Bernie Whitebear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernie Whitebear
|
|
|---|---|
Whitebear in 1971
|
|
| Born |
Bernard Reyes
September 27, 1937 |
| Died | July 16, 2000 (aged 62) |
| Nationality | American Indian |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | American Indian activism |
| Spouse(s) | Jessica King |
| Children | 6 |
Bernie Whitebear (born September 27, 1937, died July 16, 2000) was an important American Indian activist. His birth name was Bernard Reyes. He worked in Seattle, Washington, to help Native American communities. He helped start several key organizations, including the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) and the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. He also played a big part in creating the Daybreak Star Cultural Center, which was built on 20 acres of land for urban Native Americans in the city.
Contents
Early Life and Name Change
Growing Up on the Colville Reservation
Bernie Whitebear was born Bernard Reyes in Nespelem, Washington. His mother, Mary Christian, was from the Sin Aikst (Lakes tribe), part of the Colville Reservation. His father, Julian Reyes, was Filipino but lived much like a Native American. Bernard was named after his great-uncle, Chief James Bernard, a Sin Aikst leader.
He spent most of his early childhood on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington. When his parents separated, he lived with foster grandparents. Later, he lived with his father in Okanogan, Washington, where he finished high school in 1955. Bernie was a talented trumpet player and was popular in school.
Joining the Army and Changing His Name
After high school, Bernie attended the University of Washington for a year. He then moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he met another Native American, Bob Satiacum. They fished for salmon together, but often faced problems from white sport fishermen and the Coast Guard.
In 1957, Bernie joined the United States Army. He served as a Green Beret paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. After leaving the army in 1959, he returned to the Seattle-Tacoma area. Around 1970, as he became more involved in activism, he changed his name to Bernie Whitebear. This new name honored his mother's father, Alex Christian, who was known as Pic Ah Kelowna (White Grizzly Bear).
Fighting for Native Rights
Standing Up for Fishing Rights
Bernie Whitebear renewed his friendship with Bob Satiacum and others who were fighting for Native fishing rights. These rights were later confirmed by the United States Supreme Court in a ruling called the Boldt Decision (1974). This decision made Washington's tribes co-managers of the state's fisheries.
Through this struggle, Whitebear learned a lot about the history of conflicts between Native Americans and the white population. He saw how important it was to protect Native rights. He also realized that many Native Americans living in cities faced unique challenges.
Protecting Tribal Lands
In 1961, Whitebear and his family opposed a government plan to "terminate" the Colville Reservation. This plan would have paid each tribal member money to give up their rights as American Indians, essentially ending the reservation and forcing tribal members to blend into the majority culture. Whitebear and others fought against this plan to protect their heritage and lands.
Sharing Culture Through Pow Wows
Organizing Cultural Events
Bernie Whitebear moved to Seattle in 1966. He kept his job at Boeing, but also became very involved in Native American culture. He learned traditional songs and dances from the Plateau Indians and the Plains. He sought out elders and others who knew these traditions and taught himself many of them.
In 1968, Whitebear put together a Native American dance group. They toured parts of Europe, performing traditional dances. These trips helped him realize his life's goal: to make Native Americans more visible and to help different tribes work together.
Bringing Pow Wows to Seattle
After returning home, Whitebear organized large pow-wows at Seattle's Mercer Arena. He brought together top singers, dancers, and drummers from various Native traditions, including the Northwest Coast Indians. These events were bigger than any Seattle had seen before and helped share Native culture with many people.
Becoming a Community Leader
Starting the Seattle Indian Health Board
Bernie Whitebear became very interested in health issues for Native Americans in Seattle. At that time, there were about 25,000 Native Americans in the city, but they had almost no health services. A free clinic for Native people was started, and Whitebear left his job at Boeing to help run it.
In 1969, this clinic became a non-profit organization called the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB). In 1970, Whitebear became its first executive director. This was a major step forward for the Native American community in Seattle. His sister, Luana Reyes, later became the executive director and helped SIHB become a national model for health services.
The Fort Lawton Occupation
Whitebear then focused on getting land for urban Native Americans. He became deeply involved in a movement to acquire land at Fort Lawton, an army base that the government was closing. The group, called Kinatechitapi (Blackfoot for "All Indians"), was inspired by activists who had occupied Alcatraz Island.
When initial talks with the city failed, a more active group formed, calling themselves the "American Indian Fort Lawton Occupation Forces." On March 8, 1970, Whitebear led about 100 Native Americans and their supporters to the fort. They were stopped by military police but set up a camp outside.
The presence of famous activist Jane Fonda during the occupation brought a lot of attention from the world press. This helped turn their effort to get land into a major news story, giving the Native American movement more recognition.
Creating the Daybreak Star Cultural Center
The activists formed the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF). Through a mix of negotiations, protests, and even help from Congress, they secured a 99-year lease on 20 acres of land in what is now Seattle's Discovery Park. The city also gave money for a social services center.
Whitebear was elected CEO of the UIATF. He successfully raised money and oversaw the building of the Daybreak Star Cultural Center, which opened in 1977. His brother, Lawney Reyes, an artist and designer, helped design the center.
Whitebear also joined with other community leaders, including Bob Santos, Roberto Maestas, and Larry Gossett, to form Seattle's "Gang of Four" or "Four Amigos." This group worked together to support minority communities.
The UIATF continued to grow under Whitebear's leadership. It developed many programs, including a youth home, family support services, and a large annual pow-wow. The Daybreak Star Cultural Center also has an art gallery.
In 1995, Whitebear was appointed to the board of the National Museum of the American Indian. He helped plan the new museum that opened in 2004 in Washington, D.C..
Bernie Whitebear passed away on July 16, 2000, from colon cancer.
Family Life
Bernie Whitebear was married to Jessica King and had six children. He was known for being very generous, often giving money to those in need, even if it meant borrowing from his family. His brother said he acted like a parent to "every Indian kid in Seattle."
Legacy and Recognition
Bernie Whitebear received many honors for his work.
- In 1997, Washington Governor Gary Locke named Whitebear the state's first "Citizen of the Decade." After Whitebear's death, Governor Locke said he should have been called the citizen "of the Century."
- Activist and author Vine Deloria, Jr. called him the most important Native American of the last century.
- When Whitebear died in 2000, his death was front-page news in Seattle's major newspapers.
- The Bernie Whitebear Memorial Ethnobotanical Garden was created in his honor next to the Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
- His brother, Lawney Reyes, created a public sculpture called Dreamcatcher in Seattle to remember Bernie and his sister Luana.
- The eleventh floor of King County's Chinook Building was named in his honor in 2008.
Images for kids
-
Whitebear in 1971
-
Daybreak Star Cultural Center
