Local vendors and crafters filled the gymnasium of the Meskwaki Tribal Center to sell their goods to last-minute holiday shoppers. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush.

TAMA — On Dec. 16 and 17 at the Meskwaki Tribal Center, local crafters gathered for The Meskwaki Holiday Vendor and Craft Fair.

Quinton Pushentonequa helped organize this event after the Holiday Expo was canceled this year.

“We try to hold a craft fair every year. We’ve been doing this for the last ten years. We contact local crafters and ask if they’d like to set up,” Pushentonequa said. “It’s nothing too big or extravagant. It just lets us get together and sell our crafts.”

A variety of booths sold Native American crafts ranging from beadwork to regalia, baked goods to stuffed animals, star quilts to screen-printed tees, and much more. Vendors such as Beading by Court, Beaded Bling, Inka Soul, Midnight Bear Trading, Talking Thunder Creations, Lanyards by Lo, Beadwork by Lyrik, Old Bear Designs, and Good Feather Designs showcased their crafts for last-minute holiday shoppers.

The Meskwaki Holiday Vendor and Craft Fair provide a space for local Indigenous artists to showcase and sell their art within their community.

Good Feather Designs creator Aissa Roberts of Wisconsin traveled down to sell her hand-sewn regalia. She sells her designs through her Facebook at Aissa Roberts. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush.

“We’re all artists in our family. This is just a good time and fun for us,” said Pushentonequa, the owner of Midnight Bear Trading. His screen-printed t-shirts can be found at www.midnightbeartrading.com.

The Inka Soul Crafts by Edwin Campo had his packed with blankets, hats, wallets, feathers, and beadwork designs. His work can be found on Facebook: Inka Soul, Instagram: @inka_soul, and TikTok: inkasoul2. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush.

Meskwaki artist Kayla Wanatee, a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, uses her art to “bring honor to my people and portray us in the way we see ourselves.” You can find Kayla’s work on Instagram at talkingthundercreations. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush

Lyrik Lasley sold her beautiful Beadwork by Lyrik at the fair. You can find her on Facebook at Beadwork by Lyrik. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush

Monroe Spoon created regalia accessories for the fair. You can find more of her designs on her Facebook at Monroe Spoon. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush.

Young Bear Art Studio creator Stella Youngbear displays her beautiful beadwork atop a tree. She sells her beadwork through her Facebook at Stella Youngbear. Photo by Vanessa Roudabush.