NCAI is proud to announce the official logo for NCAI’s 82nd Annual Convention and Marketplace, which will be happening on November 16-21 at the Seattle Convention Center.
This year’s logo was created by Nizhonia Toledo, a 21-year-old artist and enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Her work is grounded in community, tradition, and the belief that art is a living expression of culture.
Learn more about Nizhonia and her inspiration behind the artwork below.
Artist Statement from Nizhonia Toledo
My name is Nizhonia Toledo. I am a 21-year-old artist and a proud enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. From a young age, art has been more than a hobby for me, it has been a powerful outlet and a constant companion throughout my life.
My work is deeply rooted in my culture, community, and family. These connections are not only my inspiration, they are the heart of everything I create. Through my art, I honor the traditions and stories that have shaped me while carving space for contemporary Indigenous expression. I create not just for myself, but for those who came before me and those who will follow.
Art is my way of keeping our culture alive, of telling truths that words sometimes cannot, and of offering healing and hope. It’s my purpose, my passion, and my offering to the world.
The meaning behind the logo I created for the NCAI 82nd Annual Convention and Marketplace is, we are sovereign. We are resilient. We are culture in motion.
At its heart stand four Indigenous figures, adorned in traditional regalia, embodying the sacred diversity and collective strength of our peoples. They represent past, present, and future generations. Our ancestors who paved the way, our leaders who carry the fire today, and our youth who will rise to continue the legacy. Together, they form a circle of protection, reminding us that sovereignty is not given, it is inherent, lived, and defended.
Behind them rises Mount Rainier, not just as a geographical landmark, but as a spiritual and cultural backbone. It is the watchful guardian, rooted in ancient memory, standing as a symbol of the land we belong to, not land we own, but land we are in relationship with. The evergreen trees surrounding it echo our commitment to preserve, protect, the natural world, as our ancestors have always done.
The waters below represent life, renewal, and ceremony. From these waters comes the salmon, carried proudly by one of the figures, a revered first food and relative, vital to our sustenance, traditions, and ecological balance. The salmon tells a story of migration, return, and sacrifice, a reflection of our people's journey and resilience.
Held in another hand are huckleberries, another first food, symbolizing connection to land and seasonal gathering. These foods are more than nourishment, they are cultural memory, living traditions, and reminders that every act of harvesting is an act of prayer.
The regalia, beadwork, basketry, and adornments worn by each figure are expressions of culture, not frozen in time, but alive, evolving, and passed on through generations. They reflect pride in identity, language, and history. Each pattern woven with purpose, each bead a heartbeat of tradition.
Encircled in red and black, this emblem does not just frame a community, it protects it. Red for the blood we come from, black for the land we come from. The circle is sacred. It symbolizes unity among all Tribal Nations, and it affirms that despite colonization, and forced displacement, we are still here. Still rising. Still sovereign.
Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in Seattle, Washington, for its 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace from November 16 - 21, 2025 at the Seattle Convention Center.
Now more than ever is an essential moment for Indian Country to unite, amplify voices, and shape a powerful collective future. Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and allies from across Indian Country will gather to tackle critical issues, strategize for the future, and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships.
Additionally, attendees will be able to browse the NCAI Marketplace, which features a variety of booths ranging from Native artists to federal job recruiters and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the ongoing mission of NCAI.
Stay tuned for more information, including registration opening soon!
