Native American Bazaar biggest yet

Check out this annual market, and see what happened when many vendors and guests showed up at this outer East Portland community center …

This year’s Native Family Day & Marketplace teems with both shoppers and vendors.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Back for its fifth year at the Portland Parks & Recreation (PF&R) Mt. Scott Community Center, in the Brentwood Darlington neighborhood, was the “Native Family Day & Marketplace”, held on November 26.

“This is a wonderful event put on by and for the Native American community, featuring a marketplace and entertainment,” observed PP&R Native American Community Advisory Council member Sheryl Juber.

Becky Archibald, Nahela Yazzie, and Halia Yazzie spend a moment with the event’s coordinator, Sheryl Juber.

“We have about 30 vendors here today; some of came from as far away as Arizona to attend this year,” Juber told East Portland News, as guests swirled among the exhibits in the events room, and spilling out into the hallway.

“People coming here are finding beaded jewelry, pottery, clothing, smoked salmon, crafts, paintings and other art, etched glass – and the list goes on, of the items brought here by our Native American artisans,” Juber smiled.

Here, showing one of his handmade crafts, is Leland Bullinsight of the Crow Nation, in Montana.

On stage, a musical trio called Cedar Rose entertains with contemporary and culturally-significant songs.

“It’s important to have this here, because it’s good for the Native American community to have an a special place to gather,” Juber reflected. “And, holding it here invites everyone to be introduced to the community, especially if they haven’t been here before. So, part of the idea is to get them here for the ‘family day’, to go roller skating or swimming, and come back again on their own.”

Busy in the kitchen making “Indian Tacos” for sale are volunteers Kristen Potts, Luci LaDue, Sande Bea Allman, and Cara Hash.

This outreach program proved successful; many guests came to browse and buy at the Marketplace, while their kids played at the Community Center.

> On our Front Page: Katherine Quartz, a member of the Paiute tribe, shows her beadwork belt buckle.

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