Programs

Programs

Kaga’s programming currently takes the shape of six artist led initiatives:

Lakota Arts Curriculum

The arts are under supported in public schools systems. Kaga is actively working to develop Lakota Arts Curriculum for k-12 educators. The goal is to create culturally relevant art curriculum, free of charge, for teachers in our tribal communities. The curriculum is designed by Lakota artists and tested in tribal classrooms.

Winter Count

In 2023, the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) Vice President Alicia Mousseau created the OST Artist Laureate program. Keith BraveHeart and Marty Two Bulls Jr. were selected as the inaugural OST Artist Laureates and were charge by the Vice President’s office to help the tribe reinstate a Winter Count. Winter Counts are traditional forms of history keeping that predate western contact. The Oglala Sioux Tribe has not kept an official Winter Count in many years. Kaga supports the Oglala Sioux Tribe Artist Laureate program by funding the annual artist stipend and bringing the OST Winter Count into the tribal community with a focus on teaching young children to help keep this tradition alive.

Art Lakol Wicoun Okolokiciye

Kaga is currently organizing a grassroots Oglala Lakota Arts Council with artists based in Oglala homelands representing all nine tribal districts. Kaga plans to share this model with other tribes to build larger coalitions of Indigenous led arts councils.

Coalition Building

Kaga is dedicated to building bridges between arts communities. Art is a dialogue, and the more diverse voices engaged the richer the conversation. Kaga facilitates meetings and networking opportunities for artists and arts administrators.

Curation

Kaga is taking the lead in curating art exhibitions of Lakota Artists. Often the curation of Lakota Art exhibitions is done by non-Lakota curators which can create a misunderstanding of Lakota Art and culture which are deeply intertwined. Kaga is dedicated to bringing a deeper understanding and context to Lakota Art exhibitions.

Archiving

Kaga is dedicated to preserving Lakota Art history for future generations. Kaga is currently creating a digital archive of Lakota artists including an artist registry, photo documentation, and interviews.