Plains Collective

Plains Collective – Our Plan

Vision

To create a vibrant, intergenerational cultural community where indigenous arts, history, language, stories, and traditions are celebrated, taught, and shared—strengthening identity and building meaningful connections across western Oklahoma and beyond.

Mission

Plains Collective supports cultural revitalization by organizing educational programs, artistic showcases, community events, and cultural demonstrations that honor the history and living traditions of the Cheyenne and Arapaho and other native peoples. Through partnerships, public programming, and inclusive community engagement, we elevate Indigenous voices, strengthen cultural knowledge, and build pathways for future generations.

Core Values

• Cultural Integrity – Center Cheyenne and Arapaho and Native American knowledge, history, and protocols with respect.
• Community First – Honor the needs, stories, and leadership of tribal people.
• Collaboration – Build strong relationships with tribal programs, schools, museums, nonprofits, and local governments.
• Accessibility – Ensure all cultural programs are welcoming, inclusive, and understandable to the community.
• Youth Empowerment – Create active roles for youth in arts, culture, and leadership.
• Sustainability – Develop long-term systems, partnerships, and funding to support continuity.

II. Strategic Goals

Goal 1: Strengthen Cultural Programming & Visibility

Create consistent, high-quality cultural programming that uplifts Cheyenne and Arapaho and other native communities and culture while expanding public understanding and appreciation.

Objectives

1. Expand the Living Traditions Series
   • Monthly artist/author showcases at TB Ferguson House.
   • Add rotating themes: storytelling, beadwork, ledger art, language, foods, oral history, regalia.
   • Build a presenter roster of 30+ Native cultural educators.
2. Grow Cultural Demonstrations & Panels
   • Continue panels at Lucky Star Convention Center during the Indigenous Arts Festival.
   • Host 3–4 stand-alone panel discussions annually (history, arts, land, cultural identity).
3. Promote Cultural Food Education
   • Develop a Plains Collective Cookbook (e.g., Indian corn, skillet bread, buffalo dishes).
   • Offer quarterly cooking demonstrations connected to cultural topics.
4. Increase Public Cultural Installations
   • Support tipi/willow lodge exhibits, signage, and interpretive materials.
   • Partner with museums for rotating Native art exhibits.

Goal 2: Expand Artist & Author Support

Objectives

1. Artist Pipeline Program
   • Offer mentorship, exhibition support, and micro-grants for emerging Cheyenne and Arapaho and other native artists.
2. Annual Indigenous Arts Market
   • Build a curated Native art vendor market with priority for Cheyenne and Arapaho and native tribal members.
   • Strengthen the festival’s vendor system and marketing.
3. Rotating Exhibits at TB Ferguson House
   • Curate a monthly rotating exhibit featuring Native artists at the TB Ferguson Museum.
4. Artist Honoraria Framework
   • Create an honorarium to award those who open new paths in preserving or sharing Native culture.

Goal 3: Youth Engagement & Cultural Leadership

Objectives

1. Youth Cultural Ambassadors Program
   • Develop a corps of youth dancers, models, ushers, and storytellers.
2. Internships & Volunteering
   • Partner with local high schools and tribal programs for student involvement in art shows, festival setup, and museum projects.
3. Youth Arts Development
   • Offer youth workshops in painting, beadwork, fashion, language, and dance.
   • Create a youth fashion segment or youth-led art show at annual events.

Goal 4: Strengthen Partnerships & Community Integration

Objectives

1. Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes
   • Collaborate with Tribal programs such as Language & Culture, Education, Health, Veterans, TERO, and Food Distribution Programs.
   • Coordinate dancers, speakers, and cultural demonstrators.
2. City of Watonga & Local Organizations
   • Support festival planning with the Watonga Cheese Festival, City Hall, Romannose State Park, Watonga Main Street, local businesses, and schools.
   • Integrate Indigenous programming in non-Native events (parades, halftime shows, museum receptions).
3. Museums & Educational Institutions
   • Build partnerships with museums for exhibitions, cultural talks, and workshops.
   • Establish relationships with universities for guest speakers and research support.
4. Regional Festivals & Conferences
   • Expand Plains Collective presence to other Oklahoma cultural events.

Goal 5: Organizational Sustainability & Governance

Objectives

1. Board Development
   • We have in place formalized bylaws, board roles, voting procedures.
2. Fundraising & Grants
   • Apply for state, federal, and foundation cultural grants (NEA, OSHAA, humanities councils).
   • Build a donor base and annual giving campaign.
   • Offer sponsorship opportunities (program sponsors, event sponsors, arts patrons).
3. Financial Management
   • Create a transparent budget.
   • Develop cost models for events, honoraria, and supplies.
   • Establish a fiscal sponsorship or 501(c)(3) status if not already secured.
4. Administrative Infrastructure
   • Develop a programming calendar 12–18 months in advance.
   • Create volunteer management systems, JotForms, and sign-in tracking.
   • Maintain marketing templates, signage, documents, and archives.

III. Year-by-Year Roadmap

2025 – Foundation Year

• Continue Living Traditions Series monthly.
• Strengthen partnerships with the Watonga Cheese Festival, City of Watonga and Lucky Star.
• Develop branding, website, and outreach strategy.
• Begin designing artist mentorship materials.
• Draft and submit at least 3 grants.
• Conduct periodic community listening session.

2026 – Growth & Expansion

• Launch Artist Pipeline and Youth Cultural Ambassadors Program.
• Expand Living Traditions Series to include mini-workshops.
• Host first stand-alone Plains Collective Indigenous Arts Market.
• Publish a short Plains Collective Cookbook or cultural food guide.
• Develop interpretive signage for cultural installations.
• Secure at least one major grant or multi-year funder.
• Build an advisory circle of elders and cultural experts.
• Reach out to other races in Watonga and invite them to participate.

2027 – Maturity & Sustainability

• Establish Plains Collective as a premier cultural anchor in western Oklahoma.
• Host a multi-day Plains Collective Indigenous Arts Festival.
• Expand youth programming and cross-tribal collaborations.
• Build a permanent archive of oral histories and cultural materials.
• Begin capital planning for future cultural space or center if desired.

IV. Program Impact Measures

To ensure accountability and growth, Plains Collective will track:

Cultural Impact

• Number of cultural programs delivered
• Number of artists and presenters featured
• Youth participation levels
• Cultural knowledge retention (surveys, storytelling, oral history documentation)

Community Engagement

• Event attendance and satisfaction
• Partnerships formed
• Local business participation
• Volunteer involvement

Economic & Artist Impact

• Artist sales at events
• Honoraria distributed
• Artist pipeline success stories
• Workshops and trainings completed

Organizational Health

• Revenue growth
• Grant awards
• Board participation
• Volunteer base expansion
• Strategic plan milestone completion

V. Branding & Communications Strategy

Messaging Pillars

• “Where Tradition Lives and Breathes.”
• “A home for Native American & focus on Cheyenne and Arapaho arts, history, and community.”
• “Building cultural pride through stories, food, art, and music.”

Communication Channels

• Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok for youth).
• Printed materials (flyers, posters, event programs).
• Partnerships with local radio, tribal radio, and museums.
• A quarterly digital newsletter.
• A festival-specific marketing campaign each fall.

VI. Long-Term Vision

• Develop a Plains Collective Cultural Center or Creative Workspace.
• Launch a traveling exhibition across Oklahoma.
• Build a Native arts residency program.
• Offer certification for cultural educators.
• Host youth cultural leadership camps.
• Establish a digital archive of Plains traditions, foods, arts, and oral histories.