Artist Heid E. Erdrich, center, performed a welcoming song at the First Peoples Fund Community Spirit Awards gala in October. She was accompanied by Margaret Noodin, right, and Kimberly Wensaut. Photo from Facebook
Art: The Indians’ greatest asset
First Peoples Fund opens door to success
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY –– Native American artists have traditionally been the keepers of indigenous history and the tellers of our original stories. This sacred role designates these artisans as educators of our communities. With “no written language,” the patterns, depictions, shapes, and animals represented in their art supplement the oral history told for countless generations. It is through a culture’s history that a society keeps its identity and together moves into a more defined future. Throughout the ages, art has been a commodity for tribal groups to attain basic survival needs as well as economic sustenance. As the late Elouise Cobell said, “Art is the greatest asset Indian people have in our communities, yet it is the most underdeveloped.” Founded in 1995, the First Peoples Fund of Rapid City was the result of several individuals, including artisans, philanthropists, activists, and business minded people coming together in support of art of the northern plains. According to FPF President Lori Pourier, Oglala/Mnicoujou Lakota, “Many of the artists were taking their work south in order to gain access to the market.” The intent of FPF is to connect rural and urban Native American artists with financial assistance and entrepreneurial training in order to build self-sustaining economic opportunity locally. In 2011, a research survey was funded by FPF, Artspace, Dr. Kathleen Pickering Sherman of Colorado State University (CSU), Northwest Area Foundation and Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC). The American Indian Creative Economy Market Study Project surveyed 143 artists from Pine Ridge Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation and surrounding areas. The survey was designed to have a firmer understanding of artist family economics, social networks available locally, tools needed to facilitate art as a means of economic viability, and to identify support systems necessary to make art a driving force in the lives of both urban and rural communities. Much of FPF’s work is driven by the results of this survey. According to FPF research, approximately 30% of Native American peoples are creating art or have the potential to create art, but many are in low-income families and cannot afford the materials needed. Also, up and coming artists do not have the business skills or the entrepreneurial training necessary to take on art as a sole provider. Academic studies conducted by Kathleen Sherman, Richard Sherman, James Van Lanen, Tressa Berman, have outlined factors which prohibit successful business ventures which include; access to capital, financial education, business knowledge, knowledge of distribution networks, access to markets, and professional development training. Though some small businesses do operate successfully in South Dakota, this market is largely underdeveloped but yet possesses, within its borders, the rich cultural traditions and often artists simply need the modern global marketing strategies to generate self-sustaining growth in the art industry. The cultural artists living on or near reservations possess the skill set necessary to generate a path out of poverty for their families. Lakota/Dakota artists have the capacity to compete respectfully in any region of the world which deals in northern plains artwork. Research provided by FPF define what reservation-based native artists need to be successful; access to markets, access to supplies, increased business knowledge, access to informal networks, access to credit and capital, as well as space to create. This is where the First Peoples Fund programs become such a vital resource not only locally, but nationally as well.
First Peoples Fund staff pose outside their Rapid City office. Seated from left: Kalima Rose, Peter Strong, Ben Sherman, Ron Looking Elk-Martinez, Maria Lopez de Leon, Logan Anderson. Standing from left: Don Owen, Theresa Secord, Miranne Walker, Sherry Salway Black, David Cournoyer, Sheila White Horse, Lori Pourier. Courtesy photo
The Cultural Capital Grant Program allows eligible culture bearers, those individuals who possess cultural and ancestral knowledge, to apply for a grant to which they can continue their work in the teaching of values and traditions. This is a one-year program in which resources and capital are offered to create original ideas for cultural preservation. The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award recognizes individuals who are responsible for bringing spirit to their fellow artists in their area. This award comes with a $5,000 fellowship for artists to continue their work in hopes of building community, passing on traditions and maintaining direct healthy connections to tribes. The Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship Program provides a $5,000 grant for individuals with technical assistance and professional development guidance in hopes to offset capital expenses in building a business. The recipients of this grant are challenged not only to succeed in business but to also push boundaries. The Professional Development Training Program provides entrepreneurs with support to have confidence in their professional and personal lives. This program offers Native Artist Professional Training, Community-based Certification Training whose trainers represent entrepreneurs who represent many facets of business. There are Native American-inspired values necessary to participate in the PFP programs; generosity, respect, integrity, strength, fortitude, humility, wisdom, and community-mindedness. The three stages of entrepreneurial development under FPF’s programs include a Stage 1. The micro-business entrepreneurship or emerging artist level. At this level artists need a significant amount of assistance in business training and their art is a supplemental income. Stage 2. The small-business development level is designated for more established artists who use their art as a primary means of income. These individuals become mentors to emerging artists. Stage 3. These are artists who employ others in their own business and have a sophisticated business model active in their community. In examining the First Peoples Fund’s “Theory of Change for a Sustainable Future” diagram, their research concludes that artists and fellows in the program increase cultural capital by creating and showing their art and culture to others. They are fully benefiting from the networking possibilities and give back by mentoring and inspiring others to have confidence in their art. The artist in business leaders operate successful galleries and shops, who set and meet business goals regularly while giving their time and knowledge to others who choose to use art as a path out of poverty. Art has always been a means of survival and cultural exchange which brings the knowledge of humanity to ever changing heights. A program like First Peoples Fund is the nexus from which the business community and traditional, indigenous cultural art meet for the common goal of bringing Native Americans out of poverty by means of sharing pure talent with generous resources. Art as an economic means of survival is a practical and attainable system, especially in modern times. On some level, the ancestors of the Native Americans are still providing. For more information about First Peoples Fund, or to apply for programs, please visit their website, www.firstpeoplesfund.org or contact by phone at (605) 348-0324. (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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