Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center is moving its annual recognition of Native America Heritage month from a Second Saturday event to its own Saturday celebration, set for November 18. Attendance at the popular family-friendly event has grown greatly over the years, and this year’s celebration promises some new features, as well as some past favorites.
New this year is a native craft holiday marketplace from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., sponsored by Native Vendors United and Sacred Waters Fish Company. The marketplace will feature Native American artists and craftspeople, offering an opportunity for small business vendors, artists and artisans to display and sell their goods and services.
Among the returning features is the popular Native Runway, which begins at 1 p.m. The Native Runway is a celebration of regalia, culture, and song. Listen to traditional music as dancers walk a ‘red’ runway in native regalia — clothing and adornment unique to each dancer and his or her heritage. The native dancers will also share their personal stories and invite the entire audience to participate in a friendship dance.
The public is invited to join in this community celebration, which is a collaboration between Native American volunteers and Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center. Families can discover and learn more about the many contributions of Native Americans to the larger American cultural mosaic.
Through early 2018, the Water Center will also feature a display showcasing the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a Chinook dwelling at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.
For more information, please visit the Water Center website or contact Cory Samia at 360-487-7111.
The Water Resources Education Center is located at 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661.
