INDIGENOUS ART AND EDUCATION
Raising Awareness
The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center's Indigenous Arts & Education Program works to uplift Indigenous voices, support Indigenous artists and educators, and strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities throughout Western Montana. Through Indigenous-led art markets, educational workshops, cultural events, and community partnerships, the program creates opportunities for cultural sharing, learning, and dialogue rooted in respect and understanding.
Guided by Indigenous leaders and community members, the program supports opportunities for Indigenous artists, educators, and advocates to share their work and knowledge, connect with the broader community, and build economic opportunities. By providing free space for Indigenous vendors and centering Indigenous leadership, the program helps reduce barriers to participation while creating space for cultural expression, education, and community connection.
The program also supports public education and community engagement around issues affecting Indigenous communities, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), through collaborative events, educational opportunities, and partnerships that encourage greater understanding and meaningful action.
In Gratitude
Dre Castillo founded the Indigen-Unity Program during their six year tenure on the JRPC Coordinating Council. Being the only Indigenous Council member when they arrived they were steadfast in their commitment to educating the rest of us and calling us out when we needed to be called out. This was not easy and at times very painful. But they had a vision of doing more than opening our doors to all people. They recognized that open doors are not enough when a group has been systematically excluded and actively harmed. They identified ways to give back to our Indigenous communities who were and continued to be harmed and erased by the main culture of colonization and to support those who did not trust an historically white Organization.
Dre built bridges between JRPC and Indigenous artists, MMIP organizers, Indigenous activists, and other organizations including All Nations Health Center, Zootown Arts Community Center, Missoula Public Library, Kyiyo Native American Student Association at UM, and the Western Montana Fair, among others.
Dre’s vision for Indigen-Unity was that it be an Indigenous-led program where JRPC’s role is to support Indigenous leaders and organizers to do the work they wish to do. JRPC could offer support including use of our physical space, advertising for their events, volunteers to help their events, and material support in the form of gas cards for travel, snacks and food, and in a few cases lodging. When the program is an Art Market, we would offer free space, ie, no booth fees, and that Indigenous vendors keep 100% of their proceeds. This approach has supported numerous Indigenous folks and fostered positive experiences with JRPC.
Dre deserves our recognition for their dedication to bringing these ideas into reality, for their tireless devotion to every event, program and new relationship, and for their relentless effort in making this come to fruition. They have poured blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul into this program that could not have come into being without them. We are eternally grateful.