Santa Fe Indian Market

Edgar L. Hewett, director of the Museum of New Mexico, viewed the early Indian Fair events as part of his efforts for public anthropology.

[4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market went virtual for the month of August 2020, under the guidance of executive director Kimberly Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes/Eastern Band Cherokee).

The first Native American to lead SWAIA was Ramona Sakiestewa (Hopi), a textile artist and designer, who led the organization from 1980 and 1982 for no pay.

John Torres Nez, PhD (Diné) was chief operating officer from 2012 to 2014[16] before resigning and cofounding an alternative art market.

[15] The market features pottery, jewelry, textile weavings, painting, sculpture, beadwork, basketry, and other traditional and contemporary work.

The shows featured celebrity runway models: Quannah Chasinghorse, Amber Midthunder, Zahn McClarnon, Jessica Matten, Kiowa Gordon, Eugene Brave Rock and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.

[21] The founding director of SWAIA's Indigenous Fashion Show is curator and art historian Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation.

)[22] Artists display their work in booths around the Santa Fe Plaza and adjacent streets, selling directly to the general public.

In order to participate, all artists must provide proof of enrollment in one of the federally recognized tribes, and their work must meet strict quality and authentic materials standards.