In Cannon Beach, a new gathering celebrates Native heritage
Published 9:00 am Monday, November 6, 2023
- Aleut artist Ceara Lewis, who grew up in Cannon Beach, uses natural resources like red and yellow cedar, dentalium shells and porcupine quills to create artwork.
Seeking to broaden interaction with local Indigenous history and culture, four Cannon Beach nonprofits have joined together to organize the Gathering, a weekend of art, music, storytelling and food in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
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According to Watt Childress, a Tolovana Arts Colony board member, the idea came from an informal gathering among friends, talking about corn.
“I guess I’m the one who brought corn into the conversation,” said Zoe Swain, a chef with Mesoamerican heritage. “Corn is such an essential part of so many different cultures. From there, we started discussing how art and music, like food, connects people across diverse backgrounds and nationalities.”
That conversation expanded into a vision of an event to celebrate various aspects of Native American life and culture.
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The event kicks off on Friday evening with The Blackbird Band — who incorporate flute music into a rock fusion set — and musician and storyteller Quiltman at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse.
The celebration continues on Saturday, with presentations at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum by Indigenous artists Ceara Lewis, Ravenwolf and Brad Mix.
“I’m intimidated, but excited to be involved,” said Ravenwolf, who has recently revived his artistic career after a hiatus and will be presenting his paintings that he refers to as prayers. “I am grateful for this opportunity. A fire has been lit.”
The weekend concludes at noon Sunday with a luncheon at Tolovana Hall, where Swain will introduce her “decolonized fry bread,” followed by a poetry reading from Astoria author Cliff Taylor and storytelling led by Marisol Quintana.
“Watt gave my healthier version of fry bread that decolonized name,” Swain said, laughing. “I’ve experimented with making a healthier fry bread by baking, not frying, and using masa (ground corn) instead of wheat flour. I’m glad the whole corn thing that began as an observation has grown into a celebration including so many different people and ideas.”
The event is a partnership between the Tolovana Arts Colony, Coaster Theatre Playhouse, Cannon Beach History Center and Museum and the Cannon Beach Arts Association.
“Our community has long been a gathering place,” said Andrea Suarez-Kemp, development manager of the museum, who uses her Taino roots as she works to expand exhibits and programming for Indigenous people. “Here’s a chance for us to use the power of hospitality and friendship to connect people more deeply between cultures.”