Dear Friends,
Join us in Mendocino October 16–18, 2026, for a special three-day gathering celebrating living Indigenous cultures. The weekend begins with the 10th Annual Native Arts Expo, bringing together more than 30 Native artists and organizations for art, cultural demonstrations, music, dance, film, storytelling and meaningful connections.
As the Expo concludes Saturday afternoon, we’ll come together with the Noyo Bida Truth Project for a special evening concert before passing the gathering forward to Cha’ Hinthel, Cha’ Xo — One People, One Fire on Sunday—a day centered around ceremony, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, cultural sharing, food, music and community learning.
Three days. Two Indigenous-led gatherings. One extraordinary weekend in Mendocino. We’ll see you there!
Schedule of Events (Subject to Change):
SATURDAY OCT 17
Spend the day exploring Native art, cultural demonstrations, presentations, traditional dance, music, artist panels, and the Big Auntie Earring Show at the Native Arts Expo.
At 5:00 PM, the gathering transitions into One People, One Fire with an evening of Indigenous music and community.
6:00pm - Opening Remarks and Welcome TNYBTP presented by DJ Thunder Tables; Kuchin Gary Thomas
6:30pm - John Paul Hodge
7:15pm - Lyla June
8:00pm - Tajie D
8:45pm - Niko Otis
SUNDAY OCT 18
06:30am - Sunrise Ceremony
08:00am - Breakfast. Cultural Sharing - Point Arena Dance Group
09:00am - 12:00pm TEK Workshops
Bernadette Smith- Acorn Processing
Crystal Charles - Nettle Tea, Oysters
Nic Garcia - Clam and Abalone Shells
Robert Ray - Salmon Pit demonstrations and Deer Meat
Monique Sonoquie - Native Tea and Medicines
Big Auntie Earring Booth
12pm - Lunch: Indigenous War Cry & Big Auntie Earring Contests
1- 2pm - Teach In, Community Workshop: Lyla June
2- 4pm - TEK Workshops -Continued
Crystal Charles - Seaweed Scrubs and Soaks
Ui- Lei weaving
Bernadette Smith - Acorn Processing
Robert Ray - Salmon Pit demonstration
Nic Garcia - Shells
4-5pm - Dinner - Cultural Sharing / Closing Ceremonies (TBD)
Project Presenters:
Bernadette Smith: Point Arena Manchester Band of Pomo Indians.
Bernadette and her family will lead our opening ceremonies and provide cultural dancing. She will share a presentation on acorn processing.Nick Garcia: Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians.
Shell Processing. Nick will provide a demonstration on abalone and clam shell processing and prepare Native foods.Monique Sonoquie, Chumash.
Monique will provide a demonstration on Native Plant Teas and medicines.Uilani Wesley: Native Hawaiian.
Ui will share Hawaiian lei weaving, and Indigenous foods from the Xa’ Ko’ Dile farm.Robert Ray, Yurok.
Robert will provide a demonstration of salmon and deer meat pit cooking to be shared with the community during dinner.
Crystal Charles, Yurok.
Crystal will share the health benefits of ; Seaweed soaks and scrubs, and nettle tea. She will prepare oysters, salmon, and deermeat for our community luncheon and dinner.Dr. Lyla June Johnson, Dine’.
Dr. Lyla June will provide a community Teach -In. She will speak on regenerative human relationships in restoration and conservation and share her experiences as an advocate through Indigenous hip hop platforms.
Musical Performances:
DJ Thundar Tables, Kucin Gary Thomas
Kucin Gary Thomas aka DJ ThunderTables is South Eastern Pomo from Lake County California from El-Em and Scott's Valley. A Hawaiian, Pomo and Oneida descendant, he is a grandson carrying many generations before him. Kucin is the owner of Thomas Mobile Entertainment Services offering mobilized entertainment since 2017.
John Paul Hodge
John Paul Hodge, a proud citizen of the Cherokee (Tsalagi) Nation of Oklahoma, hails from the rich cultural tapestry of Northern California, with familial ties to the Lake County Pomo bands. A versatile artist, John Paul is a master of various musical styles, effortlessly weaving narratives that resonate deeply with the human experience.
Lyla June
Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her messages focus on Indigenous rights, supporting youth, traditional land stewardship practices and healing inter-generational and inter-cultural trauma.
Tajie D
Tajie D is a hip-hop and RnB rapper-songwriter from Northern California. Confined to a wheelchair Tajie was drawn to music to express himself. He found inspiration in artists;Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, and a love for 90s RnB and Bay Area Music Culture. He has opened for 200+ shows over California with Top artists; Too Short, Bone Thugs and Harmony and T-Pain. He also has mixing & engineering credits for Mac Mall, Project Pat, Dubee, Ray Luv, Singular and many more with an additional 100+ projects accomplished.
Niko Otis
Niko Otis is a genre-blending Hip-Hop artist
and grandson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend, Johnny Otis. Music
runs deep in his blood from soulful ballads to
high-energy rap anthems. Niko’s lyrics reflect
confidence, resilience, and pride in his roots. He’s not just making music—he’s making space
for representation, inspiring generations to rise up, dream big, and own who they are.
Mehim Tsinta Mana Khe Kanema (Northern Pomo, Greetings Relatives) our educational nonprofit The Noyo Bida Truth Project would like to invite the community for an open event to share Indigenous Cultures as we collaborate with the Native Arts Expo.
Our Cha’ Hintel, Cha’ Xo Community Engagement Event will begin Saturday evening offering musical performances from lyrical activists invested in the arts and cultural heritage.
Sunday we will host a sunrise ceremony, cultural dancing, Native foods, and a community Teach In with guest speaker Dr. Lyla June who will share her knowledge on the history of regenerative human behaviors and her experience as an Indigenous activist.
For more information visit:
https://thenoyobidatruthproject.org