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Indigenous People Festival Offers Music, Creation, Culture and Perspective

Seattle Center Festál

Indigenous People Festival celebrates the unique cultures of Native people in our region through traditional and contemporary performances and perspectives. It also offers a vision for the future guided by Indigenous knowledge and excellence. The festival streams starting at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov 20, and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov 21 at https://www.facebook.com/events/349170063036381

Indigenous People Festival presents four separate events over the two days within a theme “Seattle is Native Land.” A performance-based segment features local Native performers including drag, dance, music and more. A virtual concert highlights top Native artists. Panel discussions focus on Black and Native solidarity and Indigenous creatives. Here is the complete program schedule (with tribal affiliation): 

Friday, Nov. 20

6 p.m.  Seattle is Native Land—The Performance 

  • Hoop Dance, Ryan YellowJohn (Shoshone Bannock/Quechan) 
  • Traditional Dance, Suquamish Tribe Song and Dance Group 
  • Aerial Performance, Jasmine Manuel (Laguna Pueblo/Hopi) 
  • Drag Performance, Hailey Tayathy (Quileute) 
  • Dance Performance, Mackenzie Neusiok (Coharie) 
  • Musical Performance, Lacey Stevenson-Warrior (Dena’ina/Gros Ventre/Alutiiq) 

8 p.m.  Everywhere is Native Land—The Concert 

  • Headliner: Quinn Christopherson (Athabaskan/Inupiat) 
  • Supaman (Apsáalooke) 
  • Ghost Horse (Pawnee/Athabaskan)

Saturday, Nov. 21

 1 p.m.   Black Lives Matter: Black and Native Solidarity Panel 

  • Kiesha Erwin (Urban Nîhithaw (Woods Cree Nation), band member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band/Jamaican) 
  • Amber Starks (Afro Indigenous, Muscogee (Creek)/Shawnee/Yuchi/ Quapaw/Cherokee Descent) 
  • Azie Dungey (Pamunkey Indian Nation/Black) 

3 p.m.  Indigenous Creatives: Native Podcasters Panel 

  • Alice Qannik Glenn (Alaska Native Iñupiaq) 
  • Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee Nation) 
  • Tommy Pico (Kumeyaay) 

Learn more at: https://www.sihb.org/2020/11/seattle-is-native-land-2020-indigenous-people-festival.  

Seattle Center Festál highlights the culturally rich communities who help shape the character and course of our region. The series, presented virtually in 2020, provides a forum for cultural groups to come together, where they can share their stories with the greater community–and where all can feel a sense of belonging. The series began in 1997 to offer a central place for festivals to invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression.  

Seattle Center presents Festál: Indigenous People Festival in partnership with Seattle Indian Health Board as part of a series that provides a stage and platform for the traditions and accomplishments of the participating communities. Admission is free of charge. For more information, visit www.seattlecenter.com/festal or call 206-684-7200.  

About Seattle Center Festál: 

This enriching series of 23 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.