Hoping to shop local for this year’s holiday season? Look no further than the Eugene Native American Arts and Crafts Market located at the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion on Dec. 3. This market is the perfect opportunity to support local Native artists and find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. For those on a budget and those with more to spend, there’s an item for everyone.
NAACM had humble beginnings in 2013, where it took the form of a two-day holiday market at the Farmers Market Pavillion. As time progressed and the market became more established, the organizers looked to expand and create a more consistent schedule. Today, NAACM occurs on the first Sunday of every month from June through December.
Inspired by the abundance of skilled artists and crafters in her community, Marcy Middleton founded NAACM along with a friend 10 years ago. Middleton is the main organizer and vends her turquoise-and shell-based jewelry at the market.
“I was sitting with a friend of mine who does T-shirt silk screen and I said, ‘wouldn’t it be nice if we had our own market here?’” Middleton said. “I started thinking about it, because I know how to organize, and I thought: we could do this.”
The market features 13 to 14 vendors. “We are a diverse group of tribal people,” Middleton, who is Navajo, said. “We have people who were from Cherokee Nation, Ho-Chunk and Lakota.” Middleton added that NAACM is not just restricted to Native artisans from the United States, but allows 20% of vendors to be from indigenous communities from the rest of the world.
NAACM honors the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 which promotes the development of Native American art and prevents misrepresentation in the marketing of Native art by non-Native people.
“We have an application process to make sure that people have heritage or are tribal affiliated as an artist or crafter,” Middleton said. “And that they have to make their own arts or crafts and be there to sell.”
All vendors at NAACM must make their goods themselves, or sell the arts and crafts of a family member. “The focus is to have the people that make their own stuff sell,” Middleton said. This allows shoppers to meet their artists and buy straight from the source while also preventing importers from vending at the market.
NAACM features a wide variety of art forms, ranging from beadwork to wooden bowls to ribbon skirts. “It’s great for people who are last-chance holiday shoppers,” Middleton said. Other notable items include woven rugs and potholders, painted rocks and healing salves. There is a little something for everyone at NAACM.
Aside from the arts and crafts, NAACM also makes sure to feature informational panels about Native Americans in Oregon and a Kalapuya land acknowledgement.
“Part of why we do what we do is to dispel stereotypes and create opportunities for people to ask questions of real Native people who are right there selling their arts and crafts,” Middleton said. “That’s a big part of why we felt it was really important. One of the reasons is to have a presence in this community. Also, an opportunity to show that Native people are real, and they’re really here.”
If you can’t make it to the market on Dec. 3, you’re not completely out of luck. NAACM has a second market on Dec. 16 at the Amazon Community Center.
“We welcome everybody to come,” Middleton said. “Even if you’re not shopping, just come and be. It’s a fun atmosphere.”
