October 26, 2023 - Boston, MA. Indigenous Peoples’ rights organization, Cultural Survival, is pleased to announce the return of its beloved holiday event, the Cultural Survival Bazaar, an annual festival of Indigenous arts and cultures.

The Cultural Survival Bazaars have been an annual Boston area holiday tradition for decades. The first Bazaar was held in 1975 at Harvard University in an effort to educate the public about Indigenous Peoples and the issues they were facing. The Cultural Survival Bazaar was a result of the Cultural Survival’s founders’ passion for uplifting Indigenous Peoples, strengthening Indigenous cultures, supporting Indigenous-led solutions, and working towards securing Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

The Cultural Survival Bazaars provide an opportunity for the public to interact with Indigenous people and experience a different worldview. With a rich tapestry of arts and crafts from around the world, shoppers are sure to find something both unique and meaningful during this gift-giving season. When purchasing arts and crafts from Indigenous artists and cooperatives, shoppers contribute to supporting millennia-old traditions and lifeways of Indigenous communities around the world. Each year, the Bazaars generate close to $500,000 for Indigenous artists, performers, and projects benefiting Indigenous communities worldwide.

After a four-year hiatus related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration of cultural diversity returns to the Prudential Center in Boston. With free admission, the greater Boston community is invited to enjoy the annual event honoring Indigenous talent and traditions through handmade art, demonstrations, music, and dance. Enjoy jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, paintings, sculptures, and more from Indigenous artists and cooperatives. Some of the participating artists include wampum artist Hartman Deetz (Mashpee Wampanoag), wire artist Bernard Domingo (Shona) from Zimbabwe, pysanka (painted eggs) artist Ganna Nepyivoda (Hutsul) from Ukraine, cashmere artisan Akhtar Mir (Kashmiri), and textile artist Timoteo Ccarita (Quechua) from Peru. 

“I view Indigenous art created within the 21st century as a weaving of the long threads of ancestral knowledge together with our present realities to tell unique stories of Indigenous continuance. Indigenous art is a reflection that culture is not static, instead both the individuals and communities within Indigenous cultures grow and change over time, while collectively determining what to carry forward and what to leave behind. The art you will see at the Cultural Survival Bazaar celebrates who these Indigenous artists are today,”  says Candyce Testa (Pequot), Cultural Survival Bazaar Events Manager. 

Retablos (altarpiece boxes) artist Sebastian Palomino Jimenez (Quechua) has participated at the Bazaars for several years. “I have enjoyed meeting people from different cultures, making friends, and learning about their customs. Selling abroad has been a welcome challenge. I feel connected to my culture through my art because the Ayacuchano retablo is Peru’s cultural heritage. It represents history and is part of our family legacy,” he says.

Traditional yemeni shoemaker Selahattin Sep (Kurdish) of Tigris Handmade says, “Visibility is so important for artisanal and cultural craft making. Indigenous art holds our history and we want to share that culture with anyone who is curious. A Bazaar that celebrates culture is a lifeline for these traditions and a way of surviving economically and culturally.”

Enjoy an atmosphere that pays respect to ancient craft and tradition while welcoming the opportunity to learn from and connect with Indigenous artists. This holiday season, shop Indigenous! 

High resolution photos available upon request. Contact bazaars@cs.org.

Register to volunteer