I’m pleased to share that I was recently awarded a 2025 SHIFT – Transformative Change + Indigenous Arts award from the Native Arts + Cultures Foundation. The SHIFT program recognizes Native artists, curators, and community collaborators using their creativity to address social change issues through a Native lens. Awardees receive $100,000 to support innovative community-driven projects created in partnership with an organization that uplifts Native communities, promotes self-determination, and drives transformative change. I’m pleased to be one of the six artists and curators awarded this year, selected from their most competitive applicant pool to date.
My project, Mending our Community Through Threads of our Culture, seeks to strengthen and heal community through teaching the rich traditions of Alaska Native culture and values. Utilizing hands-on activities, I will teach Alaska Native arts and crafts to members of the Akiachak Native Community, revitalizing the traditional making of parkas, fur boots, and other Yup’ik artisan crafts. In addition to the creation process, community members will take part in activities such as cultural discussions, skill demonstrations, and seasonal subsistence outings. The project will culminate in a community-wide gathering where the participants and I will present our work, celebrate our heritage, and inspire others. The project will be coordinated and offered to the community with the Akiachak Native Community’s Wellness Program.
Learn more about the SHIFT program and my fellow awardees at nativeartsandcultures.org/shift.
Nasektaq 