'The Healing Heart of Lushootseed' premiere May 12

The Skagit Valley premiere of "The Healing Heart of Lushootseed" a documentary, film shows at the Lincoln Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12. The evening starts with a red carpet reception at 6:30 pm.

Feeling heartbroken by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Vi taqᵂšəblu Hilbert, an 83-year-old elder from the Upper Skagit Indian tribe in the Pacific Northwest, asked the spirit, "What can one person do to heal a sick world?" The answer she received was "music." "The Healing Heart of Lushootseed," a short documentary film, tells the extraordinary story of how a diminutive great-grandmother gathered support for her most ambitious project yet, to heal the heart of the world through music.

On May 20, 2006, Seattle's Benaroya Hall was filled to capacity for the world premiere of "The Healing Heart of the First People of this Land," an orchestral work in four movements, by Canadian composer Bruce Ruddell, performed by the Seattle Symphony and mezzo soprano Jenny Knapp, conducted by Maestro Gerard Schwarz. Hilbert believed the symphony should be performed around the world.

Hilbert, an Upper Skagit tribal member, was born and raised by Skagit (Lushootseed) speaking parents in the Skagit River area of Washington state. She was educated from birth to the traditional customs and language of her Indian community.

Hilbert began her extensive formal work with Lushootseed in 1967 and later founded her organization in 1983. She started working with linguist Thom Hess, who introduced her to the written language. Hilbert taught the language at the University of Washington for nearly two decades and was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Seattle University in 1994.

She encouraged and assisted many of the local tribes in developing their own language programs. Her many awards for her dedication including being named a Washington State Living Treasure, a U.S. National Heritage Fellow and receiving the Ken Hale Prize for lifelong achievement. Seattle University has named a new ten-story building on campus in her honor.

A panel discussion with Jill La Pointe, Ryan Dudenbostel, Bruce Ruddell and moderator John La Pointe follows the film.

This event is free and open to all.

Source: Lincoln Theatre