The COVID-19 pandemic altered how our communities communicate and interact with one another. To keep students and communities safe, tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) transitioned from in-person classes and community events to closing their campuses and offering academic courses online. Community programming and events were canceled or postponed. The impact on TCU communities and their students was profound--particularly in programs and courses where students' work was highly interactive with elders, mentors, and Native master artists. The American Indian College Fund's established the Native Arts Distance Learning grant during the spring of 2022 to help TCUs transition to virtual instruction. As a result, distance learning went from a futuristic idea to a norm in Native arts and culture. Eligible TCUs invited to participate were those prepared for distance learning capabilities indicated through factors like hosting previous online classes, having open campus space capable of implementing social distancing, and identifying master artists, culture bearers, or knowledge keepers who could help with teaching Native art forms. This article describes how the initial seven TCUs who received Native Arts Distance Learning grant awards, met the positives, challenges, and lessons learned in distance learning.