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Press Release for Immediate Release

ONABEN Selects Artwork for 2012 "Trading at the River"

Portland, Oregon – January 10, 2012

Capturing a moment in time, the Oregon Native American Business & Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) is pleased to announce that Justin Finkbonner’s photograph, “Grandfather’s Grand Entry,” will be used as the artwork that will represent this year’s “Trading at the River…Gather, Exchange, Grow.”

Each year, ONABEN sends out a call to artists to enter the organization’s poster contest. Out of the many artistic creations submitted, Finkbonner’s work was selected. Born of the Coast Salish People of the Great Lummi Nation, Justin Finkbonner's photography focuses on the dynamism of human relationships and, specifically, the human's relationship to the natural world. His works are a candid exploration of the relationship between himself as an indigenous photographer, his varied subjects and his viewers. For more information about the artist, please visit Justin’s website at http://www.flickr.com/people/jfinkbonner/.

Finkbonner’s photograph, “Grandfathers Grand Entry,” was taken at the Yakama Legends Powwow in 2009, and according to the artist was a moment that had to be captured. “As the sunset, elderly men, traditional dancers were lined up outside the tent ready to enter the sacred floor.  It was obvious that all had been in this line before.  Nervous and anxious, excitement filled the air before their bodies were taken over by their spirits.... they have been here before. Teepees in the sunset reminded me of the elderly men, but they have been in this line for thousands of years watching new generations perform under the spirit, anticipating the song, the drum beat, the pulse under their feet.... the Teepees have also been here before,” Finkbonner described.

“Trading at the River” is the PREMIER event in the Pacific Northwest for Native entrepreneurs and Tribal business development leaders. The conference is a place where connections are made, business-to-business, native to native, tribe-to-tribe, past to present.

2012 marks the 10th year of “Trading at the River,” and this year’s event is sure to be a memorable occasion. The conference theme is “ Transforming our Communities through Entrepreneurship: Catch the Dream, Follow the Spirit, Make it Happen. “Trading at the River” will be held on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20, at the Embassy Suites (Portland Airport), in Portland, Oregon.

Please join ONABEN as we continue to celebrate over 20 years of serving Native businesses and 10 years of hosting “Trading at the River”. For more information, please go to our website at www.onaben.org, or contact Veronica Hix, Entrepreneurial and Enterprise Services Manager, at veronica @ onaben.org.