Ron Martinez Looking Elk is a traditional potter from Isleta and Taos Pueblos in New Mexico. He is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts and is an international award winning artist. His expertise includes 25 years of community and leadership development, specializing in the area of building sustainable economic development in Indigenous communities globally. Ron has worked and trained with Indigenous artists, leaders, and organizers from many countries including, New Zealand, Japan, Greece, South Korea, Africa, Bolivia, Peru, and with tribes throughout the U.S.
Mr. Martinez Looking Elk is affiliated with national and international networks, where he worked or participated as a Fellow. A few of these institutions include Americans for Indian Opportunity in Albuquerque, NM, School of Advanced Research in Santa Fe, NM, the Leadership Institute in Santa Fe, NM, East-West Center in Honolulu, HI, Academy for Educational Development, Washington, D.C., Ford Foundation in New York, NY, and the Aspen Institute, Aspen, CO.
Ron is a trained facilitator and is currently a lead trainer at the First Peoples Fund, where he is also a Board Member. He also operates his own business named Creative Community Consulting. He works with high school students creating leadership development with organizations like the Brave Girls at the Santa Fe Indian School, the Native American Community Academy, and the Summer Policy Academy and is the Director of an arts-based program called the Pueblo Arts Academy. He also represents over 300 Pueblo artists through his Pueblo Arts Program at the Isleta Resort and Casino.