In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.

In observance of this special occasion, Spirit Mountain Community Fund is delighted to showcase one of our not-for-profit community partners that honors the Native American culture by building awareness of traditional and contemporary musical expressions through education and performance.

Painted Sky began in 1995 under the direction of Mary Hager who set out to establish an organization dedicated to honoring the Native American culture through the universal language of music. Since then, Ms. Hager and Arlie Neskahi have established a broad network of support throughout the Native American community in support of traditional Native music, song and dance. Painted Sky established 501(c)(3) status in 1998, working with area dancers and artists to promote the Painted Sky mission.

In 2004, Mary Hager (founder of Northstar) and Arlie Neskahi along with Karen Kitchen and Gerry Rainingbird began recruiting Native youth to form a performing arts dance company that would study and perform Native styles of dance and music while blending performances with contemporary styles of jazz, lyric, tap and hip-hop. The Painted Sky Northstar Dance Company was established in February 2005, a partnership with Demetrius Keller's Empyrean Movement Dance Company. The Northstar Dance Company and Empyrean have worked to establish high-quality, choreographed performances that engage diverse audiences.

Today, Painted Sky has an active board of directors, an active set of board advisors, a broad network of volunteers, and a commitment to a movement that will give a voice to Native people through music. To learn more about Painted Sky, please visit their website at: www.paintedsky.org

Test your knowledge:

1.  According to the most recent data, there are 562 federally recognized Native American Tribe’s in the U. S. including Alaska Natives. How many are located in Oregon?

2. How many Indian people reside in the U.S.?
   1. 950 thousand
   2. 3.5 million
   3. 4.4 million
   4. 8.3 million

3. What is the term commonly used to describe federally recognized Tribes’ right to govern themselves?
   1. Supreme Autonomy
   2. Tribal Independence
   3. Constitutional Privilege
   4. Sovereignty
   5. None of the above.

4. Which one of the following federally recognized tribes is not located in Oregon?
   1. Grand Ronde
   2. Burns-Paiute
   3. Umatilla
   4. Nez Perce
   5. Coquille

5. Who is the Spirit Mountain Community Fund’s 2008/2009 Hatfield Fellow?
   1. Charles M. Whitebird
   2. Francene Ambrose
   3. Rebecca Knight
   4. Cheryl Kennedy
   5. None of the above