January 2, 2020 Original Peoples Investment Program The Original Peoples Investment Program (OPIP) supports the preservation and revitalization of First Nation/Métis/Inuit (FNMI) art through art-based projects and activities that are supported and validated by FNMI artists, community, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers. This year, 41 projects were funded to a total of $389,441.65. Applications were assessed for eligibility and shared within the Community Circle of OPIP artists and applicants on May 4, 2019. The Community Circle is unique as part of the Indigenous-led granting process as it allows the applicants to use a sharing circle to connect with and learn from other local Indigenous artists. OPIP was a great success for 2019 based on the growing trust and increase in investments to Indigenous artists within our community. Our applicants this year reflect the diversity of Treaty 7 and Calgary (known as Mohkinstsis in Blackfoot) First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. As we prepare for our second year of OPIP we anticipate greater interest and applications in 2020. Explore some of the funded projects as part of the Original Peoples Investment Program Showcase. The table below outlines those that received a grant, the project they applied for, and the amount of funding. Grantee Project Grant Amount Adrian A Stimson Mohkintsis/Siksika – Connecting through ART and The Land $10,000 Aleegis Oral Based Language $5,500 Alexandra Manitopyes In the Land of the Rising Sun $10,000 Alyssa Duck Chief Summer Art Program $10,000 Amy Hill Craddle-boards $10,000 Andrew James Stockell Black Guitars & Backward Hats $10,000 Andy Moro ROOM $10,000 Angel (Aubichon) Sanderson Akam’askihy (Across The Land and Seas) $10,000 Autumn Whiteway Reclaiming Our History $10,000 Azby Whitecalf Whistleblower and the Memegwesi Children’s Storybook $6,151.65 Berkley Brady Untitled Stampede Project $10,000 Camille Pablo Russell Be Like A Buffalo, Face the Storm Phase 1. Four animated film shorts with Elder Pablo Russell. $10,000 Chantal Chagnon Creating Community through the Heartbeat of Mother Earth $10,000 Cowboy Smithx Elk Shadow $10,000 Curtis Lefthand Hold Your Ground – Indigenous Identity in Hardcore Punk $10,000 Dwight Farahat Writing and Recording Dwight Farahat’s – Hip Hop Album $10,000 Elijah Wells Six portrait paintings $10,000 Glenna Cardinal Isuu (prev. Indigenous Grandmothers) $10,000 Indigenous Resilience in Music Society of Alberta The Indigenous Resilience in Music Season of Professional Development $10,000 Jared Tailfeathers Instrument Making through Traditional Methods $9,835 Jason Gordon The Missing Rose $10,000 Jessica Mcmann Composition Project $10,000 Jonelle Belcourt Kohkum & The Hunt $10,000 Justin Many Fingers Niitsipowsiin development workshop $10,000 Kelli Rae Morning Bull Treaty Money $10,000 Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society Twin Spirited Celebration $10,000 Marcie Meguinis; TwoGuns Designs Embroidery Art Showcase $9,400 Migration Festival Migration Festival $10,000 Native Diva Creations Indig Inc Tokyo trade mission $7,350 Sam Bighetty The Spiritual Journey Behind The Four Directions of Reconciliation $10,000 Sandra Sutter Cluster Stars Outreach $10,000 Sarah Houle Lowry The Act of Dreaming $9,950 Seth Dodginghorse Nadisnoni Cowa Gut’i $10,000 Staci Duchene The Stories are my Medicine $6,755 Stacy Da Silva Haute Natives $10,000 Stoney Nakoda Audio Visual Club Win’ge’he Ahiya (Raising a Song) Musical Film $10,000 Tamara Cardinal Mekinawewin: to give a gift $10,000 Tara Beagan Goal Keeper $4,500 Tracy Breaker Buffalo Spirit Expansion Project $10,000 Trevor Solway Sandhills $10,000 Yvette Denby; Breann and Kaleena Denby CD Project Carrying Forward Traditions $10,000 Accountability Reports and Year-End Financials
