Collective Spirit Podcast

Tune in as we get up close and personal with Silversmith and 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow Samuel La Fountain (Diné, Turtle Mountain Chippewa). Drawing from his engaging tales of familial ties to artistry, to the crucial mentorship from Gibson Nez, and the supportive Santa Fe art community, Samuel dissects his artistic journey. He openly shares the hurdles, triumphs, and dreams of establishing a jewelry teaching institute. You’ll be captivated as you learn the intricacies of navigating the world of Indigenous art and jewelry making.

2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow Leilehua Lanzilotti (Kanaka Maoli), a sound artist and musician whose creative process weaves a rich tapestry of Hawaiian language, culture, and community engagement. Leilehua shares her experience as a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the joy of recognition alongside fellow Indigenous artists. Leilehua shares the hardships artists face, particularly during times of crisis, like the recent devastating fires in Maui. Leilehua gives a candid account of how these pressures can impact the artistic community and the essential roles of self-care and community care. Learn about the ways you can extend your support to affected communities, from donating supplies to contributing to the Maui Strong Fund.

What happens when an Indigenous artist finds solace and healing in a traditional form of art? That's the fascinating story of our guest 2022 Cultural Capital Fellow, Thomas Stillday (Red Lake Nation - Obaashing Community) from the Red Lake Nation of Minnesota. Thomas shares his journey of learning beadwork, a tradition that has been in his family for generations. His story sheds light on his struggle with depression and how beading has been a therapeutic tool in his healing process.

Join us for an artistic journey as we take flight alongside 2022 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow Josephine Hoffman (Anishinaabe), an accomplished aerial dancer who's fearlessly painting the sky with her Indigenous roots. As she vividly narrates, Josephine’s innovative spirit led her to creatively merge her fancy shawl dancing heritage with aerial acrobatics, thanks to a well-utilized grant from First Peoples Fund.

Have you ever pondered what Indigenous pop art might look like, or how personal heritage can ignite a unique artistic flame? Thread that curiosity into your headphones as we engage in a heart-to-heart with 2022 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow, Kaylene Big Knife(Chippewa Cree), a gifted graphic designer and digital illustrator from the Chippewa Kree tribe. Kailene walks us through her artistic voyage which started on her small rural reservation in Montana, and dives into the profound influence of her Indigenous lineage on her pop art style.

Have you ever gazed upon a piece of art and felt a deep connection that it's like traveling through time and space? That's the experience our guest, 2022 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow, Laura Youngbird - a gifted printmaker and educator, aims to create with her artwork. Rooted in her Native heritage and love for printmaking, she takes us on an artistic journey, from her early fascination with deconstruction and reconstruction to her exploration into the experimental side of printmaking.

Experience a journey of resilience, creativity, and healing with our special guest, 2022 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow, Tash Terry. As an artist of Navajo, French, and Irish ancestry, Tosh generously shares her tale of survival and resurgence following a severe accident at 16. With her heart firmly rooted in her indigenous heritage, she paints a vivid picture of her life through her extraordinary music, writing, and ASL interpretation.

Imagine being part of a project that seeks to bridge the gap between different cultures, form connections, share traditions, and give a voice to the underrepresented. That's the world our guest, 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow, Tara Gumapac, lives in daily. As an indigenous artist and teacher, she is pushing boundaries, building traditional hale on educational campuses, and advocating for her culture with the help of First People's Fund. Listen as Tara discloses her journey, inspiration, and the obstacles she’s had to overcome - including the enlightening path she walks with her two premature children and their unique needs.

Shauna Elk (Lakota, Dakota), learned to do beadwork at an early age thanks to the guidance of her family and close relatives. As a bead worker, her practice has helped her better understand herself and the world around her and has become a creative outlet for healing and self-care. Having expanded her practice to include quillwork, Shauna shares a bit about her experience as an artist and how her practice continues to grow with the support of First Peoples Fund.

2022 Cultural Capital fellow, Ronald Paquin (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa), an elder of the Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is a self-taught artist. He has built 21 full-sized traditional birch bark canoes and over 15 models throughout the last 20 years. In this episode, Ron shares his belief that passing on his skills and traditional art forms is important as he is one of the last canoe makers of his tribe. As a result of his teaching others, members of his community believe they as well as the tribe and public will continue to heal and grow in understanding one another.