#United States #Santa Fe #Native Artists #First Peoples Fund #community spirit

Honoring Native Talent: The 2025 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards

The First Peoples Fund (FPF) is set to host a celebrated evening on October 14, 2025, dedicated to honoring six remarkable Native artists during the 2025 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards. This annual event will take place at the Museum of Indian Arts + Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

The awards are aimed at recognizing Native artists and culture bearers who demonstrate exceptional cultural generosity, artistic excellence, and commitment to their local communities. This year, each award recipient will receive an unrestricted grant totaling $50,000, encouraging and empowering their continued impact in the arts.

The Honorees

The 2025 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award will celebrate the incredible contributions of underrepresented artists, including:

• - Silver Galleto (Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians)
• - Terrill Goseyun (San Carlos Apache Tribe)
• - Janie Verret Luster (United Houma Nation)
• - Julia Marden (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Aquinnah)
• - Sonya Moody-Jurado (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians)
• - Lisa Moorehead-Hillman (Karuk, Yurok, Shasta)

These awardees have exhibited a lifelong dedication to the arts, shaping and sustaining the vibrancy of Indigenous culture through their work.

Event Highlights

The awards ceremony promises to be an unforgettable evening, complete with live musical performances and delectable refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness the artistic expressions of the honorees while also celebrating the spirit of community and significance of culture.

As Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota), Founder and Senior Fellow of First Peoples Fund, states, “This annual celebration is more than an event—it is a gathering of community, culture, and generosity. Artists are changemakers in our communities nationally—and so artists restore history and our identity.” This statement reflects the profound importance of artists in fostering community identity and reclaiming cultural narratives.

Join the Celebration

Tickets for this special evening are available now at bit.ly/2025-fpf-csa-tix. Everyone is encouraged to participate in honoring these extraordinary Native artists and their work, ensuring that their contributions to the arts continue to inspire future generations.

About First Peoples Fund

First Peoples Fund is a national organization dedicated to honoring and supporting Native artists and culture bearers. Operating under the principles of Collective Spirit®, FPF invests in artists as leaders and recognizes their crucial role in fortifying cultural identity, promoting economic opportunity, and nurturing community well-being across Indigenous nations.

For further details, please contact:
Heidi Brandow (Diné, Kanaka Maoli)
Associate Director of Communications
First Peoples Fund
[email protected]
605-215-1088

As we look forward to the festivities, it is vital to remember and uplift the voices of Native artists, honoring their creative contributions that play a pivotal role in society.