Núhi Grant

Uplifting Indigenous Artists in Their Home Communities

The Núhi Grant is a new initiative from the Walker Youngbird Foundation that centers Native artists working within and for their own communities. Named after the Hidatsa word núhi, meaning “to uplift,” this $7,500 grant honors creative work deeply rooted in place, tradition, and lived experience—projects that are not only inspired by Indigenous culture, but actively serve the communities that shape them.

A Grant for Community-Based Practice

Unlike many awards that focus solely on public exhibitions or commercial outcomes, the Núhi Grant supports artists whose work is grounded in cultural reciprocity. It uplifts artists who document, protect, and share stories, practices, and traditions that are vital to their people.

Each $7,500 award is given to an artist whose project engages meaningfully with their tribal community—whether through ceremony, education, documentation, or intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge.

The first recipient of the Núhi Grant is Hayden Haynes, a Seneca artist of the Deer Clan, whose work spans antler carving, photography, and Indigenous storytelling.

Recent Recipient: Hayden

With support from the grant, Haynes will honor the eight living Seneca Name Givers—matrilineal clan leaders who are responsible for preserving and passing down traditional names. Through this project, he will create a series of antler-carved medallions representing the eight Seneca clans—Deer, Snipe, Heron, Hawk, Turtle, Beaver, Wolf, and Bear—and pair each with a photographic portrait of the women who hold this sacred role.

“It’s my aim to establish a tradition of documenting these Name Givers so this kind of cultural memory can continue for generations.” — Hayden Haynes

The project serves both as an offering to these cultural leaders and as a visual archive for future generations. Each portrait will feature the Name Giver wearing the medallion representing her clan, surrounded by taxidermy or symbolic elements of her animal lineage—bridging physical presence with spiritual symbolism.

Why the Núhi Grant Matters

Many of the most powerful expressions of Native art are created away from art world centers—in kitchens, lodges, workshops, and tribal halls. The Núhi Grant recognizes that this work is no less significant.

By supporting artists who remain embedded in their communities, the Walker Youngbird Foundation affirms that:

  • Cultural continuity is a form of artistry

  • Community-based projects deserve national recognition

  • Traditions evolve most meaningfully when nurtured close to home

“Hayden’s project uplifts the women who carry the responsibility of naming—keepers of lineage, language, and sovereign voice.” — Reid Walker, Founder

Apply or Nominate

The Núhi Grant is open to Indigenous artists working in community-based contexts across the United States and its territories. Artists at any stage of their career may apply.

Next applications to be announced.