yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective

Описание: The second episode in this series, which was made in part by King County.

yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective was founded in 2017 to fill a crucial gap in our city's cultural landscape. As artists, we formed an organization that would offer services, support, and a rich network to intertribal Indigenous creatives at every stage of their careers.

After five years of organizing countless events to uplift over 400 Indigenous artists and with the support of our partners across the Salish Sea, we've secured a permanent home for Indigenous arts and culture in South Seattle!

In March 2024, yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective purchased the neighboring 1,270-square-foot home to complement our existing 1.5-acre land acquisition. This expansion marks a new chapter for the collective, enabling us to continue our mission of fostering Indigenous creativity, intergenerational healing, and community building.

Indigenous Creatives Collective's purchase of the neighboring property will allow us to expand our offerings through residencies, workshops, and community and cultural events. The vision is to build a Native arts center that combines access to greenspace and cultural connection. We anticipate the ability to welcome over 100 artists annually to the arts center.

Plans for the cultivation of the space are set to begin in late 2024! You can view our feature on KIRO 7 in the link below.

yəhaw̓ (pronounced ya-howt) means to proceed, to go forward, to do it, in Lushootseed language. In the late Vi taqʷšəblu Hilbert’s (Upper Skagit) telling, the earth beings used this expression to overcome their greatest challenges, and together they lifted the sky.