JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2015
JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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EDITOR’S WELCOME
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o it was back in February when we decided to have a California issue, although we weren’t sure exactly when. I also had an idea of who I would interview, and what stories we would feature. We put the spotlight on California’s most inspirational Natives right now. From our cover star Dominique Lombardi (just crowned Ms. UCLA Powwow) to Pamela Peters (who is behind photo project Exiled NDNZ) and the ladies shaking up the fashion scene (including Cali’s top Native designers of the moment, such as Bethany Yellowtail, Marcie Bain, Kristen Dorsey and Neeko April). I caught up with various Native actors, musicians and performers for our Native Hollywood segment, such as Tokala Clifford, JR Redwater and Spencer Battiest. I was excited to be able to share their upcoming projects (and sadly, many juicy details I cannot include due to confidentiality agreements, but once we get the green light, we’ll post on our website!). And lastly, I interviewed talented graffiti artist Votan Henriquez. If there’s one thing I learned from this issue, it’s that no matter what tribe or nation you come from, Cali’s Native community will welcome you with warm greetings.
KELLY HOLMES FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@kellzholmes 4
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2015
KELLY HOLMES Editor JOHNNIE MORRIS Managing partner TARA ROSE WESTON Co-designer MERCEDES MONTGOMERY Sales manager PAULA CRAWFORD PR/Secretary KAITLIN BLAYLOCK Editorial assistant REGIONAL West coast ZOE FRIDAY Southwest MARCUS TSOSIE Upper Midwest AMRASHAY ROBINSON CONTRIBUTORS Writer GIA BOLTON Writer NOEL ALTAHA Writer DARYL BEGAYE Writer EVERETT BAXTER Writer ANTHONY BURRIS Fashion HELEN ORO Fashion KRYSTINA BIA Fashion CRYSTAL SZCZEPANSKI Fashion JENNA HERNE
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED (STARTING JUNE 1, 2014) SIX TIMES PER YEAR BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES, LLC. TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL COPIES, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@NATIVEMAX.COM. NO PORTION OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. COPYRIGHT 2014, NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES, LLC. PUBLISHED IN DENVER, COLORADO, BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES. NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS, MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. WHILE EVERY CARE IS TAKEN, PRICES AND DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OMISSIONS OR ERRORS. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH AND EDIT ANY CONTENT SUBMITTED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CONTENTS
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11 COVER STORY 24 JOURNEY TO THE CROWN: DOMINIQUE LOMBARDI
STYLE 11 13 14 16 17 19 20
LABEL TO LOVE: B.JASH.I. MY CITY STYLE: JANAE COLLINS MODEL MOMENT: CHEYENNE GORDON SILVERSMITHING IS IN HER BLOOD: NEEKO APRIL ONE TO WATCH: DESIREE BELONE A COLLECTION OF CULTURE GAME CHANGER: BETHANY YELLOWTAIL
ART
CULTURE
30 NATIVES IN AMERICA 32 BEHIND EXILED NDNZ
RADAR 37 39 40 41 42 44 46
TOKALA CLIFFORD FIVE MINUTES WITH: SHAYNA JACKSON NOAH WATTS RETRACING FOOTSTEPS: DELANNA STUDI ROCK QUEEN: BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE SPENCER BATTIEST JR REDWATER
23 VOTAN HENRIQUEZ
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BEHIND THE COVER
UNCOVERED
Behind the cover: downtown L.A., prepping, the designs, and a few facts about cover model Dominique Lombardie Designs by
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B.JASH.I.
he July/August issue of Native Max was the CALIFORNIA issue, and although we had an idea of who we wanted on the cover, we were still undecided. In a way, we wanted a young girl or guy who would be able to represent the whole indigenous community of California; someone who could stand for higher education, and not just fellow Natives of the film industry. We considered a handful of potential cover models, when 22-year-old Dominique Lombardi stood out. She was just crowned Ms. UCLA Powwow back in May, and she leads the Pacific region in U.N.I.T.Y. She previously held her tribe’s “Daughter of Morongo” royalty title for three years, and is a shining leader in her community. The team gathered around and took a vote. It was then decided: Dominique Lombardi would grace the cover of our first annual CALIFORNIA issue. It seemed perfect to pair the cover shoot location with downtown LA. Dominique was bringing her jingle dress and Ms. UCLA Powwow crown to the shoot. With the cover photos, we wanted to illustrate how the Native American community is thriving in the big city of Los Angeles. Teamed up with Marcie Bain and her gorgeous dresses, makeup artist Desiree Belone, and Zoe Friday leading the photography, this was certainly the perfect concoction of creative and California.
For her contemporary look, Dominique was styled in B.JASH.I. ensembles. Designer Marcie Bain (Karuk/ Shasta) traveled to LA from her home in San Diego just for this shoot!
Photography by
ZOE FRIDAY
DESIREE BELONE Makeup by
City girl Desiree Belone (Navajo/Ponca) provided her makeup talents for the shoot. Check out our write-up on Desiree on page 24!
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Dominique was photographed by Native Max photog and West coast regional director Zoe Friday (Arapaho). Zoe had the idea of shooting downtown, so the skyscrapers can be the natural backdrop
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CALENDAR
CALI-NDAR 5 THINGS TO DO IN NATIVE CALIFORNIA THIS SUMMER
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California style pow wows are the social event of the season, enough said. The 35th annual Big Times Festival is a traditional Native American trade festival at KuleLoklo, a Coast Miwok Cultural Exhibit. Mark your calendar for July 18th. Visitors are welcome and it is recommended for you to bring a picnic. Trade shows, traditional demonstrations, dancing, fun and laughs are guaranteed. What is better than local tribes sharing their culture? Not much, that’s for sure. EVENT PAGE
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INTERTRIBAL FRIENDSHIP HOUSE-
A self-designated Urban Rez, the Intertribal Friendship House is a local destination for Natives in Oakland. Each day is packed with activities and there are many opportunities to take fun classes. Classes vary from traditional activities to fitness. While you are there make sure to check out their community garden. FACEBOOK PAGE
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INDIAN CANYON STORYTELLING-
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INDIAN GRINDING ROCK STATE HISTORIC PARK-
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THE AGUA CALIENTE TRIFECTA-
Another area of significance to the local Native community. Chaw’se which means “grinding rock” is located in Pine Grove. It is where their ancestors would go to grind up acorns and other seeds into meal. As a state park Chaw’se is only one of two places with decorative petroglyphs in its bedrock and mortars. Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum is also located at the park and features a bookstore. And Fyi, Chaw’se Big Time is in September. Tell all your friends. PARK WEBSITE
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THE BIG TIMES POW WOW SCENE-
Indian Canyon is a place of solace for Natives to pray, sweat and participate in ceremony. Visitors are welcome to this special area during the annual Storytelling Gathering on July 11th. Other events featured are the historic prayer run and a benefit concert. Adults and students are asked to pay a donation and tickets are available on Eventbrite. EVENT PAGE
What list would be complete without a casino? The Agua Caliente Casino, Resort Spa offers a lot of fast-paced fun. Or if you would like to something at a different pace there is always the Indian Canyon Golf Resort. Families are sure to enjoy the tribe’s cultural museum. What you learn may surprise you. Plenty of opportunities for relaxation and entertainment here. AGUA CALIENTE WEBSITE
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STYLE
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LABEL TO LOVE: B.JASH.I. B.JASH.I.’s lead designer, Marcie Bain, knows how to seamlessly mesh her Karuk roots with wearable couture.
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STYLE LABEL TO LOVE
KARUK COUTURE Karuk-inspired designs and aesthetic with a statement. Find out why B.JASH.I is this month’s Label to Love
Aut umn/W inter ‘1e5r c o llect ion B oho on t he Riv Available 10/1!
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4 The designs of B.JASH.I define the label, and are inspired by vintage and Native American influences. Lead designer, Marcie Bain (Karuk/ Shasta) creates her one-of-a-kind haute couture gowns influenced by her two passions: her Karuk heritage and the outdoors. More than wearable art pieces, the B.JASH.I. label is one that any woman can wear for any occasion. From jewelry to gowns, Bain’s label is unlimited. B.JASH.I. can be found on the list of designers for Fashion Week San Diego all year.
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1. (Last page) Crop top, B.JASH.I.,$60, Sequined leggings, B.JASH.I., $110 2. Chevron Jumpsuit, B.JASH.I., $120 3. Karuk Shawl/wrap, B.JASH.I., $220 4. Fringe Earrings, B.JASH.I., $20; B.JASH.I. website is currently under construction; connect with Marcie Bain and the label at facebook.com/bjashi
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STYLE
MY CITY STYLE
JANAE COLLINS
As more and more Native actors hit the Hollywood scene, JANAE COLLINS (Yankton/Hunkpapa/Crow) is silently building up her name. We catch up with Janae on what her schedule is looking like, and her city style
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ight now, Janae’s schedule is growing quite full. An interesting photo project in collaboration with someone she greatly admires is in the works for next month. The show she was casted in (lead role), Buffalo in the Room was picked up by a producer in L.A. after it gained some traction in New Mexico. “It had to be revamped, the table read is on July 16, and will now be filmed locally in L.A. by the end of this summer.” She’s currently writing a horror short that she wants to film on her Fort Peck reservation this fall. Janae’s style is multifaceted and ever-changing, quite dependant on her mood. One day it’s feminine and boho, with bold-colored dresses. “I can’t get enough of red right now”. Or it can switch to a more masculine feel –motorcycle chic with black on black, leather and Frye boots. After Janae gave up driving a car in lieu of a motorcycle, her style has changed. “You can’t wear flowy, feminine dresses and heels on a bike.” No matter how “moody and interchangeable” her style becomes, Janae always accessorizes with Native pieces, like beadwork or quillwork.
ABOVE: Janae wears B.Yellowtail at the designer’s fashion show in Las Vegas in 2012; RIGHT: Janae is currently obsessed with red
Janae doesn’t follow a set style. To Janae, living in Hollywood allows her to be as creative as possible. “I do and wear what I feel. I grew up on the rez; if you were too “creative” with your style, you’d be ridiculed. I appreciate being able to wear whatever the hell I feel like regardless of style or brands in the city.” For high fashion, Janae opts for her favorite label, B.Yellowtail by Bethany Yellowtail. She can be seen cruising L.A. on her bike rocking Alano Edzerza. Along with acting, Janae balances being a mother. “ My son James is my biggest inspiration. He keeps me young, in shape, and optimistic!” Janae admits she can’t be the selfish creature she once was before motherhood, but is constantly subjected to the old-fashioned notion that once you become a mother, it’s over. “ I vehemently disagree. Some people say it’s because of their children they couldn’t. I say it’s because of him I must.”
Photo by Pamela Peters JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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STYLE
Photo by Manny Mares
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MODEL MOMENT
CHEYENNE GORDON
Crisscrossing the world as a child, a headstart at modeling and 1 of 8 children-- welcome to the life of our model of the moment, Cheyenne Gordon
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HEYENNE GORDON, OF THE HUALAPAI TRIBE, certainly comes from a life of excitement. Born on Coronado Island in southern California, she is the fifth out of eight children. She spent much of her childhood crisscrossing the world with her family, as her father was a navy seal. A talented model who’s signed with Wilhelmina, she’s currently living out her dream and continues to make her vision of giving back to her people a reality. Gordon and her family lived in Germany, a total of ten U.S. states, and just about every city in Arizona. “To say we moved around a lot is an understatement” admits Gordon. She’s also spent many years living on and off the Hualapai reservation located in the Grand Canyon. Gordon’s career started at a very young age, when her mother got her and her siblings involved in acting and modeling. By the age of twelve, she developed an interest in fashion and art, and found herself making paper dolls and outfits. Gordon graduated to working with fabric when she took sewing and fashion design classes in both junior and high schools. When Gordon’s mother gave her a video camera for her birthday, she began writing scripts, designing and sewing clothes, styling outfits, directing and recording
STYLE
Photo by Roderick Goyena
small scenes with her younger siblings. Gordon didn’t have an easy childhood. “I look back at my younger years and think of how hard it was coming from various cultures.” Gordon dealt with racism, misplaced stereotypes, and identity issues. As a result, Gordon became painfully shy most of her life, only to use her interest in fashion as a way to express herself. “I used fashion as a way to silently be bold during my shy life.” However, Gordon found the strength to reverse the damage she faced, and is no longer afraid to put herself out there, or be bold when needed. “Now I try to use it as a gateway to help others to be bold and realize their own potential.” Unfortunately, reality had set in for Gordon when she turned seventeen. She moved out on her own, found two fulltime jobs, and enrolled in college. In between classes, she finally pinned down what she wanted to do with the rest of her life -”have a creative outlet, get to enjoy nature, be my own boss, earn a sufficient income to provide for a family, and above all, to help others.”
“I used fashion as a way to silently be bold during my shy life.” Gordon envisions moving back to the Hualapai reservation to set up a small farm to offer her people a place to obtain fresh and locally-grown produce. The nearest grocery store is about an hour away and difficult for tribal members to acquire healthy groceries nearby. With her major in Agriculture and Business Management, Gordon plans to not only open a market, but to focus on establishing a children’s program where they can learn, eat and play in a positive environment away from broken homes. “I want it to cater to the younger generations to encourage them to eat healthier, and possibly reducing the diabetes rate. To have a positive outlook and to be more involved with the community. My hopes are not only run a business, but to teach them that they too have the power to change, and to better themselves and our tribe as a whole.” Gordon is constantly looking for new ways to better herself as an individual. “I plan to use my notoriety I may gain from my modeling and acting to put towards bettering not only the people of my tribe, but to inspire all young people everywhere.” Gordon’s daily activities bounce from yoga, hiking and gardening, to crafting, cooking and volunteering. Naturally, Gordon loves to travel, and according to her Instagram, you can see her almost anywhere any given week.
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STYLE
SILVERSMITHING IS IN HER BLOOD
“byNEEKO” was created by Neeko April. She is of the Navajo tribe from Shiprock, New Mexico, and born and raised in Texas. She is of the Honaghaahnii clan born for Naakai dine’. Neeko was the only one in her family born and raised in Texas, off the rez an urban native. The film industry inspired her to move to Los Angeles. Neeko studied film at the University of Texas in Austin with a focus in Directing and Cinematography. Neeko’s role in the film industry was being a Digital Intermediate Colorist. She worked as a colorist full time for 3 and half years until she went freelance to follow her culture and its traditions and started her own jewelry business. Her inspirations for her designs vary from collections to solo pieces. Neeko’s inspiration transpires from dreams, visions, and events from her past to events from her present day life. Her first collection is the Rebel Collection and was inspired by her decision to go against the odds and leave her full time job as a colorist to start from the bottom and create byNEEKO. “I took the risk, I was a rebel,” Neeko states. She designs and creates jewelry for many reasons. She enjoys creating pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation. Neeko creates modern Native American jewelry because she wants to get authentic native-made jewelry into the fashion industry. “Our culture shall never be lost and the way non-natives are reinterpreting our designs, I fear that one day authenticity with our jewelry designs will be lost in the mix of it all.” Another big insight comes from making jewelry for her ma’sani (maternal grandmother) and her chei (maternal grandfather). They always told her and her siblings that they needed a course of action to carry on the traditions and culture they were taught.
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Neeko’s favorite pieces from her Rebel collection: (1) Simple Silver Naja Necklace, (2) Bull Skull Necklace, (3) band of coral and turquoise bracelet, and (4) Kingman Turquoise and Coral coil ring; All byNEEKO designs can be purchased online at byNEEKOdesigns.com
All photos courtesy of Neeko April
byNEEKO designer Neeko April shares with us her top 4 faves of her upcoming Rebel collection BY ASHLEY BITSELLEY
STYLE IG: @MAKEUPBY_DESY
ONE TO WATCH
DESIREE BELONE
Through growing up in a big city surrounded by financial struggles, Desiree Belone (Navajo/ Ponca) continues on her journey of becoming a professional makeup artist.
B All photos courtesy of Desiree Belone
elone comes from a family who were back and forth between both urban and rez life. “Technically I was born an “urban NDN” in the beautiful city of Boyle Heights, which is about a 15-minute walk from what is now downtown Los Angeles Art District” she explains. Through the great B.I.A. assimilation movement, Belone’s great grandparents began their adult life in Boyle Heights. Crazy enough Belone grew up near Indian Alley, which is the stretch of alleyway in the Skid Row area of downtown LA that boasts Indian art murals commemorating it’s historical ties to the swelling population of Native Americans in the 1960s. “My uncle Tie would ask me if I wanted to go with him. He would turn into an alley and pick up what he’d call, ‘uncles, aunties.’ Sometimes we’d drive to the beach, a Native church in Echo Park. This alley is now known as Indian Alley and the ability to extend myself and give to others is embedded in my mindset.” Belone’s interest in makeup flourished out of the need of something different. “In my teens and early twenties I was a model and performance dancer. I remember being very
uncomfortable with my look, feeling it was not appropriate for the setting; over-sexualized, or the makeup made my skin break out.” Belone was always that girl in her circle of friends who everyone turned to for makeup sessions and fashion advice. “I was spending hours helping others achieve their look with their comfort level.” It was then Belone decided to rejoin the creative field as a professional makeup artist. However, the journey was a bumpy one. According to Belone, there are two ways into beginning your career as a makeup artist: either you’re artistic by nature and therefore familiar with color combos and product specifications like oil-based or water-based, or you’re pretty good at doing makeup but lack fundamentals. “I was able to visualize looks I wanted to achieve but lacked the knowledge and skill” admits Belone. Belone attended Geisha Studio for Beginners and Advanced Makeup Artistry, and Ruby Makeup Academy for airbrush certification. “Yet, it took dozens of hours of practice, self-motivation, dedication and networking to get to this point in my beauty career. Humbly I continue to learn and grow.” She’s had her share of ups and downs. Working amongst others who were on the same creative frequency helped Belone feed her own passion. “Receiving an opportunity to work with different artists skilled in their craft, being part of a team, putting in work to bring a vision to life. It’s super exciting.” There were also days of being judged based on her work and her attitude. “Being wrote off as vain, materialistic, high maintenance or self-absorbed; social media has challenged relationships.” Belone doesn’t care though; she is exactly where she should be in her career. Having that mindset helped her establish and retain deep professional and friendship connections with everyone in and out of the industry. Belone is blessed to be able to show off her creativity. “There was once a time my ancestors were not allowed to create or share their art.” Coming from a low economic background in the city, Belone doesn’t see anything stopping her journey; she’s already toughed it out so much. “First world problems, like having a car with the transmission out, low on money, riding the bus, paying rent late, sacrificing sleep, would not hinder me from making my dream a reality.” JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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STYLE
A COLLECTION OF CULTURE Chickasaw jewelry designer and artist Kirsten Dorsey shares with us the inspiration behind her designs and exclusive details about her upcoming collection
Photo courtesy of Kristen Dorsey
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orn and raised in Los Angeles, Kirsten Dorsey often spent time in her grandfather’s garage assisting him with his projects. “My grandfather was very influential for me. He was an aerospace engineer who had many artistic talents such as woodworking, stained glass, and when he was younger did beading, leatherwork, metalwork and photography.” As a teen, Dorsey knew she wanted to own a design business. “I loved fashion design especially, and would avidly read fashion magazines.” Dorsey went to school at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, and Tufts University. It was in her freshman year of college when she fell in love with metalsmithing. “It was the most challenging art that I had tried and combined my passion for design with my love of problem-solving and construction.” At Tufts University, Dorsey focused on Native Studies where she concentrated on the history of southeastern tribes and material culture, partly due to her Chickasaw tribe being located in the southeast region. Dorsey learned and specialized in a technique similar to what
Panther Woman
Photo by Tailinh Agoyo
her Chickasaw ancestors used to sculpt elaborate relief sculptures from copper, called chasing and repoussé. Most of Dorsey’s jewelry are created through this process. She hopes to teach this technique to her fellow southeastern artists to help revitalize these ancient metalsmithing techniques. Dorsey’s pieces are also influenced by the de-
sign work of her ancestors, specifically patterns found in the ancient shell engravings of the southeast. “These were a part of my people’s personal adornments and regalia, and the images that were engraved into them told stories about their history and religions. Each of my pieces aims to tell stories about the rich history of southeastern adornment and cultural achievements.”
Dorsey’s new collection, titled Panther Woman, launches August. “In our culture, the panther is an important clan animal. For me the Panther is a symbol of our homelands. It is the top predator native to our homelands in the southeast, and it’s image is found on intricate shell adornment carved by our ancestors who believed in a panther deity called the underwater panther. The underwater panther’s domain was the mysterious and dark world under the water. The panther is also significant to me as it represents a heroine from our oral tradition called Panther Woman. Panther Woman’s leadership helped to defend her village against violent Spaniards.” - Dorsey
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STYLE
GAME CHANGER
BETHANY YELLOWTAIL Bethany Yellowtail (Northern Cheyenne) captures the spotlight with every fashion move she makes. Meet the woman behind B YELLOWTAIL
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ellowtail always had an interest for fashion. She learned how to sew at a very young age by her grandmother and aunty. Her high school teacher and mentor helped Yellowtail realize she had a chance at a fashion career, and helped her refine her skills. “Her name is Patricia Mischke. She really took me under her wing since I was in seventh grade and gave me tons of one-on-one time sewing, helping me bring my designs to life.” Yellowtail graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in 2009 with an arts degree. Upon entering the fashion industry, she interned at a manufacturing company. Yellowtail then worked as a designer and patternmaker for numerous brands and private label companies who provide clothing to popular department stores, including BCBGMAXAZRIA. Her journey through the fashion industry thus far has been positive, with incredible amounts of support from companies and colleagues she’s worked with. “I’ve worked with some of the best of the best in the industry, and knowing they have my back is invaluable.” Contrary to popular belief, the fashion industry isn’t all glitz and glamour. As Yellowtail admits, it’s an incredibly competitive and tough industry to break into. “A very few of my peers from design school are actually working in fashion.” Yellowtail, a quick learner with hard work ethics, was able to stand strong in the industry. “I put in hundreds of hours working for free and was fortunate to have colleagues who took time to answer
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my questions and spend the time to teach me.” However, the fashion industry also has its rewards. “Those moments are few and far in between, but when they do happen and you get a celebrity walking down the red carpet in your designs or get a stylist to pull your work for a feature spread, it’s an incredibly satisfying feeling.” History is what inspired Yellowtail’s latest eye catching collection, The Mighty Few. The assemblage contains the likes of elk tooth-print camisoles and maxidresses, and midi-skirts in lace, including accessories such as an elktooth necklace, ledger and floral scarves, and horsehair rope belts. Yellowtail collaborated with various artists for her collection -award winning artist Jamie Okuma and Blackfeet artist John Pepion, who specializes in contemporary ledger drawings. “I specifically brought in John to create the art which is featured on the scarf to help me tell a story.” Ledger art is a term for narrative drawings or paintings traditional to the plains tribes. While creating her inspiration board for the new collection, Yellowtail gathered photos of her relatives from as far back as the early 1900’s. She then came across an old black and white photo of her great aunt who was participating in the Shoshone Warbonnet Dance, which is a sacred ceremony to honor the young women leaders of the Indigenous nations. This is considered the
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Time has not erased us. We are still here; beautiful, strong and resilient.”
Janet Mock, the host of MSNBC talk show “SO POPULAR” in Yellowtail’s Crow Pop dress
All photos courtesy of www.byellowtail.com
only opportunity for a woman to wear the sacred eagle feather warbonnet, as it’s the highest recognition of mighty Native women. Yellowtail came across another photo of a relative who was participating in the same dance, but taken in 2013. The two photos together, the first an old, black and white and the second, modern and full of color, gives Yellowtail an overwhelming feeling. “It was so beautiful to clearly see the continuity of our people. Though history and circumstances have not always been in our peoples’ favor, time has not erased us. We are still here; beautiful, strong and resilient.” Yellowtail’s favorite piece so far in the collection is the Women Warrior Ledger scarf. “There was so much love and thought and care that went into creating it,” Yellowtail explains about her The Mighty Few. When Yellowtail steps back and looks at her collection, she sees harmonious reflections of her loved ones -ancestors, the communities she comes from, the land she was raised on. “This collection as a whole is simply my expression and love for all those things.” In addition to releasing The Mighty Few collection, Yellowtail collaborated with her dear friend and Dine poet Tazbah Rose Chavez on a short film promoting not only the collection, but also a story. The short film exhibits First Nations model Jade Willoughby and Tlingit actor Martin Sensmeier donning The Mighty Few pieces, topped by spoken word poetry courtesy of Chavez. “She can articulate emotion and feeling in such a beautiful profound way that it only made sense to have her create the spoken word poetry. She also had full creative control on how the video was produced.” Yellowtail and her talent are certainly on the forefront when it comes to Native American designers infiltrating the mainstream fashion industry. Yellowtail was already making strides with her last collection, having her Crow Pop and Apsaalooke Nights dresses on television, in a magazine and on the red carpet at the 2015 Grammys. Then Yellowtail’s The Mighty Few dropped, capturing worldwide attention including the media. Several leading media outlets gave light to how Yellowtail’s new collection accurately portrayed what it was like to actually wear Native-inspired designs and styles, helping reset how the world views Native American fashion.
A glimpse at Yellowtail’s new The Mighty Few collection
Brilliant pieces from the collection, including an elk tooth-print camisole, elk tooth necklace and Jamie Okuma floral pleated skirt
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ART
Votan Henriquez, Mayan and Nahua, is an artist well known throughout California and beyond. Based in Los Angeles, Henriquez’s vibrant and powerful murals can be found in not only up and down Indian Alley in downtown LA, but as far as Minnesota.
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enriquez was just a kid when he was influenced by graffiti art. “I remember looking through books like subway art, and later spray-can art. I was mesmerized by the characters and letters combined” explains Henriquez. Living on the west coast, the whole hip hop movement was thriving, and with it, graffiti. Henriquez later joined a graffiti crew and began “bombin walls” (spray-painting graffiti art) in “graff yards” throughout LA. Henriquez developed his own style of graffiti art, which is inspired by different traditions, styles, techniques and patterns of the indigenous peoples of North and South America. “Although we have never really been given the opportunity to share it with the masses across the world, for us now graffiti has been that outlet.” Henriquez’s newest work can be seen in Minnesota, specifically Minneapolis American Indian Center which is the biggest project he’s been a part of. “I have currently been traveling to Minnesota multiple times this year, the birthplace of American Indian Movement. There’s a lot of selfless Natives there giving back to the community on a daily basis.” He’s also worked on murals at the Little Earth American Indian Community Housing with Charlie Thayer and Coco Villaluz. Besides his art, Henriquez is also working on Nsrngts, an apparel and lifestyle brand sparked by the rising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in 1994. “These Mayan relatives revolutionized all revolutions. They incorporated our traditions and indigenous philosophy into their struggle.” You can expect more murals going up in the next few months by Henriquez, along with more designs and pieces from his Nsrgnts brand.
Visit Nsrgnts on Facebook and online at nsrgnts.com
Photo by Pamela J. Peters JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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BY KELLY HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZOE FRIDAY MAKEUP BY DESIREE BELONE STYLING AND WARDROBE BY MARCIE BAIN/B.JASH.I.
JOURNEY TO THE CROWN DOMINIQUE LOMBARDI has her whole life mapped out. A leading example of her tribe, Lombardi’s ultimate goal is to lead the youth down the right path. Now that she was just crowned this year’s Ms. UCLA Powwow, her voice just got a little louder
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n May, Dominique Lombardi decided to lead by example and participate in the Ms. UCLA Powwow Pageant. She was nervous, terrified and excited. When the weekend of the pageant finally arrived, she admits that her emotions were out of whack. She was happy, but her stomach was in knots and she found herself on the verge of tears. Yes, powwow pageants will do this to you. Like any other pageant, a powwow or tribal pageant is a turning point in any young Native girl’s life. It is the opportunity to represent her nation, community or all of Indian Country. The Ms. UCLA Powwow pageant was Lombardi’s chance to work towards her ultimate goal of leading the youth into the right direction, in and out of the powwow circle. It was her opportunity to show that although Native people come from all over the continent, we’re all united by our creator. Lombardi is Wanikiki Cahuilla of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians tribe in Southern California. She was born and raised in Long Beach, California, but relocated to Cherry Valley, California to be closer to her reservation and her mother’s side of the family. She is, currently, entering into her junior year at the University of Redlands, where she is studying liberal arts and Race & Ethnics. Lombardi believes
that children start determining their life’s direction in elementary school and need discipline and guidance. She aspires to be a teacher that works at a school on her reservation in order to help children become successful in all they set their mind to do. During the pageant, Lombardi wanted to show that although Native people come from all over the continent, we’re all united by our creator. When it came to the interview portion, Lombardi began to explain her passion of teaching the younger generations that Native people must work together to help each other succeed, and to go farther than anyone. During her answer, Lombardi was overcome with emotions. “I heard later on I made most of the judges cry,” Lombardi explains of her tearful interview answers. “That wasn’t my intention, but is my passion to share.” For the traditional wear, Lombardi asked a respected elder of the area, Lori Sisquoc, to help her gather items needed to create a traditional regalia of the Cahuilla people. “She helped me make my jewelry and create my buckskin back shirt, she also gifted me a bark skirt to wear for the pageant. She taught me the reasoning for our tribal wear and where in our area it all came from.” For the talent portion, she chose to share the game of poen, a traditional game played throughout California. “I asked for help from some of the Native students at the University of Redlands to come out and help me demonstrate the game. The game was a ton of fun and I think everyone in the room had a blast learning a little more about the California tribes.” As all powwow pageants go, the last segment of the pageant was the dance portion. Although
“After dancing, I cried because I could feel the power from all my sisters that danced with me and I am so thankful for all the women that have opened their arms and helped me along my journey.”
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Lombardi wanted to dance bird, she chose to dance jingle since it was a well-known powwow style. However, Lombardi chose not to dance alone. She asked all the sisters that she made on the powwow trail to dance with her as she went out for the title of Ms. UCLA Powwow. “After dancing, I cried because I could feel the power from all my sisters that danced with me and I am so thankful for all the women that have opened their arms and helped me along my journey.” When the winner was announced, Lombardi was overjoyed when she heard her name called. “I still cannot describe my emotions as they called the winners. It felt so unreal, but I’m so grateful for this opportunity to represent the community.” As Ms. UCLA Powwow, Lombardi was representing not only her family and the Morongo tribe, but the entire California higher education community, such as UCLA and it’s American Indian Student Association at fellow Southern California powwows, including University of California, California State and other community colleges. “With this title, you are representing higher education and to be an active member of American Indian communities,” Lombardi explains. “AISA hopes that this title will demonstrate the strength in American Indian women and their ability to balance culture, community involvement, and activism with their higher education.” This isn’t the first royalty title for Lombardi. She held the Daughter of Morongo royalty title for three years in a row, from 2008 to 2011, in both the junior and senior divisions. “I’ve held a title in both categories, the senior category for two years.” Each year, the title is earned by a young woman of the Morongo tribe who has achieved academic success and maintained a clean cut image, among other traits. As Ms. UCLA Powwow, Lombardi will be traveling to as many powwows as possible. She’ll also be in
attendance for the National U.N.I.T.Y. conference in Washington D.C. this month. With her title, Lombardi is focusing on the Native youth. “I want to encourage our Native youth to continue their education and continue on to higher education.” Away from school and her appearances as the new Ms. UCLA Powwow, Lombardi enjoys spending time with family and friends on the powwow trail. She does jingle and bird dancing, which is the tradition of her people. “It’s a way I can escape and enjoy the blessings given to us in this life. This is where home is in my dancing world.” When not dancing, Lombardi can be found riding her horses Jake and Charlie. “When I can as often as I can, I will take off and free my mind on the trail with my boys.
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CULTURE
NATIVES IN AMERICA founder Megan Red Shirt-Shaw
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CULTURE
INDIGENOUS AND PROUD
With countless Native youth who have stories to tell, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw created a literary space that tells stories through the eyes of the seventh generation @NATIVEINAMERICA
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Photo courtesy of Megan Red Shirt-Shaw
here are 566 federally-recognized tribes in America today, yet there are countless misconceptions and stereotypes about Native Americans. Every Native American student has a story that is worth hearing, which is why Oglala Lakota writer Megan Red Shirt-Shaw created Natives in America, an online literary space where Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian students of all ages can reflect on contemporary issues from a seventh generation perspective. Red Shirt-Shaw is an activist in a unique way. Having studied Creative Writing, she focuses much of her activism energy towards written word, determined to write about Native issues and push them into the mainstream. “I think it’s important for us to be discussing our issues amongst ourselves as indigenous people, but also for us to have a strong connection to those who need to learn more about our communities,” Red Shirt-Shaw explains. “If we don’t continue to push the media on coverage around us, the country will continue to perpetuate stereotypes and make us feel like we don’t have voices.” Red Shirt-Shaw grew up on college campuses all over the country - California, Michigan, Connecticut, Arizona, Pennsylvania. Red Shirt-Shaw credits both her parents for the encouragement they received to pursue their intellect and passions. “I feel really lucky for all of their support.” Red Shirt-Shaw graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 2011, and has been working in education ever since. Most of her years have been spent in undergraduate admissions, pushing students to go to college. Red Shirt-Shaw often returns to the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota every summer to visit family for ceremonies, as it keeps her grounded as a twenty-something-year-old trying to navigate her voice out into the world. Red Shirt-Shaw was contributing to a few friends’ various Native-focused projects, when she found herself inspired by their drive to make a difference. She wanted to figure out how to fit in that sphere, but do it in a way that wasn’t just through her own voice or her own writing. One day, as Red Shirt-Shaw was sitting in her mother’s classroom at Stanford listening to students presenting projects on decolonization, it clicked - “why doesn’t anyone give Native students the chance to compile these stories and
share them with the world?” The presentations and the students themselves were so focused and passionate, most were sharing issues on their own communities that they wanted change for. Red Shirt-Shaw reached out to inspiring Native youth, and slowly her team grew. With close to twenty writers, each team member is located all over the country, and even across the world. “It humbles me and keeps me grounded every day, reading their words.” Something like Natives in America is long overdue. Young students, some far away from any major Native media outlet, need a creative space to express their thoughts, ideas and dreams. Natives in America is a consolidated space for Native students to share what it means to be proudly indigenous in the 21st century, and for the rest of America, a spot to read and understand the journeys, obstacles and hardships of their everyday lives. “We need voices from the ground, who are living and breathing the challenges of being young and Indigenous in an ever-changing education environment. We need their voices to battle misconceptions about our identities. They’re the ones who deserve to have a platform” Red Shirt-Shaw explains. Red Shirt-Shaw has big hopes for Natives in America, which include small scholarships for youth who are about to take a big step forward in their lives, workshops every summer where all Natives in America team members can meet up and return to their communities and share their stories, and ultimately publish all stories into a book. Red Shirt-Shaw believes we should focus less on relying on pre-existing texts, and more on contemporary indigenous writing. “We are Native here and now and our youth are amazing, they have stories to tell about what it’s like to be successful and inspire others to do the same. They’re graduating, they’re producing music, they’re heading off to art school, they’re leading movements in their communities. A big crew of our writers are even going to the White House to meet with the President at the Tribal Youth Gathering. Their stories inspire others to be better and we have to stop digging around to find them. As long as Natives in America keeps kicking, I will do everything I can to make America start listening to them. The time is now.”
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CULTURE
BEHIND
EXILED NDNZ A neo-realist film and the history of the American Indian migration to Los Angeles is what inspired Diné filmmaker and photographer Pamela Peters to create Exiled NDNZ. BY KELLY HOLMES PHOTOS BY PAMELA PETERS
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riginally from the Navajo Nation, Peters has seen firsthand the effects of the American Indian Migration. Her parents, like many Indian families, migrated to various cities through the program, yet many people don’t know about it. Back in 2008, Peters saw Kent Mackenzie’s film The Exiles, a 1961 neo-realist film that showcases a true depiction of Indians living in Los Angeles, especially at a time when Hollywood cinema was generating stereotypes of Indians in western films. “I loved The Exiles because it gave a realistic portrayal of American Indians going through the U.S. Relocation Program,” explains Peters. “The film inspired me to do something –to bring to light that we, as Indian people, have a history to L.A.” The Exiled Through the Indian Relocation Act of 1956, the first generation of relocated Indians moved into Los Angeles fresh out of Indian boarding schools where they were forced to erase their Indian identities and sever their ties with their communities, most of them in their late teens to early 20’s. They were to attend vocational schools, but ended up competing
with immigrants for blue-collar jobs. Many Indians ended up jobless and homeless. Those who were able to survive, as Peters learned through interviewing elders, life was very difficult. Handfuls of Indians lived together in small apartments. There were few to no support programs as there are today, like Indian Centers and homeless shelters specifically for Native peoples. Evidently, immigrants of many cultures around the world have flocked to Los Angeles, such as Asians, Mexicans and Middle Easterners. Slowly, several communities have been established in tribute to their cultures, such as Little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia, and Korea Town, to name a few. As Peters points out, even though there are approximately 150,000 American Indians living in L.A., there is no formal acknowledgement of their presence. What makes this wrongdoing more upsetting is the fact that these American Indians were forced to relocate, involuntarily; whereas others moved to these cities for a chance at a better life. “ It was part of a U.S. program to remove Indians from their tribal lands for the purpose of capital and community expansion which JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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CULTURE is the reason I used ‘exiled’ in my title project.” Los Angeles - A Melting Pot of Tribes Due to the relocation, tens of different tribes assimilated in the city, with various coming from the Lakota, Mohawk and Choctaw reservations. Despite being from separate communities, what the relocated Indians have in common is the unique connection they have as tribal people. Many organizations such as the American Indian Community Council, the Southern California Indian Center and United American Indian Involvement organization bring tribal members together so Indians can support one another in preserving tribal traditions and maintaining strong Native identities. “Through one of these associations, I met some other Navajos and being away from home, I don’t have many opportunities to speak Navajo, but when I’m with them, we talk, we laugh and we share stories, and what’s great is we can carpool to go home for holidays and ceremonies.” Through the forced relocation, Indians in L.A. persevered the hardships of not being in their home communities by developing relationships with other Indians with whom have much in common, despite differences in backgrounds. L.A. proves to be a melting pot of tribes and nations, with none no greater than the other. Peters knows Natives in the film industry and corporate world, as well as students and active social workers. “When I was at the Indian Center, I worked with a guy from the Hopi reservation, a young lady from the Lakota nation, and a Cheyenne director. In film, I’ve worked with Lakota, Apache, Crow, Blackfeet, Cree, Ojibwe, Mohawk, and other tribal peoples. And while I was at UCLA, I had professors who were Ho-Chunk, Seneca, and Choctaw. There are many tribal nations in Southern California.” A modern-day American Indian living in Los Angeles today isn’t a Native American frozen in the past, or an illustration. “We look amazing! There is not one image of an American Indian even though that is what Hollywood has created. We are your next door neighbor, doctors, lawyers, filmmakers, and artists. We are contemporary, yet we have the ties to our tribal nations.” The Birth of Exiled NDNZ “I want our history to be remembered! I also want to pay homage to that first generation of relocated Indians of the 1950’s and 1960’s” That is how Legacy of Exiled NDNZ came about. Originally a photography project, Peters was
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moved by the interviews and behind-the-scenes video she gathered. It’s now expanded to a short film project which continues to be seen in the film festival circuit. Peters is currently working on a full documentary, which will help in bringing awareness of the American Indian presence and cultural contribution to Los Angeles. “We, too, have a story woven into the history of Southern California.” Upon selecting people to include in her photography project, Peters specifically asked tribal members living in Los Angeles whom she knew personally, and who bore a resemblance to the characters in The Exiles. She also reached out to a few UCLA students, in which she met a young woman who was a second-generation relocated Indian. “So I asked her mother, whom i have known for awhile, and she said her daughter would love to participate. That is how I got my magnificent seven!” In addition to Exiled NDNZ photography project and documentary, Peters is working on “Indian Alley”, another project which features the original site of the United American Indian Involvement Center that helped relocated Indians in the 1970’s. While other ethnic groups have small “towns” named after them, Indians earned an alley way, despite having a large population within the city of L.A. and the U.S. “Even so, I want the city of Los Angeles to recognize the alley as a historical landmark and I want to share the contribution these young Native trailblazers from the 70’s did for not only Indians, but for the city of Los Angeles.” With her projects, Peters aims to tackle stereotypes the film industry created, and to showcase an Indigenous aesthetic of “real” Indians as we are today. “I want to show the diversity of tribal nations, the distinct identity of each of my cast members, the strong ties they maintain with pride to their tribal communities, and how their tribal identities can not only exist, but also thrive in large urban cities like Los Angeles. Due to the way Hollywood originally portrayed Indians as relics of an historical past, such as The Lone Ranger, they painted the concept of Indian figures as ghosts. The result is Indians in modern movies are often the targets of harmful mockery. “Living in the mecca of Hollywood, I want to show that there is a dignified Indian identity and great diversity in the city. For instance, when I tell people I’m Navajo, their first response is, ‘Oh, you don’t look Indian.’ Their views have been shaped by the way non-Native filmmakers have portrayed us.”
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RADAR
NATIVE HOLLYWOOD Fans rejoice! We catch up with Indian Country’s top names in LA as they take on Hollywood Tokala Clifford Photo by Haoyuan Ren
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Q&A
RADAR
TOKALA CLIFFORD If it were up to Oglala Lakota actor Tokala Clifford, he would never sleep again. We talk to Clifford about how he got into acting and what he’s working on now
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hen did you develop an interest for acting? Acting never really was my dream as a kid. I always felt like I didn’t understand why people behaved the way they did in the modern world, I felt like I was from a different age or world (in some ways I still feel this way). So as a child I focused on copying the way people moved and spoke to try to imitate them so I could fit in at school or where ever. I never stopped watching peoples’ mannerisms. It became as much a joke as a way of learning. But I think that really helps my acting. As a child, when asked what I wanted to be as a grown up, I would answer two things depending on how outlaw I felt at the moment. I would say that I wanted to be either an astronaut or a simple American Indian living free like my ancestors. Because I said that a lot, someone suggested that I should audition for a movie called Dances with Wolves. There is a long story there, but basically I did. Then when a powerful person on set belittled an elder in front of me, I spit on that
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person and walked off set. I figured, “oh well, I’m blacklisted now.” So I didn’t care or think about acting for years. When did you decide to take acting serious? One day, in the spring of 2000, I was asked if I could drive someone to an audition for a movie called Skins. I went and waited in the car outside, but it was a hot day, and my car didn’t have a working air conditioner at that moment. So I went inside the building with the thought of waiting in the air conditioning. But the when I went in there was a lady that recognized me from my audition on Dances with Wolves so long before that. She said, “I wondered when I would see you again, I’m moving you up. You are next.” I told her I only came to drive someone to the audition and didn’t feel good about auditioning too. But she insisted, giving me a paper to write down any special skills I had. As a lark I put, “I’m Tokala, I’m good at eating Indian Tacos.” She pushed me in a room and suddenly there was this director with a camera telling me to read my sides. I said, “I was never given any sides.” He said, “So why don’t you pretend to make an Indian taco then eat it. And describe everything you are doing. You know, like a commercial for Indian tacos.” So that’s what I did. And that’s how I won my first big SAG role. After that it just kind of started rolling like water around a stone. No matter what I did, I was constantly pulled toward being in front of people. What’s a typical day like for you? My regular day is: 5 a.m. or so I wake up and meditate and do martial arts. By 7 a.m. I’m working on something, either writing or studying, or getting ready to go to some job. I go to bed about 1 a.m.
or so usually. If I could get away without sleeping at all, I think I would never sleep again. I just don’t feel like I have enough time for all the things I want to do in this life. What did you do when there were no auditions to attend? That’s when I would write and study. Work, auditions or write and study, that was my fun time. And then when you do get casted? Then I get cast in something, and everything changes. I have lines to study, and emotional cues to memorize. Last December, I had to learn lines in Mayan and Sumerian. The rest of the time I have to get ready for the tests and learn my lines. And I have a three page audition to remember for tomorrow on top of that. I think the only real breaks I’ve taken in the last four days are to eat, sleep and shower. Well and this interview too. Can you talk about some of your upcoming projects? I’m currently working on two scripts that I can’t really talk too much about, but are very exciting. I’ve already secured one of the costume designers, Manuel Albarran, from the Disney film Maleficent. Manuel was the one called in by Angelina Jolie to specifically do her costume. He is super talented. I also shot a fashion film with him last December and that one should be showing behind runway models at fashion events from Tokyo to New York in the coming year. Then there is one called Not on My Mountain that I will be shooting in the fall or maybe next year. I will be playing a man that eventually has to stop a presidential assassination attempt after the mountain he lives on is invaded by a group of Neo-Nazi extremists who are dead set on starting an ethnic war.
RADAR
FIVE MINUTES WITH
SHAYNA JACKSON Dakota/Cree actress and musician Shayna Jackson reveals her musical background and her daily life making it in Hollywood
Photo by Laura Burke
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^Jackson performs her song “Strength” on a piano. Jackson is currently working on an upcoming album, and tour
DISCOVER SHAYNA: Check out Jackson’s videos on her Youtube channel and Native Max online!
ctress, singer and songwriter Shayna Jackson comes from such a musical upbringing. Her parents are also musicians, who have their own Christian alternative band (and according to Jackson, “which I must say, they’re really worth checking out!”). Originally from Hastings, Minnesota, you can now find Jackson throughout LA working towards her dream. A self-professed adventure seeker, Jackson is always traveling. “I have traveled quite frequently by myself, and sometimes others, all over the world.” Jackson is also an accomplished theater actress. In the past few years, she’s worked multiple times with Native Voices at the Autry, the largest Equity Native American theater company, alongside Players Theater in New York City, where she reprised a role. Jackson has taken on various film roles, one of which landed in the 2013 LA Skins Fest. Jackson was also a host on the show “The Hub” on the television channel FNX - First Nations Experience. Aside from acting and performing, Jackson spends most of her time working towards her degree at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood for Keyboard Technology. When not in school, Jackson trudges through the mind-numbing monotony of auditioning. Juggling her everyday tasks, she’s also working on a few singles for her upcoming album, which is still under wraps. After she releases her new music and when people catch on, she’ll start playing shows around town again. JULY/AUGUST 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
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noah watts Crow/Blackfeet actor and musician Noah Watts on upcoming projects and his next performance.
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Photo courtesy of Noah Watts
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orn and raised in Montana, Watts always had an interest in acting. He would act in school plays, where he seen acting as more fun than serious. Working in television, films and theater since the age of 17, Watts received his first film role in the independent film The Slaughter Rule, where he played the role of a high school football team captain. Just a few months later, Watts scored another role in Chris Eyre’s feature film Skins alongside Native actors Eric Schweig and Graham Greene. Watts then traveled to Los Angeles when he was 18 years old to pursue acting professionally. Along with acting, Watts added a video game to his resume. He lent his voice, and provided motion and facial capture to Connor Kenway in popular video game series, Assassin’s Creed. “I am honored to be a part of such a great game series.” Watts is also a jazz player and singer in the band Nickels & Bones. “Blues music gets into my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving it,” admits Watts. Watts and the band are currently working on their second album, with a performance at the LA Skins Fest coming up September 12th. Watts is currently working on comedy series Wave, directed by Native director Ian Skorodin. Set to release in August, Watts is also providing music for this as well.
Dying to see Noah Watts and his band, Nickels & Bones, in concert? Head over to nativemax.com to see upcoming concerts, and more!
At first, acting didn’t seem to be a logical career for Delanna Studi, Cherokee from Liberty, Oklahoma. “Being an actor wasn’t considered a rational or practical career choice in rural Oklahoma.” Of German-Irish and Cherokee blood, Studi grew up in both worlds. Since her parents didn’t have any sons, first born Studi never learned the gender roles set in place by American society. “I never had society’s “limits” forced upon me, so I’m fortunate that my work as an actor and writer has never placed me in the situation where I have to sacrifice the integrity of my gender or my culture,” explains Studi. Growing up in a family of storytellers, Studi and her sister Karen performed skits for birthdays and family dinners. “I had my own one-person version of the Wizard of Oz by the time I was five” admits Studi. Studi was heavily involved in her high school’s speech, debate and drama teams, and performed in community theaters throughout high school and college. Studi assumed her dream of acting was crazy, until she saw her uncle, well known Native actor Wes Studi, act in numerous blockbusters. “It wasn’t until my uncle Wes Studi started film- Cherokee actress Delanna Studi retraces her ing movies that I family’s footsteps along the northern route of realized perhaps the Trail of Tears this dream wasn’t as crazy as I thought. I decided then that I would pursue it as a career process of compiling the stories collected into a live, theatrical experience that will tour along the Northchoice and I have never regretted that decision.” Just recently, Studi, along with her father Thom- ern Route next year. “These stories are meant to be as Studi, project manager and documentarian Jesse returned to the people from whom they came.” This month, Studi begins rehearsals in New York Abdenour and Kenan Institute for the Arts, finished a six-week long community engagement that or the play Informed Consent, which is described retraced her family’s footsteps along the northern as a “drama about one woman’s quest to answer the route of the Trail of Tears from North Carolina to mysteries of science and her own life, inspired by a Liberty. It was her father’s first time back to the landmark court case between one of the country’s homestead, or North Carolina. “As we traveled the largest universities and a Native American tribe Northern Route, we spoke with community mem- based in the Grand Canyon”. Deborah Zoe Laufer’s bers along the way about the legacy of the Trail and Informed Consent will play a limited engagement the importance of remembering.” Now finished from August 4th through September 13th at Primawith the project, Studi and her team are now in the ry Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.
RETRACING
Photo courtesy of Delanna Studi
RADAR
FOOTSTEPS
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Photo by Matt Barnes
ROCK QUEEN
Certainly a multi-faceted hitmaker since the 60’s, Cree singer, actor and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. We speak to the legendary songstress about her style, who she’s listening to, and her new album Power in the Blood. By Jason Finkbonner
NATIVE MAX: What is it that prompted you to create your new album now? BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE: I had made an album called Running for the Drum; that was my last album and after it was done I put together a band and I told them we are going around the world … we are going for a two year around the world tour. This is like the 6th year and during the six years I was playing a lot of the songs that [wound] up on Power in the Blood and a True North Records’ manager came to my manager and asked if [I] would still like recording and I was just ready to go. We had all these songs ready to go and
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so I made a demo of the songs that I was going to record. Played it for, as a matter of fact, I went and auditioned seven producers and I liked three of them. One of whom I had worked with before, Chris Bucket. The three that I liked, I played them the demos and they each chose the songs that they wanted to work on and I really liked how it turned out. It’s the way I would recommend doing it— I think I got lucky. What’s in this new album? What is the message that you wanted to send? Songs just come into my head, into my life, and the ones that
RADAR I’m really digging and really loving are the ones that I record. I never have had a purpose in making an album. Every song is what it is and they are all definitely informed by whatever life I’m living at the time. Consequently, they are very, very diverse; all my albums are really diverse: I have big love songs and in the same album I have a protest song or a country song or whatever. Off of this new record, what is your favorite song or what did you enjoy writing or working on the most? I think “Carry it On” is my favorite and I just hoped and prayed that I could get that one song right in a way that it would convey to audiences kind of what it conveys to me. I mean, you don’t really know where songs come from, it’s not like accounting. It’s like having a dream: you can go to sleep at night and not know if you are going to dream let alone what you are going to dream about.So when a song shows up in your head that you really love, I really wanted to get that one right because it was so inspiring to me, that song. I wanted to record it in a way that it would grab other people too and inspire them and apparently that’s exactly what it’s doing— so I’m really happy! What were the most powerful lyrics that speak to you the most— maybe it’s hard to take one out of the whole song? I think probably the line, let’s see, ‘take care of your link with/ life is beautiful/ if you got the sense to take care of your source of perfection.’ The line that I like is, ‘Mother Nature she’s the daughter of God and the source of/ all protection.’ The whole idea of the lyrics to “Carry it On”. “Power in the Blood” is really about the chaos that we are all facing when we see the age old racketeering game being played on us in contemporary times because this is not new. What’s your fashion on stage? Off stage? The things that I’m wearing on stage and even on the album cover— and if you open up the album there is a picture of me with a green mesh t-shirt that has one of my paintings. I tried to decorate it into a t-shirt like a tattoo t-shirt. The front cover of which is made by an Irish designer named Tim Ryan. He has made some designs for me and so I am interested in that. For I think that when people come to a show and they are going to look at you for an hour or an hour and a half— I mean, you don’t want to be blending in with the amplifier. I want to give them something to look at and I like things like swell and sparkle and spin around when I do it. It’s a lot of fun I mean in the visual side of an artist. So I think it’s just as
fun as the musical side and really expresses the same person. Also I’m part of the design team of the t-shirts that we sell at our shows and I’m just coming up with a whole line of earrings. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, it’s a whole other way to treat feather earrings. What about you and your music do you think has brought you such broad international appeal, both with native cultures here and different aboriginal cultures around the world? I think it’s a combination of things. I think just the most obvious part of it is just being a good song writer because there are a lot of good song writers. When you have been doing it for 50 years, and you have been through a lot of festivals, you are aware that a great song touches people everywhere, all over the world. I think it has to do with the fact that I write about the universal things that anybody can understand. I mean the things that touch me are the things that touch everybody; love and a sensitivity to the delicacy of the environment that we love. I just seem to be touched by universal things that I find in Australia, and Hong Kong, in Wales, and in Toronto and Bellingham— it’s all the same stuff, but as an artist I get to write it down. In your travels all around the world, you go into a lot of different cultures what changes have seen through native and aboriginal cultures through the course of your career? Well that’s a big question. The changes, of course, that I have seen over the 50 years in traveling around in the show business have been huge. I mean, in the first place, in the 50’s and 60’s nobody even ever thought of aboriginal music at all. Nobody did; even in the 70’s I had producers telling me they thought Indian music sounded like screaming so they didn’t even know where to begin, you know? Are there any younger and upcoming native artists who have sort of caught your ear? Derek Miller is a guitar player, handsome guy, great song writer, he played on my album too and he has got a show going across Canada right now called the Red Road Tour. Tanya Tagaq is Inuit. She is from the far north of Canada and she just won the Polaris price last year which was for the best record of the year. In Canada, it’s a major award. She is combining all kinds of music but basing it on Inuit music. It’s very interesting and very accessible but you don’t have to have a PhD to understand it; it’s something that the audience loves.
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RADAR
INDIGENOUS INGÉNUE SPENCER BATTIEST
ABOVE: Battiest’s music video playing on TV in the Hard Rock cafe; BELOW: Battiest played Hard Rock’s Spring Break celebration
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t’s been a pretty busy year for Spencer Battiest. After he signed with Hard Rock International Records, Battiest released his single “Love of my Life”, accompanied by a music video directed by award-winning filmmaker Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw). He spent Spring Break down in Miami performing next to musical icons such as Gloria Estefan. Battiest chatters about his deep connection with gospel since childhood,
Photo courtesy of Spencer Battiest
An award-winning singer whose headlined alongside superstars. Save for his youthful voice and charisma, you’d never guess Spencer Battiest (Seminole/ Choctaw) is just 24.
and his first time on stage. “I first stepped on the stage to sing at the age of 4 at my grandfather’s home-church in Broken Bow, Oklahoma,” admits Battiest. He always knew that being in front of an audience was where he felt most at home. “I’ve always been interested in the stage. It wasn’t until recent years where I’ve become more of an artist and learned that through songwriting I’m able to have a deeper connection with my audience. So for that reason, I take my music very seriously.” With his long list of achievements, it
Check out Spencer Battiest’s Youtube page for more music videos, performances, and more
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RADAR seems Battiest is ready for the global stage (not only write music for ourselves, we also write for that he doesn’t already have a global fanbase). In other artists. So if either of us have an idea, it’s realhis vast career, he’s already performed on ESPN, ly easy to jump into the studio and record a demo.” ESPN 2, HBO, and Showtime. At age 11, SpenObviously, Battiest is still as passionate about cer was already singing solo on large stages and music as ever, but music isn’t the only thing on on television. By 14 years, he branched out into his plate; you can find him acting on stage as well. stage acting and Broadway musicals, performing “I’ve found a great family with Native Voices at in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. He’s opened the Autry. The teachers and writers there strive to for Aerosmith and The Police in London’s Hyde bring native playwrights stories to life.” Once time Park for an audience of over 100,000 back in 2007. permits, Battiest will take acting more serious. In 2011, Battiest wrote, produced and performed Battiest doesn’t care to please anyone. “It will al“The Storm” with his brother “Doc”, in which the ways be a daily struggle to impress anyone, I just music video won Best Music Video of the Year do my best and work on my craft to become the at the American Indibest artist I can be. an Film Festival in San I try and stay true Francisco. to who I am as an Growing up on the artist.” To him, Hollywood Seminole impressing others Indian reservation in is not a priority. southern Florida, Bat“If I wrote or sang tiest keeps his Native or performed and heritage close to heart. moved someone “My tribe and my family in any way, I’ve mean a lot to me, I guess done my job.” you could say I’m a rez Battiest continboy who loves to enterues to work on his -Spencer Battiest tain.” No matter what, highly anticipatBattiest always makes it ed album in L.A., a point to share his Seminole heritage with others combining all the music he’s finished this past year wherever he goes, and he strives to work and pro- (due out this fall), and setting up a new lineup of mote other Native artists, producers and directors shows. The album is a more personal take on his as well. For his music video “ Love of my Life”, he music. “I write a lot about love, because I believe enlisted the help of dear friend and fellow Native the more we show love to each other, the better our actress and musician Shayna Jackson to play a part. world will be.” His love for pop music will shine Battiest has always bounced back and forth from through his material, he says, and is excited for evL.A. to his home in Florida. “Los Angeles has more eryone to hear it. opportunities for someone like me who is trying to Battiest’s main focus right now? “A big show have a career in the industry.” Since moving to L.A. coming up at the end of July in Barcelona, Spain. in 2012, Battiest’s journey only went up. To balance I will be on the same stage with major artists, like the busy lifestyle of living in L.A., Battiest spends Robbie Williams, Juanes and DJ Avicii,” he admits. time with his core group of friends and family, and We’re betting that it won’t be very long until we doing yoga. “I guess you can call me a ‘yogee’.” start to see Battiest on MTV, or some other muWhen he is back at home, Battiest is most likely sic-leading network. with his family, or collaborating with Doc in his recording studio he runs out of his house. “ We not
“My tribe and my family mean a lot to me, I guess you could say I’m a rez boy who loves to entertain.”
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Photo courtesy of JR Redwater
RADAR
RESERVATION SENSATION JR REDWATER Funny man JR Redwater was able to focus his struggles and sarcasm into comedy, earning him a spot among Indian Country’s top comedians
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hat does it mean to be a Native comedian these days? A century ago, Native Americans were presented as stoic, silent statues on display to the public. Now days, Native American comedians are taking over the comedy scene, rolling the bitter struggles of reservation life into laughs, while highlighting issues Natives face on a daily basis. “Reservation Sensation” JR Redwater –of the Lakota, Dakota and Ho-Chunk tribes– has that fearless and raw panache of funny that makes him stand out. Comedy has always provided a platform for Redwater, who had a knack for being funny ever since the second grade. “I remember kids telling me I was funny, and I should become a comedian,” he recalls. “I used to check out joke books from the library and carry them and tell them at any time there was an opportunity for me to be funny.” This was when Redwater also learned being funny was more than just telling a joke; he needed to practice how to tell a joke physically. When a friend tried the same jokes he was using, Redwater noticed she couldn’t physically execute it. “I had to tell the folks not to hurl tomatoes at my friend. who made a mistake and thought she was funny.”
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Redwater joined the Navy at the beginning of 1995, then relocated to Los Angeles from South Dakota after his divorce for a fresh start. Redwater admitted he was an alcoholic with three DUI’s. A “complete and utter failure, and nowhere else to go,” Redwater did his first open mic performance in February 2001. He decided to go pro on January 6, 2004. He filmed his first one-hour comedy special, Full Blooded Hilarious, for FNX. He appeared on Showtime’s “Native American Comedy Jam” back in 2009 alongside other leading Native comedians such as Larry Omaha. Redwater dabbled in acting, playing a part in Search for the World’s Best Indian Taco, directed by Steven Paul Judd. Redwater uses his story to inspire others to make the right decisions. “I share that testimony with others so they don’t have to make the same mistakes I’ve made, but take from my story and build their vision that they will share with the masses.” Redwater is humbled at how far he’s come on his journey, and emphasizes the fact that he’s just getting started. “I feel like I owe my fans something really big, and I’m working on that right now. Remember your too can leave the rez!”
Check out JR’s upcoming shows and schedule at reservationsensation.com
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FASHION ISSUE LAUNCHING OCTOBER
DESIGNS BY AMASTE WIN
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PHOTO BY TARA ROSE WESTON