In December 2022, Arts Midwest launched our Living Commitment to Native Nations along with an action plan.
In 2023, we began to activate that plan by partnering with the Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies to conduct research and staff education on the federally recognized American Indian tribes and reservations with whom Arts Midwest shares geography. That initial research was completed in summer 2024.
What followed was a series of conversations and reflections that acknowledged the value of beginning with that research and education, but also revealed a clear next step: relationship-building.
In mid-2024, Arts Midwest thoughtfully began community engagement efforts to listen and learn directly from Native artists, culture bearers, and communities. Arts Midwest staff consulted with three Native leaders in the field, Cheryl Kary with Sacred Pipe Resource Center, Stacey LaCompte with North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, and Eileen Briggs with the Bush Foundation to gather feedback and guidance on next steps.
After working with that advisory group, Arts Midwest moved forward with conducting a series of Listening Sessions, or focus groups, to gather community feedback on funding barriers/challenges, funding models that resonate with Native communities, and what are some program areas they’d like to see Arts Midwest support.
The Listening Sessions have been carefully designed to interact with each specific region and ensure there is diverse representation of tribes and artistic medium. The sessions are also intentionally inclusive of reservation residents, rural residents, urban Natives, and Native-led nonprofits. This series will continue through 2025.
In early 2026, Arts Midwest will develop a report detailing what we’ve heard so far, and how those findings will guide what we do next.
Arts Midwest offers a heartfelt thank you to the advisory group and the individuals who accepted the invitation to participate in the Listening Sessions. We are eager to share more updates about what we’re learning and doing in 2026.
Living Commitment to Native Nations
From staff learning to program design, we’re deepening relationships with Native Nations and celebrating Indigenous creativity across the Midwest.
