Skip to main content

Cultural Understanding Through Art




An uncharacteristically gorgeous and sunny November Saturday took us on a road trip to Newport, Oregon. We had a wonderful opportunity to visit with Lisa Brown, founder of All Native Creations, an artist co-op comprised primarily of Native American tribal members and descendants.

Lisa, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, has years of experience in providing services "to assist tribal members to eliminate barriers, create plans for financial sufficiency, and to share info regarding concepts to assure emotional, physical and spiritual wellness." Through All Native Creations, Lisa leads the artist co-op and educates patrons though art and cultural workshops. Humility ranks high among all virtues, and Lisa credits the generosity of numerous elders and spiritual teachings, for allowing her to share knowledge about balance and respect for the earth and others.

Being able to experience a busy Saturday afternoon at All Native Creations offered a remarkable insight into Lisa's operations. She expertly juggled addressing questions by patrons about featured works, taking time for an impromptu art instruction (pictured above), and tending to our interview. Lisa's success will be among those featured in the winter edition of OMB.

All Native Creations invites all to a holiday craft fair, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9 at Chinook Winds Casino Resort Convention Center. Siletz tribal members and casino employees will display their creations. For more info, call Linda Wagner at 541-996-2323 or call 1-888-CHINOOK, ext. 2323.

Popular posts from this blog

Lucky Tomorrow: Stories

Deborah Jiang-Stein's debut collection of short stories explores the lives of people who are often overlooked. From flower street vendors to families torn apart by ambition, to a woman on death row awaiting redemption amidst a tumult of memories, Jiang-Stein vividly depicts their struggles. Each story is set in various cities where she has lived: Seattle, Minneapolis, and Tokyo. While these settings differ, they share a common indifference toward human suffering. In "Lucky Tomorrow, " each vignette offers a glimpse into harsh realities that are often difficult to confront, yet are grounded in the lived experiences of those frequently unseen and cast aside. The stories convey powerful themes of longing and fleeting hopes for fresh starts that may never arrive. Although the themes are specific to the characters, they resonate with the universal human experience. As an activist and advocate, Jiang-Stein has made a significant impact through her extensive work with women...

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD       Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe.  A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...