The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards

The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards is sponsored by First Peoples Fund. This program supports the advancement of American Indian arts by focusing on three funding areas, including the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards, a national recognition and fellowship award for American Indian artists.

Community Spirit Award - First Peoples Fund This annual award recognizes extraordinary Native artists who embody cultural generosity, and use their ancestral knowledge and artistic talents to uplift their Native communities.

PROGRAMS > Community Spirit Award Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award Named after First Peoples Fund's founder, the annual Community Spirit Awards program recognizes Native artists who have worked selflessly throughout their lives to share their cultural knowledge and ancestral gifts with their communities. Recipients receive an award grant of up to $50,000.

The award is designed to support these essential bearers of cultural practice to carry forward their wisdom and help Native communities heal and thrive. The award is given out by nomination only to practicing Native artists of any medium, including music, dance, clothing design, basket weaving, beading, storytelling and much more, in both traditional and contemporary forms.

The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award recognizes artists and culture bearers who: Are deeply rooted within and maintain direct ties to their Native community Show commitment to building the strength of Indigenous communities by sharing their skills and talents with others. Demonstrate an artistic and/or cultural practice that passes on the traditions and the life of ways of their Indigenous Culture.

CSA nomination form KEY INFORMATION Typically 4 to 6 honorees awarded annually, based on available funding Grant amount: Up to $50,000 (unrestricted) Nomination window: May 13, 2026 at 8am MT - June 17, 2026 at 5:59 MT full guidelines nomination questions Tribal enrollment Nominees for the Community Spirit Award must meet the following criteria: An enrolled member of, or provide proof of lineal descendancy from, a U.S. federally or U.S. state recognized tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.

Work with art mediums that are rooted in the traditions of their Native culture(s). Active within a Native community and/or lives within a tribal community. Actively involved in sharing their artistic and/or cultural knowledge with community members.

Nominees must be practicing Native artists or culture bearers who have demonstrated maturity in their field, and have been engaged in their medium for at least 10 years. Self-nominations are not accepted. Review all award guideline materials so you understand who this award is intended to recognize.

Identify an artist or culture bearer who you feel exemplifies the spirit of this award. Before making a nomination, you should ideally contact the artist in advance to discuss the guidelines and process of the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards.

Using the nomination form, linked above when the nomination window is open, describe the contributions the artist (nominee) has made to their community and why you feel they are a good fit for this award. Please note that this nomination will be reviewed along with the artist’s application if they are invited to apply. CSA nomination form 3.

Apply If the nomination has been selected to move forward in the application process, a link to the Submittable application form will be sent to the nominator and the artist (nominee). The nominator is encouraged to work collaboratively with their nominee to complete all application materials. For more information on the 2027 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award guidelines click here.

Who is considered a culture bearer? Culture Bearers are artist elders in their community who restore, reclaim, and hold ancestral tribal knowledge, and continue to practice and carry forward cultural art forms, beliefs, and traditions. Who can submit a nomination?

Anyone can nominate a Native artist for the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards. Nominators tend to be students, mentees, colleagues, and tribal members who have recognized these exceptional artists for knowing themselves, honoring others, and sustaining spirit in their own communities. Can the nominator help the CSA applicant?

The nominator is encouraged to work collaboratively with their nominee to complete all application materials. Can I nominate mysefl for a CSA? No, self-nominations are not accepted for the Community Spirit Award.

Can an artist be nominated by multiple people? Only one nomination per artist is eligible for review. If an artist receives multiple nominations, program staff will determine which nomination best aligns with the award criteria, and that nomination will be the only one reviewed for further consideration.

Multiple people are welcome to work together on a single nomination that is submitted by one individual. Fox Spears , Program Manager of Fellowships, fox@firstpeoplesfund. org First Peoples Fund’s family of artists includes hundreds of Native artists and culture bearers from across the country who work in a variety of creative mediums.

Explore the current and past Native artists and culture bearers who have received FPF fellowships and awards.

2026 Artist in Business Leadership Fellows We are proud to introduce the First Peoples Fund 2026 Artist in Business Leadership Fellows 2026 Cultural Capital Fellows We are proud to introduce the First Peoples Fund 2026 Cultural Capital Fellows 2026 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award Recipients Introducing the First Peoples Fund 2026 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award Recipients jennifer easton community spirit award honorees Discover the inspiring journey of over 100 honorees who have received The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award.

This prestigious award, named after FPF’s founder, recognizes Native artists who have dedicated their lives to selflessly sharing cultural knowledge and ancestral gifts within their communities. With grants of up to $50,000 each, these remarkable individuals have nurtured traditions, fostered healing, and contributed to the thriving resilience of Native communities.

Loren Me'-lash-ne Bommelyn Bommelyn Loren Me-lash-ne Gerald Bruce Miller (Subiyay) Bruce Miller (Subiyay) Gerald Robert Guud San Glans Davidson Davidson Robert Guud San Glans Mary Louise Defender Wilson Defender Wilson Mary Louise Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians Luther "Butch" & Lydia Goings Jamestown S'Klallam and Lummi Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Kanaka Maoli - Native Hawaiian Gordon ʻUmialiloaalahanauokalākaua Kai Kai Gordon ʻUmialiloaalahanauokalākaua Oneida Nation of Wisconsin H’Klumaiyat Roberta Joy Kirk Kirk H’Klumaiyat Roberta Joy Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Diné Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Eastern Band of Cherokees Native Village of Afognak Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Arrow Lakes Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Lac Courtes Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Hoopa Valley, Yurok, Karuk St.

Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Jody Naranjo Folwell-Turipa Naranjo Folwell-Turipa Jody Kasigluk Elders Traditional Council - Yup'ik Nation Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Redwood Valley Rancheria Little River Band of Pomo Indians Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Genevieve Running Horse Moore Running Horse Moore Genevieve Collective Spirit Newsletter Thank you for joining us! Oops!

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