Meet the People Behind the Walker Youngbird Foundation Mission
Our Team
Reid Walker
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I'm Mandan and Hidatsa, from the MHA Nation in North Dakota. I work in communications in Washington, D.C. and New York, and serve on the Board of Trustees at the Phillips Collection, the Collectors Committee at the National Gallery of Art, and the Tate Americas Foundation North American Acquisitions Committee.
I started the Foundation after seeing work in our tribal museum that was every bit as rigorous and compelling as what hangs in major collections—and learning that one of the artists I admired had stopped painting because she couldn't afford to continue. The gap between the quality of Native art and the support around it was obvious. The Foundation works to close it, helping emerging and mid-career artists sustain their practice and reach the institutions and audiences that shape visibility.
Contact: RW@walkeryoungbird.org
Nina O’Neil
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Nina has been matching collectors & art for over a decade. She founded the art advisory firm Monochrome Collective to help clients create focused, style-driven, visual experiences in their homes and businesses through art. Her work can be seen throughout DC and has been recognized in the Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, and Washington Life.
Nina has held curatorial roles at many public and private museums including a decade at the National Gallery of Art.
Her deep passion for the arts will forever be tied to her first museum job, at The Museum of the Great Plains in her home town of Lawton, Oklahoma. The Walker Youngbird Foundation’s mission to provide support to native artists directly aligns with her continued interest and support of Native American artists.
Preserving Native heritage and allowing artists to tell their stories through their own voices is priceless, and Nina is proud to use her expertise and experience to supporting this mission.
Taylor Colby
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Taylor (Mandan, Hidatsa) is an accomplished fundraising and client success professional with a decade of experience in nonprofit development and relationship management. From health care to cultural heritage, she has spent her career driving resources and support to organizations that create meaningful change.
Taylor’s connection to her heritage has always been an important part of her life. From childhood days spent on the reservation, to celebrating her son’s naming ceremony, Taylor’s native roots have shaped her personal journey.
Now at the Walker Youngbird Foundation, Taylor is committed to uplifting and empowering Indigenous artists, blending cultural preservation with modern creativity to create lasting impact within Indian Country.
The Walker Youngbird
Advisory Council
G. PETER JEMISON | (Strawberry Moon), 1985
Meet the leaders in Native and contemporary art who guide our mission and support the next generation of Indigenous artists. The council plays a vital role in our organization, offering guidance on programming and grant selection while mentoring recipients as they navigate their artistic practice and professional growth.
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Jodie Archambault
(Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota)
Former Special Assistant to the President for Native American Affairs, White House Domestic Policy Council (Obama administration); artist, advocate, and board member of several leading institutions -
Kathleen Ash-Milby
(Navajo Nation)
Curator of Native American Art, Portland Art Museum
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John Lukavic
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum
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Anya Montiel
(Tohono O'odham)
Curator, National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC)
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Stuart Morrison
Managing Director, Hales Gallery (New York)
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Wanda Nanibush
(Anishinaabe-kwe, Beausoleil First Nation, Canada)
Independent Curator
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Jessica Silverman
Owner, Jessica Silverman Gallery (San Francisco)
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James Trotta-Bono
Owner, Trotta-Bono Contemporary (Los Angeles)
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Leslie Wheelock
(Onieda)
Trustee at SWAIA, Phillips Collection, and National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC)