Celebrating Indigenous Talent: 2025 Community Spirit Award Honorees Announced by First Peoples Fund

First Peoples Fund Celebrates Indigenous Artists

The First Peoples Fund, a prominent organization in the U.S. dedicated to uplifting the voices and talents of Native American artists, has recently announced the honorees of the 2025 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards (CSA). This year, the organization is proud to support five exceptional individuals representing diverse Indigenous communities, awarding each of them an unrestricted cash grant of $50,000. This initiative not only empowers these artists but also reinforces their invaluable contributions to fostering and celebrating Indigenous cultures across the nation.

The recipients of this year’s awards include:

1. Silver Galleto - Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Windsor, CA
2. Terrill Goseyun - San Carlos Apache, Bylas, AZ
3. Janie Luster - United Houma Nation, Theriot, LA
4. Julia Marden - Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head - Aquinnah, South Ryegate, VT
5. Sonya Moody-Jurado - Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Salem, OR
6. Lisa Morehead-Hillman - Karuk, Yurok, Orleans, CA

The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award, named after the fund's founding donor, honors remarkable Native artists who reflect the values of cultural generosity. They utilize their artistic skills and ancestral knowledge to uplift their communities, which is crucial in preserving and enhancing Indigenous traditions. These artists are not only creators but also vital cultural bearers, preserving and passing down their heritage.

The President and CEO of First Peoples Fund, Justin Kíí Huenemann (Diné), highlighted the organization's mission of honoring Indigenous traditions: "Uplifting and honoring our ancestral knowledge and practices through Native culture bearers has always been at the heart of our work. There is no doubt about the profound importance of Indigenous knowledge and practices in shaping and sustaining our world."

Huenemann expressed his excitement about this year’s honorees, stating, "I am thrilled for everyone to witness once again how these extraordinary culture-bearers keep ancestral knowledge and practices vibrant and thriving."

Since its inception, the First Peoples Fund has recognized over 438 artists from 146 tribes across the U.S. and two Canadian provinces, distributing more than $10 million in support since 1999. Their efforts include fellowships, grants, workshops, and community programs aimed at nourishing and sustaining Indigenous artistry.

The 2025 Community Spirit Award recipients epitomize the transformative potential of investing in Indigenous artistry. The contributions of these artists not only enrich their immediate communities but also foster a broader appreciation for the vibrancy of Indigenous cultures nationwide.

To celebrate their achievements and explore how you too can contribute to the preservation of Indigenous arts for future generations, visit firstpeoplesfund.org. Discover the inspiring stories of these cultural champions and learn how a collective effort can ensure that Indigenous legacies continue to thrive.

The 2025 Community Spirit Award initiative is made possible through support from the HRK Foundation, the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropic Foundation, and the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation.