Art. Tradition. Support.

CANNUPA HANSKA LUGER | The Illustrated Adventures of Lightning, 2025

Founded with a vision to honor and uplift Indigenous voices, the Walker Youngbird Foundation strives to create a world where Native artists can reshape cultural perceptions, preserve heritage, and drive societal change through artistic innovation.

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Who We Are

The Walker Youngbird Foundation is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting Native artists through pivotal moments of development, transition, and institutional engagement.

Our support takes several forms: grants, fellowships, and residencies; mentorship, storytelling, and exhibitions; institutional partnerships and acquisitions.

Rooted in the belief that art is both memory and movement, our work is grounded in reciprocity, community, and the power of Indigenous knowledge systems.

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Meet our Team

What We Do

NATASHA SMOKE SANTIAGO | Skennen Kowa, 2023

We build pathways for Native artists to thrive in the contemporary art world. This includes:

  • Grants and fellowships for Native artists at pivotal moments in their careers

  • Storytelling Initiatives to document and amplify Native voices

  • Support for Exhibitions and Public Programs that bridge traditional and contemporary practices

  • Strategic Partnerships with institutions committed to ethical engagement with Native communities

We believe art is more than aesthetics; it’s sovereignty, visibility, and a vehicle for generational change.

Our History

The Walker Youngbird Foundation is named in honor of Hans Walker Jr., a Mandan, Hidatsa lawyer who spent his career listening deeply and advocating fiercely for Native nations. His legacy of cultural stewardship was quietly expressed through a lifetime of collecting art and building relationships across Indian Country which inspired the founding of the organization by his son, Reid Walker.

The “Youngbird” family name speaks to emergence: a generational call forward, a belief that new voices are rising and ready to be heard.

Read the full Origin Story

F.A.Q.

  • Follow us on Instagram @walkeryoungbirdfoundation for behind-the-scenes content, artist spotlights, and upcoming opportunities. It’s the best way to stay connected to our work in real time.

  • We’re always looking to connect with emerging Native artists. Visit our grants page to see if we’re currently accepting applications, and we encourage you to introduce yourself by emailing us at info@walkeryoungbird.org or reach out to us on Instagram.

  • Thank you! For collaborations, media inquiries, or partnership ideas, email us at info@walkeryoungbird.org

  • We welcome thoughtful, well-researched loan requests from institutions committed to ethical engagement with Native American art. Please reach out to us at info@walkeryoungbird.org with details about your exhibition, timeline, and curatorial approach. We review each request with care to ensure alignment with our mission and the artists’ intentions.