Pow Wows and Performances
As early as 1961, Whitebear organized a pow-wow at Seattle's Masonic Temple; in 1966 he moved to the city. Throughout this period, he retained his job at Boeing (and even played Sitting Bull in a Boeing employees' production of Annie Get Your Gun), but also became involved with young Indians in learning the songs and dances of the Plains and Plateau Indians, as well as those of their own respective tribes. This involved tracking down Indians knowledgeable in these various traditions, and taught Whitebear himself the traditional songs and dances of many Native cultures.
In 1968, Whitebear had the opportunity to put together a Native American dance group to tour Southeastern Europe along with the Balkan-style Koleda Dance Ensemble. They later made a second trip, performing in France and Germany. According to Lawney Reyes, Whitebear's experiences in Europe helped him "realize his calling in life", to "make Indians more visible to white people" and to help "the various tribes… forge a united front."
Returning home, Whitebear organized a series of pow wows larger than any that Seattle had ever seen, taking place at the Mercer Arena at Seattle Center, and bringing together some of the leading singers, dancers, and drummers of Plains and Plateau traditions, as well as of the local Northwest Coast Indians.
Read more about this topic: Bernie Whitebear
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