Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, whose ancestors have lived here and cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationships with Indigenous communities, but serves as a first step in honoring the land we are on. These communities are still here, and many indigenous people are strong and thriving. We honor the people past and present who belong to this place.
Support Native-Owned Businesses
Discover Native-owned businesses with Intentionalist.
Intentionalist makes it easy to find and support local small businesses and the diverse people behind them through everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop.
Get to Know the Region's Native Community
Visit Seattle's Native American Heritage Guide
Download the this guide for information about local native history, special events, heritage sites, museums and arts.
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Dan Friday
Glass artist Dan Friday (Lummi Nation) is deeply connected to his Native American roots, with art inspired by both the teachings of his tribe and his Seattle surroundings.
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Dreamcatcher
This film is a kaleidoscope of textures and experiences that have shaped one Native woman’s life and memories in the Emerald City.
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Creative City: Louie Gong
Louie Gong (Nooksack) merges traditional Coast Salish art with influences from his mixed heritage and urban environment to create work that resonates widely across communities and cultures.
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Touch of Seattle
In this short, we move from the raw beauty of towering trees to the myriad ways Seattle dwellers and visitors alike can experience the transformed forest with their own hands.
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Creative City: Marvin Oliver
In Memoriam | Marvin Oliver (Quinault) was a renowned Seattle-based artist, master carver, sculptor, and printmaker. His legacy lives on in his artworks and all those he taught.
Read OnExplore Cultural Organizations, Exhibits & Festivals
Discover Work by Native American Artists
Find Public Art by Native American Artists
Delve into Regional History
Seattle is named for a hereditary chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish people, and many of our communities and landscape features have Indian names from the Lushootseed, or Puget Sound Salish, language. Learn more about Chief Seattle:
- About Chief Si’ahl – Duwamish Tribe
- Chief Seattle Biography – Historylink
- Chief Seattle Speech – Suquamish Tribe
- True Northwest: The Seattle Journey
Architectural illustration of the Canoe Center United Indians of All Tribes Foundation / Jones & Jones; Stephanie Bower
Canoe Center
“For thousands of years, the Coast Salish people were stewards of the land and water. The waterways were the highways between all. This led to a vibrant and extensive canoe culture for the first peoples of this land. It is our dream to once again see canoes on the shores of a city that takes its name from the Chief of not just one, but two, tribes.” — United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
The Canoe Center will be located on the shores of Lake Union and include the Canoe Carving House and the Welcome House, where educational displays, a gift shop, a catering kitchen and a multi-use space for cultural events will be located. Construction is slated to begin in early 2024.
Tune In and Listen
Daybreak Star Radio Network
A home for Indigenous music, Daybreak Star Radio Network plays everything from traditional drums, Pow Wow, Native flute, and rattles to R&B, Hip Hop, Rock & Roll, Metal, Funk, and more. This radio station is for all the Nations and all the music the people produce, write, create, and play.
Related Reading
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Sherman Alexie |
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David Buerge |
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Timothy EaganShort Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis |
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Elissa Washuta |
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Elissa Washuta, Theresa WarburtonShapes of Native Nonfiction: Collected Essays by Contemporary Writers |
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Robin K. Wright, Kathryn Bunn-MarcuseIn the Spirit of the Ancestors: Contemporary Northwest Coast Salish Art at the Burke Museum |
Banner Image: Canoe Journey | Steve Zugschwerdt
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