The Dreamcatcher Sculpture

Located right next to the center of the Leschi Neighborhood stands The Dreamcatcher sculpture; a tall, metal, and beautiful piece of artwork dedicated to Bernie Whitebear and Luana Reyes, both American Indian activists who lived and worked in Seattle. The Statue, built by Lawney Reyes, their brother, has great importance to the Leschi neighborhood. The Dreamcatcher sculpture stands in place of the Native American Thunderbird that rose there before, representing the Native American land that modern day Seattle settled on.

The Dreamcatcher sculpture was built by Lawney Reyes in 2003 as a memoir to his activist siblings Bernie and Luana. The sculpture is located at the cross of 32nd and Yesler - a popular street of Seattle and the Leschi neighborhood, standing next to Leschi Elementary. The sculpture consists of a metal frame from which hangs an intricately designed Dreamcatcher. Beneath the Dreamcatcher a plaque lists the names of the many people who supported and donated to the construction and funding of the artwork. The base of the sculpture contains a small garden. 

The Leschi Community Council aided Lawney Reyes in this project by starting and advertising a fund in order to raise money for the Whitebear-Reyes Memorial. Together, with the support of local Native American tribes, politicians both former and active, as well as family and friends of the Whitebear-Reyes family.

Bernie Whitebear, born in Nespelem, Washington to Mary Christian and Julian Reyes, was an outstanding activist who worked with many Native communities located in the greater Seattle area. He co-founded some of the most major Native American support and legal rights systems we have today in Seattle such as the Seattle Indian Health Board, the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center. Whitebear was drawn to the health problems that tormented Seattle’s Native American population, specifically their lack of access to affordable and adequate health services. He worked with a free clinic for Seattle Indians which later transformed into the Seattle Indian Health board, which Whitebear believed to be greatly beneficial to the Native American population.

Luana Reyes, Bernie Whitebear’s older sister, was an essential piece to the Seattle Indian Health Board, and was appointed as executive director when hired. She lead the company from small business to an institution worthy of being recognized as a national model. Luana raised the budget of the company to the multi-millions and created and hired a fully trained health staff of 200 employees. Luana later helped found the National Council on Urban Indian Health and worked at the headquarters of the federal Indian Health Service, where she eventually became the deputy director of the institution. 

Lawney Reyes, a Sin-Aikist artist, curator, and memoirist, was the older brother of both Bernie Whitebear and Luana Reyes, and was the artist behind the Dreamcatcher sculpture. He passed away on August 10, 2022, yet his artwork is still recognized and appreciated today. The Dreamcatcher still stands in the Leschi neighborhood and is a public site to visit.

Green, Sara Jean. “Luana Reyes, 68, a Leader in Agency for Indian Health.” The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company, 2001. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011110&slug=obit10m.

McRoberts, Patrick. “Bernie Whitebear (1937-2000), Seattle, 1971.” Whitebear, Bernie (1937-2000), 2003. https://www.historylink.org/file/5170.

Rochester, Junius. “View of Leschi and Lake Washington from Yesler Way, 1891.” Seattle Neighborhoods: Leschi -- Thumbnail History, 2001. https://www.historylink.org/File/3434.

Royale, Rosette. “Lawney Reyes (b. 1931).” Reyes, Lawney (b. 1931). HistoryLink, 2015. https://www.historylink.org/File/11131.

Singler, Joan. “The Leschi Dreamcatcher.” leschi. leschi-council, April 25, 2021. https://www.leschicommunitycouncil.org/single-post/2015/01/01/the-leschi-dream-catcher.

Tribune, CARY ROSENBAUM | The, Barry Sweet, Ap, Wt, and Elaine Thompson. “Bernie Whitebear: The Colville Who Helped Shape Seattle.” Tribal Tribune, July 25, 2019. http://www.tribaltribune.com/news/article_e0dc5284-130e-11e9-80ef-ebe207ff5a59.html.