Wow it's been 14 years since we hosted our first event in a small church in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In those 14 years we've shared our culture with over 1 million audience members, contracted over 1,500 Native American artists, and provided educational programs in 2,500 different schools across the country. We, at the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, know our work must not end. This year our mission is to assist Native artists by seeking re-grants from arts organizations which will allow us to provide funding to artists for their own projects. Each year more and more Native artists leave the New York City area because it has come increasingly difficult to either sell there works of art or find employment which will allow them to continue creating and sharing their media.
Our other goal is to continue our after school cultural education program on a larger scale. Allowing students with Native American heritage from both North and South America opportunities to learn cultural dances and powwow style drumming, singing and dancing. Many First Nations cultural organizations have noticed a decrease in the number of young dancers at powwows and Native social gatherings. We are hoping with the assistance of grant money and donations we can utilize a space large enough to host this program once a week for three, eight week sessions.
We would also like to thank: Board member Rubin Platts and the Purple Hearts Veterans Group, National Endowment of the Arts, JP Morgan Chase, Con Edison, Independence Bank, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and our individual donors. A special thanks to arts partners: Brooklyn Arts Council, the Museum of the American Indian and Community Works.
We would like give a special thank you to Regina Coyle who sponsored an eight week residency in PS169. This gift allowed artists to teach dance and music to 200 public school students in Sunset Park.and thanks to everyone who has supported us. We are always looking for help, so please contact us to volunteer at (718) 686-9297. We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
The Redhawk Native American Arts Council Board of Directors
Marlene Kelly (Navajo), President
Taiyin Snowflower (Narragansett, Blackfeet), Director & Treasurer
Bert Correa (Taino), Caribbean Cultural Director
Wayahsti Richardson (Saponi), Performing Arts Director
Lee Coon-Gors (Choctaw), Fundraising Director
Sharon Funkhouser, Secretary
Mark Faulkins (Lakota, Schaghticoke)
Thomas Funkhouser
Cesar (FaFi) Jimenez
Desy Rios (Cherokee)
Charlene Smith
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