The 35th Annual Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Festival

written by Sheila Totten

The Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts show will be held on July 15-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.in Ohkay Owingeh(formerly San Juan Pueblo) three miles due north of Espanola,NM. This is the celebration of the show's 35th anniversary and it is loaded with special events that are in keeping with  its authentic spirit.
This is thought to be the largest Native American owned and operated outdoor arts and crafts exhibition and market in the western United States.It is solely run by Native Americans themselves and is the place for jewelers,potters,sculptors,painters,wood carvers and others to show and sell their wares.
The Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council is a joint  effort among the Ohkay Owingeh, Nambe,Picuris,Pojoaque,San Ildefonso,Santa Clara,Taos and Tesuque Pueblos.This show is its best effort for economic development. During the past 35 years   the show has drawn greater than 2000 Native American traditional artists from not only all 19 New Mexico Pueblos but also from Navajo,Hopi,Apache,Cherokee,Tlingit,Chippewa and Lakota tribes and Nations.The Council expects 360 artists and artisans and a crowd of 20,000 buyers this year.
The festival has been honored by being named the  fourth best festival in   the United States by Budget Travels'  Arthur Frommer on MSNBC Mardi Gras,Tanglewood and Spoleto Festivals  are the top three.Frommer urged people to turn the event into a "destination vacation" where they can not only see and buy  authentic Indian art but also experience crafts demonstrations,traditional dances.Indian foods and authentic rituals.
Featured this year will be authentic Northern Pueblo dance presentations on Saturday and Sunday.American Indian drummers,singers and dancers will perform traditional Pueblo dances which might include Corn,Buffalo,Deer and Rainbow Dances accompanied by traditional PowWow drummers and singers.Dominic Arguero of the Cochiti Pueblo is the MC this year.
The food sounds good.There will be red and green chile,posole,Indian tacos,oven bread,fry bread and Indian cookies and pies.What,no Buffalo! It is truly the best meat  there is but that is my opinion.
During the event the officials will honor and recognize the artists and individuals  who have helped make this such a great event. Carol Guzman,the show's director was quoted as saying:This year the spotlight is on the artists and those who founded the show and have dedicated themselves to this collaborative effort over the past 35 years.”
I hope many of you will make this an event to remember as part of your summer's travels.