COLLECTIVE SPIRIT:
of Indigenous Creativity
Welcome
First Peoples Fund (FPF) is honored to welcome our 2025 Fellows and Grantees to this year’s Fellowship Convening in Santa Fe, New Mexico! Each year, this gathering strengthens our shared commitment to Indigenous arts ecosystems—spaces that uplift the power of knowing, honoring, and sharing across Native communities. The convening brings together artists, culture bearers, and community leaders to build lasting networks of support, creativity, and knowledge exchange. Through their ongoing dedication, these changemakers help expand a growing circle of future fellows, collaborators, and leaders who continue to carry this work forward.
This year, we’re thrilled to welcome our inaugural cohort of Native Performing Arts Fellows and Grantees to our Fellowship Convening. Together with our long-standing Artist in Business Leadership and Cultural Capital Fellowships, these programs form a cornerstone of First Peoples Fund’s work. We are honored to bring them together in one gathering—a powerful reflection of our growing support for, and network of, Native artists and culture bearers across the country. This invitation-only gathering reflects our deep commitment to nurturing the talent, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of Indigenous artists and culture bearers. Beyond financial support, the program offers guidance and connection, helping fellows thrive in their creative and professional journeys.
This event has been made possible through the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and the California Wellness Foundation.
Please use this website as a guide for planning your time in Santa Fe, both before and during your visit.
Please use this website as a guide for planning before and during your time in Santa Fe.
Logistics
Dates:
May 8-11, 2025
A physical copy of the full agenda will be distributed at registration. A digital version of the full agenda is accessible below.
Primary Convening Location:
Materials
Playlist
Each year, we curate a playlist featuring songs selected by the current cohort of fellows and the First Peoples Fund staff, intended to provide a soundtrack for your time at the convening and beyond. Enjoy :)
Survey
At lunch on Saturday, we will distribute an evaluation form to gather feedback about your experience at the convening. If you prefer to complete the survey digitally, you can access it by clicking the button below.
CONVENING AGENDA
Thursday 05.08.25
TRAVEL DAY
Transport from Airport (if applicable)
Hotel Check-In starts at 3:00p
Eldorado Hotel & Spa
309 W San Francisco St
Santa Fe, NM 87501
WELCOME RECEPTION
4:00-6:00p | 1st Floor, Cava
FPF Staff and Fellows are encouraged to gather and greet other participants ahead of the formal convening activities starting the next day.
Light appetizers will be available.
DINNER (on your own)
Friday 05.09.25
REGISTRATION
8:30-9:30a | 1st Floor, Zia
Beverages and breakfast snacks available
WELCOMING
9:30-10:15a | 1st Floor, Anasazi Room-South
Coffee, tea and light breakfast snacks will be available
OPENING PRAYER
Trevor Merhege (Santa Clara, Laguna Pueblo)
Middle School Dean of Students at the Santa Fe Indian School
CONVENING EXPECATIONS & INTENTIONS
Natalie Benally (Diné), Native Performing Arts - Program Manager
INTRODUCTION TO FPF STAFF
+ Lara Evans (Cherokee Nation) Interim President/CEO
+ Lisa Bonds, Vice President of Advancement & Communications
+ Jaren Bonillo, Director, Program Weaver
+ Heidi K. Brandow (Diné, Kanaka Maoli) Assoc. Director - Communications
+ Fox Spears (Karuk) Director, Program Weaver
+ Natalie Benally (Diné) Native Performing Arts, Program Manager
+ Kolby Hawk Lepkowski (Hunkpati Dakota) Program Adminstrative Coordinator
+ Rachel Heberling (Lenape) Native Artist Development Program, Program Manager
+ Sheila White Horse (Sicangu Lakota), Administrative Specialist
Break
10-:15-10:40a | Zia Room
Beverages and snacks will be available in Zia
NPA KEYNOTE SPEAKER
10:40-12:00p | 1st Floor, Anasazi Room - South
+ Shandien "Sonwaii" LaRance (Hopi, Tewa, Navajo, Assiniboine)
ShanDien Sonwai LaRance is a champion Native American hoop dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. Growing up immersed in the Native American arts and traditions, ShanDien dreamed of sharing her unique culture with the world. She learned to hoop dance from her older brother, Nakotah LaRance (1989-2020) at eight years old. ShanDien toured with Cirque Du Soleil as a principal dancer for nine years. ShanDien has since become a global ambassador for Native American and First Nations People. She aspires to continue teaching the Native American hoop dance to her Indigenous communities focusing on the youth.
Lunch
12-1:00p | 1st Floor, Zia - South
A catered lunch buffet will be served. A “food-free zone” table will be provided for fellows with items to share or for sale.
Fellow Introductions - Native Performing Arts (NPA)
1-2:15p| 1st floor, anasazi room - south
+Brandi Berry Benson (Chickasaw)
+Madeline Easley (Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma)
+Rosy Simas (Seneca Nation of Indians)
+Kahara Hodges (Diné, Chicana)
+Graci Horne (Sisseton Wahpeton, Cherokee)
+Isabella Madgiral (Cahuilla Band of Indians, Turtle Mountain Chippewa)
+Ronee Penoi (Laguna Pueblo, Cherokee)
+Adrian Thomas (Akimel O’odham)
+Christina Thomas (Numu, Newe, Hopi)
Fellow Introductions - Cultural Capital (CC)
CC Fellows will each have 5 minutes or less to introduce themselves and briefly share about their creative practice in the order shown below:
+ Steven Arrowtopknot (Blackfeet Nation)
+ Kansas Begaye (Diné)
Break
2:15-2:30P | 1st floor, ZIa
Beverages and snacks will be available in Zia.
Fellow Introductions - Cultural Capital (CC) - Continued
2:30-3:45p | 1ST FLOOR, ANASAZI ROOM - SOUTH
Remaining CC Fellows will each have about 5 minutes to introduce themselves and briefly share about their creative practice in the order shown below:
+ Nikki Corbett (Orutsararmiut Native Council)
+ Addelina Lucero (Taos Pueblo, Yaqui, Chicana)
+ Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker (Yosemite Southern Sierra Miwuk, Kutzadika’a Mono Lake Paiute, Kashia Pomo, Coast Miwuk)
+ Kea Peters (Native Hawaiian)
+ Dylan Sanidad (Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian)
+ Theresa Secord (Penobscot Nation)
+ Tash Terry (Diné)
Fellow Introductions - Artist in Business Leadership (ABL)
4-5:00p | 1ST FLOOR, ANASAZI ROOM - SOUTH
ABL Fellows will each have about 5 minutes to introduce themselves and briefly share about their work in the order shown below:
+ Orlando Allison (Hopi, Gila River)
+ Kelly Black (Mohawks of Akwesasne, Turtle Clan)
+ Avis Charley (Spirit Lake Dakota, Diné)
+ Jackie Fawn (Washoe of Nevada)
+ Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Diné)
+ Ray Janis (Oglala Lakota)
Break
3:45-4:00p | 1ST FLOOR, zia
Beverages and snacks will be available in Zia.
Fellow Introductions - Artist in Business Leadership (ABL)
4-5:00p | 1ST FLOOR, ANASAZI ROOM - SOUTH
ABL Fellows will each have about 5 minutes to introduce themselves and briefly share about their work in the order shown below:
+ Susan Jones (Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council)
+ Jaylee Lowe (Seminole & Muscogee)
+ LaShawn Medicine Horn (Yankton Sioux)
+ Kate Nelson (Tlingit)
+ Margarita Paz-Pedro (Pueblo of Laguna)
+ Maya Pena (Santa Clara Pueblo)
+ Pamela J. Peters (Diné)
+ T.J. Tario (Native Hawaiian)
+ Maggie Thomas (Fond Du Lac Ojibwe)
Dinner
(on your own)
Saturday 05.10.2025
ABL/CC KEYNOTE SPEAKER
9-10:15A | 1ST FLOOR - ANASAZI ROOM, SOUTH
+ Gerald Clarke (Cahuilla)
Gerald Clarke is an enrolled citizen of the Cahuilla Band of Indians who lives in the home his grandfather built on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation where he oversees the Clarke family cattle ranch. He is a visual artist, educator, tribal leader, and cultural practitioner who is currently a Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California Riverside. Gerald is a frequent lecturer, speaking about Native art, culture, and social issues, and his visual art has been exhibited extensively, including the first major retrospective of his work hosted by the Palm Springs Art Museum in 2020.
https://geraldclarkeart.com
Break
10:15-10:40A | 1ST FLOOR, ZIA
Beverages and snacks will be available in Zia.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
PERFORMING ARTS:
Negotiating Your Performance: Time, Money and Cultural Safety
10:40-12P | 1ST FLOOR, ANASAZI ROOM - NORTH
+ Andre Bouchard (Kootenai, Ojibwe, Flathead, Salish)
Andre Bouchard (of Kootenai, Ojibwe, Kalispel, Bitterroot Salish descent) is a producer, director and storyteller of live shows and documentary films. He was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation. He is the founder/Executive Creative Producer of Indigenous Performance Productions, a nonprofit that seeks to elevate Indigenous storytelling. His current work is centered around cultural safety and the delivery of timely messages through elegant vehicles: using comedy, horror, documentary film and interdisciplinary to talk about both the challenges that face Indigenous communities as well as our reasons for celebration.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Artist Website & Branding
10:40-12P | 1ST FLOOR, ANASAZI ROOM - SOUTH
+ Sheyenne Lacy (Diné)
Sheyenne’s professional experience spans various sectors, demonstrating versatility and dedication to driving innovation & growth. While completing her Master’s degree, Sheyenne founded Hodza to support her siblings in starting their businesses. Her passion project quickly evolved into a full-fledged firm, growing through word-of-mouth recommendations for its data-driven approach. Today, Hodza serves a diverse range of clients from artists to nonprofits and business incubators. Under Sheyenne’s leadership, Hodza has become involved in policy discussions, advocating for artists at city, state, and federal levels—with a particular emphasis on amplifying the voices of Native artists.
LUNCH (with FPF Invited Guests)
12-1:30P | 1ST FLOOR, ZIA
Catered lunch buffet will be served. A “food-free zone” table will be provided for fellows who have items to share or are available for sale.
DISCUSSION: Funding Artist Opportunities
1:30-2:30P | 1ST FLOOR - ANASAZI ROOM - SOUTH
+ Theresa Secord (Penobscot Nation)
Theresa is a traditional Penobscot basket maker and the founding director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA). She has been involved with First Peoples Fund previously as a Community Spirit Award recipient, NAPD trainer, board member, and is a past and current fellow. Theresa’s art is featured in private collections and museums throughout the nation, and she has won a number of awards for her artistry and community work, including the Best of Basketry in the Santa Fe Indian Market and a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
CLOSING COMMENTS & SURVEY
2:30-3:00P
Final comments before we adjourn and time for fellows to complete a survey about their experience at the convening.
AFTERNOON/EVENING CULTURAL ACTIVITIES OF YOUR CHOICE
3-5:00P
From this point on, you may spend the rest of the day exploring Santa Fe at your own pace. You may want to visit the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) for an inspiring cultural experience, or if you’ve RSVP’d in advance, you can attend fashion shows at the Railyard. Enjoy your time in this vibrant city!
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA)
3-5:00P
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, MoCNA is the country’s leading museum for exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the most progressive work of contemporary Indigenous artists.
Free admission for Native & Indigenous People.
4:15pm is last admission
Native Fashion Week: Fashion Shows at the Railyard
4-8:00P | RUNWAY (DAY ONE) at WAREHOUSE 21 - 1614 PASEO DE PERALTA
Fellows who previously RSVP’d will receive tickers to attend runway fashion shows featuring talented Indigenous designers and models. Fashion shows are scheduled to take place between 4pm - 8pm.
Sunday 05.11.25
TRAVEL DAY
7:00-10:00a
Hotel Check-Out by 11:00a
Airport Transport (if applicable)
