About Daybreak Star

History

Daybreak Star owes its existence to Native American activists, including United Indians’ founder, Bernie Whitebear. Together with the Indian community, they staged a non-violent takeover and occupation of the land in 1970 after most of the Fort Lawton military base was declared surplus by the U.S. Department of Defense.

• Video: Virtual Moving History – Bernie Whitebear: A Modern Warrior
• About Daybreak Star
• Seattle Civil Rights + History project at UW – UIAT Retakes Fort Lawton, 1970

Architecture

The building was completed and opened to the public in 1977. It is an impressive piece of modern architecture incorporating many elements of traditional Northwest Native architecture.

Cultural Center, Event and Conference Space

A major nucleus of Native American cultural activity as well as a unique event space, Daybreak Star services as a conference center, a location for powwows, and the headquarters of our organization and many of our services.

Sacred Circle Gallery

Daybreak Star is home to United Indians’ Sacred Circle Gallery which hosts visiting exhibits, and its also home to one of our several Sacred Circle Gift Shops where Native American art and jewelry and gifts can be purchased.

Permanent Art Collection

The center’s permanent art collection includes a variety of large art works by and about Native Americans, notably “Blue Jay”, a 30 foot (9 m) wide, 12 foot (3.7 m) high sculpture by Bernie Whitebear’s brother Lawney Reyes, which came to the Center in 2004 after hanging prominently for over 30 years at the Bank of California building in downtown Seattle.