Apple Announces Grants to Sundance Institute Indigenous Program and Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

Apple announced plans to provide grants to the Sundance Institute Indigenous Program and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, as a part of the company’s Empowering Creatives program. 

The grants aim to “continue Apple’s work to support and partner with Indigenous communities” by “supporting organizations that help people in underinvested communities unlock their creative potential.” Per Apple, both grant recipients are “dedicated” to amplifying the voices and experiences of Native and Indigenous peoples. 

With a focus on feature films and episodic work, the Sundance Institute Indigenous Program offers labs, fellowships, screenings and individual feedback sessions for storytellers from Native and Indigenous backgrounds. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian works to educate the public about Native and Indigenous cultures at its locations in New York and Washington, D.C.

“We believe Indigenous communities’ rich histories and cultures deserve to be honored, and their stories deserve to be told,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, said in a statement. “‘Killers of the Flower Moon‘ shines a light on an essential story that has long been overlooked, and we are all better for it. We’re proud to continue that good work by supporting the vital efforts of these organizations to amplify the voices and experiences of Indigenous communities.”

The announcement comes a day before Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, “Killers of the Flower Moon” director Martin Scorsese and Oscar-nominated star of the film Lily Gladstone will take part in a discussion of the film at the National Museum of the American Indian. 

Apple previously announced partnerships with Oklahoma City University (OCU) to provide educational tools and resources for educators and learners, the aim being to support the Osage vision for preserving language and culture. Through this partnership, Apple and OCU brought together educators from all four tribal nations (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Osage) for multi-day learning experiences focused on integrating Apple technologies into their learning environments.

Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was produced by Apple Studios, shone a light on Native American history and the real-life killings of Osage tribe members after settlers discovered oil on tribal land. 

The film received 10 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, a best actress nod for Gladstone and a best director nomination for Scorsese.