Santa Fe Indian Market

The extremely popular Indian Market is widely known as the place where Native American art and culture meets the world. As a primary vehicle for showcasing Native American arts, the Market also serves as a principal means for advancing the careers of many of today's noted American Indian artists. The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation was a proud sponsor of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market. NACF was there for the Market’s festivities and during that time met with Passamaquoddy basket weaver Jeremy Frey, member of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, who was this year’s winner of “Best of Show” and many other artists. The Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance is a 2010 NACF “Mobilizing the Community Through the Arts” grantee. “Congratulations to Jeremy for his Indian Market award, and to the continuing future work and success of all the Maine Indian basketmakers,” said NACF President and CEO Lulani Arquette.

“The act of giving was part of the ‘gifting economy’ of the Northwest where one’s wealth was measured by generosity, good work and a good heart. That is the work of philanthropy too: It’s an honor to have plenty and to share. There is no lack when you have this process in place and the most important mindset to have while participating is gratitude, or giving thanks and promising to care for all, no matter what.”

Elizabeth Woody, Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama

K-12 Program Coordinator, Center for Coastal Marine Observation & Prediction

“These gifts demonstrate strong tribal interest in creating a powerful funding engine for protecting and preserving Native art and culture—the very cornerstones of tribal sovereignty. A foundation of this nature will help reverse the long history of government suppression of Native culture done as part of the United States' assimilation program. Through gifts of this nature, Indian Country can direct its resources to protect what is closest to home to all Indian tribes—our own cultures."

Walter Echo-Hawk, Pawnee

Of counsel, Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C.

Santa Fe Indian Market

2011/2012 Grantees

2010/2011 Grantees