NW Native Festival

Experience the richness of contemporary Native creativity! The free IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival is at the Washington State History Museum on Saturday, August 12, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This event, in correlation with the IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts Exhibition, is a vibrant celebration of Native arts and culture.

View the IN THE SPIRIT exhibition, which showcases the work of 26 Native artists from across the country. The exhibition highlights a juried selection of Native art that ranges from traditional craftsmanship to cutting-edge contemporary styles.

The Arts Market will feature selected Native artisan vendors, offering an array of crafts, jewelry, and artworks for sale. Many of the artists featured in the exhibition will be in attendance as vendors. Additionally, there will be art-making opportunities for attendees to create something of their own.

A wide range of performances will take place throughout the day in the Washington State History Museum amphitheater. The festivities will kick off at 12:00 PM with a special blessing by Puyallup Cultural Director Connie McCloud (Puyallup). At 12:30 PM, the renowned 2014 & 2016 Native American Flute Player of the Year, Rona Yellow Robe (Chippewa Cree Tribe), will share traditional songs. At 2:00 PM, the Alaska Kuteeyaa Dancers (Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Aleut, Muckleshoot, and Quielute) will take the audience on a journey through time, sharing songs and dances passed down for generations. Closing out the festival with a bang will be celebrated heavy-rock duo, Lozen (Puyallup and Indigenous Mexican), playing their first show in five years at IN THE SPIRIT.

The Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass will also be offering complimentary admission and programming for IN THE SPIRIT on August 12. The Tacoma Art Museum will feature works from talented Native artists, including Paige Pettibon (Confederated Salish and Kootenai). Pettibon’s art spans across various mediums, and her pieces are deeply influenced by her Indigenous and multicultural heritage. Visitors can meet Paige Pettibon and witness her creative process firsthand from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Over at the Museum of Glass, Glass Fest Northwest will take center-stage, celebrating glass art by bringing together local artists and artisans, food, drinks, music, and interactive activities on the plaza. Inside the Museum, visitors will have the opportunity to witness renowned weaver Nancy Burgess (Umpqua) as she creates new works inspired by hat and basket forms from her weaving practice.