fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

Last weekend, the place to be seen for the top tier of Indigenous artists was the 64th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market in Phoenix.

With thousands of collectors and artists flooding the grounds of the Heard Museum, it was a wildly different animal than 2021’s all-online iteration. 

Instead of selling in cyberspace, the artists could stand proudly with their work and interact with collectors and colleagues the way it should be. 

But is the art market world really back to its pre-pandemic glory?

It depends on who you ask. 

“The numbers are really great here,” said Penobscot weaver Theresa Secord. “There have been a lot of collectors showing uo and supporting the artists. It’s going to be a great show."

Yakama and Comanche artist Carmen Selam was still a bit apprehensive about the situation.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s back to normal, but I feel like we’re definitely adapting to the new times,”  she said. 

Despite the issues presented by the ongoing pandemic, the market was a marvelous swirl of socializing, selling and celebrating.

Native News Online was on hand to capture some snapshots of the acclaimed artists and their stunning work. 

Here is a little look at the action and art at one of Indian Country’s premiere events. 


More Stories Like This

"Your'e No Indian" Examines the Disenrollment Issue
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to Open New Exhibition: Section 14 – The Untold Story
Actor Jonathan Joss, Voice of John Redcorn, Killed in Texas Shooting
Celebrate Summer and Father’s Day at the Chickasaw Cultural Center – June 14
After 30 Years, Berkeley's Turtle Island Monument Foundation Will Be Built

Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions

At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.

Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.

This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.

We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.

Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.

Levi headshotThe stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.

Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.

Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher

 
 
About The Author
Tamara Ikenberg
Author: Tamara IkenbergEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tamara Ikenberg is a contributing writer to Native News Online. She covers tribes throughout the southwest as well as Native arts, culture and entertainment. She can be reached at [email protected].