The Annual American Indian Alaska Native Celebration

Join us as we kick off celebrations of Native American Heritage Month with our annual American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month event! 

Celebrating Resiliency

Each fall, our community comes together to celebrate Native culture, resilience, and creativity at our annual American Indian Alaska Native Celebration. This event, hosted by our Native Education Program and Native Education Parent Advisory Committee, continues to be a highlight for the fall.
 

Reflecting on why this event is important, one of our NEP Program Associates, Shelby Maerz shared, “The American Indian/Alaska Native Celebration is one way Native American resilience, survivance, and cultures are recognized in Salem-Keizer Public Schools. This is a beginning to heal the generational trauma brought on by boarding schools, our families have experienced and support the growing relationship between Native peoples and Salem-Keizer Public Schools.”

Details About This Year’s Event

Thanks to deeply dedicated staff members like Shelby, and our many loving staff and community supporters, we will come together to celebrate again this year:

Saturday, November 1, 2025

• Location: Career Technical Education Center (3501 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301)

Schedule of Events:

• 3:30 p.m. – Writing Workshop with Matika Wilbur

• 5 p.m. – Dinner provided by Tamale Boy 

• 6 p.m. – Notorious Cree (from Canada) will be speaking and performing dance

• 8 p.m. – Event concludes

A Space For Everyone

As always, this family-friendly event welcomes all to join in celebration and community. We look forward to seeing you and your family there as we continue this important tradition of honoring Native voices and stories. Learn more about the celebration and our Native Education Program on our district website.