1st Annual Indigenous Arts and Music Fest in Northern California “After 250 Years: We Are Still Here”
Amado Khaya Initiative and Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Hosts Free Outdoor Festival Kicking Off Indigenous People’s Day Weekend
August 4, 2026 — Robinson Rancheria Casino and Hotel, Lake County, CA — A landmark celebration of Indigenous culture, artistry, and resilience is coming to Northern California. The 1st Annual Indigenous Arts and Music Fest, themed “After 250 Years: We Are Still Here,” will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at the Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino in Lake County kicking off Indigenous People’s Day weekend. This free, full-day outdoor festival (10:00 AM–6:00 PM) will bring together a diverse array of Indigenous cultural groups from across Northern California, spotlighting the Tribes of Lake County while welcoming cultural communities with ancestral ties to lands across Turtle Island and beyond. At least 500 attendees are expected.
"For me, the Indigenous Arts & Music Fest is a very special event as it will be held on Tribal land and celebrates the seven Tribes and other cultural people living in Lake County. We will share traditional cultural ways, colorful dances, and lots of music; and we welcome everyone,” Wanda Quitiquit, Tribal Elder at Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians.
Why This Festival Matters
The timing of the Fest is deeply intentional. The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States—a moment when the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples have generally been minimized or rendered invisible in national narratives.
This festival stands as a powerful counter-narrative. The Tribes of Lake County and their kin across the region have stewarded these lands for more than 10,000 years. Despite centuries of displacement, forced assimilation, and erasure, Native cultures and peoples have not only survived—they have thrived. The Fest declares boldly: We Are Still Here.
The festival also honors communities whose ancestral ties extend beyond Turtle Island—peoples who have likewise experienced displacement and erasure, building bridges of solidarity and shared recognition across Indigenous cultures.
“We are excited about our new partnership with the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo and the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the cultures of the Native people of this region alongside global indigenous cultures. This Fest is a true manifestation of the commitments of our organization’s namesake, Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez, whose work to advance the causes of indigenous peoples forms the core of our work as an organization.”
Festival Goals
• Celebrate cultural endurance and resilience across 10,000+ years of Lake County Tribal history
• Foster inter-cultural and inter-generational exchange among Indigenous communities
• Build deeper relationships between Indigenous communities across rural and urban Northern California
• Affirm the living, vibrant presence of Indigenous cultures in the face of ongoing erasure
• Establish a beloved annual tradition that grows with each passing year
What to Expect
The Fest will feature a main stage and an additional stage showcasing dancers, musicians, spoken word artists, and storytellers. Attendees can explore arts vendor tables, cultural and historical exhibitions, eco-art installations, children’s activities, information booths, and food offerings throughout the day.
All other Indigenous community members are invited to attend and offer a donation as an act of solidarity with California Tribal communities. Attendees are encouraged to book accommodations at the Robinson Rancheria Casino Hotel for the full festival experience. Organizers are committed to making this a zero-waste event in honor of the land.
The current confirmed line- up of speakers, performers, artists, vendors include the following:
Scotts Valley Pomo Dancers
Big Valley Pomo Dancers
Updates to the program line-up will be posted on the Amado Khaya Initiative’s website and social media.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Robinson Rancheria Casino and Hotel (1545 State Hwy 20
Nice, CA 95464)
Admission: This is a free community event, but we encourage non-Native folks to show their solidarity by purchasing a ticket (pay what you can pricing). All ticket “sales” will be tax-deductible. 100% of every dollar raised goes towards this community celebration. Free for CA Tribal members (Tribal ID required)
More Info:
www.amadokhaya.org/iamf26
Social Media @amadokhaya
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About the Hosts:
The Amado Khaya Initiative (AKI)’s programming supports issues important to its namesake, the late Amado Khaya Canham Rodriguez. Indigenous solidarity, in the form of educational lectures, cultural exchanges and other activities that support the thriving of indigenous cultures and peoples in Northern California and globally, has been especially important. AKI also supports the expansion of Ethnic Studies, artist and community organizer residencies, youth leadership development fellowships, and healing justice work.
The Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians are part of the Eastern Pomo people, the original inhabitants of the Clear Lake Basin in Northern California. Our ancestral territory includes the shores of Clear Lake and the slopes of Mt. Konocti, which remain central to our cultural identity and traditions. Robinson Rancheria operates several enterprises, including the Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino, the Pomo Smoke Shop, and R Pomo Pumps. These ventures support tribal programs, cultural initiatives, and community services.
Fest Coordinating Committee:
Remagination Farm is a farm, learning center, wellness and arts space in Lake County, CA. It cultivates and propagates radical love and is a sibling organization to AKI.
Kapwa Kultural Center, Daly City’s Filipino community center & café nurturing youth wellness, celebrating culture, and creating space for connection.
AB Events and Entertainment is a full-service event production company. From concept to execution, completion and beyond. Founder, Arthur Barinque, is providing technical assistance and consulting services for the arts festival.
Kurated Kultura, is a Filipina-American–owned, family operated brand based in the San Francisco Bay Area on Muwekma Ohlone Land that curates sustainable, eco-friendly products to support conscious consumption.
Studio Damili is an arts collective that organizes pop-ups, workshops, art fairs, gallery exhibitions, and more. It has focused on pottery and ceramics, as well as zines and print art.