Events

By Katie Warthan, director of communications and marketing

Artist Christal Ratt (Algonquins of Barriére Lake), right, and a customer at Indian Market & Festival.

For one weekend every summer, something special spreads across the grounds of the Eiteljorg Museum. It’s a feeling you notice right away: The pace shifts, the air fills with music and laughter, and every corner of the museum comes alive with color, creativity and connection. During the Indian Market & Festival, now in its 34th year, the Eiteljorg becomes a downtown gathering place to celebrate cultures, share stories and appreciate artistry.

From the moment you arrive, you are part of the experience. More than 100 American Indian, Alaska Native and First Nations artists from across North America travel to Indianapolis to take part in this juried art market, bringing with them artworks that reflect generations of knowledge, skill and cultural identity. As you visit artists’ booths outside and inside the museum, you can shop for an incredible variety of art, such as beadwork that shimmers in the sunlight, intricately woven baskets, striking paintings, hand-built pottery, contemporary photography, delicately crafted jewelry and other art mediums. Each piece carries deep meaning.

Marketgoers enjoy opportunities to meet the artists. These are not just transactions; they are conversations. You can ask about materials, techniques, and the stories behind each creation. Many artists say that purchasing Native art directly from the artists who create it is one of the most meaningful ways to support their work. It ensures authenticity, honors tradition and helps sustain artistic practices for future generations.

This year’s festival features award-winning returning artists who are market favorites — such as Tim Blueflint Ramel (Black River Chippewa / Comanche), Pahponee (Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas / Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Karen Ann Hoffman (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), and others — as well as established artists making their first appearances at the Eiteljorg.

“Every year the Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival invites people to experience the vibrancy and resilience of Native cultures as living, evolving traditions — not something stuck in the past,” Eiteljorg Festivals Manager Conner Richberg (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) said. “When visitors come, they’re directly supporting Native artists, hearing stories from Native voices, and engaging with traditions that have endured despite generations of challenges.”

Art, music, dance, food
While you explore the market, the Eiteljorg front lawn offers a perfect place to relax and refuel. Native-owned food vendors serve a variety of Native cuisine, with fry bread as a must-try favorite. To stay cool on a warm June day, enjoy a selection of signature sips and alcohol-free mocktails.

Follow the sound of music to the outdoor stage beneath the Sails. The festival’s lineup includes a new-to-you visual and musical production: Turtle Island: From the Creation Story of the Haudanosaunee, with performances by Skywoman Dance Theater and choreography by William Crouse (Seneca Nation, Hawk Clan). Rising above the crowd during the experience is a remarkable giant-sized Turtle inflatable, produced by Unicycle Productions and Plasticiens Volants.

Returning for a second year is the acclaimed dance troupe Indigenous Enterprise. Featuring champion powwow dancers from multiple tribal nations, the group blends traditional dance styles with contemporary influences, including hip-hop.

Inside the museum’s studios, meet two artists — future Eiteljorg artists in residence — doing live demonstrations of their work. Museum exhibitions such as Cowboy Couture are also open and included in market admission.

Know before you go
This year’s event takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27–28, with a special Market Morning Breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 27 that has a separate registration fee. At this early-access experience, guests can enjoy a meal alongside participating artists, cheer for the artists as art prizes are awarded, and shop before the festival opens to the public.

Admission to the festival itself is free for Eiteljorg members, and children ages 4 and under. Youth tickets (ages 5–17) are $10, and you can purchase adult tickets in advance for $20. A two-day weekend pass is $30. If not yet a member, you can upgrade your ticket and enjoy benefits all year long, including free museum admission. Parking is available in the White River State Park underground garage.

Don’t forget to purchase this year’s commemorative festival T-shirt, featuring the signature artwork on the design: Turtle Drum by David Martin (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi).

Whether this is your first visit or an event you return to each year, Indian Market & Festival is a celebration of art, cultures, and community that invites you not just to observe, but to connect. And by the time you leave, you may find that what you take with you goes far beyond what you can carry in your hands.

 

34TH ANNUAL EITELJORG INDIAN MARKET & FESTIVAL
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27–SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Eiteljorg.org/Indian-Market-and-Festival

SPONSORED BY:

Margot L. Eccles Arts & Culture Fund, a CICF Fund

PNC Bank

Barnes & Thornburg

Friends of Indian Market & Festival

Raymond James

Mirror Indy