Gallery
Red Eagle Soaring
Mission
Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre (RES) exists “to empower American Indian and Alaska Native youth to express themselves with confidence and clarity through traditional and contemporary performing arts.”
History
Red Eagle Soaring is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Native Youth Theatre formed in 1990 in Seattle, Washington by a group of Native theatre artists as a tribute to Nez Perce actor John Kauffman (who had recently passed from this world). RES offers Seattle urban Native youth ages 11-19 contemporary theatre integrated with the traditional performing arts that define our Native culture – drumming, singing and storytelling. Since our formation RES has staged 130 student productions, mentored hundreds of youth and grown into a full annual cycle of programming consisting of a touring Spring Play (traveling to tribal settings, schools and conferences throughout the Northwest, as well as Seattle’s Folklife Festival), a 2-week summer performing arts intensive held at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center (culminating in a free public performance) and a series of after-school drama classes in the fall.
The majority of our teaching artists are Native and our programming is always offered in the context of traditional Native values. Our programming supports the ‘Since Time Immemorial’ Washington state tribal history and sovereignty curriculum developed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. We collaborate with and receive in-kind support from organizations like the Seattle Indian Health Board, Native People for Cancer Control, the American Indian Women’s Service League, Clear Sky Native Youth Council, United Indians of All Tribes, Longhouse Media and the Seattle Public School District’s Huchoosedah Indian Education Program.
Visit Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre website.
