As holiday shoppers are making their lists and checking them twice, Indigenous artists in the Portland area came together to create a unique, heartfelt market on Portland State University’s campus for Small Business Saturday.
The Portland Indigenous Marketplace, held this weekend in PSU’s Native American Student and Community Center, supports artists and entrepreneurs from Indigenous and Black communities. Before committing to the items in your Amazon shopping cart, business owners at the marketplace asked people to consider buying local.
“For a lot of people here, this is their livelihood,” said Linda Higgins, one of the vendors at the market. “This is their heart.”
Higgins, one of 30 business owners in attendance Saturday, has been doing beadwork since she was 13 years old, she said. She’s a member of the Yakama Nation and learned the craft from her mother.
The Indigenous marketplace provides an inclusive space for artists like Higgins to share their talents and traditions, she said.
“It’s helped grow the opportunity for people to market their beautiful work and share it with a broader community,” Higgins said.
The market features a rotating roster of vendors representing Indigenous groups from across the world and will open again Sunday, according to organizer Lluvia Merello. Artists in attendance Saturday sold paintings, woven baskets, beaded earrings and necklaces, leather bracelets and skin care products.
Merello emphasized the importance of holiday sales for vendors.
“For some small businesses, the holidays carry them into the next year,” she said. “When people come out and support the artists and entrepreneurs here, it actually gives us energy to create more. It shows them the appreciation in the community.”
Portland Indigenous Marketplace is a nonprofit that organizes shopping events for over 100 Indigenous vendors. The nonprofit hosts multiple markets throughout the year and features different businesses at each gathering.
“No two markets will be exactly the same,” Merello said.
Alvia Begay-Rice, owner of Nizhoni Beads, makes Navajo beadwork and turquoise jewelry. She’s participated in the nonprofit’s events for about a year and said the exposure from these kinds of markets is crucial.
“They’re a great nonprofit, and they give a space to Native artists in the Portland area,” she said. “As Indigenous people, sometimes we don’t get a lot of exposure compared to other artists. To have things like this, especially in November during Native American Heritage Month, it’s just nice to get spotlighted.”
Beyond the handcrafted goods, the marketplace had coffee, snacks and hot chocolate. The event also featured Turquoise Pride, a band of Native American drummers.
Aaron Worden, who was shopping at the market with his wife and kids, was passing through the city and decided to stop by the market. Worden, a Coeur d’Alene tribe member, said the welcoming atmosphere was a pleasant change of pace from typical department stores.
“It’s nice to gather with other people from the Native community, it’s something I’m always excited to see,” Worden said. “We wanted to come out and support small Indigenous artists.”
The Indigenous Market place will open again 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at 710 S.W. Jackson St. The nonprofit has another pop-up market planned for Dec. 6-8 at the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation at 800 S.E. 10th Ave.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
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