This year, OFN deepened the impact of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s Indigenous Artist in Residency program by liaising cross-campus relationships with Grand Ronde Indigenous Place Keeping Artist (IPKA) fellow, Steph Littlebird. By accepting the 2023-24 Artist in Residency, Littlebird co-curated her own work in the Contemporary Native Artist case within the Museum’s signature exhibit Oregon Where Past Is Present. While on campus, Littlebird also spoke in UO classrooms, presented multiple public talks, and consulted with and leveraged commissions from three other units on campus: UO Design Library, UO Special Collections and University Archives, and UO Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Her work is currently displayed across the UO campus. 

The volume of work and community connections created during this residency exemplifies Steph Littlebird’s commitment to “forge connections between our collective past and imminent future.”  Her works engage issues “related to present-day Indigenous identities, marginalized histories, and responsible land stewardship.” 

OFN is excited to welcome Grand Ronde Indigenous Place Keeping Artist (IPKA) fellow Greg Robinson as the upcoming Indigenous Artist in Residence for the 2024-25 school year. His work will be displayed at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s Oregon Where Past is Present exhibit in January 2025. 

This programming is made possible with support of the Evergreen State College House of Welcome “Supporting Indigenous Arts Mastery (SIAM)” program grant award.