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Amplifying Native Voices through Theatre

The Native Theatre Project comes to Hillsboro

Post Date:09/03/2024

Image: Diné Nishłį (I Am A Sacred Being) or, A Boarding School Play by playwright Blossom Johnson opens at The Vault Theatre & Event Space on September 18.

Exploring Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District

Representation matters.

In 2023, almost 80% of the writers behind top theatrical films were white. None were Native.

Jeannette-Harrison Director, producer, and community builder Jeannette Harrison, of Onondaga descent, created the Native Theater Project to help change that. It’s currently based here, in Downtown Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts District.

In partnership with Hillsboro’s Bag&Baggage Productions, the Native Theater Project is setting the stage to celebrate Native voices by producing Native stories by Native artists, supporting storytelling sovereignty, developing Native leaders, and enhancing the cultural competency of the American theatre ecosystem.

This September, the Native Theater Project will debut its first full production: Diné Nishłį (I Am A Sacred Being) or, A Boarding School Play by playwright Blossom Johnson at The Vault Theatre & Event Space. Humorous and heartwarming, the play follows the adventures of four Navajo girls at a Native prep school as they prepare traditional songs and dance for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.

“I truly believe stories become universal in specificity,” Harrison said. “Anyone who’s ever been a teenager can celebrate these girls, their dreams, their exuberance, their humor.”

In addition to the stage production, The Native Theater Project is hosting Free Write 40, a weekly virtual space for Native writers with time to write, share drafts, and receive feedback. Writing cohorts work together for eight weeks with studies in leadership development and Native wellness initiatives.

While B&B Artistic Director Nik Whitcomb and Native Theater Project Director Jeanette Harrison’s commitment to building healthy communities through storytelling is just coming to life, it runs through 2026. Stay tuned for more to come!

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About the Cultural Arts District

The City of Hillsboro celebrates the power of arts and culture to drive economic prosperity, strengthen community connection and equity, preserve our cultural assets, and welcome residents and visitors to experience our vital City.

In 2019, Hillsboro designated Washington County’s first Cultural Arts District in the heart of Downtown. Hillsboro is also the first city in Oregon to create a dedicated staff position to work with partners, colleagues, artists, makers, and culture bearers to support the community’s goals for an inclusive District.

Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District is anchored by the hubs of Main Street & the Avenues, Shute Park & the 10th Avenue Corridor, and M&M Marketplace. The Cultural Arts District is founded on:

A history of strong community partnerships
Forward-thinking investment in revitalization
Essential contributions of local artists, culture bearers, and businesses
Passion for welcoming people to engage in meaningful experiences through the arts

See a play or concert. Take a creative class. Discover locally owned boutiques and restaurants. Experience events like the Hillsboro Art Walk every First Tuesday of the month, or visit one of our dynamic art and performance spaces. Dance, move, and enjoy nature. Bring friends — or meet new friends and neighbors — and create lasting memories in our Cultural Arts District.

Hillsboro A&E Magazine

Hillsboro A&E shines a light on the thriving arts and culture community in Hillsboro, with a special focus on Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District. This free magazine is published twice a year and distributed around Hillsboro and the Portland Metro Area. It features news and events from local businesses, community organizations, and the City of Hillsboro.