|
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Announces 40th Anniversary Celebration Activities Seattle, WA - March 1, 2010 - On the morning of March 8, 1970, over one hundred Native Americans and their allies scaled the fences of Ft. Lawton Army Base in Seattle as part of a peaceful takeover of land scheduled to be sold or given to the city as surplus.United Indians of All Tribes Foundation has announced a series of community celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of this historic event that led to its founding and the creation of the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.United Indians' 40th anniversary events include: Monday, March 8, 2010 1:00pm - 3:30pm March from Discovery Park North Parking Lot to Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. A blessing by Duwamish Chairwoman Cecile Hanson will be followed by the march led by Head Start students, participants in the original invasion and community members. Dancing and drumming will be followed by light refreshments. Saturday, March 27, 2010 1:00pm - 10:00pm First annual Head Start Pow Wow Grand Entries at 1 pm and 6 pm Head Start students and employees past and present, please join us in celebrating this cornerstone program of United Indians. All community members, dancers and drums are encouraged to attend. Sunday, March 28, 2010 1:00pm - 6:00pm Community Dinner Along with a community dinner, the program includes a performance by Red Eagle Soaring and community members sharing their favorite Bernie Whitebear stories.All events are open to the public, free of charge and will take place at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. During the original takeover, protestors scaled razor wire fences, endured beatings and incarceration. Attracting support from celebrities including Jane Fonda, Dick Gregory, Marlon Brando and Wilt Chamberlain, and led by the charismatic Bernie Whitebear, the activists persevered for months. They finally succeeded in getting the city to lease part of Discovery Park for a Native cultural center.United Indians' Executive Director Marty Bluewater states, "On behalf of those who continue to benefit from the sacrifices of the brave few who participated in the takeover, we say thank you. Our mission is to ensure your legacy lives on through our work in the community."About United Indians of All Tribes Foundation United Indians of All Tribes Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in Seattle, Washington in 1970. The mission of United Indians is to foster and sustain a strong sense of identity, tradition, and well-being among the Indian people in the Puget Sound area by promoting their cultural, economic, and social welfare. For more information about United Indians or to make a donation, visit www.unitedindians.org. |