Honoring Treaty Day
January 22 is Treaty Day — a reminder that treaties are not just the supreme law of the land, but are living documents. This day is about remembering what was promised and what’s still possible. We are all treaty people.
"We remember those promises that were made, those promises that were not kept," Executive Director Darrell Hillaire said. "It's our job as leaders today to make sure that those things that were signed in the treaty are upheld so that the responsibilities are passed on to future generations."
Learn more about Treaty Day below in our Seeds of Change section below.
Our Future Home
We’re excited to share that Setting Sun Circle — our new permanent home in the Downtown Bellingham Arts District — is now under construction. From immersive storytelling and contemporary Indigenous art to education, gathering, and shared meals, every element is being shaped with community at the center.
We’ve recently begun design work on our immersive theater, including a 50-foot LED screen that will allow our stories to be experienced at an incredible scale. A small team of content creators and artists had the opportunity to visit a showroom in Seattle to see how our Canoe Journeys footage will come to life on the screen!
Looking ahead to our Spring 2027 opening, Setting Sun Circle will be a place where stories are experienced, knowledge is shared and relationships are strengthened across generations. This new home represents the next chapter in our work rooted in Coast Salish homelands.
Salmon People in Colorado
Tah Mahs Ellie Kinley and Basa Beth Pielert participated in a screening of our film Scha'nexw Elhtal'nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life at the First People's Festival at Estes Park in Colorado Jan. 16-19.
Learn more about our film on our website!
Where We'll Be
Solidarity Stories at Sundance | Sat. Jan. 25, 2026
CSSP Screenwriter and Producer Noelani Auguston joins a conversation with leading storytellers, filmmakers, cultural strategists and organizers who are shaping some of the most crucial solidarity stories of the 21st century at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. RSVP required.
Seeds of Change
Opportunities to learn and grow together
On the heels of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrate Treaty Day on Jan. 22, marking 171 years since the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty. Both holidays remind us of how far we've come, yet how much work is still to be done for a more just and fair world for all people. This year, we challenge you to learn more about treaty rights and how we can all take part.
Get started by checking out this CSSP video from Ferndale Schools' inaugural Treaty Day recognition and our series on sovereignty with elder Oren Lyons.
Start 2026 with a gift to amplifying Native voices
Children of the Setting Sun is a 501 (c)3 non-profit that relies on the graciousness of others. If you feel inspired, make a tax deductible donation today. Hy'shqe \o/