Connecting Tradition and Self-expression
In celebrating Indigenous expressiveness and cultural enrichment, we proudly present this month’s latest highlight of Cultural Capital (CC) and Artist in Business Leadership (ABL) fellows.
The following artists represent how Indigenous creativity thrives through each fellow participating in our fellowships. These creatives come from diverse backgrounds and artistic fields and embody a deep passion for their craft and community.
Cultural Capital
Loren Waters, a CC Fellow from the Kiowa Tribe and Cherokee Nation, is a multifaceted artist whose work varies from filmmaking to storytelling to jewelry design. With a strong commitment to her community, Loren’s fellowship project proposal is to host three Indigenous youth storytelling workshops.
“I hope that bringing my experience to the youth will help bridge that gap for some people and maybe push them farther along than I could have been at that age and get more Native people working in this industry,” Loren said.
“I hope that bringing my experience to the youth will help bridge that gap for some people and maybe push them farther along than I could have been at that age and get more Native people working in this industry,” Loren said.
In her attempts to bridge the gap between her cultural background and the non-Indigenous world, Loren draws from her experiences growing up close to her culture in Oklahoma. She acknowledges the challenges of navigating between two worlds and the impact of lacking representation in media and film.
"I think that there's a lot of emphasis in the film industry or in filmmaking on Indigenous people being historical or people of the past," Loren said.
"I think that there's a lot of emphasis in the film industry or in filmmaking on Indigenous people being historical or people of the past," Loren said.
Through these experiences, Loren hopes to contribute to the growth and development of future generations of Indigenous filmmakers, connecting the gap between historical representations and contemporary narratives in the film industry.
Sarah “Giihz” Agaton Howes, a CC Fellow of Fond du Lac Ojibwe and Muscogee descent, is a beadworker, illustrator, graphic designer, and fashion designer. She envisions the creation of “Auntie’s Table”- a safe space where learners and makers can come together to create, learn, and build community. Sarah plans to use the fellowship funds to provide essential supplies, rent space for gatherings, and compensate herself and her teachers for their time and expertise.
“I think it's cool to be able to have grant funding that works with and is run by Native folks and to go through that process with other Native folks,” Sarah said.
“I think it's cool to be able to have grant funding that works with and is run by Native folks and to go through that process with other Native folks,” Sarah said.
Auntie’s Table aims to create a welcoming environment for makers of all skill levels to come together and learn. It is supported by a dedicated team of employees and mentees.
“I realized that what my community needed was not for me to be making them things but for them to have those cultural competencies and to make their items for their family. And so that's what I spend a lot of my time doing: just teaching people how to do everything that I know how to do,” Sarah said.
“I realized that what my community needed was not for me to be making them things but for them to have those cultural competencies and to make their items for their family. And so that's what I spend a lot of my time doing: just teaching people how to do everything that I know how to do,” Sarah said.
Artist in Business Leadership
ABL Fellow Juliette Morris Williams, an Oklahoma Choctaw, is working to expand her artistic reach and create opportunities for broader community engagement. Due to Multiple Sclerosis, Juliette faces mobility challenges. She aims to create an online platform to showcase and sell her artwork, ensuring its accessibility to collectors worldwide.
“These funds will allow me to meet some artists I've wanted to meet and to travel there. And I feel so good that things that mean so much to me might help others see what they can do and inspire them to do more in their own lives or communities,” Juliette said.
“These funds will allow me to meet some artists I've wanted to meet and to travel there. And I feel so good that things that mean so much to me might help others see what they can do and inspire them to do more in their own lives or communities,” Juliette said.
Through her Mujeres Divinas project, Juliette plans to celebrate Indigenous women, drawing inspiration from her Choctaw family and her roots in Oklahoma. She sees creating a body of work that honors the resilience and beauty of Indigenous women, incorporating elements of clay and soil from her family's land into her artistic creations.
“I feel that with the lifting up of women who do so much and work so hard for their communities in their culture, I hopefully inspire others to say, ‘Wow, these people are pretty amazing. They do a lot of work. And I should try to do something like that,’” Juliette said.
“I feel that with the lifting up of women who do so much and work so hard for their communities in their culture, I hopefully inspire others to say, ‘Wow, these people are pretty amazing. They do a lot of work. And I should try to do something like that,’” Juliette said.
As we honor Loren Waters, Juliette Williams, and Sarah “Giihz” Agaton Howes's additions to the FPF Fellowship family, let us celebrate the passion and creativity of Indigenous artistry and reiterate our commitment to supporting and uplifting Indigenous artists in their pursuit of cultural expression.
