Northwest Native Chamber

10/15/2026

The Gathering 2026 was more than an event. It was a Movement to Power, and it was Native excellence on full display.

From fashion that tells the stories of who we are and where we come from, to food rooted in our local surroundings and Indigenous agricultural practices like the Three Sisters, to music where “our songs are our prayers,” every element was intentional, deliberate, and strategic.

As our CEO James Alan Parker shared from the podium:

“We’re building and rebuilding our own ways and pathways of trade and commerce, rooted in who we are and where we come from. What we build today should strengthen our communities now and create opportunity and prosperity for the generations that follow.”

To our talent, thank you for lighting up the night:

💃 Ria Thundercloud and Acosia Red Elk, our dancers
🎤 Mato Wayuhi, our live singer
🎷 Delbert Anderson Quartet, our live jazz band
👨‍🍳 Ben Jacobs Ben Jacobs, our special guest chef
👗 Mary Kelsay, owner of MEKA, for a stunning fashion display of 8 unique garments

And to every community member who showed up, supported, and celebrated with us: you are the reason we do this work. Thank you.

The work is not finished. It must continue. So we leave you with the question:

Have you done enough for your people?

10/13/2026

Join us next Friday for Native Professionals & Nonprofits Night 💼

NAN is excited to open our space for and 's Native Professionals & Nonprofits Night from 6pm to 8pm.
This event brings together Native nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members from across the region for an evening of real conversation and relationship-building.

RSVP Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4aICipMbqJpfOppsKKhlHd_Zp5_m1EDz0VqLso6qpd7jFMg/viewform

10/08/2026

Have a technology or idea with potential national security applications, but aren’t sure how to get it in front of the right people?

This session will introduce innovators, researchers and small businesses to DARPAConnect, SciTechCONNECT and solutions marketplaces that provide guided pathways into the defense innovation ecosystem.

Attendees will learn how to identify the right opportunities, connect with government stakeholders and move promising technologies from an idea or early-stage capability toward assessment, funding and potential award.

10/02/2026

Last night at Movement to Power: The Gathering, James Parker of the Northwest Native Chamber said something that stopped us in our tracks:

"Business, never personal, right? ... It's always personal. You're either building something that takes care of people or you're not."

At OAME, community means everything to us. We believe in everybody, and we believe in leaving nobody out. Nights like this remind us how much it matters to stand alongside organizations like the Northwest Native Chamber that are building something that truly takes care of people, and to keep making sure our work does the same.

09/24/2026

What does it look like when fashion becomes a form of storytelling?

At The Gathering 2026, designer Mary Kelsay of MEKA will answer that question through a powerful Native Fashion Showcase featuring 8 custom-curated looks created exclusively for this event.

Each piece is intentional. Each design reflects a deeper connection to identity, culture, and community. Rooted in her Unangax heritage and guided by a slow fashion approach, Mary’s work moves beyond trends – creating garments that hold meaning, presence, and space.

This showcase is more than a visual moment. It’s an opportunity to experience Indigenous fashion as living art, where every detail invites you to engage, reflect, and celebrate the creativity shaping Native design today.

With just one week to go, there is still time to be in the room for it.

Join us October 1 at The Castaway Portland and be part of an evening centered on art, movement, and community impact.

Get your ticket or explore sponsorship opportunities: https://nwnc.ejoinme.org/Gathering2026

🎵Maizy Jones (feat. Ruby Waters) by Mato Wayuhi

09/18/2026

October 1 is almost here, and we can't wait to gather at Castaway Portland. Behind every great night are the partners who said yes. Swipe to meet the sponsors investing in Native economic justice and helping build Our Culture. Our Prosperity. Our Future.

09/14/2026

The Gathering is more than a night out. It's NWNC's signature fundraiser, supporting educational and economic pathways for Native entrepreneurs and students across the Pacific Northwest, including the Student Achievement Awards program. Every ticket helps carry forward 30+ years of that work.

With less than three weeks until we gather at Castaway Portland for an evening of Native fashion, food, and music, now's the time to secure your seat: https://nwnc.ejoinme.org/Gathering2026Tickets

For over 30 years, Northwest Native Chamber has advanced educational and economic opportunities for Native peoples across the region. On October 1, less than three weeks away, that work takes center stage at The Gathering 2026: an evening of Native fashion, food, and music at Castaway Portland. It's Portland's premier Native American fundraising event, and it's almost here.

Buy your tickets now: https://nwnc.ejoinme.org/Gathering2026Tickets

Ticket Registration

09/09/2026

In case you haven’t heard 👀 our headlining performance this year will be Mato Wayuhi, closing out The Gathering 2026 with a live set you do not want to miss!

Mato will be performing with the Delbert Anderson Quartet for a one-of-a-kind collaborative performance you won’t see anywhere else. Two incredible sounds, one stage, one night only.

We’re giving out a limited-supply exclusive vinyl record at the event – featuring songs you can’t stream and won’t find anywhere else!

The Gathering will be an evening that brings our community together and directly supports the work we do year-round. Every ticket, every sponsorship, every moment shared helps fuel that impact forward.

Join us October 1 at The Castaway Portland for a night of music, movement, and connection – closed out by a performance (and a record) you’ll be talking about long after the night ends.

Sponsor or grab your ticket now 🎟️ https://nwnc.ejoinme.org/Gathering2026

🎵Leftovers - Mato Wayuhi + Black Belt Eagle Scout

09/04/2026

Coming up soon! Mark your calendars for September 19th!

BizFair 2026 is returning to Puyallup, offering a free and valuable opportunity for both current and aspiring small business owners.

This event brings together representatives from SBA, SBDC, state agencies, and local organizations who are there to engage directly with you. Attendees can explore workshops, connect with exhibitors, ask questions, and access resources that support starting and growing a business.

➡️ Saturday, September 19, 2026
➡️ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
➡️ Pierce College, Puyallup Campus
➡️ Free to attend

If you or someone in your network is building a business, this is a strong opportunity to connect and learn.

Learn more and register: www.bizfair.wa.gov