The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) is excited to have released our first publication this year The Larger Voice: Celebrating the Work of Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Literature Fellows. This is the first publication by NACF that highlights the work of many of our National Artist Fellows in literature.

We are pleased to offer you a free copy of the PDF available here:  www.nativeartsandcultures.org/programs/literary-anthology

Your contributions are critical to our efforts to advance the artistic and cultural works and programming created by Native artists and culture bearers who are positively contributing to their communities across the land.

Be part of this mission and take action to keep it going!

In early November, NACF and the Portland Art Museum co-presented “Voices Like Thunder: An Afternoon of Poetry with the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.” The gathering was held to launch the release of The Larger Voice: Celebrating Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Literature Fellows.

The program was moderated by author Trevino Brings Plenty (Minneconjou Lakota) with poetry readings by Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest (Lummi Nation), previous Oregon State Poet Laureate (2016-18) Liz Woody [Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon, of Yakama Nation Wasco descent, and is “born for” the Tódích’íinii (Bitter Water clan) of the Navajo Nation], Laura Da’ (Eastern Shawnee/Seneca/Miami), and emerging local Native poets: Ei-Shah Pirtle-Wright (Warm Springs, Siletz, Klamath & Modoc), Alma Tapio (Mexican Indigenous), and Brenna Two Bears.

A Q&A followed with questions for the poets, and a BIPOC open mic poetry reading for those in attendance. It was an uplifting celebration of Indigenous voices. For 15-year-old Alma Tapio it was the young writer's first time doing a public reading of their works. From elder to youth, perspectives from varying generations and Native Nations were represented.

Watch video from the event on our YouTube channel.

We could not do this meaningful work without you. We rely on your generous support to ensure a vibrant future for Native artists and culture bearers. Your gift will support artists and community projects whose work can change the narrative of invisibility for future generations to come and open dialogue for social change. Will you consider making a gift today?