Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE (June 7, 2022) – Seattle Center Festál continues with the Indigenous People Festival on Saturday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Armory Food & Event Hall and the Mural Amphitheatre. This free festival is produced by the Seattle Indian Health Board, whose holistic approach to healthcare is based in Indigenous knowledge and tends to the mind, body, and spirit equally. The annual gathering is an opportunity to promote the thriving Indigenous cultures here in Seattle.
Saturday afternoon will be full of performances from groups like Blue Heron Canoe Family, White Hawk Family and much more. The Armory Food & Event Hall will host film screenings by First Nations cinematographers. Artist and curator Asia Tail will have a gallery and screen printing.
The festival’s cultural marketplace will host BIPOC vendors from numerous tribes selling art, jewelry clothing and food with a portion of sales going to the Seattle Indian Health Board’s Elder’s Program.
"In the city named after Chief Seattle, events like the Indigenous Peoples Festival are an excellent opportunity to celebrate with and learn from the communities who have been integral to this place since time immemorial. We cannot be – and would not be – One Seattle without recognition of the Indigenous people and cultures of this area, and without their commitment to this region, environment, and community."
Indigenous People Festival producers commit time and energy to the festival creating space at Seattle Center for Native people to be seen and celebrated. The festival lends a stage to Indigenous people to proudly express their culture and gather as a community. For non-Native guests, the Indigenous People Festival provides an opportunity to connect with and learn from the local Native community through experiencing performances, artists and businesses.
“Seattle Center is proud to be a landing ground for festivals like the Indigenous People Festival,” said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. “The Native community in Seattle deserves to be honored, and their programming at this festival reflects a deeply rich cultural history.”
The Seattle Indian Health Board aims to advocate for, provide and ensure culturally appropriate, high quality, and accessible health and human services to American Indians and Alaska Natives so that all have healthy and successful lives.
About Seattle Indian Health Board
Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) is a community health clinic that provides health and human services to its patients, while specializing in the care of Native people. The organization is recognized as a leader in the promotion of health improvement for urban American Indians and Alaska Natives, locally and nationally. Today, SIHB operates two sites and is in the process of opening two more. The organization serves approximately 6,000 patients annually in King County, and more than 4,000 of those identify as American Indian and/or Alaska Native and employs more than 200 people. SIHB opened its doors to the community in 1970. In the 1960s, Native activists refused to let urban Indians go unseen and ignored any longer, which inspired the formation of a number of Native organizations, including SIHB. For the first time, urban Indians in Seattle had access to healthcare and services by organizations that were operated by Native people for Native people. Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Information on the festival is available at www.sihb.org and www.seattlecenter.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál cultivates a deeper understanding of the cultures and ethnic diversity that contribute to the rich vibrancy of the Pacific Northwest. This unique series links together 24 free festivals presented on weekends from February to November, each with its own cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. 2022 commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Festál, ushering in a new era of hybrid programs during this anticipated return to in-person events. Seattle Center Festál is where the world will gather to celebrate the people, the places, the stories, the traditions, and the next 25 years of innovation. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with 24 different community groups and supported by 4Culture, City of Seattle, and Seattle Center Foundation. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center
Seattle Center is celebrating 60 years with all that is “New, Now, and Next” as Seattle’s hub for arts, sports, community events, and cultural festivals. Originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the dynamic 74-acre campus has transformed over the years to respond to, reflect, and represent the region’s ever-broadening community. Seattle Center and its iconic International Fountain are often referred to as the “Heart of Seattle,” serving as a treasured community gathering place where the local, regional, national, and international visitors come together every day. Today more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations reside on the grounds, along with a diverse variety of public programs and thousands of events attracting more than 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.864 billion in business activity and $631 million in labor income.
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Note:
Photos, b-roll, and pre-event/event-day interviews with festival producers, performers, and special guests are available upon request.
Contact:
Meghan McLaughlin, meghan.mclaughlin-c@seattle.gov
