Creativity blossoms on the Pine Ridge Reservation with the OLA Artist-in-Residence Program

“Connecting me back to home, that’s kind of how I see it,” she says. “It’s giving me the space to really spread out and look at things in a broader picture, which is something I don’t have when I visit my mom.” Mikayla Patton

On the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Oglala Lakota Artspace (OLA) Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program has become a safe space for Indigenous creatives, offering a dedicated opportunity to support their art and cultural expression giving them the time, resources, and support needed to develop and refine their art.  The artists are provided with travel expenses,  living accommodations within walking distance to the OLA, a food and materials stipend and a studio workspace. 

“We’re in the heart of the reservation. I remember a conversation with Lori Pourier and James Pakootas in 2019. Lori mentioned how amazing it would be to stay in a cabin on the reservation and walk over to a high-quality studio right there. The AiR Program offers a private space for artists to take ownership and create without cutting corners, fully embracing the reservation’s distinctive environment,”

The AiR program, part of First Peoples Fund's overall mission, enables Lakota artists to  reconnect with their homeland, exchange ideas, and contribute to their communities' cultural knowledge. Whether they are exploring new artistic areas or deepening their current practice, the residency encourages creativity and helps preserve the rich heritage of Lakota art, from its historical beginnings to modern interpretations.

The 2024 AiR cohort includes six artists who share the diversity and vibrancy of the Oglala Lakota heritage: Tracy Hauff (Writer), Odessa Star Comes Out (Multidisciplinary Artist), 9a Matowin (Singer/Songwriter), Jacob “Conquest” Bianas (Rap Artist), Irving “Jar” Cottier (Musician), and Mikayla Patton (Interdisciplinary Visual Artist). 

“We’re in the heart of the reservation. I remember a conversation with Lori Pourier and James Pakootas in 2019. Lori mentioned how amazing it would be to stay in a cabin on the reservation and walk over to a high-quality studio right there. The AiR Program offers a private space for artists to take ownership and create without cutting corners, fully embracing the reservation’s distinctive environment,” Talon Ducheneaux (Oglala Lakota), Wičahpi Olowaŋ (WO) Studio/Music Program Manager, said. 

Talon reflects on the opportunities offered by the AiR program, noting the unique experience of being based on the reservation. In contrast to the usual expenses that can deter artists from pursuing their work, the program provides a rare opportunity to create in a well-equipped environment without prohibitive costs.

The program recognizes the vital role that the reservation plays in fueling the residents’ creativity. The landscape, cultural history, and everyday experiences of life on the reservation serve as inspiration for many of the residents. From working on painting, sculpting, beadwork or digital media, the artists are given the resources and time to fully immerse themselves in their craft without any outside distractions.

“I live in Rapid City and travel to the reservation all the time, down to Pine Ridge in the various communities because I have friends and family down there. But this was the first time I got to live on the reservation, even if it was only four weeks, and be immersed in the culture and the people. I enjoyed every minute I was there,” AiR resident Tracy Hauff (Oglala Lakota) said. 

Bringing her books and research materials with her, Tracy discovered that being on the reservation helped her writing, providing a setting that connected with her creative process. Focused on writing about American Indian culture and history, she has appeared in publications such as Articles of a Treaty and Wicazo Ša Review. 

“My short stories and essays have been rejected by publications that aren't Native-related or that do not have a focus on Natives. I have also submitted for fellowships because I wanted to get away just to be able to work on my book, but I didn't receive those. So when I got this fellowship from First Peoples Fund, I was just so grateful,” Tracy said. 

During her residency, Tracy valued reconnecting with her roots and reflecting on her childhood visits to the reservation. She worked on her historical fiction book highlighting Lakota women's significant yet overlooked roles as the wives of fur trappers and traders. Her work aims to give these women the recognition they deserve and explore their critical contributions to history. 

“I live in Rapid City and travel to the reservation all the time, down to Pine Ridge in the various communities because I have friends and family down there. But this was the first time I got to live on the reservation, even if it was only four weeks, and be immersed in the culture and the people. I enjoyed every minute I was there,”

As First Peoples Fund looks forward to the continued impact of the AiR program, we are excited to welcome new voices to the program. One such voice is Mikayla Patton, whose residency starts in November of this year and will bring a fresh perspective to the OLA. Mikayla’s approach to art blends traditional techniques with contemporary ideas. 

“I was training as a printmaker outside of school. But I could not access a printing press. So I had to figure out what was available to me. And that's how I ended up slowly going into paper making. And then it became like me wanting to get bigger and bigger so I went into sculpture. I kind of explored a lot. I wanted to get bigger and bigger and do it on my own outside of school,” Mikayla said. 

Mikayla says the residency will provide her with the much needed space to work on her art— a luxury that’s hard to find when visiting home. “Connecting me back to home, that’s kind of how I see it,” she says. “It’s giving me the space to really spread out and look at things in a broader picture, which is something I don’t have when I visit my mom.” 

“Connecting me back to home, that’s kind of how I see it,” she says. “It’s giving me the space to really spread out and look at things in a broader picture, which is something I don’t have when I visit my mom.” 

The OLA AiR program remains an important platform for Indigenous artists and connecting them to their cultural heritage. By offering a unique blend of support and personal space, the program supports both artistic growth and connection.