Canyons of the Ancients Celebrates Second Annual Four Corners Indigenous Art Market

On June 15th, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) hosted their second annual Four Corners Indigenous Art Market highlighting Native artisans and musicians from across the region. The event welcomed a diverse group of guests with close to 450 people stopping by throughout the day to shop, watch, and learn from the Native communities represented. The market ran from 9am to 4:30pm and included a packed entertainment schedule in addition to vendors. JaiP’o, a 14-year-old seven-time world champion hoop dancer from Santa Clara Pueblo, and the MaaTuu Pueblo Dance Group performed an energetic hoop dance to start the day off. “It was so moving to watch JaiP’o dance because we had been planning this event for a whole year and seeing him was like the culmination of all our efforts—we had finally made it,” said event organizer and CANM Visitor Services and Program Recreation Manager, Amala Posey-Monk. 

Following the performance, Ed Kabotie, a Tewa and Hopi musician, painter, storyteller, and educator, gave the 5th installment of his lecture “Alter-Native History of Colorado.” Kabotie’s presentation covered the history of Colorado from an Indigenous lens with an emphasis on Ancestral Puebloan people and their legacy in southwestern Colorado. Posey-Monk noted that this was a particularly impactful moment in the day as there were many non-Native guests present. “Not everyone is aware of the true history of this place and things like the Pueblo Revolt, but Ed was able to demonstrate the resiliency of the Ancestral Puebloan peoples throughout their time in Colorado and beyond. It set the tone for the event.” said Posey-Monk. 

Throughout the day, Macy Robinson, Cherokee, had a strategic view of the crowd from CANM’s visitor center front desk. “Guests were all very engaged with the artists and since the vendors were right out front it served as a good conversation starter,” said Robinson. As CANM’s latest Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps intern, Robinson aims to bring her own Indigenous perspective to interpretation of CANM’s sites and exhibits. “Because the art market is an open platform, it gives everyone the chance to see the resiliency, resourcefulness, and intelligence of Native peoples past and present. It’s a reminder that Indigenous peoples still exist and are still creating, even in a place called ‘Canyons of the Ancients,’” said Robinson. Her favorite vendor of the day was Jennifer Joseph, a Hopi artist that hand-silkscreens Hopi motifs and graphics onto t-shirts, baby quilts, and other textiles. Robinson made it a point to buy gifts for her family, and a little extra something for herself. 

The Four Corners Indigenous Art Market would not have been possible without the Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance (SCCA), which supported and collaborated with CANM on the event. Markleigh Swanson, Executive Director of SCCA, said “Participating in the art market was an absolute joy for us. The event was a huge success and also incredibly fun, bringing together a vibrant community to celebrate Indigenous art and culture. We are so glad to have been a part of this experience, fostering connections and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of our region.” If you’re planning a visit to Canyons of the Ancients or curious about their upcoming events, be sure to visit their website at the link below. Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) 

Pualani Tupper is an Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps intern placed at the Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office. As a Kanaka Maoli woman, she aims to educate public land users through indigenizing communications at the BLM.