Seafair's Indian Days Powwow — culture in motion

The drumming seems louder, the dancing more spirited at this year's Seafair Indian Days Powwow, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle's Discovery Park.

The cultural and social-service center was created after American Indians, led by renowned activist Bernie Whitebear, occupied part of the property in 1970 to reclaim land for urban Indians.

The powwow, a showcase of Indian music, dancing and crafts, will pay tribute today to Whitebear, who died of cancer in 2000.

The event is held in a large field at Discovery Park, ringed by salmon and fry-bread stands and vendors selling bits of Indian heritage, from jewelry to T-shirts adorned with a picture of Geronimo and inscribed "Homeland security, fighting terrorism since 1492."

Randy Lewis took part in the 1970 occupation and spoke about its importance at Saturday's powwow.

"It's probably the most significant event in our [local] history since white people came here because, for once, we didn't see ourselves as victims, but as survivors. The invasion introduced us. Daybreak Star established us as an organization here to stay," said Lewis, a member of the Colville tribe and a director of Seattle's United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.

The powwow is an annual opportunity to pass on tradition to young Indians, Lewis said.

"The kids have got to see the culture in motion. You can't just talk about it, it's not acceptable to them in the abstract."

Dancers on Saturday included Claudia Kauffman of Kent, who this year became the first Indian woman to serve in the state Senate.

A member of the Nez Perce tribe, Kauffman has focused on housing, education and child-welfare issues. Saturday, she said was enjoying the spirituality of the powwow as she danced in full regalia, including otter hair-ties and a dress representing her Indian name, Red Morning Star.

Teresa Brownwolf, a counselor at the University of Washington's minority-affairs office, is making a documentary about the first Seattle group created to help urban Indians, a precursor to Daybreak Star Cultural Center. The American Indian Women's Service League was a small group of women who crusaded in the 1950s to provide services to urban Indians and founded the Seattle Indian Center.

Brownwolf, of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, wants her documentary to show the overlooked role women have played in Indian society.

"Native women are invisible except for Sacagawea and Pocahontas," she said. "We don't see real native women struggling, and what the women of the Service League did was amazing."

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com