The Root Experience is a 3-day festival featuring BIPOC talent from various cultures and disciplines. The festival celebrates International filmmakers, artists, culture bearers, musicians, healers, and the stories they weave through their art. The goal is to place Spokane creatives on the same stages as the rest of the world. In doing so, not only are we creating access points to professional creative industries, but we are also uplifting their narratives of culture, family, beauty, and resilience to create a network that empowers living stories while healing elements of the past, present, and future.

There is a current beneath everything we create. A pulse that has been beating long before we arrived, sustained by the Spokane people. True acknowledgment isn't a static statement; it is an active relationship and shared space. We step into this work in deep gratitude to the Spokane Tribe, honoring them not only as the original stewards of this land but as the intentional hosts holding space for our communities. The Root Experience is a space to listen to that pulse together.

From November 12–14, 2026, we are gathering at Spokane Live at the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino. Through a meaningful partnership with the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino, we are holding three days for the regional filmmakers, visual artists, culture bearers, and musicians who carry the living stories of their communities.

We aren’t here to give anyone a voice; you already have one. We’re here to remove the noise so it can resonate. The Root Experience exists to witness the uncompromising narratives of our BIPOC relatives. We’re looking for the common threads of knowledge, connection, family, and resilience that tie our cultures together without asking them to conform.

This work is about legacy. When we share our lived experiences on our own terms, we erase the artificial borders drawn between us. More importantly, we show the next generation that their passion is a valid, necessary path. We want young people to see themselves not as an afterthought, but as the center of the frame, carrying the wisdom of those who came before them.

There is a time for the work, and a time for rejuvenation. This is a moment to gather, to heal, and to see each other clearly.

Bring your culture. Bring your community. Bring your story.