Jennifer Himmelreich
Senior Program Officer, Native Arts, Language, and Knowledge
Navajo
Art is a cultural asset for Native communities, and has been an integral part of sustaining Native nations, culture, language and traditional beliefs, shaping community and family ties and cultural pride. Yet, colonization has stripped many Native communities of artistic forms and processes, and individuals with the capacity to carry on traditional art forms that are integral to their cultures. Factors such as western and religious education systems as well as urbanization and incorporation into the modern economy, among others, have all directly impacted Native American artists and the field of Native American arts, placing continued pathways of cultural traditions in jeopardy.
To ensure Native arts and culture continue to be valued and preserved, First Nations established the Native Arts Initiative (NAI) and First Americans’ Cultural Treasures project.
