Our Story
In 1970, a small group of Northwest Native Americans and supporters led by the late Bernie Whitebear engaged in an occupation at Fort Lawton to reclaim a land base for Urban Indians living in and around Seattle. A twenty-acre site was eventually secured for this purpose in what is now Discovery Park. The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center was completed by UIATF in 1977 and has become a hub of activity for Native peoples and supporters locally, nationally and internationally.
The Foundation provides a wide variety of social, education and economic development opportunities, artistic and cultural activities with and for the Native community including:
• Sacred Circle Art Gallery & Gift Shop
• Annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow
• Foster Care Licensing, Indian Child Welfare
• Ina Maka Tribal Family Home Visiting
• Labateyah Youth Home & Organic Garden
• Northwest Native Canoe Center
• Daybreak Star Preschool
• Native Workforce and Education
• Many community events and collaborations
• Venue rentals for weddings, agency and company retreats, summer camps, and more
• Bernie Whitebear Ethnobotanical Garden