A spotlight once again shines on Indigenous culture and communities for November, recognized as National American Indian Heritage Month, more commonly known as Native American Heritage Month.

In Oregon, the 2024 celebration includes several local events that highlight tribal history, food, Native artists, and traditional crafts, most of which are free and open to the public.

One event, the NAYA Gala and Auction, which is billed as the largest celebration of Native American Heritage Month in the Pacific Northwest, is long since sold out.

Oregon tribes will recognize Native American Heritage Day on Friday, Nov. 29, when most tribal offices will be closed.

Here are some of the best local ways to celebrate the Native American Heritage Month this year:

THROUGH NOV. 23

“Citizen Fellow: Art as Archive and Memory”

The latest exhibition at the Center for Native Arts and Cultures will feature a sampling of the past 15 years of Native Arts and Culture Foundation fellows, working with painting, sculpture, printmaking, video and site-specific installation. The exhibition “takes creative Native thought and practice as its point of departure and considers art and leadership as a catalyst for community engagement,” according to the foundation.

5-7 p.m. Fridays, noon-4 p.m. Saturdays, and by appointment; 800 S.E. 10th Ave., Portland; free.

NOV. 9

Frybread Fest

Downtown Portland’s Frybread Fest is billed as “a day dedicated to education, healing and celebration for everyone,” featuring storytelling from the famed Ed Edmo, drumming by Turquoise Pride and free frybread from Indigenous food pop-up Javelina PDX (while supplies last). The event will also feature Portland Indigenous Marketplace vendors.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 9; 900 S.W. Taylor St., Portland; free.

NOV. 9

“Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley”

Get an education about local tribal history at this author talk featuring Dr. David G. Lewis, an anthropologist and member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde who will be discussing topics from his book “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.” The talk will include the colonization of the area and the losses felt by people in the local tribes as they transitioned to life on reservations.

1:30-2:30 p.m. Nov. 9; 2850 N.E. Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro; free.

NOV. 14

“This IS Kalapuyan Land”

Part of the Grand Ronde Cultural Series, this talk with visual artist Steph Littlebird at the Cedar Mill Library dives into Kalapuyan history from a contemporary Indigenous perspective, featuring art from Indigenous creators. In 2019, Littlebird opened an exhibition by the same name at Washington County’s Five Oaks Museum. Advance registration is required.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14; 1080 Saltzman Road, Cedar Mill; free, register online at cedarmillbethany.libcal.com.

NOV. 14 and 21

Crafting workshops

The Hillsboro Public Library will host two Indigenous crafting workshops in November. The first, Family Tule Duck Weaving on Nov. 14, will be led by Stephanie Craig, owner of Kalapuya Weaving and Consulting, who will give a presentation on Kalapuyan lifeways before teaching participants how to make a woven tule duck. On Nov. 21, Beading & Embroidery with Mixteca and Yakama Artists will teach that craft to participants of all ages. Advance registration is required for both events, which will take place at the Hillsboro Brookwood Library.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 21; 2850 N.E. Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro; free, register online at wccls.org.

NOV. 15-DEC. 31

Winter Indigenous Pop Up Shop

Hosted by the Portland Indigenous Marketplace, an organization that supports Indigenous artists and promotes public education through cultural arts, the Winter Indigenous Pop Up Shop will be open Wednesday to Sunday throughout the holiday season. Vendors will be selling handmade goods and original designs.

10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday from Nov. 15 to Dec.31; 720 S.W. Washington St., Suite 720, Portland.

NOV. 16

Siletz Restoration Powwow

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians will host its 47th Restoration Powwow this month at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. The event marks the anniversary of the Siletz Restoration Act, which in 1977 restored the tribe’s federal recognition. Grand entry will be at 6 p.m. at the powwow.

6 p.m. Nov. 16; 1777 N.W. 44th St., Lincoln City; free.

Nov. 16-17

Crow’s Shadow Beading Workshop

Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts in Pendleton will host a two-day beading workshop with artist Aubry Booth-Spencer Rodrigez, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, who will teach participants how to make beaded ornaments. Advance registration is required.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 16-17; 48004 St. Andrews Road, Pendleton; $30, register online at crowsshadow.org.

NOV. 16 AND 23

Beaded Earring Workshop

The Hillsdale Library in Southwest Portland will host a two-part beaded earring workshop taught by artist Natalie Mitchell, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and of Mexican descent who makes jewelry inspired by Native art and culture. Registration opens Nov. 10 at multcolib.org.

Nov. 16 and 23; 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd., Portland; free.

NOV. 23

Grand Ronde Restoration Powwow

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Grand Ronde Restoration Act, which in 1983 restored the tribe’s federal recognition, with a public powwow on Nov. 23. Grand entry will be at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the powwow, which will take place at Spirit Mountain Casino.

1 p.m. Nov. 23; 27100 S.W. Salmon River Highway, Grand Ronde; free.

NOV. 23-24

Oregon City Indigenous Marketplace

In addition to its downtown Portland pop-up, the Portland Indigenous Marketplace will host the two-day Oregon City Indigenous Marketplace, featuring many of its same vendors and artists. The event will take place at the Redland Grange, just outside town.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 23 and 24; 18131 S. Fischers Mill Road, Oregon City.

NOV. 27

Native Story Hour

Storyteller Karen Kitchen (Osage Nation) will lead the Native Story Hour event hosted at the Capitol Hill Library in Southwest Portland. The event will feature songs and books from Native cultures, and is open to people of all ages. The event is supported by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Nov. 27; 10723 S.W. Capitol Highway, Portland; free.

–Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, [email protected] or @HaleJamesB.

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