Remembering David Moses Bridges

David Moses Bridges (Passamaquoddy) became part of the First Peoples Fund family when he was nominated as a Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award honoree in 2007. David's commitment to the traditional practices of the Passamaquoddy nation were recognized further by First Peoples Fund in the following years when he was selected as a 2008 Artist in Business Leadership Fellow and a 2009 Cultural Capital Fellow.

David's dedication to passing on ancestral knowledge was embodied in every facet of his life. His work was not only about the physical process of creating traditional art, but included the entire ecosystem surrounding traditional practices – from honoring his ancestors to advocating for the environment. David firmly believed that ancestral knowledge not only provided guidance in contemporary life, but that it also provided answers for how to approach the future in a way that created healthy, vibrant communities.

David passed away in 2017, however his legacy of commitment to First Peoples artists and culture bearers continues through the David Moses Bridges Scholarship. Provided through the Maine Community Foundation, the scholarship will support a First Peoples Fund Cultural Capital fellow every year. We are honored to be able to continue celebrating the life and work of David, whose impact will be felt in his community and among First Peoples artists for generations to come.

If you would like to donate to the David Moses Bridges Scholarship fund, you can do so by donating to either the Maine Community Foundation or to First Peoples Fund. Please note that your donation is going toward the David Moses Bridges Scholarship when submitting your donation. You can learn more about David's life, his work and his community by visiting DavidMosesBridges.com.