Santa Fe – The 104th annual Santa Fe Indian Market brings together tribal nations from across Indian Country for one of the world’s premier Native art events.
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) has worked to forge tribal partnerships that will expand programming centered on cultural preservation, Indigenous storytelling, and Native film during this year’s market. By working with tribes directly, SWAIA supports visual sovereignty.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation joins as co–title sponsor, helping present programming focused on protecting sacred places and preserving cultural heritage. On Friday, August 14, Sacred Sites Protection: Then and Now will bring together filmmaker Sterlin Harjo (Seminole Nation), comedian and activist Dallas Goldtooth (Mdewakanton Dakota/Diné), Tesuque Pueblo Governor Mark Mitchell (Tesuque), Muscogee (Creek) Nation Secretary of Culture and Humanities RaeLynn Butler (Muscogee), and representatives from Hickory Ground for a discussion on sacred places, cultural survival and the role of art and storytelling in advocacy.
The conversation continues that evening with Sacred Places 2026: A Night of Music, Storytelling, and Art, presented by Artists for Hickory Ground. The event features performances by Keith Secola (Couchiching Ojibwe), Gary Farmer (Grand River Cayuga), Frank Waln (Hunkpapa Lakota), and former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee), along with a fireside conversation featuring Dark Winds star Zahn McClarnon (Hunkpapa Lakota) and filmmaker Chris Eyre (Southern Cheyenne). The evening will also include an original theatrical performance by Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee Nation).
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
Indigenous film also takes center stage during Santa Fe Indian Market weekend. The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is the lead sponsor of the 2026 Get Indigenous Film Festival (GIFF), which will feature a special screening of Maara’yam: The Yuhaaviatam Story on Friday, August 14. Cherokee Film joins as a festival sponsor, continuing its work to increase Native representation in film and media.
Chickasaw Nation
On Saturday, August 15, the Chickasaw Nation will present Chickasaw Nation Productions: Preserving the Past, Creating the Future, highlighting how film and media continue to strengthen Native storytelling for future generations.
2026 Indian Market
SWAIA Executive Director Jamie Schulze (Northern Cheyenne/Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) noted that the support from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Cherokee Film reflects the growing role of Santa Fe Indian Market as a national gathering place for Native art, culture, and dialogue.
The 104th Santa Fe Indian Market takes place August 15 to 16, 2026, in Santa Fe with special events and programming beginning August 14, 2026.
Links
- Southwest Association for Indian Arts
- Justice for Hickory Ground
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma
- Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, California
- Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma
- Native Art Week (August 10–16, 2026), FAAM