IndigiPalooza Celebrates Native Arts, Cultures Missoula

Several notable events and exhibitions are celebrating Indigenous and regional arts across the United States. IndigiPalooza, taking place in Missoula, Montana, is a two-day event featuring more than a dozen Indigenous artists, musicians, and writers, including Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray and Blackfeet artist John Pepion, with a keynote poetry reading by Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate. In New Mexico, Site Santa Fe presents “Once Within a Time,” a citywide exhibition of works by 71 artists inspired by the rich storytelling traditions and historical figures of the Southwest, curated by Cecilia Alemani. Meanwhile, in the Great Lakes region, the Woodland School of Art—which originated in the early 1960s with artists such as Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, and Daphne Odjig—is being showcased through September, highlighting a distinctive Indigenous painting style. These events emphasize Indigenous perspectives, cultural heritage, and vibrant artistic communities, offering platforms for Native voices and regional art scenes to engage wider audiences. Together, they reflect a growing recognition and celebration of Indigenous and regional artistic contributions in contemporary American culture.