A broiling day in early June played host to the 15th annual Indigenous Peoples Festival at the City Center in downtown Seattle. There audiences got a chance to learn about and interact with various native cultures, focusing on the Pacific Northwest as well as southeast Alaska.
The Armory Stage played host to the bulk of the day’s events, including the Alaska Kuteeyaa Dancers, the Blue Heron Canoe family of performers, and a cedar weaving demonstration. There were also financial literacy classes, music performances by local notables DJ Big Rez and DJ Whirlwind Dreamer, and a variety of contests and small businesses showcasing handmade clothing, jewelry and more.
Of special note was the day’s art contest, featuring eight unique pieces by native artists. Audiences were given the chance to vote for the day’s winner by placing a marble in the jar associated with each work.
While most of the day’s food was provided by the numerous offerings in the Armory Hall food court, Off the Rez food truck brought some street-food fusion with their trademark blue food truck and fry-bread tacos and burgers.
Unfortunately for performers, they had to share their audience’s attention with the large Panda Fest event taking place right next door, offering a wide variety of dishes from across eastern Asia. Still, there were plenty on hand to enjoy the day’s events and the beautiful Seattle summer weather.
