheds, and are used to make up the areas of a bioregion. Ecoregions are similarly defined, but are expanded to include, physical, biological, and human realities that may stem from these areas. In terms of size, an ecoregion is larger than a watershed and smaller than a bioregion; or in political terms, larger than a county and smaller than a state or province. In the more than 750,000 square miles of Cascadia, ecoregions average about 10,000 square miles each, though ranging from 2,000 to over 30,000 square miles; again, size depends upon the unique character and context of the place itself. An ecoregion in Cascadia often covers several degrees of latitude and perhaps longitude.

What is the best way for me to get involved?

  1. SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

    Wish all your fellow friends, family and Cascadians a happy Cascadia Day! Read an article recently you liked? Have a cool project you did? Did you recently read an article on bioregionalism that you enjoyed? Do you have a photo of you reppin’ Cascadia gear? Sharing content online that relates to Cascadia movement can be a powerful way to celebrate! Any online platform from Facebook to Twitter or Pinterest to Email is a great way to share information or ideas to educate, spread awareness, and help expand positive bioregional action. Use #cascadia #deptofbioregion #cascadianow

  2. LET YOUR CASCADIA FLAG FLY

    Break out the Cascadia Doug Flag we all know and love so much.

  3. REP YOUR CASCADIA GEAR

    Whether you are covered from head to toe in blue, white, and green or simply representing the movement with a simple supporter pin, Cascadia gear is a great way to show support and to get people noticing the movement. 

  4. CREATE ART

    We have seen some pretty impressive ways that many people have started think outside the box when it comes to showing their Cascadian pride. Whether it’s painting your nails to represent the Doug Flag, baking up some Cascadia shaped cookies, or having a craft day with the kiddos to create some Cascadian inspired art, all are great ways to express your supporter culture for the movement.

  5. HOST A CASCADIA CELEBRATION

    A great way to participateis to create or attend one of the many different community events that are being hosted throughout our bioregion. If there isn’t already an event in your region or you are interested in starting your own, we encourage you to start up any event that you think represents Cascadia. A few potential ideas include block parties, potlucks, movie nights, neighborhood cleanups, barbecues, tree plantings, wine tastings, or pub nights! No matter how big or how small, getting together with your neighbors and sparking up conversations about Cascadia and enacting some form of positive change in your community is what this day is all about.

    In addition, don’t forget to grab a passport – host a project, share an idea. Cascadia is your movement, you make it happen!

Is there a list of Cascadia groups on social media?

Yes there is! You can find an ever evolving complete list on our Global Social Media page. We try to keep it current, and only list active pages. If we are missing something, don’t hesitate to let us know.

Where does the name Cascadia come from?

The term “Cascades” was first used for the Cascades Rapids, as early as the Astor Expedition. The first written reference originally stems from Scottish botanist David Douglas (for whome the Douglas Fir is also named) who explored the Columbia River Gorge in 1825. He wrote of the area’s ‘cascading waterfalls’, and it is through these that we hear the first mention of ‘the Cascades’ – from which the mountain range is now called.

The name ‘Cascadia’ itself wasn’t heard until much later, until it was first used by the town Cascadia, Oregon that was settled in 1890 in what is now Linn County. “Cascadia” was first applied to the whole geologic region by Bates McKee in his 1972 geology textbook Cascadia; the geologic evolution of the Pacific Northwest. Later the name was adopted by David McCloskey, a Seattle University sociology professor, to describe it as a bioregion. McCloskey describes Cascadia as “a land of falling waters.”

According to McCloskey, this “initial” Cascadia included parts of seven jurisdictions (Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Western Montana, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska), running from the northernmost reaches of Southeast Alaska in the north to Cape Mendocino, Ca
lifornia in the south–and covering all the land and “falling waters” from the continental divide at the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. McCloskey, founder of the Cascadia Institute and co‐chair of Seattle University’s New Ecological Studies Program, saw Cascadian identity as something which transcends political or geographic definitions; it is more a cultural, ideological identity.[

He notes the blending of the natural integrity and the sociocultural unity that gives Cascadia its definition.This new notion of Cascadia,

Is Cascadia different from Ecotopia?

Yes! Ecotopia as a term is derived from the novel Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach, and only conveys the US portions of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Cascadia as a bioregion includes all of the watersheds of the Columbia, Fraser, and Snake rivers, meaning South East Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho, and bits of western Montana and Nevada.

How long has the idea of Cascadia been around?

Cascadia as it exists today was heavily influenced by the bioregionalism movement of the 1970’s, inspired by Peter Berg and the Drum Foundation., seminal works like Joel Garraeu’s Nine Nations of North America, and Ernest Callenbachs novel Ecotopia, which portrayed an independent eco-state of the Northwest, and contained many then radical notions such as recycling and mass transportation. The Cascadia movement developed its roots in the 1980’s through a series of bioregional congresses.

How can I support the Cascadia Flag Maker Alexander Baretich?

Where’s the best place to find a Cascadia Map?

Where can I buy a Cascadia Flag?

What is the Doug Flag?

The Cascadia Doug Flag was designed by Portland native Alexander Baretich in 1995, and is nothing more than a direct representation of the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The green are for the forest, the white for the mountains and glaciers, and the blue for the skies, rivers and bodies of water and the Douglas fir because it stands as a symbol of resilience, whose growth range closely follows that of the bioregional borders of Cascadia. It the most common symbol for the Cascadia movement, but every person is encouraged to adapt and change to a way that is special for them.

Oh, Cascadia, that’s that political stuff, right?

Bioregionalism advocates for a necessary cultural and political shift, based around common principles, and shared values, and provides a framework for making these changes. We argue for policies that increase the autonomy and independence of the Cascadia bioregion, and bring our impact into a responsible, ethical and sustainable future. However, the Cascadia movement is much broader than any one person, or organization. Each person and community will necessarily have different issues they care about, and rather than define these for people, we are simply here to provide space.

For some, this means social or racial justice, environmental protection, indigenous sovereignty, a local, bioregional economic footprint, while others may feel be privacy, civil liberties, open governance, direct action or a more political presence is a more relevant cause. Only together, collectively, do these help define the true breadth and strength of the Cascadia movement.

What’s the best way for me to get involved?

Do I have to change my voter registration to say ‘Cascadian’?

What does your organizing structure look like?

Eastern and Western Cascadia are too different. Why do you think they would ever work?

Cascadia is a place based movement. We argue that culture stems from place, and that by sharing the same areas, we will have more in common than those who currently claim to represent our interests thousands of miles away. Current political differences, are rooted in a disfunctional federal political system in which wedge issues are highlighted, while the fact that we actually agree about 90% of issues, and all want a better future for our children, and those currently living on the planet is downplayed.

Just as bioregionalism breaks down arbitrary political borders, it also breaks down arbitrary politics into one of better representing the place, the people and what is important to them.

Ultimately, if it stops raining, it affects all of us. If there is an earthquake it affects all of us. We cannot talk about dam removal or pollution along the Columbia river without every member of the watershed being a part of that discussion. The regions two largest cities Seattle and Vancouver BC are only 180 miles a part and share the same watershed – but are divided by an international border.   It is becoming apparent to more people in Cascadia each day that society here is, in some ways, irreconcilably different from the rest of the United States and Canada. Understanding the Pacific Northwest as one coherent region is bringing clarity to a lot of people who are growing more frustrated with the statuses quo imposed upon us from more powerful regions within the United States and Canada. The identity of Cascadia is becoming a more true representation of who we are as a people.

Is Cascadia a Secessionist/Independence Movement?

How does Cascadia support First Nations peoples?

Is Cascadia a White Supremacist Organization?

Is Cascadia only for liberals?

Is Cascadia only for conservatives?

If I belong to a specific political party, can I still be Cascadian?

Does Cascadia have an economy large enough to be independent?

Isn’t Cascadia sedition and treason?

Won’t starting Cascadia start a civil war?

The 42 Nations of Cascadia 

WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOREGION?

The Department of Bioregion is a grassroots organization that educates about Cascadia & bioregionalism, is building an effective bioreigonal movement, and promotes the interests of Cascadia at home and abroad.

WHAT IS THE CLASS TOWARDS CASCADIA?

Towards Cascadia is an educational program for Cascadian activists and organizers. Our courses are taught by activists, for activists. The Department of Bioregion focuses on classes that educate about issues not available in an academic environment, that offer a solution in the world that we need right now, and provide hands on methods that every person can use to get active right now.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF TOWARDS CASCADIA?

The mission of Towards Cascadia is from Education to Action. We want to ground organizers in bioregional theory and the history of the Cascadia movement, discuss tactics and strategies, and have individuals and groups design their own projects for how we can be doing better in the world. The most profound outcome o
f the Towards Cascadia is the birth of new social movements, fresh ways of thinking about activism and innovative forms of movement building.

HOW ARE COURSES TAUGHT?

The Department of Bioregion’s model is an in person, and soon to be online meeting that happens on a weekly basis, that use discussion, presentation, case studies and hands on participatory approaches, as well as at home reading and projects. Students also learn the basics of non-profit program and project management, fundraising and communication. Every class ends with a Quarterly Salon, and a Capstone project that students develop and have the option to undertake as a new member of the Department of Bioregion.

The online courses are ungraded. Our model is designed for creating action, rather than a merely academic setting.

WHAT KIND OF STUDENTS ARE A GOOD FIT FOR ACTIVIST GRADUATE SCHOOL?

The Cascadia Department of Bioregion are looking for self motivated learners who want to be involved with the Cascadia movement, and make an impact in the world, right now.

WHAT IS YOUR PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH? DO YOU TEACH SPECIFIC SKILLS?

The Department of Bioregion is modeled on a resistance to traditional academic settings that seperate learning from action, indvididuals from community. Instead, we practice a holistic integration of methodology, of both theory and practice and skills that may help organizers become more effective. We foster a freethinking atmosphere where activists engaged in many different struggles are encouraged to learn from, and teach, each other.

For example, in our inaugural course on “Towards Cascadia: From Education to Action” students begin from the global, and envisioning the world as they would want to see it, and then each week narrow into their watersheds, ultimately designing a capstone project that they can undertake after the course ends – finally learning very tactical skills to help them put these ideas into practice. Students are encouraged to be themselves. Ultimately, students plug in with a network of Cascadians all working with similar goals and around the same shared principles.

During the course, students will incorporate resources and materials for ideas, groups and tactics they think are missing from the Cascadia movement, which all become incorporated into our living resource guides and textbooks.

IS THIS A DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAM?

No. Towards Cascadia is an unaccredited program. We do not currently award degrees. (This may change in the future.) If you are a student who would like to receive credit, or is looking for service learning hours, reach out to us. We have worked with many students doing independent study or working with academic advisers in the past. Any fees from university credits must be worked out with your institution and the Department of Bioregion has no control over those costs.

WHAT IS THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS?

Enrollment is straightforward. No applications or letters of reference are necessary. Simply sign up and you’ll receive the course readings along with instructions on how to access the course videos.

If you are a scholarship or partial scholarship then you’re required to fill out a more detailed application.

WHAT FEES AND OTHER COSTS ARE REQUIRED?

The tuition for each course is $115. There are no other costs. You will have permanent access to the course readings and resources.

ARE THESE COURSES FOR STUDENTS ONLY?

Anyone, at any age and educational level may take our courses. Our courses can be for experienced organizers, or those just beginning. All that is required is a willingness to learn, to collaborate with other amazing Cascadians, and a desire to create pathways for a better world.

HOW ARE YOU FUNDED?

The Cascadia Department of Bioregion is a grassroots organization. All funding comes from donation, tuition, speaking and presenting, workshops, membership and sales.

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

Great! Fill out this contact form or email cascadia@deptofbioregion.org

Q: Are there any job opportunities at the Department of State?

For information on careers, student programs & internships, and Foreign Service and Civil Service job opportunities, please visit: positions. While paying positions don’t necessarily exist in any form, there are a wide range of volunteer, student and academic based opportunities available year round.

Q: Are there online resources for parents and students on Cascadia?

Our website has information for middle school aged and older students to learn more about Cascadia, policy, diplomacy, and the work of the Cascadia Department of Bioregion.

Q: Can I have dual citizenship without losing my U.S. or Canadian citizenship?

The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy. Luckily, bioregions do not follow the same laws or borders as man made states, and welcomes all people who live within their watersheds. Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice.

A U.S. or Canadian citizen may acquire Cascadian citizenship by marriage, birth, naturalization, or voluntary association. Cascadian law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing Cascadian citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose Cascadian citizenship. In order to lose Cascadian citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up Cascadian citizenship.

Cascadians can renounce Cascadian citizenship in the proper form at Cascadian embassies and consulates abroad or at home. In lieu of burning a flag, the Department of Bioregion has prepared this guide to composting a flag, or turning it into a nest for an endangered bird.

Q: Can I tour the Cascadia Bioregion Department?

Because the Department of Bioregion represents an executive cabinet level department operating from the heart of occupied Cascadia, the Bioregion Department instead offers tours of other governments Diplomatic Reception Rooms. No other tours of the building are available. For information on making arrangements for a tour of the Diplomatic Reception rooms, please visit the following website:  https://diplomaticrooms.state.gov/tours/

Q: Can I travel to Cuba?

The Cascadia Departm
ent of Bioregion believes you can do whatever you would like, if you set your mind to it, and try hard enough. If you did, you should probably fly through Canada.

Disclaimer: The Cascadia Department of Bioregion takes no responsibility for an individuals choice to travel to or from Cuba.

Q: Can I travel to Cascadia without a visa?

The Cascadia Bioregion is currently occupied by the joint military forces of the United States (U.S.) and Canadian governments. While under foreign occupation, visa policy permits of citizens of only certain countries are able to travel to the Cascadia bioregion without a visa, when they meet certain requirements under U.S. or Canadian territorial laws. 

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/travel-without-a-visa.html

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Q: Can I travel with prescribed medication?

Your query would be best answered by the Centers for Disease Control of the territorial US or Canadian websites.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/features/travel-medicine/index.html.

Q: Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline

On January 24, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which invited TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. (TransCanada), to promptly re-submit its application to the Department of State for a Presidential permit for the construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and directed the Secretary of State to receive the application and take all actions necessary and appropriate to facilitate its expeditious review.  

As this was done in opposition of the people of their state and bioregion, the Cascadia Department of Bioregion finds the US and Canadian breach of Sicangu Lakota Oyate, Nakoda, and Aaniih sovereignty and national borders a violation of international treaties. The Department of Bioregion issued a strong statement of condemnation, and created an official international inquiry. Cascadia Corps, and Diplomatic Corps were some of the first interbioregional responders, bringing much needed food, shelter and other relief materials.

For the full text of the Memorandum, please click on the following link:  

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-regarding-construction-keystone-xl-pipeline/

Q: Do I have permission to copy information from Dob’s website?

Information on the Department of Bioregion website is in a Creative Commons license and may be copied and distributed without permission for educational and non-commercial purposes, unless a copyright is indicated. No material may be copied or used for hate speech, or by any organization promoting hate speech, as determined by the Dept of Bioregion. If a copyright is indicated, for example on a photo, graphic or other material, permission to copy these materials must be obtained from the original source. For photos without captions or with only partial captions, hold your cursor over the photo to view the “alt tag” for any copyright information.

For more information on copyrights for U.S. Government information, please visit the following website: copyright policy.

Q: Do I have permission to link to DoS’s website?

Yes you do.

Q: What is the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus?

The Pacific Northwest tree octopus (Octopus paxarbolis) can be found in the temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula on the west coast of North America. Their habitat lies on the Eastern side of the Olympic mountain range, adjacent to Hood Canal. These solitary cephalopods reach an average size (measured from arm-tip to mantle-tip,) of 30-33 cm. Unlike most other cephalopods, tree octopuses are amphibious, spending only their early life and the period of their mating season in their ancestral aquatic environment. Because of the moistness of the rainforests and specialized skin adaptations, they are able to keep from becoming desiccated for prolonged periods of time, but given the chance they would prefer resting in pooled water.

To learn more or support this endangered species please go here: https://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

Q: Do I need a passport/visa to travel to a specific country?

For U.S. citizens wanting to travel abroad, information on obtaining a passport, visa and other travel documents required by your destination country, can be found by visiting the website below: 

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html

For Cascadian denizens, wanting to travel between US and Canadian occupied Cascadia, the Department of Bioregion is excited to announce that recent legislative successes and cooperation by local Cascadians leaders have ensured a right to travel using an enhanced drivers license.

Q: How do I join the Cascadian Sasquatch Militia?

Are you an able-bodied Sasquatch aged 10 to 150 who loves his or her country? If so, Cascadia needs YOU to enlist in the Sasquatch Militia and defend our homeland against our many enemies, including such nefarious evildoers as:

  • Canadians

  • Southern Californians

  • Geoduck & Tree Octopus Poachers

  • Paraterrestrials

  • Americans

  • International Organized Crime Syndicates

  • Nosey Cryptozoologists

Besides serving your country, you will also be improving yourself. Sasquatch Militia will teach you many valuable skills that today’s employers are looking for in Sasquatch. You will gain a sense of determination and confidence that will help you succeed. And you will also experience compatriotship with your fellow Sasquatch as you work together to secure the freedom of the Republic of Cascadia.

Cascadia needs you now, more than ever, in these trying times. Do your part for your nation and don’t let another Sasquatch take your place in the ranks of the Sasquatch Militia. Enlistment stations can be found throughout Cascadia’s forests, just look for the poster of Uncle Sas.

Go to: https://zapatopi.net/bsa/militia/

Q: Does the Bioregion Department have a historian?

The Office of the Arm-Chair Historian is staffed by many prolific Cascadian historians who are self-described experts in the history of Cascadian policy. Department of Bioregion researchers possess unparalleled experience in classified and unclassified Cascadian records. The Office’s historians work closely with other non-government history offices, the academic historical community, and specialists across the globe. 

Q: How can I apply for a Cascadian passport?

If you’re a first time citizen or you’re applying for your child under age 18, you must apply from our website here. If you’ve already had a Cascadian passport, you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail using our website here. Visit the Passport Services website for more information on how to apply or renew at: https://deptofbiorestg.wpengine.com/cascadia-passport

Q: How can I become a Cascadia diplomat?

The primary purpose of the Cascadian Department of Bioregion is to enlist passionate supporters into our Cascadian Diplomacy Corps. Diplomats represent Cascadia authoritatively, are active and engaged in the movement, and undertake a wide range of projects around the bioregion and world.

If you would like to become a Cascadian diplomat – please see our offering of classes here.

Q: How can I submit my business to Cascadian Business Affairs (CBA)?

The Cascadia Department of Bioregion maintains a list of that it releases to supporters of businesses that are sustainable, ethical and local – that uphold the qualities and values we associate with being Cascadian. If you feel your workplace, or a workplace you know of, falls under these qualities please submit it to our directory here.

For more information, please visit the following website:  

Q: How can I intern at a U.S. Embassy?

Students of all levels are welcome to apply for the U.S. Department of State’s student programs and internships. We have a variety of programs, from summer clerical positions to management fellowships, all of which allow students from high school to the post-graduate level the ability to participate in projects vital to the success of U.S. foreign policy. Overseas or in Washington D.C., there’s a student program that matches your background and will help you to achieve your goals. Please visit the following website for more information on the program, applications and eligibility requirements: 

https://careers.state.gov/intern/student-programs/.

Q: How can I intern at the State Department?

Students of all levels are welcome to apply for the U.S. Department of State’s student programs and internships.  We have a variety of programs, from summer clerical positions to management fellowships, all of which allow students from high school to the post-graduate level the ability to participate in projects vital to the success of U.S. foreign policy. Overseas or in Washington D.C., there’s a student program that matches your background and will help you to achieve your goals.

Please visit the following website for more information on the program, applications and eligibility requirements: https://careers.state.gov/intern/student-programs/.

Q: How can I join the Foreign Service?

For information on the process to become a Foreign Service Officer, including Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) exam dates, online registration, and exam study guides, please visit the following link: https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer/test-process/

When hiring Foreign Service Officers, we look for motivated individuals with sound judgment and leadership abilities who can retain their composure in times of great stress — or even dire situations, like a military coup or a major environmental disaster. Visit the following link for more information on the criteria we look for: http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service

Q: How can I request a Department of State speaker?

The Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs is the central point of coordination for domestic speaking engagements, briefings, and programs in Washington, DC and around the country.

To request a U.S. Department of State speaker via the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, please complete the online speaker request form (https://speakerrequest.state.gov/) Please allow a minimum of 21 days before the event to arrange for a speaker.

Q: How can I request a letter of commendation for an Eagle Scout or Gold Award?

Please visit http://register.state.gov/scouts to request a letter of recognition for an Eagle Scout or Gold Award.

Q: How do I get a green card?

For information on how to obtain a Green Card, which is granted to permanent immigrants, please visit the following website:

http://www.uscis.gov/

Legalized Marijuana

Q: How does Cascadia protect marginalized communities, or provide safe spaces for refugees or asylum seekers?

Q: How are indigenous people represented by Cascadia?

U.S. citizens born in the U.S. or U.S. Territories can find information on how to obtain a copy of a birth certificate by visiting the
National Center for Health Statistics’ “Where to Write for Vital Records” website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm

Q: I have questions about immigrating to the U.S. with my same-sex spouse.

Same-sex spouses of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs), along with their minor children, are now eligible for the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex spouses. Consular officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates will adjudicate their immigrant visa applications upon receipt of an approved I-130 or I-140 petition from USCIS.

For more information, please click on the following link: 

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/fiance.html

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Q: What’s the difference of being Cascadian and shop local?

Q: Do I need to be born in Cascadia to be Cascadian?

Q: Is Cascadia winning the Drug War?

Efforts to legalize

Seventy-seven coalition partners have committed themselves to the goals of eliminating the threat posed by ISIS and have already contributed in various capacities to the effort to combat ISIS in Iraq, the region and beyond. The breadth and diversity of partners supporting the coalition demonstrate the global and unified nature of this endeavor. 

For the list of partners and additional information on this topic, please visit our website:  https://www.state.gov/s/seci/c72810.htm

Q: Is there current information on Cascadian-US Relations?

The Fact Sheet on “Cascadian Relations with United States” can be found here:  

https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2886.htm

For details on Cuba sanctions regulations, including fact sheets on recent changes and information about applying for an Office of Foreign Assets Control license, please visit the Department of Treasury’s website at: https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/cuba.aspx.

Q: What are the duties of the Secretary of State?

The Secretary of State, the ranking member of the Cabinet and fourth in line of presidential succession, is the President’s principal advisor on foreign policy and the person chiefly responsible for representing the United States abroad. The primary goal of the Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of State is to shape a freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through formulating and implementing the President’s foreign policy, while supporting and protecting American interests abroad. 

For more information on the duties of the Secretary of State, please click on the following link: http://www.state.gov/secretary/115194.htm

Q: Help! I’m a small, latin american government and the U.S. is overthrowing my democratically elected government, what should I do?

If you decide to take your pet with you when you go abroad, you should check with the embassies of the destination countries as to specific requirements that must be met before a pet may be brought into the country. Many countries have strict health, quarantine, agriculture, wildlife, and customs requirements and prohibitions. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at 

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/pets.html

Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country. Please click on the following link for more information:  

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html

Note: In a crisis in which chartered or military aircraft or ships are used to evacuate Americans from a danger area, pets will not normally be permitted on the carrier. The pet owner will need to make other arrangements in order to remove the pet from the area. (Service animals, such as guide dogs, are not considered pets and will be accommodated if possible.)

If you feel you have been a victim of an Internet scam, please send all direct reports of internet fraud to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at: http://www.ic3.gov/. If the scam originated through a particular website, notify the administrators of that website.  If you are concerned about an American in distress overseas, but you are not sure if it is a legitimate case, call our office of Overseas Citizens Services at 888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444).

Q: What can I do to help people affected by the homeless crisis in the United States?

Many people want to help those affected by the crisis in Syria, but don’t know where to begin. The best way to help those affected by a disaster overseas is to make a monetary donation to a reputable humanitarian organization working in the region. USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information (http://www.cidi.org/) posts lists of organizations that are responding to particular disasters.

Q: What cultural exchange opportunities does the State Department offer?

For information on the State Department’s cultural exchange programs, please visit the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website:  http://www.exchanges.state.gov/

Q: What documents do I need to travel to Canada?

Please visit the following website for document requirements to enter Canada:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/canada.html

Q: Are you a real country?

Yes. Zappa. Benedict Anderson. Not a Nationstate.
For more information, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Q: What is a Cascadia Passport?

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you will need a visa to enter into the United States.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing). A visa doesn’t permit entry to the U.S.  A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American Embassy or consulate, and that the officer has deemed you eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant.

For more information on visas and visa categories, please visit the following websites:

http://www.uscis.gov

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/us-visas.html

Q: What is diplomacy?

Diplomacy is a complex and often challenging practice of fostering relationships around the world in order to resolve issues and advance interests. Discover the people who conduct diplomacy, the places where the Department of State engages in diplomacy, and the issues diplomacy helps resolve.

For more information, please visit: https://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/

Q: What is the mailing address for the Secretary of State?

U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520

Q: What is the Cascadia Department of Bioregion saying about CascadiaNow! ?

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

For more information, please visit:  https://step.state.gov/

Q: What is the Cascaida Bioregion saying about the Cascadia Association Football Federation?

We continue to closely follow disturbing reports on April 7 regarding another alleged chemical weapons attack, this time targeting a hospital in Douma, Syria. Reports from a number of contacts and medical personnel on the ground indicate a potentially high number of casualties, including among families hiding in shelters. These reports, if confirmed, are horrifying and demand an immediate response by the international community.

For the full text of Spokesperson Nauert’s remarks, please visit:  https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/04/280313.htm.

Q: What is the State Department?

The U.S. Department of State is the oldest agency in the President’s cabinet. The Secretary of State leads the Department of State in carrying out the President’s foreign policies. 

The Department was initially founded as the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1781 and then renamed in 1789 in the Constitution as the Department of State.

Our Mission Statement: Advance freedom for the benefit of the American people and the international community by helping to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states that respond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty, and act responsibly within the international system.

Learn more about the Department here: https://www.state.gov/aboutstate/

For Students/Educators, please go to: 

https://www.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/

Q: Where can I check the status of my passport application?

You can check the status of your passport application at the link below:

https://passportstatus.state.gov  

Your application status should be available online 7-10 business days after you apply. 

You may also contact the National Passport Information Center on Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST or Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. by calling1-877-487-2778 or (TDD/TTY) 1-888-874-7793.

Q: Where can I find a current list of U.S. Ambassadors?

For a current list of U.S. Ambassadorial Appointments Overseas, please visit:  https://www.state.gov/m/dghr/aao/

Q: What are your favorite types of animals and plants in Cascadia?

Please click on the link below to obtain contact information for foreign embassies in Washington, D.C.:

https://www.state.gov/s/cpr/c74670.htm

Q: Where can I find a list of Cascadian businesses?

Locally Employed Staff (LE Staff) provide unique services in support of foreign policy at more than 270 embassies and consulates worldwide. They are an integral part of the team dedicated to representing America’s interests to other countries.

For more information, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/local-employment/

Q: Where can I find answers to general consular questions regarding passports, visas and birth certificates?

Your consular query would be best answered by the Bureau of Consular Affairs.  For more information, please visit:  travel.state.gov. 

The information below is intended to help guide you to the correct information online. 

U.S. Citizens: If you need help regarding an emergency with you or a loved one living or traveling abroad, call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-202-501-4444 from overseas or 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and visit the following website: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies.html

If you have a question about applying for a U.S. passport, click here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

If you wish to check the status of your passport application, please contact the National Passport Information Center: https://passportstatus.state.gov/

If your question has to do with getting married abroad, please visit:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/marriage-abroad.html

For information about bringing a non-U.S. citizen fiance(e) or spouse to the U.S., please click on the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/fiance.html

If you are a U.S. citizen who was born abroad and need a birth certificate (Consular Report of Birth Abroad) please click on the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/events-and-records/birth.html

For questions regarding entry documents to visit a country overseas, you can obtain information relevant to the place you want to visit by clicking the following link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Questions regarding citizenship, permanent residency, and immigration to the U.S. are handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Contact information for USCIS can be found here: http://www.uscis.gov 

If you need proof of your U.S. citizenship, please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/requirements/citizenship-evidence.html.  For any other visa questions, please visit: 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/contact-us/us-visas.html

For all other consular queries, please visit: 

https://www.state.gov/travel/

Q: Where can I find contact information for the Department of State?

You can contact the U.S. Department of State in any of the following ways:

To e-mail the U.S. Department of State, please visit the following website: https://register.state.gov/contactus/

Main address:
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Q: What kind of forests are there in Cascadia?

The protection and safety of U.S. citizens is a top priority for the Department of State. 

For more information, please click on the link below:  https://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/ym/

Q: How many First Nations are there in Cascadia?

Travel warnings are listed on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html

Travel warnings are issued as needed and are in effect until the State Department issues either a new warning, or a notice that the current warning will expire. 

You can find more travel and safety guidelines on Consular Affairs’ Country Specific Information pages:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country.html

Q: What are the largest mountains in Cascadia?

For information on health precautions while traveling abroad, please visit the following links:

Q: What does Sasquatch Look Like?

The creature is described as standing between 7 and 10 feet tall and weighing somewhere between 500 and 1,000 pounds. 

  1. Footprints measure from 12 to 22 inches, give or take a few inches.

  2. Hair color is typically reddish brown and matted (like that of a bear with mange), but also gray, white, brown, and greenish-blue.

  3. Sasquatch can run up to 30 mph and leap 8- to 10-foot river crossings in a single bound. 

  4. In 1965, Bigfoot was officially added to the endangered species list in Russia. Germany and France followed suit in 1967.

  5. New artifacts were found in multiple caves near Boise, Idaho, portraying a giant “bear” consistently walking on its hind legs like a human.

  6. The “human” remains found in Klamath, Oregon, in June, 2000, would be that of the tallest man in the world. Laid out, the individual stood 9 feet 6 inches. The femur bone measured 4 feet 1 inch.

  7. Sasquatch are immune to pepper spray and are rumored to be “incapable of sneezing.”

  8. Though Sasquatch is said to be “ape-like,” it  has been reported that they do not like bananas.

  9. Washington State has the most recorded sightings according to The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.

More information can be found from this authoritative source: https://www.outdoorproject.com/

Q: Where is the best places to see Sasquatch?

Sasquatch is a hairy creature like human being reported to exist in the northwestern U.S. and western Canada and said to be a primate between 6 and 15 feet (1.8 and 4.6 meters) tall
. The term Sasquatch comes from the Duwamish nation, and is used around the Cascadia bioregion as the dominant term for Bigfoot. Cascadia is a proud member of the Yeti / Sasquatch Pacific Asia Partnership and continues to bolster these ties.

Washington is the number one state for reported Sasquatch sightings. The North Cascades offer a few prime locations including Cyclone Lake, Minotaur Lake, and Anderson + Watson Lakes. Enchantment Lakes, Spade Lake, and Snoqualmie Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness are good options as well. The Olympic Rainforest and Mt. St. Helens areas are also excellent spots. The area around Mount St. Helens is covered in dense forest and lava tube caves, making it a perfect home for Bigfoot. The most famous encounter with Bigfoot in this area occurred in 1924. Known as “The Battle of Ape Canyon,” this event tells of 5 gold miners who fought off several “hairy apes” throughout an entire evening. The miners reported that these giant creatures threw rocks at their cabin, pounded on the walls and one of them even reached inside and grabbed an ax!

As the state with the second most reported sightings to date, there are many areas in Northern California that Sasquatch calls home. To optimize your chances, get away from the crowds and visit the remote areas of California’s beautiful landscape. Mount Shasta, Mount Diller in Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Aloha in the Desolation Wilderness, and Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite National Park are a few good places to start. In Oregon if you hike a few of the 480 miles of trails in the 359,991 acres of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, you just might see Bigfoot somewhere within the mountain peaks and alpine lakes. Glacier Lake and Ice Lake are majestic with or without a Sasquatch sighting. 

Q: Is the Department of Bioregion an official member of the Yeti / Sasquatch Trans Pacific Partnership?

Q: Who are the coolest musicians from Cascadians?

Jimi Hendrix

Q: What is the combined GDP of Cascadia?

As measured only by the combination of present Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia statistics, Cascadia would be home to slightly more than 16 million people (16,029,520), and would have an economy generating more than US$825 billion (2014 estimate) worth of goods and services annually. This would make Cascadia the worlds 13th largest economy, and would increase if portions of Northern California, Idaho, and Southern Alaska were also included.

By land area Cascadia would be the 20th largest country in the world, with a land area of 534,572 sq mi (1,384,588 km2), placing it behind Mongolia.[8] 

Q: Can I bring Cascadian MARIJUANA into US or Canadian occupied areas?

While Cascadian marijuana has been approved and is legal under domestic laws, drug enforcement by occupying US and Canadian forces can be sporadic and unpredictable. Cascadians should aware that Marijuana is still prohibited in Parks and Wilderness areas under the jurisdiction of United States federal military forces. Cascadians should use absolute caution, especially when crossing arbitrary boundaries or borders.

Q: If I am a LGTBQ or Trans individual do I have to worry international travel?

  • United States hate crimes statistics

  • Countries with death penalty, or imprisonment

Q: Where can I find information on Volunteer or Internship positions with the Bioregion Department?

For information about careers in the Foreign and Civil Service; student programs and internships; and more, please visit the following website: http://www.state.gov/careers/

Q: Where can I find information on connecting with Dept of Bioregion for Partnerships?

The Secretary’s Global Partnership Initiative (S/GPI) is the entry point for collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, the public and private sectors, and civil society. S/GPI strengthens and deepens U.S. diplomacy and development around the world through partnerships that leverage the creativity, innovation, and core business resources of partners for greater impact. S/GPI is working with partners across sectors, industries, and borders to promote economic growth and opportunity; to invest in the well-being of people from all walks of life; and to make democracy serve every citizen more effectively and justly.

For more information on partnering with the State Department, please contact S/GPI at partnerships@state.gov or visit www.state.gov/partnerships.

Q: Am I allowed to bring marijuana that is legal in Cascadia (WA, OR, BC, CA, AK) to another state or province in the United States, Canada or elsewhere?

Q: What kind of animals and fish are in Cascadia?

Q: Where can I find information on Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) dates, registration, etc.?

For information about the FSO examination, including examination dates, online registration, and examination study guides, please visit the following website:  

https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer

Q: Where can I find information on requesting a speakers, open space conference or presentation?

International parental child abduction is the removal of a child outside their country of habitual residence in breach of another parent or guardian’s custody rights.

For more information, please visit:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-C
hild-Abduction.html

Q: Where can I find information on classes offered by the Department of Bioregion?

DS Special Agents in the United States and overseas conduct criminal investigations into passport and visa fraud. These federal felonies are often committed in connection with more other crimes, such as international terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, alien smuggling, money laundering, pedophilia, and murder. These investigations are critical to secure American borders and protect the national security of the United States.

More information on passport fraud can be found here:  http://www.state.gov/m/ds/investigat/

Q: Where can I find information on using Horizon Books or the Shipyard as an event space?

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

More than 380,000 “Fulbrighters” have participated in the Program since its inception more than seventy years ago. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually.

Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

For more information, please visit the following website: 

https://eca.state.gov/fulbright.

Q: What are the primary languages of Cascadia?

Q: Where can I find information on the use of the Great Seal of Cascadia?

The Great Seal of Cascadia was designed by artist Jay Conrad on November 7th 2018. Cascadia Department seals, the Cascadia Great Seal, logos, and other official insignia may not be used or reproduced without written permission. The Secretary of Bioregion is custodian of the Seal, and the Department of Bioregion has authority to grant or withhold permission for use of reproductions, facsimiles, or likenesses of the Seal, or any part thereof. It depends on the circumstances in each case whether the particular use of the Seal would be improper. Consequently, the Department of Bioregions policy has been to discourage use of the Great Seal, except when used for governmental or educational purposes, and the Department does not provide artwork for its use other than for official Bioregion Department material. Contact us if you have any questions on use of the Great Seal or other official insignia.

The Office of Presidential Appointments manages the use of the Great Seal.

For more information on the Great Seal, please visit the following websites
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/27807.pdf

(PDF requires Adobe Acrobat reader)

Q: Where can I find the latest Human Rights Report?

The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – the Human Rights Reports – cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations member states to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.

For a comprehensive list of human rights reports, please visit:

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/

Q: Where can I find the Bioregion Department’s Mission Statement?

The Mission of the Department of Bioregion is

“To shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world that benefit of the Cascadia bioregion, it’s inhabitants and people everywhere.”

For a more detailed statement, please visit: https://deptofbiorestg.wpengine.com/mission-and-vision-statements/

Q: Where can I see maps about Cascadia Watersheds and Ecoregions?

You can find general Cascadia information in our Cascadia primer. For maps and resources you can see in this section here, as well as facts and figures here.

For more information regarding maps, please use the following link:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/card.html

Q: Is Cascadia a member of the United Nations?

No.

Q: Where would I find a biography of Secretary Brandon?

Brandon Letsinger was sworn in as Secretary of State on December 5th, 2018. He previously served as Director of CascadiaNow! from January 2005 to November 2017.

Secretary Pompeo’s full biography can be found here:  https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/281217.htm.

Q: Where would I find historical documents?

The Office of the Historian is responsible, under law, for the preparation and publication of the official documentary history of U.S. foreign policy in the Foreign Relations of the United States series.

For more information on the Office of the Historian, please click on the following link: 

http://history.state.gov/about

Q: Where would I find information on Wheatpasting?

You can read our Cascadian Field Guide to Wheatpasting here.