Seattle Center Festal Highlights the 'Spirit of Indigenous People' Today

Seattle Center Festál: Spirit of Indigenous People promotes the value of all Native Americans, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., today, May 30, in Seattle Center Armory and Mural Amphitheatre. Traditional and contemporary music and dance speak to the world's rich indigenous cultures, while native storytellers share the history and lore of their people.

Spirit of Indigenous People returns to Seattle Center for a sixth year celebrating American Indian and Alaska Native cultures. The 21stannual SpiritWalk accompanies the festival, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Mural Amphitheatre. Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills joins walkers as they travel from Seattle Center to Myrtle Edwards Park and back.

A traditional pow wow at the Mural Amphitheatre runs throughout the day, showcasing Native performers in both coastal and plains dances. Indoor activities include a variety of traditional and contemporary performances on the Armory Stage, an exhibition of work by Native artists and workshops on dream catchers and beadwork. Native artisans will offer artwork, carvings and other unique arts and crafts pieces.

A meet and greet with Native filmmakers and actors in the Armory Lofts complements screenings of Native films at SIFF Film Center and Cinema Uptown. Films include Heather Rae's "Trudell," a portrait of Native American activist and spoken-word artist John Trudell, the U.S. premiere of Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers' "Bihttos?," and James Napier Robertson's "The Dark Horse," about bipolar speed chess champion Genesis Potini and his positive impact on the lives of 15,000 Maori children.

In 2015, Seattle Center Festál explores the "art of culture" in 23 celebrations on weekends throughout the year. The events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, make use of indoor and outdoor spaces on the grounds and offer wide-ranging entertainment, food, visual displays and exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. The annual series forms the bedrock of public programming at Seattle Center, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on Spirit of Indigenous People and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.

Seattle Center Festál 2015 explores the art of culture on weekends throughout the year. The festivals highlight the diverse cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region with traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops, marketplaces and more. This collection of 23 cultural events is produced with the generous support of Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Boeing, RealNetworks and 4Culture. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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