Sacred Breath: Indigenous Writing and Storytelling Series (Fall 2026)
The wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House
The Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington hosts an annual literary and storytelling series. Sacred Breath features Indigenous writers and storytellers sharing their craft at the beautiful wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Intellectual House on the UW Seattle campus. The fall Sacred Breath event features Simon J. Ortiz, a poet, prose writer, editor, and children’s book author, and Sara Marie Ortiz, a Seattle-based educator, Native arts, lit, and culture specialist.
Storytelling offers a spiritual connection, a sharing of sacred breath. Literature, similarly, preserves human experience and ideals. Both forms are durable and transmit power that teaches us how to live. Both storytelling and reading aloud can impact audiences through the power of presence, allowing for the experience of the transfer of sacred breath as audiences are immersed in the experience of being inside stories and works of literature.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with light refreshments. Event begins at 5 p.m. with reading and introduction from Sara Marie Ortiz, followed by readings from Simon Ortiz and audience Q&A.
Event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required.
About the Artist
Speakers
Simon J. Ortiz
Sara Marie Ortiz
Accessibility
General Parking: N20 lot near the Intellectual House (North Campus lot - Padelford parking garage off Pend Oreille Road)
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- For interpreting, captioning, amplification services, and TTYs: contact the Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services via email or at 206.543.1415, 206.543.6452 (TTY), preferably at least 10 days in advance of the event.
- Accessible parking information: for additional questions/accommodations, contact the Transportation Services Events Office via email or at 206.616.8710.
- Map of accessible entrances.
- Printable campus mobility map.
- For general accessibility accommodation requests: contact the Disability Services Office via email or at 206.543.6450, 206.543.6452 (TTY), preferably at least 10 days in advance of the event.
- For interpreting, captioning, amplification services, and TTYs: contact the Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services via email or at 206.543.1415, 206.543.6452 (TTY), preferably at least 10 days in advance of the event.
- Parking - ADA compliant parking options for College of Arts & Sciences events:
- N1: 6 stalls that serve The Burke Museum and Gates Hall
- N22: 26 stalls that serve HUB, Hall Health, Thompson, Communications, and Padelford
- Central Plaza Garage (C1-C6): 39 stalls that serve Kane, Suzzallo, Gerberding, Meany, Henry Art, Odegaard
- C1: 12 stalls ‐ dispersed between exits/entrances to Meany Studio Theatre (2), Odegaard (2) and Kane Hall (8)
- C2: 3 stalls ‐ located near 15th Avenue exit/entrance
- C3: 12 stalls ‐ dispersed between exits/entrances to Meany Theatre (7), Odegaard (2) and Kane Hall (3)
- C4: 4 stalls ‐ located near exit/entrance to Henry Art Gallery
- C5: 4 stalls ‐ dispersed between exits/entrances to Odegaard (1) and Kane Hall (3)
- C6: 4 stalls – located near exit/entrance to Henry Art Gallery