UIATF Dedicates New Salmon Grill Arbor to Randy Lewis – 7/24/2025
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation Dedicates Salmon Pit in Honor of Randy Lewis During 36th Annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow
Press release provided by United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF) Marketing and Communications Manager SiSi Campbell (She/her) , Apsáalooke / Crow Tribe of Montana.
SEATTLE, WA – The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF) is proud to announce the dedication of its new salmon grill arbor, or salmon pit, in honor of Randy Lewis (P’quosa/Wenatchi), a pivotal figure in the 1970 Fort Lawton Takeover and a UIATF Board Member. The dedication ceremony, a highlight of the 36th Annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow, took place on Friday, July 18th, kicking off the weekend-long event which ran through July 20th at Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
Randy Lewis’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the fight for Indigenous sovereignty and the establishment of vital urban Indian spaces. In 1970, Lewis joined UIATF Founder Bernie Whitebear in the pivotal Fort Lawton Takeover, demanding the return of the surplus military base to Seattle’s urban Indian community. Their collective efforts led to a landmark victory: the allocation of 20 acres of Fort Lawton land, which became the foundation for the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and the iconic Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, both of which Lewis helped create and has served as a longtime board member for.
“We wouldn’t be here at Daybreak Star if it weren’t for people like Randy, Lawney, and Bernie, who were a big part of the Fort Lawton takeover day on March 8th, 1970,” stated Michael Tulee, CEO of United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. “It is a profound honor to dedicate this salmon pit in Randy’s name, acknowledging his enduring service and recognizing his continuous support and instrumental role in our history.”
Randy Lewis & UIATF’s CEO Michael Tulee at the Salmon Grill Arbor Dedication Ceremony on July 18th, 2025 at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center.
The salmon pit, named in Randy Lewis’s honor, symbolizes the enduring connection to traditional practices and the resilience of Native cultures, a fitting tribute to a leader who has dedicated his life to preserving and advancing Indigenous rights and community.
The 36th Annual Seafair Indian Days Powwow was a vibrant celebration of Native American culture, featuring traditional dancing, drumming, arts, crafts, and food. The Powwow took place from July 18th to July 20th at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center.
###
About United Indians of All Tribes Foundation:
Established in 1970, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides educational, cultural and social services that reconnect Indigenous people in the Puget Sound region to their heritage by strengthening their sense of belonging and significance as Native people.
