Perhaps you have heard tales of a cultural center born from activism? That is Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. It stands as an urban base for Native Americans in the Seattle area. Daybreak Star is located in Seattle’s Discovery Park in the Magnolia neighborhood. It sits on 20 acres.
The center’s origins trace back to 1970. Bernie Whitebear and other Native Americans staged an occupation of the land. Most of the former Fort Lawton military base had been declared surplus. Their claim was based on rights under 1865 U.S.-Indian treaties. These treaties promised reversion of surplus military lands to their original owners.
The Daybreak Star building was completed in 1977. Arai Jackson Architects and Planners designed it. It incorporates elements of traditional Northwest Native architecture. In 2004, plans were approved for additional buildings. This complex would be known as the People’s Lodge. Bernie Whitebear passed away in 2000. The People’s Lodge was his final dream project. Construction was postponed indefinitely in 2006 due to lack of funds.
Daybreak Star is a major center for Native American cultural activity. It functions as a conference center. It is a location for pow wows. It hosts a Head Start school program. Daybreak Star also has an art gallery.
The center’s permanent art collection includes works by and about Native Americans. One notable piece is Blue Jay. This is a 30-foot wide sculpture by Lawney Reyes. Lawney Reyes is Bernie Whitebear’s brother. It hung at the Bank of California building in downtown Seattle for over 30 years. The work was donated to Daybreak Star Center after the bank merged with Union Bank in 1996. The donation also included an oil painting by Guy Anderson. It depicts a traditional Northwest Native representation of a whale.
Bernie Whitebear is also memorialized by the Bernie Whitebear Memorial Ethnobotanical Garden. It is located next to the Daybreak Star building.
In 1970, the U.S. government planned to declare much of Fort Lawton as surplus. Senators Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson and Warren G. Magnuson amended the U.S. Land and Water Conservation Act. This reduced the cost of acquiring surplus federal property.
Many of Seattle’s urban Indians wanted a land base within the city. A group called Kinatechitapi formed. This is Blackfoot for “All Indians”. It referred to the Indians of All Tribes. Joe DeLaCruz reached out to every tribe in Washington State. He sought their support for gaining land in Seattle.
Kinatechitapi’s attempts to discuss the property with Seattle failed. The city said it would not negotiate until it acquired the land. The city referred the group to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The American Indian Fort Lawton Occupation Forces was led by Bernie Whitebear. On March 8, 1970, about 100 Native Americans and sympathizers confronted military police at the fort. Some reached the base chapel. Military police contained the invasion. Indian activists established a tipi encampment outside the fort.
Organizing as the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, the Indians used tactics ranging from politicking to occupation of land. For three months, activists engaged in invasion and arrests. The Army cordoned off the fort.
In November 1971, the parties agreed that the city would grant UIATF a 99-year lease on 20 acres. This land would become part of Discovery Park. In addition, the City granted funds to the American Indian Women’s Service League.
Lawney Reyes and architects of Arai Jackson designed the Daybreak Star facility. It used traditional Native American elements. The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center opened its doors on May 13, 1977. Today, it continues to serve as a vital cultural hub. It provides diverse programs and services for the Native American community and beyond.