[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15856-15857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     A TRIBUTE TO BERNIE WHITEBEAR

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, it is with great admiration that I 
rise to pay tribute to Mr. Bernie Whitebear, of Seattle, Washington, 
who passed away at the age of 62 on Sunday, July 16, 2000.
  A long-standing advocate and leader in the fight for tribal self-
determination, Bernie Whitebear was an outstanding role-model for 
tribal and non-tribal people alike. Known for his vision, humor and 
commitment, he lives on in the minds and hearts of everyone who knew 
him.
  Bernie Whitebear was born on September 27, 1937 on the Colville 
Indian Reservation in Eastern Washington. Born into a large family, 
Bernie grew up confronting many of the barriers facing reservation 
children, including poverty and discrimination.
  As an adult, he moved to Seattle, attended the University of 
Washington and worked as an engineer for Boeing. He later joined the 
Army as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division and served as a 
Green Beret.
  During the activism of the late 1960's, Bernie Whitebear emerged as 
one of the central tribal leaders in the Pacific Northwest and was a 
tireless advocate for American Indian recognition and empowerment. We 
often remember his social action, seen through his leadership in the 
``invasion'' of Fort Lawton in Seattle in 1970. Bernie and others 
occupied the Fort Lawton property after plans were announced to list 
the Fort as surplus property for the city to designate as a park. He 
felt local tribes had a historic right to the land, which could be 
better used as a central service base for Seattle's largely unserved 
urban Indian population.
  The 3-month occupation, civil arrests and resulting media attention 
prompted Congress to order the city of Seattle to negotiate a 
settlement, which included a 99-year lease on a 20-acre parcel for 
Whitebear's group. The settlement provided space for construction of 
the Daybreak Star Art Center, which currently stands in Discovery Park.
  I want to share with the Senate one of my favorite memories of Bernie 
Whitebear. Bernie had invited me to attend the Mini-Pow Wow in my state 
on February 7, 1998. He asked me to stop by to talk about the People's 
Lodge, to see the artwork, and to have a quick look at some of the 
traditional dances. I told Bernie I would stop by, but that I only had 
a short while because I had a lot of events I needed to attend that 
day.
  I remember when I arrived at the University of Washington Bernie 
welcomed me with his big bright smile and an outstretched hand. We 
watched some of the traditional dances, and then I realized that if I 
didn't leave soon I would be late for my next event. It was one of 
those days when I was trying to meet as many people as possible. Well 
Bernie didn't let me just meet the people at the Mini-Pow Wow, he made 
me stay and understand them. He started by introducing me to everyone 
in the room.
  Then Bernie leaned over to me and explained that it was customary for 
a visiting United States Senator to move to the front of the dancing 
group. You know, it was one of the many Native American traditions 
Bernie told me about that always sounded a little invented to me. Like 
another old tradition he told me about: That anytime a U.S. Senator 
stepped foot in Discovery Park he or she had to pay a visit to the 
Daybreak Star Center. Well there was Bernie asking me to move to the 
front, and who could say no to Bernie?
  He had his arm around me. He was leading me to the front. Everyone 
was watching, and I went along. The next thing I knew, I was leading 
about 300 people in a tribal dance. Even though I was not born to be a 
dancer and I certainly didn't know that particular

[[Page 15857]]

dance, Bernie made it easy. He had such an open, loving, and 
compassionate nature that you just couldn't help but feel a part of it. 
As I looked around, people were smiling, and there was a real sense of 
comradery and respect shared by everyone in the room. About two hours 
later, as the event was winding down, I said goodbye to Bernie, and I 
got into my car.
  As I drove away, I realized what Bernie had really done for me that 
day. He helped me understand Native American cultures from the inside, 
not as someone sitting on the sidelines watching, but as someone in the 
middle of the festivities. I felt the sense of community and respect 
that Bernie was always so proud of. Anyone can talk about those 
qualities and traditions, but Bernie let me experience them, and he did 
it with a big grin on his face. I know I'm better off for that 
experience.
  That day shows just how effective Bernie was at getting us to shed 
our expectations, to realize what we have in common, and to work 
together.
  Throughout his life, Bernie used his own unique style and generous 
heart to accomplish many things. He founded the United Indians of All 
Tribes Foundation, which provides education and counseling resources 
for the estimated 25,000 American Indians in the Puget Sound area. 
Along with the Daybreak Center and the United Indians Foundation, he 
worked to sensitize Seattle police to urban Indian issues. Recognizing 
the persistent need for American Indian health services, he also helped 
create the Seattle Indian Health Board and later served as its first 
executive director.
  For his many contributions, Bernie Whitebear was awarded numerous 
honors. In 1997, Governor Gary Locke named him a ``Citizen of the 
Decade.'' He recently received Seattle's Distinguished Citizen Medal. 
In 1998, the University of Washington gave him the Distinguished 
Alumnus of the Year Award. Bernie was a remarkable man with spirit and 
a warmth that touched everyone he encountered. My thoughts and 
sympathies are with all of Bernie's family and friends.
  Bernie Whitebear acted as a beacon for compassion, cultural 
understanding and tribal sovereignty in the Puget Sound Region. His 
legacy is left in all of us who have tremendous respect for the history 
and cultures of the tribes, a history Bernie would draw us into, by his 
passion, by his words and by his deeds. I will miss him.

                          ____________________