MIP First Fire Fundraiser
A Fall Tradition Bringing Community Together at MIP
As the autumn evenings turn cooler in Prescott, the Museum of Indigenous People prepares for its annual First Fire Fall Fundraiser. Each November, friends, families, artists, and longtime supporters gather inside the museum's historic Pueblo Building to enjoy a meal, share stories, experience Indigenous cultural performances, and spend time together.
This year's gathering takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, continuing a tradition that has become a familiar part of the museum's fall calendar. The Fire Fall Fundraiser is an opportunity to bring the community together while supporting the educational programs, exhibitions, and cultural activities that MIP provides throughout the year.
A Tradition Built Around Community
The name First Fire comes from the museum's practice of lighting a fire to welcome the cooler autumn weather. The warmth of the fire provides a fitting setting for an evening centered on hospitality, friendship, and the pleasure of gathering with others.
Over time, First Fire has brought together people who have supported the museum for years, along with visitors attending for the first time. Some come to enjoy the performances and food, others to reconnect with friends or learn more about Indigenous cultures. Whatever brings them through the doors, they become part of an evening that reflects the relationships MIP has developed with the surrounding community.
Those relationships are an important part of the museum's work. MIP offers a place for people to encounter Indigenous art and history, connect with their heritage, meet artists and cultural presenters, and learn from the communities whose stories are represented throughout the museum.
The People and Performances Make the First Fire Fundraiser Special
One of the pleasures of First Fire is the opportunity to experience performances by Indigenous artists and cultural groups. Each year has introduced guests to different performers and food traditions, giving returning visitors something new to enjoy.
In 2023, world champion hoop dancer Tony Duncan performed at First Fire, while Chef Andrew Monak prepared a meal featuring ingredients and dishes connected to Indigenous food traditions, including Three Sisters stew, bison, and tepary beans. Readers interested in learning more about the food traditions of the Southwest can explore MIP's article, Indigenous Food Contributions: O'odham and Apache Foodways.
The following year, the museum welcomed the Masayumptewa and Sehongva Family Dancers, with dinner catered by Turtle Island Cuisine, a division of the Prescott Powwow Committee. The 2025 event featured the Keli Akimel Traditional Basket Dancers and Singers, continuing the tradition of sharing Indigenous performance with the Prescott community.
Along with the performances, guests have enjoyed meals, conversations, and silent auctions featuring Native art and donated gifts. These experiences have become part of what people look forward to each year, bringing together the artists, volunteers, supporters, and community members who help make the evening possible.
An Evening That Supports the Museum Throughout the Year
The First Fire Fall Fundraiser is also an opportunity to support the museum's work beyond the event itself. Funds raised help sustain educational programs and school tours, cultural preservation efforts, exhibitions, community events, and the daily work of caring for the museum and its collections.
For MIP, that work is closely connected to the people it serves. A student visiting with a school group may encounter Indigenous history from a perspective they have never heard before. Someone researching their family heritage may discover resources that help them reconnect. An artist may have an opportunity to share their work and speak with visitors about the traditions and experiences that inform it.
As explored in Your Support for MIP Strengthens Culture and Community, the museum depends on people participating in many different ways, from attending events and volunteering to donating and becoming members. Each form of support helps MIP remain a welcoming place where Indigenous knowledge, art, and community connections can continue to grow.
These connections are central to the museum's mission, “To instill understanding and respect for the Indigenous cultures of the Southwest.” First Fire gives the community a way to participate in that mission while enjoying an evening together.
Join Us for the 2026 First Fire Fall Fundraiser
This year's First Fire will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, at the Museum of Indigenous People, 147 North Arizona Avenue in Prescott.
The evening begins with a cocktail hour and the opening of the silent auction at 5:00 PM, followed by a five-course catered dinner beginning at 6:00 PM. Guests will enjoy traditional dancers and singers, with the silent auction winners announced later in the evening.
Tickets are $100 per person, plus a $2.50 ticketing service fee. Seating is limited, and advance reservations are encouraged.
Whether you're a longtime supporter or someone who has yet to experience First Fire, the museum welcomes you to join this year's gathering. It's a chance to enjoy good food, appreciate the talents of Indigenous performers, spend time with friends, and help MIP continue the work that brings people together throughout the year.
For those interested in staying involved beyond First Fire, MIP membership provides opportunities to participate in museum programs, visit exhibitions, and support its mission throughout the year.
