NISA was formed in 2005 to encourage, preserve and strengthen traditional storytelling among tribes and urban Indian communities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In the spirit of race reconciliation, NISA shares tribal cultural arts with the entire regional community at our annual storytelling festivals.

You don’t have to be a master storyteller to join NISA. Emerging tribal storytellers and those who would like to start learning their tribe’s stories are also welcome to join NISA. You will have opportunities to get acquainted with master storytellers and fellow storytellers and learn from them during the storytelling workshops we hold annually as part of our storytelling festival weekends.

We welcome Washington, Oregon, and Idaho tribal members, along with the region’s urban Indian storytellers from other nations around Turtle Island, to join the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association (NISA).

We are in communication with Washington and other PNW tribes to see who is interested in serving as an annual sponsor and host so we can hold annual NISA Tribal Storytelling Festivals in the state of Washington.

We are also asking Northwest tribes to appoint a traditional storyteller who will serve as NISA Advisory Council members and be your tribe’s representative to NISA. We also ask that if funds are available, tribes sponsor them to join us during the festival and retreat weekends and provide their fee and travel expense.

Sign up online to become a NISA member here.