Norman, OK – First American Art Magazine is proud to introduce the first recipient of the FAAM Alaska Native Art Writing Fellowship, Kariel Galbraith.
Galbraith is a Tlingit scholar, writer, and artist. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2024 with a dual major in English (with honors) and American Indian Studies. Galbraith has worked closely with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle with collections, staff, and visiting artists to research a variety of Indigenous artistic media along the Northwest Coast. She leads weaving workshops and says that building skills and knowledge in Tlingit cultural art forms has taught her that creating and engaging with art is “crucial to improving our sense of self, well-being, and community connection.”
Galbraith says, “I am so excited to be the 2024–25 Alaska Native Art Fellow for FAAM! This opportunity is situated at such a great time for me to get experience in writing, editing, publishing, and collaborating just as I wrap up my bachelor’s degree. I hope this fellowship and the mentorship, connections, and new skills it brings will help prepare me for a career (and life) of doing art, writing, and prioritizing culturally competent storytelling!”
The FAAM Alaska Native Art Writing Fellowship provides an emerging Alaska Native writer with an opportunity to work with writers and editors on five writing projects throughout the six-month fellowship timeframe. Galbraith’s writing will be featured on the FAAM blog and in upcoming print issues.
Publishing Editor America Meredith (Cherokee Nation) says, “Our selection committee was deeply impressed by Kariel’s writing talent and broad knowledge of Alaska Native arts. We’re looking forward to working with Kariel over the next nine months.”
The fellowship, facilitated by Meredith and FAAM contributing editor Stacy Pratt, PhD (Mvskoke), is generously supported by The CIRI Foundation as part of its Alaska Native Art Writing Initiative. The fellowship’s goal is to mentor emerging Alaska Native art writers to encourage and increase quality critical writing on Alaska Native arts and artists.
First American Art Magazine is a quarterly print and digital journal whose mission is to foster historical resilience, cross-cultural understanding, and reintegration of humans into the natural world.
2025 Update
The FAAM Alaska Native Art Writing Fellowship concluded in March 2025, and Galbraith shared some parting thoughts as part of the process:
“My name is Kariel Galbraith. I am a Tlingit tribal member of the Daḵlʼaweidí Clan from Kéet Gooshi Hít, and I was born and raised in Sheet’ká (Sitka, AK). I currently reside on the lands of the Coast Salish people in Seattle, WA.
“It has been an honor to serve as First American Art Magazine’s 2024-25 Alaska Native Art Writing Fellow. This fellowship improved my knowledge of and connection to Alaska Native art. I was able to interview Alaska Native artists and explore how artists weave their culture with their work. I also spent time sharpening my research skills, perusing collections and archival material from museums and libraries.
“The mentorship of America Meredith and Dr. Stacy Pratt helped me shape my love for art, my love for my people, and my research, into work that invites readers of all backgrounds to explore Alaska Native art. Meredith and Dr. Pratt offered endless insight into the world of magazines and publishing. They also offered guidance during challenges of writing about Alaska Native culture: some of this historical art has been stolen or mistreated. I learned it could be healing to take the time to tell these difficult stories.
I am so grateful for the mentorship of the FAAM team: America Meredith, Dr. Stacy Pratt, and Staci Golar. I am also grateful to the CIRI foundation for this opportunity. This fellowship has been a catalyst for my writing career and my artistic practice.”
FAAM is inspired by what Galbraith added to Indigenous art writing and scholarship during this time: an illuminating interview with artist and graphic designer Tava Kairaiuak (Dena’ina/Yup’ik/Aleut); an intriguing (and infuriating) history of the Chief-of-All-Women Pole in Seattle; an engaging interview with Tlingit artist Alison Bremner, and an informative piece on Tlingit button blankets.
We can’t wait to read more of Galbraith’s work. Tsu haa x̱ánt gú x’wán!
