Join us for a special screening of The Teaching of the Tree People, a moving documentary centered on the life, teachings, and legacy of Gerald Bruce Miller (Subiyay), a revered Skokomish elder, master artist, educator, and cultural caretaker whose life’s work was dedicated to preserving and sharing the knowledge of the Twana and Southern Coast Salish peoples.
The film was completed shortly before his passing and serves as his enduring gift to future generations.
Bruce Miller believed that “the trees were our first teachers.” Through stories, traditional ecological knowledge, plant medicines, cedar harvesting and weaving, First Foods traditions, language, and cultural teachings, he demonstrated how the natural world guides us in living with reciprocity, responsibility, and respect. As the bearer of generations of knowledge, oral history, art, and spirituality, he devoted his life to ensuring these teachings would continue long after him.
Presented in partnership with United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and the Green Seattle Partnership, this event invites community members to reflect on the deep connections between Indigenous knowledge, cultural resilience, ecological restoration, and stewardship of the lands and waters that sustain us.
The documentary follows Bruce’s journey from his childhood among tribal elders, through experiences at Berkeley, Vietnam, and New York City, and ultimately his return home to the Skokomish homeland, where he led a cultural renaissance rooted in language revitalization, traditional arts, ceremony, and environmental stewardship. His influence continues to shape Indigenous food sovereignty, plant medicine, cultural education, and restoration efforts throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Following the screening, participants will be invited into a community conversation exploring Indigenous stewardship, restoration, food sovereignty, and the teachings that continue to guide us through our relationships with the land, plants, waters, and one another.
Location: Seattle Central Library
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 6pm-7:30pm
Cost: Free and open to the public
All are welcome.
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