LAND FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISTS
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!
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.
“Creative expression is at the center of Indigenous cultures, where seeds are planted and generations of stories are told. We need land and soil to grow roots.”
SOWING SEEDS FOR AN INDIGENOUS FUTURE
In December 2022, yəhaw̓ purchased land in Rainier Beach. The undeveloped parcel holds nearly a hundred trees, bisects Mapes Creek, and is located near public transit in a diverse multigenerational neighborhood. Working alongside Coast Salish Nations in one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in the country, Seattle is ideal for maximizing our impact through Indigenous art.
Through artmaking and ecological education, we're creating a welcoming community hub where interdisciplinary Indigenous creatives can connect with each other and the earth. We see ourselves as a small seed in the broader land rematriation movement, and as the beneficiaries of a long legacy of Indigenous organizing that came before us.
We will continue to collaborate closely with tribes, nonprofit partners, and our creative community to collectively nurture the land and one another for generations to come.
TOGETHER, WE CAN LIFT THE SKY
With your support, we will:
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS FUTURES TODAY
We welcome longer conversations to discuss partnerships, multi-year commitments, or other forms of collaboration. Working with like-minded individuals and organizations to create cross-cultural solidarity is one of our primary motives. The best way to contact us directly is at info@yehawshow.com.
Want to support in other ways? yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective is inviting community to join us for a series of workdays on the land. Volunteers of all ages can help with a variety of activities, like tending to Native plants, clearing invasive ones like ivy, and creating art, as we get to know the land together. Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to hear about volunteer opportunities.
Past supporters include:
We appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you to our new home!
Illustrations by Paige Pettibon | Photos of yəhaw̓’s new home by Mel Carter