Beyond Treaties: Native Stories of Survival and Strength
John Halliday (Coyote)
Thursday October 8, 2026 at 6pm via Zoom
Words, Writers, Southwest Stories is a free monthly speaker series that highlights local authors, historians, and voices to foster a deeper understanding of our community and its people.
Explore Native resilience through the personal journey of John Halliday (Coyote), a Muckleshoot artist, speaker, and former tribal leader. After surviving a near-death experience and losing much of his sight, Halliday turned to traditional Native values of endurance and adaptation to remake his life through art, music, and storytelling.
Blending drumming, flute music, painting, and lived history, he shares how Native communities have survived beyond the signing of treaties. Audiences will gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, strength, and creativity today.
John Halliday is a Muckleshoot artist and speaker with expertise in Native cultures and Washington history. Halliday retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Deputy Regional Director for the Navajo Region after serving as CEO for both the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie tribes. He has shown his art at Lakewold Gardens, ANT Gallery, and the Sacred Circle Galleries of American Indian Art under the artist name “Coyote”.
John lives in Steilacoom.
This program, like other free programming, is supported by Sustaining Support and Public Free Access funds from 4Culture. Additional support from the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, our sponsors, and from contributions from program participants. Thank you for your donations which support Local History!
