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We are proud to share exciting news from the museum world that highlights Native leadership and excellence in cultural heritage — and a success story that illustrates the lasting impact of Native American Jump Start’s support for emerging Indigenous professionals.

Hunter Old Elk (Apsáalooke/Yakama) has been promoted to Curator of the Plains Indian Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum in Cody, Wyoming, one of the premier museums dedicated to the cultures, histories, and contemporary lives of Plains Indigenous peoples.

Hunter’s journey at the Center has been remarkable. Since joining the Plains Indian Museum in 2016 as an intern, she has served as a research assistant, curatorial assistant, and assistant curator — steadily deepening her expertise and influence in museum practice. Her work brings tribal perspectives and rigor to exhibition development, collections care, education, and broader conversations about representation and sovereignty in cultural institutions.

As curator, Hunter leads the Plains Indian Museum’s mission to present Native histories and contemporary Indigenous stories with authenticity, care, and integrity. Her leadership is both a testament to her professional excellence and an important moment for Native representation in museum leadership.

Hunter’s ascent in the museum field is rooted in deep academic preparation — and Native American Jump Start played a crucial role in supporting that journey.

From her undergraduate degree in art with a focus on Native American histories at Mount St. Mary’s University to her Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management at Johns Hopkins University, Hunter has credited NAJS with meaningful support that helped her persist and thrive through years of study.

Hunter says, “For many students — particularly Native scholars pursuing advanced degrees or professional training — financial barriers can slow or derail progress. NAJS’s financial assistance provided me with tangible resources that eased those challenges, empowering my focus on studies and professional development. I would not be where I am today without Native American Jump Start.” Hunter was elected to the NAJS board and has served since 2021, first as an alumni representative and then as Vice Chair. She has had  the privilege of coordinating the Teton Powwow three times and leading as head woman dancer in 2025.

Her success underscores the importance of NAJS’s mission: to provide opportunities of growth and success to high-potential Native American individuals through education and employment.