Elders sing and drum in honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples' Day event at Riverfront Park. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
On Monday, Salem’s 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at Riverfront Park highlighted the resilience and work of Indigenous communities in the Willamette Valley and beyond.
Speakers brought attention to major issues, including missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S. and Canada and the importance of voting in the upcoming election.
Speeches, drum and dance performances took to the main stage at the Gerry Frank Amphitheater from around 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the Oct. 14 event. At booths, vendors sold intricate bead work and kids colored and assembled corn husk dolls.
Tables shared information about how to get involved locally, including through an upcoming local candidates’ forum hosted by Latinos Unidos Siempre on Oct. 19. Other tables helped visitors get connected with health care services, including free HIV testing from Marion County.
For more information about the event and its theme of “resistance is existence, and existence is resistance,” read Salem Reporter’s discussion with organizer Hannah Shooting Bear of the Salem nonprofit Indigenous Now here.
Kimberly Smart held a moment of silence for missing, murdered and lost loved ones at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event in Salem. She said works to raise awareness and educate people about the epidemic of violence against Indigenous people. “If we don’t come together across all tribal communities, and all outside communities, then we accomplish nothing as a people,” she said in a speech. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)People watch a performance at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration at Riverfront Park on Oct. 14, 2024. The theme of the event according to organizer Hannah Shooting Bear was “resistance is existence, and existence is resistance.” (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)Portland-area artists, Heysus, on Instagram @heysus94, left and @tlaltecuhtlibeads pose for a photo behind their booth at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event at Riverfront Park on Oct. 14, 2024. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)Hannah Shooting Bear, organizer of Salem’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day event, welcomes the attendees at the start of the 7th annual event. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)Each piece from 3WS Generations Beadwork takes several hours. Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs-based business can be found online on Facebook. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter).Salem group Latinos Unidos Siempre table at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event. Alex Sosa, front, said that their goal for the day was to share the importance of local elections. The group will host a forum with local candidates on Saturday, Oct. 19, including a chance for the public to ask questions. Learn more on their Facebook. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)Yissel Lopéz sings at the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event in Salem. Lopéz has roots in Nayarit, Mexico and said she works to indigenize the mariachi genre of music. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)A children’s table at the 2024 Indigenous Peoples’ Day event included free books, coloring and a corn husk doll craft. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)Organizer Hannah Shooting Bear said that, with 28 vendors signed up, 2024 was the largest Indigenous Peoples’ Day event in its 7-year history. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
