Native Voices Poetry Festival

Since 2015 Native Voices Poetry Festival has celebrated the human voice in all the arts, and explored the richness of Southern California Native American cultures, histories, languages, and traditional arts, inspiring a deeper understanding of the region and its beauty, vitality, and uniqueness.

I began the Native Voices Poetry Festival in 2015 with poet Juan Delgado, former Inlandia Poet Laureate (Inlandia Institute) and now-retired California State University, San Bernardino, professor. Since then we have co-chaired the ever-growing regional festival hosted by the nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. The Festival draws in academic, tribal, literary, and community support and partners from throughout the region. We promote culture, community, literacy, creativity, education, volunteerism among youth, the arts, and much more. 

Thanks to many donations and much volunteerism and support, the Festival is FREE.

The Festival includes:

Performances: Works presented in our Gathering Hall range from the traditional stories and songs of the region's Native American people, to modern Native hip-hop music, and original works by both new and established authors of all ages. 

Creative Workshops: Where else do you see kids eagerly waiting in line to write poetry and make art in Native-led workshops? 

Literary Cafe and Cultural Activities: Hands-on cultural activities for all ages, an opportunity to chat with and buy books from Native publishers, and much more.

Highlights include an annual art exhibit and poetry display by all the students of Morongo School on Morongo Reservation.