Indigenous Red Market

Aug 24th, 2021

I came here for my birthday and I was originally so excited and grateful that this event was on the same day so I could spend the afternoon here with my friend. We planned our day around this and drove about an hour to get here. After waiting in line for a while we finally got in and checked out all the booths where we met some cool artists and purchased some art and jewelry. Between the both of us we bought some thing from just about everyone selling. However as soon as we finished we stopped to talk to one of the performers at the event and some guy (who apparently worked there) suddenly interrupted us to say that we needed to get out. His excuse was that he thought we stole although he said he didnt see it. I offered to go with him to speak to the people who had apparently seen us and show them the items I had purchased and anything else on me since I had a small book bag with me that I put all the items I purchased into. I also offered to let him search it on the spot and search me but he refused and just threatened to call the police and get me arrested for stealing. I said that would be okay since I didnt and I would be happy to let them search me as well but he continued to yell at us telling us it was a cultural event and we needed to get out. Coincidentally or not my friend and I look mostly white since our mothers are but our fathers are native and we were both raised to respect and honor the culture and would never have done something like that so it was especially degrading and honestly traumatizing to be called out on the spot for something we didnt actually do and have everyone there look at us like we were monsters when we literally just came to support the community and enjoy the event. Ive been going to these events since I was a kid but I honestly cant say that I will ever feel comfortable coming back.
Aug 12th, 2021