More than a dozen Indigenous artists, musicians and writers will gather Aug. 1-2 for IndigiPalooza, a Native arts and storytelling festival at the Missoula Public Library, according to Montana Free Press. The free, public event includes panel discussions, a traditional foods cooking demonstration, an art market and live performances by Native musicians Foreshadow and Supaman.
Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray, a citizen of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, co-organized the festival alongside Selya Avila of the Missoula Public Library and Anna East of Chickadee Community Services. Joy Harjo, a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, will deliver the opening keynote.
La Tray said IndigiPalooza offers Native creators a space to share work with one another. “Native people need opportunities for us to be gathered among ourselves,” he told Montana Free Press.