NO LONGER A MATTER OF CONCERN: Douglas K Limon and the Bandolier Bag Project

[AnnOminous]

Anyone know anything about this man or this project?

Douglas K. Limon is soliciting $7000 for "administration and marketing" funds, in addition to the $22,412 grant he says he received from the Minnesota State Arts Board, for his Bandolier Bag Project :  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1339520896/bandolier-bag-project?ref=email

I found a bio for him:  http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/douglas-k-limon.html

I am a descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin.

Can anyone verify his claim to Oneida membership?  I'm questioning his authenticity, and know some people who are thinking about backing him.

[Epiphany]

Douglas Limón did get a 2012 Minnesota arts grant for the Bandolier Project.

http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2012/mandated/121017.pdf

Something to keep in mind if researching him is this bit:

I began to sign my artwork Limón in honor of my grandfather Gavino Limón in the 90's. My wife Rachel and I legally changed our name to Limón in November of 2008 before the birth of our fourth child

So he is saying Limón is a family name but not his specific birth surname.

http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?action=info&rid=151113

Linkedin info: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/douglas-k-lim%C3%B3n/8/818/a58

He says he is an enrolled member of Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, so contacting them would be an option https://oneida-nsn.gov/

AnnOminous do you have any info on why questioning his authenticity?

[AnnOminous]

Thanks Epiphany.

AnnOminous do you have any info on why questioning his authenticity?

Not really.  Just a gut sense and some red flags.  People are more inclined to financially back someone who is doing native art if s/he is native, but this guy makes vague claims regarding "our culture/tradition" but without any transparency.  He says he has never made a bandolier bag in his video, yet has received over 22K in grant money and is hoping to raise another 7K to make one now?  Pretty cushy.  He mentions what the grant money was for and includes "photography"--his new white bride is given credit for photography on his video. I guess I'm wondering how much of this money lines his own pocket and the community he speaks of is only his circle of fellow non-native artists.  I'm curious as to what qualifies him to teach and conduct workshops on bandolier bags (and cradleboards previousy) and get government funding for it.  The person who sent me the link didn't provide any additional info, and I've been too busy to do much research myself lately.

[Epiphany]

My father is John J. Lemon, Sr. enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe now deceased and my mother is Joan Steffes-Lemon enrolled member of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin.

http://www.facebook.com/events/179505995414743/