Transformation Requires Embracing Collective Spirit
Part of the 2024 GIA Conference Blog
Erin Toale
Lori Pourier is the Founder & Senior Fellow at First Peoples Fund (FPF). Her keynote challenged grantmakers to embrace the perspective of “Collective Spirit,” a concept she developed that “emphasizes a commitment to nurture our shared humanity and to honor our deep connections to each other, the land, and the spirit of all things.” In her own words, “Collective Spirit represents a deep self awareness and a sense of responsibility to sustain the cultural fabric of a community.” Pourier notes that Collective Spirit is the foundation of her work at FPF.
It was clear from the introduction and crowd reception that Pourier is a beloved member of the GIA family (she served two terms on the Board of Directors). GIA Board Member Carlton Turner of the Mississippi Center for Cultural Production spoke of her many contributions and long legacy of fighting for the visibility of Indigenous people—calling her a student of the culture who is responsive to the needs of her community. He credits Pourier for the grantmaking sector’s adoption of the term “culture bearer,” stating: “She's always insisted that the term culture bearer be included alongside the term artist, as a way to recognize that the bearers of culture are the penultimate artists in the native communities.”
Earlier that day at The Center for Native Futures, Esther Grimm of 3Arts posed a question about providing grant support to “individuals who make objects and performances for sacred purposes” who fall outside the purview of traditional arts grantmaking programs. When asked how to reframe the language inclusively as funders, CNC panelists invited FPF’s Lara Evans to speak from the audience. She shared the following: “First Peoples Fund funds artists and culture bearers… That's the ephemeral aspect of the work that [Native] artists do, that is culture building that may not be object-based, that may not interact with the Fine Arts Market. First Peoples Fund does support both, but we are well known for supporting that vulnerable, ephemeral, performative, ceremonial, or community building activity that may not have an object-based existence.” A discussion about how grantmakers can integrate more inclusive language and practices followed.
Pourier opened with an homage to the late activist Elouise Cobell, who brought an unprecedented class-action lawsuit against the United States government for mismanagement of Indian trust funds. She credits Cobell with mentoring her as she learned to “navigate the intersection of philanthropy, arts, and social justice” while advocating for Indigenous peoples. Cobell advised her: “Whenever you’re asked to speak, do not hesitate. You are not alone. You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you.” Pourier’s wide-ranging talk lauded the invaluable contributions of Indigenous and ancestral culture bearers—who she also calls tradition keepers and knowledge keepers—upon whose shoulders she stands. Through these relationships, Pourier shares that she came to “understand that our spiritual connection to all of creation is central to our work.” She also acknowledged and mourned their lost cultural heritage, specifically language, which skipped generations because Indigenous people weren’t allowed to speak their native tongues in boarding schools.
Quoting Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Department of the Interior (the first Native American in that role), Pourier cautioned that “to progress as a nation, we must heal our wounds with love and with guidance of those who are wounded.” Collective Spirit calls Indigenous activists to pass on ancestral knowledge and extend a hand of generosity. As reiterated throughout the GIA conference, direct unrestricted funding to BIPOC (in this case Indigenous-led) organizations like FPF is the area of most urgent need. The goal is for all Indigenous artists to achieve their full potential, attain sovereignty, and transition from “starving artists” to thriving cultural community members. Says Pourier, “Sovereignty is making decisions for ourselves and about ourselves.”
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE
Lori Lea Pourier (Oglala Lakota) challenges the philanthropy sector to rethink power, privilege, and leadership through the lens of "Collective Spirit"—a concept she coined that emphasizes a commitment to nurture our shared humanity and to honor our deep connections to each other, the land, and the spirit of all things. Drawing on over 25 years of work, Pourier discusses how embracing this philosophy can lead to transformative change in grantmaking.
