Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans. In observance, here is a guest blog from my beloved late sister Laura’s husband, Randy Plimpton, who along with their son-in-law Tim Long, founded The Plimpton Foundation in 2022.
The Plimpton Foundation was born from a shared vision between Randy — a Rochester, New York based arts benefactor — and Tim, a renowned conductor at institutions such as The Metropolitan Opera and Eastman Opera Theatre, and a proud member of the Creek and Choctaw Nations. United by their deep love of the arts and their commitment to representation, they founded The Plimpton Foundation with the mission to amplify Native, Indigenous, and other underrepresented voices in the performing arts.
Tim’s story is at the heart of the foundation. As told by him, “My own story began in a rural Oklahoma town on the Muscogee reservation. Music came into my life through hardship, perseverance, and many small miracles. Hardship and perseverance belonged to my mother. She grew up in an Indian Boarding School in the Choctaw Nation, but before she could graduate from high school, she contracted tuberculosis, which sent her to a sanatorium for Indian tuberculosis patients. She was there for a total of five years, largely quarantined from the world.
A miracle came during that confinement when she discovered a classical radio station. It was there that she fell in love with this music. Despite being ordered to never have children, she defied the odds. When I was a child, Beethoven was the constant soundtrack of our home. As a toddler, I became enraptured by this music. We then received the fortunate gift of an old piano, and from age five to 22, I had the privilege of studying with two fantastic piano teachers who charged very little, but gave me so much time and guidance. Many others helped through scholarships, but it was their belief in me- well before I felt worthy- that carried me forward.”
What began as a small idea — to amplify voices that have been too often silenced — has grown into a vibrant foundation that fosters diversity, inclusion, and artistic excellence through performances, scholarships, mentorships, and collaborations with Native composers and singers across the country.
Today, The Plimpton Foundation serves as a bridge between cultures and generations, helping artists find their voices and audiences discover new perspectives. At its heart remains Randy and Tim’s shared belief: that when art is nurtured with authenticity and respect, it holds the power to unite and transform communities.
This fall, The Plimpton Foundation is fundraising to provide vital scholarships for young Native musicians. These scholarships offer the next generation of Native artists the training, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive. Past recipients have gone on to study at renowned institutions across the United States, including The Juilliard School.
To support this important work, please visit https://givebutter.com/TPF2025
And to learn more about The Plimpton Foundation, visit https://www.theplimptonfoundation.org
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- Celebrating Tim and Chris’s wedding at Martha’s farm with Randy, Laura, Sophie and Martha.
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- Here are founders Randy and Tim at The Plimpton Foundation launch party.
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- Tim as a child at his first piano.
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- Chris and Tim pose in another wedding festivity at Martha’s Vineyard with Laura, and Tim’s mom, Stella Long.
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- From Tim: “This photo is me with the drum I commissioned. It has my parents’ clans, raccoon and wolf, along with a sparrow that represents the 5,000 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada.”
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- Tim with some of his fans from Canada.
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- This is a traditional Native American ribbon shirt that Laura crafted for Tim.
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- Here is Tim wearing the traditional ribbon shirt. These shirts are commonly worn during special occasions and ceremonies to signify heritage and identity.
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- R. Carlos Nakai is a Native American flutist and composer in The Foundation’s “North American Indigenous Songbook.” Here he is performing at National Sawdust at the premiere concert of the songbook. Nakai has 11 GRAMMY nominations and two gold records. (Photo by Jill Steinberg)
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- North American Indigenous Songbook composer, Martha Redbone, who is Eastern Cherokee, Choctaw, and African American descent, also performed at the premiere of the Songbook at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. (Photo by Jill Steinberg)
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- Participants in the Songbook performance include Kate Morton, Martha Redbone, Tim Long, Mark Billy, and Marion Newman.
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- Here is Tim at the premiere performance of “How Bright the Sunlight” with US Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo, Muscogee/Creek, at the Eastman School of Music. Tim and Joy are joined by Anthony Davis, and James VanDemark.
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- Here, Tim performs at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
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- These are recipients, past and present, of the Timothy Long Prize, one of The Foundation’s scholarships. They pose at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame to celebrate their teacher’s lifetime achievement award.
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- The Plimpton Foundation leadership team honored Barbara McAlister, Cherokee Mezzo Soprano, with a Lifetime Achievement Award this past summer. Here are Anna Louise Martin, Randy Plimpton, Barbara McAlister, and Tim Long.
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- Tim was featured in The New York Times last fall about his work on the North American Indigenous Songbook.
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- And here are Randy and Tim celebrating a very successful concert at National Sawdust. The premiere of the North American Indigenous Songbook sold out the venue!
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