State to State: Massachusetts’ Native American and Indigenous People’s Equity Plan

Declan Wicks, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Showcasing State Arts Agency Ingenuity

The following originally appeared on the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies’ (NASAA) web site.

Mass Cultural Council, in its efforts to serve all constituents of Massachusetts, has been on a multiyear journey to apply an equity lens to its grant programs, services and operations. Recognizing that specific populations have distinct needs, the agency has created a suite of plans that focus on different under-resourced communities in Massachusetts. In addition to a Racial Equity Plan and a d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan, the agency has developed a Native American and Indigenous People’s Equity Plan.

The agency set out to develop a roadmap for sustainable and reciprocal relationships with Native peoples and tribal governments in Massachusetts. The process began in 2021, when the agency conducted a regional tour to meet with Native community leadership. Mass Cultural Council adopted a listening stance, conveying that the agency was committed to better understanding the unique historical and present-day issues facing tribes. To guide their connections and introductions, Mass Cultural Council contracted with Erin Genia, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, who provided assistance with the planning process and facilitated the agency’s outreach to Indigenous artists. The agency also met with the state’s Commission on Indian Affairs and convened a Tribal Task Force of Native artists, tribal members and representatives.

The process led to candid conversations about roadblocks encountered by tribal governments and Native artists. Hearing about agency failures was not always comfortable, but it was a necessary part of building trust and moving forward. For instance, the agency learned that that the community held concerns that they were not always clearly eligible for grant programs designed to serve municipalities and governmental entities. There also was a lack of clarity on how certain grant requirements for open/public events could translate into tribal settings. Discussion of such specifics ultimately helped Mass Cultural Council to identify policies and procedures that could be improved to become more responsive.

The resulting strategic plan outlines Mass Cultural Council’s commitment to serving tribal governments and the Indigenous creative community over a three-year time span. Split into external and internal goals, the plan includes action steps such as:

• Clarify the status of tribal governments as eligible grant applicants. This includes the consideration of legislative action to include tribal governments in statutory grant programs that are currently only open to nonprofit, county or municipal entities.

• Design and launch a Tribal Cultural Council Program. Adapted from the state’s Local Cultural Council decentralized funding program, this will establish a formal government-to-government relationship between Mass Cultural Council and sovereign tribes with federal or state recognition.

• Partner with the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs to improve data collection practices and develop guidance on Indigenous issues for the creative sector.

• Build a recruitment plan to expand the pool of Native American and Indigenous grant applicants, to align with or exceed the state demographics on Native American and Indigenous populations.

• Create a Native American/Indigenous People’s Advisory Committee. This group will meet biannually with Mass Cultural Council leadership and staff to provide feedback, guide the agency’s implementation of the plan and set performance benchmarks.

• Offer biannual staff training sessions presented by Native American and Indigenous leaders and other experts recommended by Native and Indigenous community members.

• Revise agency communications to better highlight Native American and Indigenous culture as well as ensure cultural sensitivity.

Mass Cultural Council is committed to ongoing changes and is welcoming feedback as the long-term work takes shape. For more information, contact Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt.

Read the Article on NASAA’s Site

Diversity Equity and Inclusion