Duwamish Native Art Market Welcomes Visitors with Crafts, Food, Education

After Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day, I often find myself reflecting on the land that I occupy and the people who took care of it long before me. If you’ve attended many events here in Seattle, you’ve probably heard some variation of a land acknowledgement at the start of a show or presentation. A land acknowledgement is a small way that people can recognize that the land we are on is stolen, taken from the Native people who once stewarded it.

Seattle sits on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people, and specifically, that of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot People. There are many ways to appreciate the land we are on and honor those who were here before colonization, and recently, I decided to spend time amongst the talented artisans of the Duwamish people and give back to their community at their annual Duwamish Native Art Market.

As the original caretakers of the land we now call Seattle, the Duwamish people are an important and integral part of this city’s history and future. You can learn more about them and their culture, past and present, on their site.

Welcome sign at Duwamish Longhouse / The Evergreen Echo

Nestled amongst the trees in West Seattle is the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, also called the DLCC, a beautiful building designed to reflect traditional Salish architecture, made with cedar beams and a gorgeous open window that bathes the building in warm sunlight. Overlooking the Duwamish River, this building houses a small museum/cultural resource center, depicting different elements of Duwamish life, as well as a tribal kitchen and a large room to house various events and gatherings.

This site is part of an effort referred to as Project DLCC or the Longhouse Project, where many members of the Duwamish community came together to build a place where they could continue the cultural, social, and economic survival of their people. For six years, tribe members, local representatives, and community leaders met to develop the plan for the Longhouse, and now it stands proudly overlooking the Duwamish River and the archeological site of two Duwamish villages: Ha-Ah’-poos (“Where there are Horse Clams”) and Tohl-ahl-too (“Herring House”).

On December 1, 2024, the last day of the Art Market, the DLCC was full of bright faces and overflowing with gorgeous paintings and sculptures, warm, medicinal scents, and shining pieces of handmade jewelry. The cultural resource center and Duwamish gift shop await at the entrance, as well as the lively and welcoming staff, who are eager to help. The museum, housed within the small lobby, is quite extensive, including tools, clothing, and even replicas of Duwamish canoes. All of these reclaimed items, previously held and taken care of by The Burke Museum, provide a look into the ancestral and current practices of the Duwamish people, educating visitors on the enriching culture of those who have resided in Seattle since time immemorial.

Entering the larger, center room, I found a sea of bright colors and happy chatter between patrons and vendors. Even on the last day of the three-day event, the room was alive with community. As I happily buzzed from table to table, I found artists in motion. At a table with glass bead jewelry, a vendor could be seen meticulously braiding a woven bracelet, holding the strings between her teeth. At another booth, a woman painted an eagle onto the skin of a drum, smiling up at visitors.

Artisans’ works on display and for sale at the Market / The Evergreen Echo

Each vendor, when not set to their art, took turns telling my partner and me about their craft. One vendor pointed out their earrings made with fox fur, another told us about their scented lip balms and medicinal oils, and another told us where they sourced the wood for their pyrography (wood burning).

One of my favorite memories from the evening came from the Tribal kitchen, where cooks could be seen handmaking fry bread and other tasty treats. Fry bread is a traditional food, made by many Indigenous peoples across North America. It is made using only a few ingredients and tends to soak up the flavors of whatever you put on it. Historically, Indigenous folks created fry bread after the US government displaced them from their lands, as it was a simple recipe they could make using government rations.

For some, fry bread has become a symbol of survival, as well as a traditional part of a Native meal. My partner and I split one of these warm, fresh breads while sitting outside amongst the trees and other patrons, arguing over whether to spread strawberry or blackberry jam over it (we each ended up trying bites with both and sometimes a mix). The fry bread was delicious; golden brown on the outside and fluffy in the middle—a perfect treat for a break between visiting booths. There were also options for those who prefer their fry bread savory instead of sweet.

Traditional garb and accessories on display at the Longhouse

The Evergreen Echo

The Duwamish Native Art Market is a welcoming space for anyone who wants to learn more about the Native peoples of Seattle and a great place to give back to the community. With dozens of fantastic Native vendors, great food, and a rich museum, there is so much to experience, learn, and see.

If you missed this art fair, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. On the Duwamish Tribe’s website, you can view upcoming events, like their Holiday Native Art Market on December 14, and of course, their gift shop and museum remain open during regular business hours.