Cannon Beach community groups are teaming up to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with “Gathering,” a weekend of art, music, culture, food and more from Friday November 10 to Sunday November 12. All programs are offered free of charge (donations are encouraged).
Friday, November 10th kicks off with a concert at the Cannon Beach Coaster Theatre featuring The Blackbird Band and Quiltman.
The celebration continues on Saturday, Nov. 11th at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum, featuring presentations by artists Ceara Lewis (Aleut), Ravenwolf (Koyukon Athabaskan/Muscogee Creek), and a presentation by Brad Mix (Red River Métis).
The weekend concludes on Nov. 12 with a luncheon honoring corn at Tolovana Hall. The final event will include “decolonized fry bread” from Zoe Swain (MesoAmerican), poetry reading by Cliff Taylor (Ponca), and storytelling led by Marisol Quintana (Purépecha).
Throughout the weekend—and during the month of November—Terresa White (Yup’ik) will be the featured artist at the Cannon Beach Gallery’s annual miniature show.
“Our community has long been a gathering place,” says Andrea Suarez-Kemp, Development Manager of the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. “Here’s a chance for us to showcase our capacity and strengthen the rapport between residents and visitors.”
This is a longstanding challenge for many resort destinations. It involves a re-balancing of priorities to better meet the basic needs of community – like clean water, affordable housing, and food security. Such needs have been largely unmet for generations of Native American families. More and more people are beginning to relate. Art, culture, and heritage help energize us to move forward.
Suarez-Kemp is aware of her Taino roots as she works to expand exhibits and programming for Indigenous people at the museum.
“Promoters of tourism often call this the Columbia-Pacific region,” she says. “Yet I think of all the wonders that were here before Columbus first met my ancestors when he landed in the Western Hemisphere.”
Local organizers view this as part of a larger opportunity: using the power of hospitality and friendship to connect people more deeply with the places we live and visit.
In solidarity with all Clatsop and Nehalem/Tillamook Peoples, thanking every Indigenous ancestor who shared in the art of human community.
Here are more details about next weekend’s Gathering events:
Friday 11/10: Blackbird band with special guest Quiltman
Cannon Beach Coaster Theater, Starts at 7 pm
Bibi McGill, Lead Guitarist for Beyonce and Ceelo Green says, Blackbird “definitely knows how to bring the heart and soul” Originally from Anchorage, Alaska and featured in Rolling Stone Magazine for their collaboration with Portugal The Man, Blackbird is a 6X Native American Music Award Winning band that incorporates Native flute into their aptly self described “Alter-NATIVE” Rock Fusion. From The Kennedy Center to Yamaha World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the legendary ROXY Theater in Hollywood and everywhere in between, Blackbird has shared the bill with music industry giants like Blues Traveler, Black Eyed Peas, and Jason Mraz. He and Quiltman have performed with iconic Native poet, John Trudell.
Saturday 11/11 – Paintings and Presentations
Cannon Beach History Center and Museum, Starts at 2 pm
Ceara Lewis (Aleut), Artist
Ravenwolf (Koyukon Athabaskan/Muscogee Creek), Visual Artist, Veteran
Brad Mix (Red River Métis), Native Traditional Practitioner
Sunday 11/12 – Corn Poetry Fiesta with Decolonized Frybread
Tolovana Arts Colony, Starts at Noon
Zoe Swain (MesoAmerican), Chef
Cliff Taylor (Ponca), Poet and Essayist
Marisol Quintana (Purépecha), Storyteller
All Month: Cannon Beach Arts Association
Terresa White (Yup’ik), Featured artist in Miniature Show
