First Peoples Fund

10/16/2026

A Time of Creation and Celebration: OLA’s Summer Solstice Event ☀️
To the Lakota and many Indigenous Nations, the summer solstice is a time of ceremony, gathering, and honoring the natural rhythms of Mother Earth and all life.

On June 27, the Oglala Lakota Artspace (OLA), a program of First Peoples Fund, brought together artists, performers, cultural presenters, and community members in Kyle, South Dakota, for a day of creativity, cultural sharing, and connection. As OLA Director Leslie Mesteth shares, creating space for community members to share knowledge, learn, and create together fosters a sense of pride and belonging.

📖 Read our new blog to learn more about this special day of kinship, creation, and celebration at: bit.ly/2026SummerSolsticeBlog

Join us for OLA’s upcoming Fall Equinox Celebration on October 17 | 10AM - 4PM! 🍂

Music produced by: Talon Bazille Ducheneaux

10/14/2026

This Saturday, join us for the Fall Equinox Celebration at the Oglala Lakota Artspace on October 17, 2026, from 10AM - 4PM. 🍂

Gather with community for a day of art, culture, creativity, and connection. This free and public event, in partnership with The Lakota Arts Council, will feature:
+ Virtual Artist Panel
+ Art Activities
+ Art Presentations
+ Open Mic
+ Food
+ Door Prizes

📅 October 17, 2026 | 10AM - 4PM
📍 Oglala Lakota Artspace | 7904 Lakota Prairie Dr. Kyle, SD

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

Indigenous art is… ❤️🪶

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re sharing reflections from our 2026 First Peoples Fund Fellows, who joined us at this year’s Fellowship Convening to share what Indigenous art means to them.

Today, we honor the generations of Indigenous peoples who have protected our cultures, carried our traditions forward, and paved the way for future generations. We celebrate the artists, performers, storytellers, and culture bearers who keep our stories, languages, and ways of knowing alive.

Through our Art Carries Us Forward campaign, we’re supporting Indigenous artists, culture bearers, and creative entrepreneurs through our Cultural Capital and Artist in Business Leadership programs. Your support helps them strengthen their creative practices, grow their businesses, and carry their cultural knowledge forward for generations to come.

💖 Join us in carrying Indigenous art and culture forward.
Donate today: bit.ly/2026ArtCarriesUsForward

🎹 Music produced by: Talon Bazille Ducheneaux

10/11/2026

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day from First Peoples Fund! 🪶✨

Today, we honor the generations of Indigenous peoples who have protected our cultures, carried our traditions forward, and paved the way for future generations. We celebrate the artists, performers, storytellers, and culture bearers who keep our stories, languages, and ways of knowing alive.

Through our Art Carries Us Forward campaign, we’re raising support for Indigenous artists, culture bearers, and creative entrepreneurs through our Cultural Capital and Artist in Business Leadership programs.

Your support helps Indigenous creatives strengthen their practices, grow their businesses, and carry their cultural knowledge forward for generations to come. What generations before us carried made today possible. What we choose to carry forward will help shape what comes next.

Join us in carrying Indigenous art and culture forward.

When you donate to our Art Carries Us Forward campaign, you will receive a complimentary Indigenous Playlist.

💖 Donate today at: bit.ly/2026ArtCarriesUsForward | LINK IN BIO

10/10/2026

First Peoples Fund was honored to celebrate Arthur Amiotte, Roger Broer, and Donald F. Montileaux at The Dream Catchers Artist Guild of Woihanblapi Exhibit at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, SD this past Thursday. 💖

As the last three living artists of the nine original members of the Dream Catchers Artist Guild, their presence offered a meaningful opportunity to gather, listen, and learn from the artists whose work and vision have helped shape the legacy of contemporary Native art. Founded in 1983, the Dream Catchers Artist Guild was established to unite, elevate, and promote Indigenous artists throughout the region. This traveling exhibition begins at the Dahl Arts Center and showcases the work of the nine original guild members.

The evening included refreshments, conversation, and a special guided tour of the Woihanblapi exhibit, curated by Keith Braveheart (Oglala Lakota, 2019 CC Fellow & 2021 CSA Honoree).

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible and to all who joined us for this special gathering. We are grateful for the opportunity to honor these remarkable artists and celebrate the enduring strength of Indigenous art, culture, and community. We invite you to experience the exhibition at the Dahl Arts Center through January 16, 2027!

Photo Credit: Angel White Eyes

10/07/2026

✨ Meet the Artists at Oglala Lakota Artspace!
This Fall, we’re honored to welcome Achanté Davis and Cat Clifford as OLA workshop instructors. We recognize and celebrate the knowledge, creativity, and traditions they bring to OLA.

+ Achanté Davis will lead Mixed Media Masterpieces and Wire Wrapping, exploring accessible mixed-media art and sustainable materials.
+ Cat Clifford, owner of Flying High Leather, will lead Intro to Archery Hunting*with Adam Clifford in collaboration with OSPRA, as well as Kids Rodeo Chaps, sharing knowledge rooted in the Indigenous cowboy lifestyle and Lakota culture.

We’re grateful to have these talented artists sharing their skills and knowledge at the Oglala Lakota Artspace!
📞 To reserve a spot for a workshop, call OLA at 605.455.1344.

10/06/2026

We are honored to celebrate Arthur Amiotte, Roger Broer, and Donald F. Montileaux to The Dream Catchers Artist Guild of Woihanblapi Exhibit at the Dahl Arts Center.

As the last three living artists of the nine original artists of the Dream Catchers Artist Guild, their presence offers an opportunity to gather and learn from artists whose work and vision have helped shape the legacy of contemporary Native art.

Join us for an intimate evening celebrating their work, the history of the Guild, and the continued strength of Indigenous creativity and expression. The evening will include refreshments, conversation, and a special guided tour of the Woihanblapi exhibit, curated by Keith Braveheart (Oglala Lakota, 2019 CC Fellow & 2021 CSA Honoree).

📅 Thursday, October 8 | 6–8 PM
📍 Dahl Arts Center | 713 7th Street, Rapid City, SD

Please RSVP at bit.ly/RSVP-Dahl

10/05/2026

A few of us Dream Warriors artists were in Pine Ridge, SD, this week to perform, speak, and workshop with youth and artists at Loneman School, Little Wound School, and Oglala Lakota Artspace. It was a powerful, inspiring, and refreshing experience! There’s so much talent here! Big love and respect to Bazille, Marla, Linda, Daisa, my brothers Mic Jordan and Twin City Tone, all the youth and artists we built with, and First Peoples Fund for making all of this happen. Until next time!