Meet Buddy

“There’s a lot of people painting traditional stuff and, you know, I just want to paint the kind of stuff that I would like to see. It’s cool, but I want to twist it up a little.”

The Buddy Logo

Meet Baje for the Inside Story.

Watch Buddy’s father, Baje, create this unique design that connects to Buddy’s life.

Nurturing Native American Art

Your Support Will Change Lives

The next generation of Native Artists will find new opportunity through the Buddy Foundation.

For Immediate Release

Diné College announces Buddy Whitethorne Scholarships

The Buddy Whitethorne Foundation has partnered with Diné College to award scholarships for aspiring Native artists for the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Two students will be chosen per academic year. The application cycle is currently open and will close on July 31, 2021. Applications can be downloaded online through Awards Spring, or requested from Diné College’s Office of Financial Aid. Award notification date will be on August 13, 2021.

Diné College is a four-year tribal college located on the Navajo reservation with six campuses and two microsites across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah and primarily serves Navajo students. The school offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, 20 associate’s, and 9 certificate programs. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college, established in 1968, is the first tribal college and was formerly named Navajo Community College.

For Immediate Release

Baje Whitethorne Sr. Honored with Spirit of the Heard Award

PHOENIX, ARIZ. - On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, Baje Whitethorne Sr. was recognized with the Spirit of the Heard award at this years’ Phoenix Indian Center’s Arizona American Indian Excellence in Leadership Awards dinner.

Meet some of the finest artists in Native America.

All of the Foundation Mentors contribute original works of art for sale in the Buddy Store to support the Foundation endeavors.