The James Welch Native Lit Festival

  • Where: Missoula Art Museum 335 Pattee St, Missoula, MT 59802 Missoula, Montana
  • When: Jul 17th, 2026 at 11:00 pm

The brilliant legacy of Blackfeet author James Welch lives on in this beloved annual celebration of Native literature. This year's festival centers on Jim's profound influence on poetry, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of writers, artists, and thinkers for four days of readings, panels, and conversation. The festival features a panel of three immensely talented ledger artists, John Isaiah Pepion, Evelyn Mikayla Martin, and Terran Last Gun, alongside debut fiction and nonfiction panels showcasing some of the most compelling voices in contemporary Native literature.

Check out the portion of the festival taking place at the Missoula Art Museum on Friday, July 17 and for more information about the festival visit: more information and full schedule here.

Friday, July 17
Morning at Missoula Art Museum
11 AM–12:30 PM — Debut Fiction Panel: Jon Hickey, Kyle Edward, and Mariah Rigg
2:00–3:30 PM— Nonfiction Panel: Paul Chaat Smith, Elissa Washuta, and Byron Aspaas

Evening at Missoula Art Museum

5:30 PM — Introduction: Sterling HolyWhiteMountain

6:00 PM — Keynote: Jake Skeets, Beyond the Native Renaissance

Evening at Radius Gallery

7:30 - 9:00 PM — Reception

Special Event @ 8 p.m. — Lois Welch reading

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