NASAA is pleased to present a special professional development opportunity to help state arts agencies learn about Native cultures and tribal relations. This four-part series offers an introduction to the unique status of Native nations, the multifaceted policy relationships between tribes and government, and the lived experiences of Native peoples.
This customized curriculum, prepared by Akomawt Educational Initiative, amplifies the learnings and recommendations from NASAA’s 2024 Strengthening State Arts Agency Relationships with Native Communities report. We’ll build a foundation of knowledge and share practical advice that your agency can use to start your own learning journey and cultivate connections with tribes, Native organizations and Native artists.
This series is offered free of charge to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Participants are encouraged (though not required) to attend all four sessions. We hope you can join us!
We kick off the series with an overview of terminology and core concepts. Participants learn terminology for Native peoples, tribes, nations and communities and gain tips for how use these words. We discuss the role of government in the collective experiences of Native peoples in the United States—both in the past and in the present—and explore how state government may be perceived.
This session reveals how culture, identity, nationhood and citizenship are constantly interacting dynamics in Indian Country. Akomawt facilitators discuss how understanding and navigating these realities is critical for anyone seeking to do good work with Native peoples.
Learn the history of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and why fraud prevention is of particular importance to Native communities and Native artists. This session delves into the topic of tribal enrollment, addresses cultural appropriation and critiques common art terminology, such as folk art.
The final session in the series circles back to the action recommendations from the NASAA report and examines frameworks that can inform state arts agency policies and practices. Akomawt facilitators draw from professional experience, cultural groundings and examples. Participants have an opportunity to think through and discuss their next steps.
Akomawt is the Passamaquoddy word for “snowshoe path.” The snowshoe path forges a trail others can follow. As the path is used, it becomes easier to traverse. Akomawt Educational Initiative (AEI) offers a new learning pathway that furthers knowledge of Native America through innovative learning approaches designed to impact how we teach history and contemporary social issues. The AEI team is a multitribal, multicultural, multidiscipline coalition that provides training and consulting services to educators, cultural institutions and government agencies. AEI’s cofounders—endawnis Spears, Diné/Ojibwe/Chickasaw/Choctaw; Chris Newell, Passamaquoddy; and Jason Mancini—are the curriculum designers and facilitators for this program offered by NASAA.