Indian Auction to Help Fund Scholarships

Hope for a brighter future through education is one very good reason the Native American Indian Inter-Tribal Assn. of Ventura County will conduct its first fund-raising auction and celebration Saturday.

The event is being billed as the largest American Indian auction to hit the county. K. R. Martindale Gallery in Ventura will host the auction, which will feature museum-quality weavings, baskets, jewelry, pottery, beadwork and more.

Proceeds will benefit programs at Ventura’s California Indian Education Center. The center’s MESA program encourages and provides scholarship money for American Indian students pursuing math, engineering and science-related fields. High school students graduating in June from schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will receive the scholarships, center director Tom Smith said.

A pre-auction party, 3 to 7 p.m., will entertain auction-goers with a variety of activities and foods.

“We’ll have Native American drumming, dancing and other culturally pertinent activities, as well as foods,” said Smith, executive director of the Inter-Tribal Assn. “Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy the festivities before the auction. While doing that, you can drop in and get an idea of what you might like to purchase.”

The auction will go from 7 to 10 p.m. Former Sotheby’s auctioneer Russell Kloer will lead the auction.

Pre-auction festivities are free, and a $10 donation is asked of those who participate in the auction.

K. R. Martindale Gallery is at 38 W. Main St. For more information, call 643-4950 or 652-1960.