Chief Seattle Club

The mission of the Chief Seattle Club is to provide a sacred space to nurture, affirm and renew the spirit of urban Native peoples. The Chief Seattle Club is the only program dedicated to the needs of Seattle's homeless, low-income and at risk Native population. An estimated 12,000 American Indian and Alaska Native people live in the city of Seattle. Many struggle to survive on our urban streets, often lacking access to housing, employment, healthcare and other basic services. We serve an average of 100 clients (or members) each day, up 60% since 2001. Cultural and spiritual identity lie at the roots of our ongoing vision. Thanks to a generous donor, we now own a historic building in Pioneer Square. In the next several years, we will work to strengthen our core services and programs: member support from staff and volunteers; nutrition and health; and arts and crafts. The Chief Seattle Club was founded by a Jesuit, Father Talbot, in 1970. The club has operated with growing leadership from the urban Native community and supporters. Through more than three decades, we have maintained a culturally rooted organization, inter-connecting Native and non-Native communities as we provide our basic services. In the last decade, we have hired our first full-time staff, successfully conducted a major capital campaign, and expanded our services to include an arts program. Our staff have predominantly been Native, and leadership on our Board of Directors is both Native and non-Native. 

The Chief Seattle Club is based in Seattle's Pioneer Square. With support from the Native community, our volunteers and donors, we provide: warm, nutritious food; early morning shelter, showers, laundry and clothing; access to health care including drug and alcohol treatment; connection with other Native people and cultural traditions; and, a safe place with respect for the dignity of each person.