Lawney Reyes is an artist, the author of the autobiographical White Grizzly Bear’s Brother: Learning to be Indian and Bernie Whitebear: An Urban Indian’s Quest for Justice, and the brother of Bernie Whitebear. 

Reyes is a Sin Aikst, or Lake, Indian from the Colville Confederated Tribes.  He grew up on the Colville Reservation, attended the Chemawa Indian boarding school, and lived in the Tacoma, Washington area before moving to Seattle.  A noted artist and architect, Reyes helped design the Daybreak Star Cultural Center and his famous sculpture “Blue Jay” is on display at the Center. He also designed a Dreamcatcher which stands at 32nd and Yesler in Seattle, honoring the memory of his brother Bernie Whitebear and his sister Luana Reyes.

During the following interview with Teresa Brownwolf Powers on October 21st, 2005 at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center, Reyes discusses his brother Bernie Whitebear’s life, leadership, and legacy.

Work on this interview was made possible by a grant from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax.