A partnership of Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS, Bay City Arts Center and Tillamook Pioneer Museum will present the events to honor Native American artists, businesses and cultural traditions. Native American Heritage Month, observed each November following a 1990 congressional resolution, offers a chance to recognize the histories and achievements of Indigenous communities nationwide, the Library of Congress has documented. The Oregon Coast programming centers on creative works, entrepreneurial support and environmental insights drawn from longstanding Indigenous practices.
The schedule opens Friday, November 6, with a gallery reception at the arts center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Featured artists include Kitana Connelly of Twahna Creation, Amanda Freeman of Ampkwa Images and Leonard Harmon of Leonard Harmon Fine Art. Visitors can view the exhibits and speak with the creators without prior registration, according to the event announcement.
Saturday, November 7, brings the Native American Marketplace to the center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors will offer food, teas, beadwork, abstract art and additional handmade items from Native-owned businesses. The free event allows attendees to arrive at any point during market hours and directly support Indigenous entrepreneurs, the organizers reported.
A presentation on “Traditional Ecological Knowledge on the Oregon Coast” is set for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium. Molly Leno and Stephanie Craig, both co-executive directors of Rooted Ways, will deliver the talk and display related cultural items such as baskets, plant materials and weavings. The session frames TEK as a living system emphasizing reciprocity and extended stewardship of natural resources.
Space for the talk is limited and registration is required, the collaborating groups stated. Traditional ecological knowledge has received increased attention from federal agencies for its role in sustainable management strategies, a 2022 White House memorandum indicated. The program connects to ongoing coastal conservation discussions in the Pacific Northwest.
The Bay City Arts Center is located at 5680 A Street in Bay City, Oregon. Further details on the artists and the marketplace can be obtained through the participating organizations’ online resources. Similar cultural observances take place across Oregon during the heritage month each year.
