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SWAIA announces Buffalo Thunder Resort's sponsorship

Native enterprises working together to promote Native arts and culture

(SANTA FE, NM) The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is proud to announce the alliance of two great entities, the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino and SWAIA, in a unique title sponsorship for the Santa Fe Indian Market. . This three-year sponsorship is symbolic of the Pueblo of Pojoaque's commitment to Native American artistic expression and tradition. Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino is Santa Fe's largest destination resort, brought to fruition by visionary Pojoaque Governor George Rivera, and will feature a Hilton resort and spa, restaurants, convention center, golf courses and casino.


Governor Rivera stated, "Buffalo Thunder Resort's sponsorship of the Santa Fe Indian Market represents a significant commitment on the part of the Pueblo of Pojoaque to Native arts and to the communities and pueblos of New Mexico. The new resort is a stunning realization of pueblo arts and culture combined with Hilton hospitality and we are proud to align it as the title sponsor of Santa Fe's most cherished event."



Governor Rivera, a long time supporter of the arts, has commissioned several Native artists to produce work for the resort and that list includes Mateo Romero, Roxanne Swentzel, George Toya, Kathleen Wall and Lonnie Vigil to name a few. These distinguished Native artists and many others are showcased throughout the facilities to provide visitors with an opportunity to see the excellence and diversity of contemporary Native creative expression in several mediums. SWAIA is interested in the prospect of creating more exposure for Native artists through this partnership and the possibility of future collaborations with Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino.


Comanche artist and SWAIA Board member Nocona Burgess said, "This is a collective use of resources that benefits Native families and communities. We should form practical coalitions. This is certainly one of them." This partnership strengthens local relationships, brings communities together, and provides economic stimulus back to Native enterprises. Burgess remarked, "I think this is a good thing for SWAIA, Native artists and our community. We have to help ourselves and lend support where we can. I see Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino doing that." Burgess noted that many Native artists who exhibit in the Santa Fe Indian Market have contributed to the art and aesthetics of the new resort. Burgess also stated, "There will be many different people who will go to the resort for events, conferences, vacation, etc. These people will be exposed to Native arts and culture through the art and artists represented."


Sponsorships are an essential part of the revenues raised each year to stage the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market. SWAIA, a non-profit organization, takes absolutely no percentage of sales from Indian Market artists. The Santa Fe Indian Market costs, like everything else in our lives, continue to escalate -from the rentals of 650 tents for the artists to the various other costs of converting the Plaza and downtown Santa Fe to a premier showcase for Native arts. Buffalo Thunder's sponsorship will provide much needed support and will help pay for the planning and presentation of Indian Market. This auspicious sponsorship also represents a type of a mutually beneficial partnership that recognizes the centrality of the Santa Fe Indian Market to the Native fine arts movement.
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This information is provided as a public service by William Ernest and Susanne Waites, proprietors of Aboriginals: Art of the First person, a business member of SWAIA, and its Native American Indian arts and tribal art web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks