Local Artist Receives National Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship

DETROIT LAKES MINNESOTA – First Peoples Fund, the oldest national Native-led organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous artists, has selected 12 individuals from across the country as recipients of the 2023 Cultural Capital Fellowship.

Local artist Penny Kagigebi, White Earth Ojibwe (descendant) was named as one of the fellows. An artist whose art forms include traditional and contemporary Ojibwe basketry and quillboxes, Kagigebi will receive a $10,000 project grant, technical support and professional training over the year.

First Peoples Fund President Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota) said, “We deeply believe in the transformative power of artists and culture bearers to strengthen and uplift communities. No matter their medium, each artist shares a story reflecting the incredible range of Indigenous cultures across the United States. Whether growing their entrepreneurial spirit or revitalizing, reconnecting and reclaiming ancient Indigenous practices, their work illuminates what is possible and inspires others. Their success creates a ripple effect that impacts their community and beyond.”

Awarded annually, the Cultural Capital Fellowship program aims to increase artists’ capacity to succeed and impact their communities by supporting individuals whose work focuses on passing down ancestral knowledge.

"The 2023 fellowship cohort is an exciting and empowering mix of artists and culture bearers who are ensuring cultural and ancestral knowledge continues to be practiced in their communities.” said First Peoples Fund Fellowships Program Manager, Rachael Nez (Diné).

Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota), President of First Peoples Fund adds “We deeply believe in the transformative power of artists and culture bearers to strengthen and uplift communities. No matter their medium, each artist shares a story reflecting the incredible range of Indigenous cultures across the United States. Whether growing their entrepreneurial spirit or revitalizing, reconnecting and reclaiming ancient Indigenous practices, their work illuminates what is possible and inspires others. Their success creates a ripple effect that impacts their community and beyond.”

First Peoples Fund has awarded 423 fellowships to 324 artists from 117 tribes in 33 states and 2 Canadian provinces. In addition to its fellowship and grants programs, FPF also helps support the inclusion of the arts in communities through values-based artist workshops, community art classes, youth programming and nationwide partnerships with other organizations invested in the arts. Since 1999 the organization has awarded over $5.5 million in individual and organizational grants, fees, and honoraria to artists.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Art Dealers Association of America, Bay and Paul Foundation, Bush Foundation, California Wellness Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, HRK Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Justworks, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Mize Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, Solberg Manufacturing and many valued individual donors support First Peoples Fund fellowships.

First Peoples Fund is a national values-based organization that honors and supports the Collective Spirit® of First Peoples artists and culture bearers. Collective Spirit®, that which manifests a self-awareness and sense of responsibility to sustain the cultural fabric of a community. We accomplish this by providing tools, resources and a voice to Indigenous artists who share their inspiration, wisdom, knowledge and gifts with their communities. First Peoples Fund sustains culture and cultivates entrepreneurial initiatives and community development programs for, and alongside, Native artists so that together we create an Indigenous Arts Ecology. For further information about First Peoples Fund, please visit http://www.firstpeoplesfund.org or contact us at collectivespirit@firstpeoplesfund.org.