Seattle Center Festal: Indigenous Cultures Day Set for 8/18

Seattle Center Festal: Indigenous Cultures Day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18, at Seattle Center Armory/Center House and Mural Amphitheatre, explores the cultural roots and contemporary influences of all Indigenous people through dance, music, art, film, food, and children's activities.

Traditional indigenous dance groups take to the Armory stage beginning at 10 a.m. Dancers from the following cultures/areas perform: Aztec, Guelaguetza, Mayan, Zapotec, Haida, Japanese, Pacific Islanders, Panama, Peru, Philippines and Tahitian.

Mural Amphitheatre stage features contemporary musicians accompanied by a live four-hour spray painting performance. Performers include: jazz artist Julia Keefe, violinist Swil Kanim, Funk group Braxmatics, Savage Family (Rap), acoustical rock by Daisy Chain, painter Andrew Morrison, short films and more.

Indigenous Cultures Day seeks to bring folks from different backgrounds together and promote cultural respect through fun activities and entertainment. Science demonstrates that no subsets of people exist within the human race. Historical racialization and cultural misunderstandings contribute more to human inequalities today than biology. This day aims to promote the value of all indigenous ancestries.

The 20 Seattle Center Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Each event offers moving entertainment and fascinating insight into a different culture of the world.

Indigenous Cultures Day is part of The Next Fifty at Seattle Center in 2012. The Festival is produced by the Seattle Indian Health Board in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit www.facebook.com/events/205547329572481/and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center public programs, click on www.seattlecenter.com.