first peoples fund

About the Episode
Del Curman (Crow Tribe of Montana) is a painter based in Sante Fe, New Mexico. In this episode, Curfman describes his evolution as a painter and how contemporary Native stories strengthen his work. Curfman is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

About the Artist
Del Curman (Crow Tribe of Montana) views his Apsáalooke heritage as a gift and a blessing. Family is how Curfman connects to and learns about Apsáalooke culture. Curfman’s artwork is inspired by his roots and by his Kaale’ (grandmother), who taught him to love and be curious about his culture. As a result, Curfman is driven to paint and champion the American Indian people. Learn more about 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow Del Curfman at www.firstpeoplesfund.org/del-curfman 

About the Episode
Aveda Adara (Diné) is a musician, DJ, vlogger, performance artist, and host of the Two Spirit Podcast. In this episode, Adara discusses how her sobriety and the LGBTQ+ community inspire her creativity. Adara is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

About the Artist
Aveda Adara is a member of the Diné tribe, born into Kiyaa'áanii (Towering House Clan) and Díbéłzhíní (Black Sheep Clan). Adara is a performance artist, DJ, vlogger, and host of the Two-Spirit Podcast. Her recent performances include Cell Lust with Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and DJing for the International Drag Festival. Her art has been featured at Jomar Visions and the Shape of Things Gallery. Adara has worked with Dinolion, a production studio, for social media marketing campaigns and music videos. Learn more about 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow Aveda Adara at www.firstpeoplesfund.org/aveda-adara 

About the Episode
Tsanavi Spoonhunter (Northern Paiute Tribe, Northern Arapaho Tribe) is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. In this episode, Spoonhunter discusses the hardships and hopes of filming her award-winning short documentary film Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty. Spoonhunter is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

About the Artist
Journalist and filmmaker Tsanavi Spoonhunter is a descendant of the Northern Paiute Tribe, and a citizen of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. Her ancestry and upbringing in Indian Country have strongly informed her storytelling and artistic vision. In 2020, Spoonhunter earned her master’s degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley with a focus in documentary filmmaking. Her award-winning documentary short Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty is currently screening at festivals and select venues. She is also working on her first feature film titled Holder of the Sky. When she’s not reporting a story or filming behind a camera, she spends her time reconnecting with her traditions. Spoonhunter often attends cultural events with her family and practices traditional artistry like basket weaving and beading. She is passionate about her culture and strives to honor it through her professional and personal projects. Learn more about 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow Tsanavi Spoonhunter at www.firstpeoplesfund.org/tsanavi-spoonhunter

About the Episode
Blossom Johnson (Diné) is the playwright of A Boarding School Play and monster SLAYer, among other works. In this episode, Johnson discusses how she balances the positives and pains of crafting Indigenous stories for the stage. Johnson is a 2022 Cultural Capital fellow with First Peoples Fund.

About the Artist
Blossom Johnson is a Diné storyteller, playwright, teaching artist, and screenwriter. She is from The Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii (Giant People) clan, and her maternal grandfather is from the Deeshchíí’nii (Start of the Red Streak People) clan.

Blossom holds an MFA in Dramaturgy from Columbia University and a BA in Theatre from Arizona State University. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americans (LMDA). Blossom has been commissioned by AlterTheatre Ensemble and has been awarded a residency with Willowtail Springs/Durango PlayFest. She is excited to make a smooth transition from theater to film narrative with the In Progress NEXUS Program in St. Paul, MN. Additionally, she is proud to be a recipient of The Playwrights’ Center 2022-2023 Jerome Fellowship.

She was raised by her grandmother on the very top of Dził Yijiin (Black Mesa), AZ, and she’s always been surrounded by stories. When she opens the front door of her grandma’s yellow house, she can see a coal mine. Below the mesa is an old run-down restaurant where her mother used to hustle as a waitress during the summer in her teen years, and there is an old store where her grandmother would up-sale her handmade jewelry to tourists by the entrance. The restaurant and the store have now been closed for years because what was taken from the earth was diminished, so no one stayed, and they eventually went out of business. The people that stayed are Diné and their stories  — her stories — are thriving. When she creates, she writes for her people and the stories she writes come from memories, experiences, and family history. In her writing, she reveals truths that are hard to face. She balances the darkness with humor, so the viewer has a chance to breathe and laugh.

Learn more about 2022 Cultural Capital fellow Blossom Johnson at www.firstpeoplesfund.org/blossom-johnson