Bay City Arts Center, Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS and the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum have organized a pair of days of events to observe Native American Heritage Month, the Tillamook Headlight-Herald reported. The program opens with an artists’ gallery reception on November 6 and continues the next day with a marketplace and a special presentation on traditional ecological knowledge. All activities will take place at the Bay City Arts Center and are free to attend except for required registration to the talk. The events aim to spotlight Indigenous artists, businesses and cultural practices in the region.
The Friday, November 6, gallery opening runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and celebrates the work of three Native American artists. Kitana Connelly of Twahna Creation, Amanda Freeman of Ampkwa Images and Leonard Harmon have contributed pieces that will remain on display at the center throughout November. Visitors can view the exhibition without registration during the reception hours. The showcase forms part of the center’s monthly artist series.
On Saturday, November 7, the Native American Marketplace will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the same location. Attendees will have the chance to meet Indigenous artists, makers and producers while browsing handmade art, beadwork, traditional crafts and goods from Native American-owned businesses. The marketplace requires no registration and encourages direct engagement with participating creators. Organizers expect the event to draw community members interested in supporting local Indigenous economies.
A presentation titled “Traditional Ecological Knowledge on the Oregon Coast” is also scheduled for Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bay City Arts Center auditorium. Molly Leno and Stephanie Craig, co-executive directors of Rooted Ways, will discuss traditional ecological knowledge as a living system of care, reciprocity and stewardship with attention to Tillamook lifeways. Advance registration is required through the netartsbaywebs.org/events website. The session is presented in partnership with Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS and the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.
Native American Heritage Month is observed each November to recognize the histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples across the United States. According to Library of Congress records, Congress passed a joint resolution in 1990 to designate the month, a tradition that has continued through annual presidential proclamations. In coastal Oregon, such observances help highlight the enduring presence of tribes including the Tillamook people, who have maintained deep connections to the land and sea for thousands of years.
Traditional ecological knowledge has drawn growing interest from scientists and land managers in the Pacific Northwest. A U.S. Forest Service assessment found that Indigenous practices often complement Western scientific approaches in promoting biodiversity and sustainable resource use along the Oregon Coast. The Bay City program seeks to share these perspectives with the broader public during the Heritage Month events. Information on the full schedule is available from the participating organizations.
