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elcome to the beautiful homelands of the Oglala Lakota Oyate (People). We are a nation rich with tradition, culture, art and majestic landscapes. While visiting the reservation, be sure to stop by the Pine Ridge Visitor Center located just west of Kyle, SD. Enjoy the wildlife exhibit, browse the art displays, and discover traditional and contemporary works of art created by Lakota Artists. Relax in our comfortable audio/video seating area while enjoying informative videos about our local Lakota Artists, as well as, the Lakota way of life. We have all the information here to help make your trip to the reservation an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce 7900 Lakota Prairie Drive Kyle, SD 57752 605.455.2685
www.pineridgechamber.com
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CONTENTS
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32 FEATURES 22 IN HER WORDS: KELLY HOLMES
STYLE THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
09 16 17 19 20
NATIVE FASHION: NEW YORK + COLORADO THE MOMENT: HANBLECHIA DESIGNS MODEL MOMENT: NIKITA KAHPEAYSEWAT HOW TO HAVE A BETTER 2016 NFITC 2016 RECAP
CULTURE 30 A CHAT WITH THE NATIVE TOOTH FAIRY
ENTERTAINMENT
32 JEFFREY, THE SUPERHERO: JEFFREY VEREGGE
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GREAT REASONS TO GET THE NATIVE MAX MOBILE APP Now you can enjoy Native Max whenever & wherever you want on your favorite mobile device! Get Native Max on-the-go & enjoy the benefits: • Read the magazine in a highquality, clear display for easier reading • Connect with us on all of our social media straight from the app • Get instant access to any of our issues • Interactive content with live links, galleries, videos & more • Enjoy shopping from select pages* *coming soon!
AVAILABLE ON THESE DEVICES: JUNE/JULY 2016 NATIVEMAX.COM
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AND. L E H T O ST. T E K W C H A T B U T O GE THE S O T K C A GET B pired Sou thwes tern-ins tail s cuisine and cock ch | Dinner Break fas t | L un ay s per week Happ y Hour 7 d t P ark ing le Complimen tary Va r Boulevard te s in tm s e W 0 0 6 0 1 rado 80020 lo o C r, te s in tm s e W s tin A djacen t to the We 6
ill.com r g a in h c a k | 3 1 303 410 58
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@KachinaGrill :: /KachinaSouthwesternGrill
EDITOR’S WELCOME
Welcome to our Anniversary issue 2016. To be honest, it’s really hard to pin down the number of years we existed; Native Max came to be back in 2007, but started as a business in 2012. But that’s okay, as we’re excited to add another year onto our calendar. For this issue, I decided to get personal with our readers, sharing some our biggest milestones to date from the very start to now, all from my point of view. I share with you some of the most exciting things we’ve ever done, like our trip to England last November. I also mention some of our struggles we’ve had over the years. Nonetheless, as you’ll see we certainly realized that all of our hardwork from the very beginning is starting to pay off. You’ll learn about some of upcoming projects and launches that we are all excited about! We’ve been hard at work since the beginning of 2016 and can’t wait to unveil our new stuff later on this year!
MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelly Holmes editor@nativemax.com MANAGING PARTNER/CO-EDITOR Johnnie Morris johnniemorris@nativemax.com GENERAL MANAGER Veronica Lane PR/SECRETARY/MARKETING Paula Crawford paula.crawford@nativemax.com VIDEO PRODUCTION Joey Little Bird nativemaxtv@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR E’cho Martin ehmartin24@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Jacqueline Brixey DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Zoe Friday zoe.friday@nativemax.com
Enjoy the issue!
CONTRIBUTORS Noel Altaha Daryl Begaye Everett Baxter Anthony Burris Crystal Szczepanski Sooner Davenport
Kelly Holmes / Editor-in-Chief INSTAGRAM
@kelzholmez
SALES MANAGER Paula Crawford paula.crawford@nativemax.com FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Office: (720) 334-7727 Email: info@nativemax.com
NATIVE MAX ON-THE-GO
PUBLISHED BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC Headquartered in Denver, Colorado P: (888)975-3775 E: info@nativemax.com
Now, you can take Native Max on-the-go with you anywhere! From our back issues to the latest copy, it’s all available on your favorite mobile device! Available on the App Store, Google Play and Amazon App Store.
www.nativemax.com
/nativemax
@nativemax
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 2015, 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 TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OMISSIONS OR ERRORS. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH AND EDIT ANY CONTENT SUBMITTED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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STYLE
WHAT’S INSIDE: NATIVE FASHION: NY + CO / THE MOMENT: HANBLECHIA DESIGNS / MODEL MOMENT: NIKITA KAHPEAYSEWAT / HOW TO HAVE A BETTER 2016
NATIVE FASHION IN INDIAN COUNTRY Native Fashion can be found in all corners of Indian Country. We head to the Akwesasne Mohawk nation and Colorado to highlight Native Fashion JUNE/JULY 2016 NATIVEMAX.COM
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STYLE
NATIVE FASHION: NEW YORK
N ATIV E FAS HIO N : NE W YORK We showcase Native Fashion from the Akwesasne Mohawk nation in New York, where the photographer, models, stylists and designers are from.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Laurie Gardner MAKEUP: Kirsten Thompson HAIR: Tisha Thompson
MODEL: Zaagaate Jock SKIRT, CUFFS, HAIR TIE: Niio Perkins
TOP, SKIRT, EARRINGS, RING: Niio Perkins MODEL: Babes Thompson
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DRESS: Sandra Jackson MODEL: Wahsontiio Connors
STYLE
NATIVE FASHION: NEW YORK
TOP: Sandra Jackson MODEL: Babes Thompson
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STYLE
NATIVE FASHION: NEW YORK
EARRINGS, BREAST PLATE, LEGGINGS: Niio Perkins MODEL: Babes Thompson
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NATIVE FASHION: COLORADO
N ATIV E FAS HIO N : C OLORA D O Native Fashion in southern Colorado: ACONAV in the red rocks and AL Couture’s moving and extraordinary piece at Native Fashion in the City 2016: Colorado Springs
Right before the CO Springs show, Native Max photographer Zoe Friday snapped a shot of our youngest model wearing one of our favorite pieces of April Ledford’s (Lumbee) line AL Couture: the Lady of the Pines.
Read more about AL Couture’s Lady of the Pines piece online at nativemax. com
On the day after the CO Springs event, the Native Max team decided to do a photoshoot and trekked the Garden of the Gods park with designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo) and his brand ACONAV.
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STYLE THE MOMENT
HANBLECHIA DESIGNS Be ready for spring showers with the brand of the moment: Hanblechia Designs
Morning Star Luxury Umbrella, $45; hanblechiadesigns.com
Mysteries to the Stars scarf, $16; hanblechiadesigns. com
Deeds Well Done scarf, $16; hanblechiadesigns.com
The Storm Luxury Umbrella, $45; hanblechiadesigns. com
ABOUT THE BRAND: Hanblechia Designs is a reflection of traditional ancestral art combined with a contemporary modern twist, with designs on everyday items like scarves and umbrellas. Every design has a story or legend (handed down through generations) attached to it. ‘Hanblechia’ means ‘to seek a vision’ in the Lakota language. Artist Melvin War Eagle (Oglala Lakota) chose this name because his designs come from his mind, and are visions that are given to him. Read more about Hanblechia Designs and Melvin War Eagle online at www.nativemax.com!
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STYLE
Photos by Serena Liu
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MODEL MOMENT
NIKITA KAHPEAYSEWAT For Nikita, this is her moment to share her journey, from overcoming low self-confidence to her experience traveling the world doing what she loves
ikita Kahpeaysewat is certainly a model citizen. A Plains Cree 20-year-old from Moosomin First Nation, Kahpeaysewat is an athletic, singing model and public speaker who occasionally makes YouTube videos. For a girl so poised, it’d be hard to believe it wasn’t always this way. Overcoming low self-confidence and being bullied, Kahpeaysewat found her voice and is using it to spread empowerment across Indian Country. NATIVE MAX: What inspired you to compete in Miss Saskatchewan World 2012? Nikita Kahpeaysewat: It was really my mom who inspired me. When first asked I didn’t have self-confidence or self-esteem to compete. My mom told me to try out something new because she never had the opportunity to do that. I placed the third runner-up and qualified to compete in Miss Teen Canada World 2012. What did you learn by competing in your first pageant? NK: It taught me how to be confident. They had a lot of workshops, like how to properly smile, feel confident in my skin and how to stand for something. For the pageant, we all had to have a platform, and mine was about bullying. Bringing awareness because I was bullied. It brought me out of my shell and gave me that confident boost to compete. Wow. Were you bullied before? NK: All throughout elementary through high school, I never really fitted in with the crowd. I stood out too much. I was different and growing up on the reserve it was because I was the chief ’s daughter. Dad was chief for 8 years. Kids must’ve thought I was rich. That’s really the only reason I can think of. What was it like competing in your second pageant, Miss Teen Canada World 2012? NK: I was in the top 20 out of 63 girls, and there were only two other First Nations girls. I was definitely a lot more confident in this pageant. Before I was just developing who I wanted to be. It really encouraged me to try new things; it helped me find my voice. It was overall a great experience and I moved forward with my careers. How often do you model? Has your modeling evolved or grown since you first started? NK: Right now in Calgary, I’m looking for a new agency. It’s not a steady career I guess. The past year I modeled in Melbourne, Australia. That was huge for my career. In the past two years, it has rapidly developed more than in the last five years. It made it more frequent for me to model. More comfortable. What was it like modeling in Australia? JUNE/JULY 2016 NATIVEMAX.COM
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STYLE NK: It a was short trip. It was only four days and in that four days it was practicing, modeling then going to sleep and doing it all over again. The trip changed my perspective of how I see the world. There, they talk differently. They have their own slang. It was mind blowing going over there. What made you interested in the military? NK: I went to Bold Eagle Military Base for aboriginal students. It’s a summer program. You take basic military qualifications. I tried out just because I’m open to trying new things. And why did you decide to join the Canadian Armed Forces? NK: I like to try new things, and also my sister Nicole (who was the first Aboriginal woman to graduate Royal Military College of Canada) and brother inspired me. They have experience and they inspired me. If it doesn’t work out it was a good experience. I’m no longer in the Canadian Armed Forces. You’ve been athletic your whole life. What are your main sports? NK: I’m not on a team right now but I’m pretty athletic. I really like soccer, basketball but my main sport was hockey. And you’re into music as well. NK: It’s a working progress once I’m in school. I love singing. I post my music on my YouTube and want to post more music later this year. Are you going to school also? NK: I’m going to Mount Royal University this fall. I am getting my Bachelors of Science in Environmental Sciences. I’ll be in university for the next 5 years. What a hectic schedule! How do you balance everything? NK: I’m the type of person where I love to have a busy schedule. I’m not the type of person that has nothing to do. I’m used to it. The military helped me be more time efficient and self-disciplined. I always like to keep myself busy. You’re also a traditional dancer. Do you hit the powwow trails during this time of year? What powwows are you planning on going to? NK: Oh yeah, every summer. I try to go out as much as I can. Onion Lake, maybe. I want to go to a couple in California. I just go with the flow and plan from there. Are you dabbling a little bit into beauty vlogging? What other topics are you planning on covering with your YouTube channel? NK: Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to keep up with my YouTube videos. I’m looking into buying more equipment so I can make better quality videos. I want to improve myself. As a public speaker, what sort of topics do you discuss at your gigs? NK: I just got back from Cold Lake where I was a keynote speaker at a woman’s traditional conference. I spoke about my platform, my journey and my message for my community: we should be encouraging all of our young First Nations women. My mom encouraged me and look what that has done for me. Get out there and try new things. Do you have any big projects or events coming up? NK: The Indigenous Fashion Runway Project here in Canada this September. It’s the same thing I modeled in from Melbourne. We can show them the First Nations culture. Some of the people I met never been to North America before. I’m really excited for it. We’ll give them that welcoming experience. This is your moment: up until now, what has your journey been like being a young aboriginal woman? How have you overcome your struggles? NK: Empowering other women. It’s not just about getting onto billboards. It’s about getting exposure. Exposure gives you power, and power gives you a voice. I use my voice to inspire other aboriginal women. This is what I did. Try new things, because you won’t ever know what doors it’ll open. You never know unless you try. That’s what modeling means to me. It means more opportunities and empowering other women. It took me across the world twice. So remain positive and have faith in yourself. That’s what keeps me going. What do you want young girls reading this to take away and apply to themselves? NK: I want them to be open-minded, and to try new things. I want them to expand themselves and really get out there and be comfortable.
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WELLNESS
HOW TO HAVE A BETTER 2016 Psychic Dr. Joy Gray (Navajo) shares ways on how to have the best year of your life
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What is 2016 about?” After long consideration, here is my answer: 2016 is a time of spiritual movement that becomes manifest. In 2015, I noticed a lot of movement within the spirit realm. Individuals and groups may have experienced upheaval and transplanting, so to speak. It was a time of shifting from the old and into the new. There were a lot of individuals who experienced a sense of ‘’waking up” within their spirit. Many individuals have come to me with a sense of spiritual gifts that are awakening within their being. Many individuals and groups were looking for answers and training on how to works with these gifts. From a certain school of thought, we have four bodies of existence. The physical body, the emotional body, the mental body and the spiritual body. This is most aptly depicted in Leonard Davinci’s Vitruvian Man. The image of the man depicts the physical body, followed by the multiple arms and legs which depicts the dynamic motion of the emotional body. The square encompassing these represent the nature of the mental body. Finally, the circle which surrounds all of these represents the spiritual body. Energy and experience follow through each of these bodies, influencing each body as it moves through; hence, when there is movement within the spiritual realm, it will affect the spiritual body. Next it will move through the mental body, emotional body and finally expresses itself within the physical body and within the physical realm. With this thought process in mind, there was a lot of movement
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and shifting in the spiritual realm in 2015. Some individuals may have already experienced this spiritual movement becoming manifest into the physical realm by the end of 2015. However, many of us are still moving through this shifting, which is why 2016 is a time of spiritual movement become manifest. Hold on. Or rather… let go! Allow the shift of the spirit to move through your four bodies. This is a time of releasing the old ways of thinking and healing the past emotions. For what reason? So that we can become more aware of the state of our existence here and now, without the remanence from the past. Personally, my religion is the same religion as the tree. I see the world from a very different perspective and I honor how the divine reveals itself to each authentic individual here on earth. I respect the various spiritual and religious paths of each individual; hence, when I say that there is a spiritual shift, it could mean that an individual’s spirited nature is now looking for something new. It also could mean that an individual experienced a sense of ‘calling’. I honor the authentic nature within each individual, and I honor the collective harmony of all of us together. In such, let go and allow spirit to come manifest within your life for the rest of 2016.” ---Dr. Joy AKA Granddaughter Crow
Dr. Joy Gray is a Navajo public speaker and medicine woman who offers wisdom, guidance and teachings. More info at www. granddaughtercrow.com
COMING SOON
SUMMER 2016 ALL NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE ISSUES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON NATIVE MAX SHOP! BOOKMARK NATIVEMAX.COM/ SHOP RIGHT NOW! COLLECT THEM ALL!
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
NATIVE FASHION IN THE CITY #3: ONE FOR THE BOOKS You read that right --we hosted the 3rd annual Native Fashion in the City in March, twice! Part 1 was downtown Denver, CO at the prestigious History Colorado Museum, and part 2 was the weekend after in Colorado Springs, CO. At NFITC: Denver, the day kicked off with a bazaar of booths where participants were able to check out both Native American and non-Native local businesses. The event was even televised by Colorado Public Television and FNX: First Nations Experience. Before the show kicked off, all seats in the space were sold out! We wrapped up the show with an awesome afterparty which included snacks, drinks and an awesome tour of the museum’s 4th floor balcony. On location at Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, NFITC: Colorado Springs featured a smaller lineup of designers, with AL Couture and ACONAV returning from the Denver show. We certainly can’t wait to plan next year’s show, which will be bigger and better! Check out more photos from NFITC 2016 online at nativefashioninthecity.com and NFITC’s Facebook
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COVER STORY
In Her Words SHE’S THE GIRL WHO SET OUT TO FILL A VOID WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 16. SHE’S THE ONE WHO FOUNDED NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE FROM SCRATCH WITH NO ONE BEHIND HER. DESPITE THE STRUGGLES THAT COME WITH THE BUSINESS, SHE STILL STANDS STRONG. NATIVE MAX FOUNDER KELLY HOLMES COMES TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE AND SHARES HER JOURNEY OF NATIVE MAX, FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR THE BRAND.
PHOTOGRAPHY Zoe Friday MAKEUP Johnnie Jae HAIR Tiffany Lebaron DESIGNS + JEWELRY ACONAV
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he most requested question I’m always asked is what inspired me to create Native Max or Native Max Magazine. I totally understand the curiosity, as what I’ve done hasn’t been done before. For the sake of time, I usually answer in a brief sentence or explanation. But in all honesty, the real answer is way too long. A lot of things I’ve gone through in my life, from racism and culture shock to low self-confidence, all culminated into this grand idea: to showcase Native talents and stories in a positive light. In listening to my story, I know lessons can be taken from what I talk about along with bits of inspiration. To celebrate our 4th anniversary, we wanted to share a few major milestones we’ve been through. The up’s and down’s, the different projects and ventures we’ve launched over the years. I also want to show something a little different; something a little more personal. It was brought to my attention that I’m not as vocal as I should be about my journey with Native Max. The way I humbly stand behind my company didn’t exactly make my name synonymous with the brand that I’ve created. So I decided that maybe it’d be a little more interesting if I wrote about our 5-year journey from my own point of view; from the very beginning when it was just a teenage thought up to what we’re doing now, and even a little sneak peek into the next few years.
Sometime in late 2007 - Denver, CO
Believe it or not, I had terribly low self-esteem. No matter where I went, I stood out like a fly in a bowl of milk. At 16 years old, I stood about 5’8” and didn’t even weigh 100 lbs. yet. I was a light-skinned Native introvert with glasses. None of that helped me when my family moved from South Dakota to the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. For the first time in my life, I noticed how different I was from everyone else. At my new high school, I faced racism, discrimination, and stereotypes. Adjusting from small town life to the big city was not easy. I didn’t see myself as beautiful until I modeled in my first photoshoot. When I saw my photos I about fainted. I saw myself, as someone else. It opened up my eyes as I really saw myself for the first time. As I became more involved in modeling I looked to build up my portfolio and experience. Besides the rejections I faced, I also noticed a lack of opportunities
THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
for Native youth to explore their talents in regards to multimedia production and design. At that moment was when all of my struggles culminated into a simple idea: a magazine; something similar to Vogue but featuring indigenous people. Unfortunately, since I was only 16 years old I decided to put my idea on the backburner and focus on working my way up in the fashion, publishing and multimedia industries.
2012
In the early months of 2012, I made the decision to officially start Native Max. I refined my business plan and created a one-page website that had more information about Native Max. I drafted mock pages and illustrations of what the magazine would look like. I designed the NM logo and created the color palette that would surround the brand. I reached out to as many people as I could about helping me out and maybe even joining the team. I honestly anticipated so many responses that I wouldn’t be able to keep up. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to go through my inbox the next few days. Not a single positive response. The only feedback I received was negative: what a bad idea, waste of time, etc... Reading and hearing some of these responses began to discourage me, but remembering how I was treated when I tried breaking into the industry inspired me again. Despite what I heard I moved ahead with my grand idea. In July, I eventually found a team, and together we released the Preview Issue, which was a preview of what would be in our Premiere Issue with Mariah Watchman (Umatilla) on the cover. The response we received when we launched our first issue was amazing! I thought to myself, “This is only the first issue! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this upcoming year!” In September, we officially launched the first full
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issue of Native Max Magazine, the Fall Issue. The reactions to the release were even bigger than the Preview Issue. We were featured in some of the biggest media outlets at the time, dubbed the trailblazers of Native American media. The world noticed that we were featuring and focusing on topics not covered by any other media outlets¬–mainstream or Native American– anywhere. I didn’t expect this kind of response so soon. Right after the magazine opened up for sales, we had many inquiries about future issues.
2013
One year later we published our first anniversary issue, with none other than Mariah Watchman on the cover for the third time. Our first full year out in the open was interesting; lots of ups and downs. They were certainly trying times.
2014
In March we successfully hosted the first annual Native Fashion in the City event during Denver March Powwow and the annual NDN Biz Expo. I always wanted to host a Native fashion event where the focus was on the Native designers, models, stylists and photographers. The event was a hit and the demand for a second one came right after it ended.
2015
We hosted the 2nd annual Native Fashion in the City event. This time around, we narrowed down the show and focused on making the basis of the show more parallel with a fashion week. We invited store buyers, magazine editors, bloggers and other leaders of the local Denver fashion and art communities. The audience was amazed at what Native American fashion is and from then on we established partnerships magazines and businesses all across Denver. In August we launched our second mobile app which would house some of our issues. This was a major milestone for us as we wanted to connect more with our audience, in which a majority of them happen to use mobile devices all the time. One month later we launched Native Max Showroom, the e-commerce arm of the Native Max brand as a sort of experiment to test out a larger full-fledged online shop selling Native American-made apparel, jewelry, home goods, body care and more. I collected a small inventory of products and launched the shop. We made so many sales that we eventually ran out of inventory and had to close down the shop. We realized the potential of having an online shop that focused more on the designers and artists. We certainly want to open Native Max Showroom again as an online shop, and eventually a flagship shop. In the beginning of November, I had my first actual major speaking gig in San Diego at San Diego State University. Of course, I was nervous and scared, but I just sort of reflected on all of the milestones of
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my life. Constantly reminding myself of how far I’ve come really helped me push through my fear of public speaking. In a way, I’m used to telling my story to tens and hundreds of people, but I guess the fact that I was going to share my story on stage in front of hundreds of kids is what made me nervous. I know today’s youth are engaged by people who have substance and personality which captures their attention. I assumed I would be boring. But during my speech I became a little more open; I even had the crowd laughing with me. Everyone looked in tuned with what I was talking about. At the end of the presentation, we opened up the floor for questions and I had about 50 hands shoot up at once. After everything, I took photos with the students, teachers, anyone that came to the talk. There were young students who came up to me and congratulated me, and some that even shared their personal stories of overcoming culture shock, poor self-esteem, and their own fears. There were young students who came up to me and congratulated me, and some that even shared their personal stories of overcoming culture shock, poor self esteem and their own fears. The response I received after my talk confirmed people did actually listen to me, and that what I said impacted them. To me, that was a humbling experience. A few weeks later the Assistant Manager of Global Operations Sooner Davenport (Choctaw, Kiowa, Navajo), my assistant Kaitlin Blaylock (Cherokee) and myself traveled to Manchester, England. Native Max was selected as one of five businesses to join the first trade mission of Natives Go Global, which is the first-of-its-kind program created by the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce of Denver, CO that aims to assist American Indian businesses, professionals, and tribes in reaching the global market. Participants travel to cities across the world and make global business connections. It was certainly a historical event, and to say I was one of the few Lakota women on the trip and also the youngest business owner to be a part of this was amazing. The connections we made in England are surely priceless, and wouldn’t have happened without this opportunity. A lot of great things are going to come out of our England partnerships and we can’t wait to show everyone as the year goes by.
2016
We hosted a very successful 3rd annual Native Fashion in the City inside the prestigious History Colorado museum. The museum worked with us so well to create a memorable event. This year the audience more than doubled the first and second events, which made for a packed house. The show was also extensively covered by local and national media outlets through television and journalism. What made this event stand out was the proposed idea of hosting NFITC in other parts of the country. We are now
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“ Throughout the past few years, it seemed like we worked so hard with little to no return. I feel it’s those moments that really test you and your team. “ open to the possibility of hosting events in different cities or towns across the country; therefore we’ve established Native Max Events under the Native Max umbrella. I invited our backstage coordinator Veronica Lane (Navajo) to join our team as Events Manager. In April, we were offered an opportunity of showcasing a Native Max TV show on FNX: First Nations Experience. Coincidentally the team and I were interested in expanding into TV and film production. I brought on board our newest team member Joey Little Bird (Northern Cheyenne), a young and already successful filmmaker, as executive producer of our newly formed Native Max TV network. We’re currently working on our first internationally-broadcasted TV show, “Native Max TV”. “Native Max TV” is a video magazine which features stories, investigative pieces, profiles, current events, event coverage and more, from across Indian Country. What makes “Native Max TV” different from other Native American-produced shows is the wide range of topics we want to cover that aren’t really featured on television: style, art, music, pop culture, stories of Native youth, etc... At Native Max TV, we are highly invested in supporting Native talent wherever and whenever we can.
The Near Future
We have an amazing lineup of projects coming up the rest of the 2016 year. This July we debut “Native Max TV” to 22 million households across the U.S. and Canada via FNX: First Nations Experience. Alongside our TV show, we’ll soon be launching our YouTube network of smaller shows and video content. In early Fall we’re launching our first makeup line in which we are partnering with a Native American manufacturer, and a small clothing and accessories line just in time for back to school. Towards the end of the year, we’re planning on globetrotting again, this time to Australia and a return to England on the list.
Going Global
Of course, we went on our first international trip, which was amazing! I was nervous about going as I wasn’t sure how people of England would take to us or our businesses. But we were welcomed with warmth! We didn’t feel any racism, discrimination or judgment from anyone. From our trip, we established a close partnership with the Manchester/London Fashion Network, and the city of Salford. It was
interesting to see how Manchester, UK is a hotbed of cultures and interests. Another issue we noticed is obviously cultural appropriation. When we walked around the malls and shops in the city we saw feathers, beads and tribal prints everywhere. But when we spoke to industry leaders, they admitted to changing the way they shop and style Native American-inspired clothing and accessories. They were willing to learn and find appropriate Native American-made designs and accessories. That was certainly a different response from what we’re used to in America. We saw that it’d be easier for us fit into Manchester than anywhere else. When we arrived in England we met with our already-made connections and over the course of our visit discussed and established partnerships with businesses in the art, music, fashion, culture, and travel industries. The Native Max team and I are surely working on bringing the projects from these partnerships to fruition and can’t wait for everyone to see!
What I’ve Learned So Far
In the amount of time we’ve been in business, it’s been a crazy rollercoaster ride! Throughout the past few years, it seemed like we worked so hard with little to no return. I feel it’s those moments that really test you and your team. But now I actually see the rewards coming to life. Everything that we’ve worked on for the past few years is starting to really pay off. I’ve learned that things will almost never go as planned; either good or bad. Our plans have both exceeded all of our expectations which sent us into a frenzy and then we’ve had plans that didn’t go as expected which hampered our spirits. Sometimes it feels like there’s never in-between, but it’s something that my team and I have become accustomed too. I learned that you have to be both, assertive and stubborn, yet flexible and forgiving.
Our Ultimate Destination
Our next big step is focusing on pushing Native Max out in the different platforms we feature: the magazine, our website, our social media platforms, etc. We also want to review different ventures we’ve been slowly working on the past few years for possible future launches. It’s all about finding new ways and avenues to feature Native talent all the while expanding our company, our team and our reach.
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CULTURE
A CHAT WITH:
the native tooth fairy
K
ristina Lynn Hyatt, a Native from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, knows just how important a smile is. Working professionally as a dental hygienist, she says that a person’s smile is the first thing she notices, and she knows firsthand the importance of daily brushing and flossing. When Kristina –or Kristie as she is known to her friends and family– was crowned the winner of the competition at the 4th Annual ceremony in August 2015, she says she was truly shocked. For one thing, it was the last year that she could have competed, at 26 she scooted into the competition just before the 27 age cutoff. For another, she describes herself as shy, so it was an accomplishment to compete at all. “It was surreal. I just went there thinking to do my best.” Hyatt is a winner with a very clear mission in her role as Miss Native America. Hailing from Cherokee, North Carolina, she currently works as a dental hygienist at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Children’s Dental Program, a community program that benefits her tribe the Eastern Band of Cherokee in Cherokee, North Carolina. Her goal is to better educate the Native American community about oral health and oral care. Before becoming a dental hygienist, she studied Business Management at the University of North Carolina - Asheville. She later earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science - dental hygiene from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. She made the switch from business to dental hygiene after hearing a story about a young Native American boy. The boy suffered from an abscess of the tooth, a painful infection of the tooth and gum that is typically treated by removing the tooth, an estimated $80 procedure. Unfortunately, the boy did not seek treatment and ultimately died. “It was completely preventable,” said Hyatt, “It broke my heart.” The facts are staggering. For example, by the time a Native American child reaches 3rd grade, they are 95% more likely to have tooth decay than their peers. Natives are more likely than other racial groups to maintain poor oral health through daily brushing and flossing, and Natives are also more likely to have less access to dental care. Hyatt aims to make this “back burner issue” move to the forefront through her outreach efforts.
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Photo: Roshan Spottsville
LINA BRIXEY CHATS WITH KRISTINA LYNN HYATT ABOUT HER GOALS AS REIGNING MISS NATIVE AMERICAN, USA
One of the primary tasks as a Miss Native America titleholders is to serve the community. Hyatt already has a long track record for positively contributing to her community. She previously hosted a wildly successful America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive. The Smile Drive is part National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, and collects cash and dental product products to give to low income children. Hyatt said she did not expect a strong turnout, and was beyond shocked when she had enough dental products to donate to not only her tribe, but also four other tribes. She said she collected the most products of all the Smile Drives in the US that year. A former Miss Cherokee titleholder, she currently mentors other participants in the competition. As self-described shy girl, she hopes to inspire the young women to excel and reach for challenging goals, “If I was still able to get up on that stage and compete, anybody can overcome that.” Hyatt said her family is the source of her motivation to compete and have a positive outlook. She explained that her father is one of her biggest inspirations. “He is currently dealing with tough health issues but he is still very active in church. That really encourages me to be out there helping others while I’m in good health.” Her other role model is her cousin Shelby, who was in attendance when Hyatt was crowned Miss Native America. “Even though she’s a little kid she has a really big heart. She is one of my big inspirations. She makes me want to be a better person because I know I’m a role model to her.” To spread her message, Hyatt is going on a USA tour. Her first stop in South Dakota was a rousing success. Her later tour stops this year will be announced on the MNUSA website.
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JEFFREY, THE SUPERHERO Artist and graphic designer Jeffrey Veregge is on the frontlines of bringing Native American culture to the comic world.
J
effrey Verregge is certainly superhero in his own right. He serves as the main cover artist and consultant for Marvel’s latest reboot comic series Red Wolf, where he gives an authentic Native voice to the character Red Wolf. Lina Brixey: “Please tell us about your background in art.” Jeffrey Veregge: “I have always loved drawing and creating. I went to the Art Institute of Seattle and was an Honor Graduate with my AA in Industrial Design Technology in 2000. A year later I was studying with Tsimshian master carver David Boxley learning the basics of formline design. The art you see today that I am best known for has a result of my education, career as a graphic designer, my passion for comic books and love for art history.” LB: “What inspires you?” JV: “My wife, my children, my family. A good movie, or TV Show. A good book or comic, nature, and basically great art and design. It’s really hard to nail one thing down as it is all pretty intuitive and more based on a feeling that I am experiencing at that moment.” LB: “Which comics did you like as a child?” JV: “Star Wars, G.I. Joe, ROM, Iron Man, Uncle Scrooge and Superboy. I also read Archie from time to time. Once I hit my teens, it was strictly X-Men and Batman for me though.” LB: “Would you say that your heritage is reflected in your
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work?” JV: “I would say of course it is. I am very intentional in adding Salish elements and design cues to my work. But I will be the first to say it: neither is not true Coast Salish art nor is it true Alaskan-native style art as it is more influenced than anything else. It is a balancing act of style and content, as it is my desire for people to see both the characters I love and the heritage I am proud of.” LB: “In what ways do you feel connected with your Native ancestry?” JV: “Mostly through food and stories. I love that my family has cooked our clams the same way as it had always been. That some of the recipes my mom and now my wife cook is the same as my grandma’s and her sister’s. And the stories; oh am I a sucker for a good yarn about my family members and their misdeeds of the days long gone.” LB: “What is your favorite piece that you have designed?” JV: “It is a tie for me really. My Red Wolf #1 cover as it was my first important piece I got to do for Marvel, fulfilling a lifelong dream. The other was an exclusive Star Trek cover I did for IDW and Paul Allen’s EMP. Star Trek has been such a huge part of my life. I mean I wore Vulcan ears to Junior High as a young teen. Both of these were highly emotional endeavors that I will never forget. LB: “Please explain your major role with the Red Wolf comic.” JV: “I’m the main cover artist and consultant. As the consultant it is my role to read the scripts, and help the very talented interior artist Dalibor Talajić with locating any photographs of reservation or Native life that will help him with the story. I’m there to help provide an authentic Native voice to the character. LB: “How did you come to be involved in the Red Wolf comic?” JV: “I started reporting to Marvel’s talent liaison for nearly a year before I got the call for Red Wolf. A year before when I was working on IDW’s G.I. Joe: The Fall of G.I. Joe, I got the Facebook message that most artists only dream of. I got a direct message from none other than Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada. He told
Jeffrey Veregge: Courtesy of Marvel
ENTERTAINMENT
Red Wolf: Courtesy of Marvel
me he liked my work and to contact their Talent Liaison. It was a surreal moment that resulted in me having to leave my desk for an hour at my old job just to calm down. The coolest part is this happened on my wife’s birthday; the toughest part was not being able to share the news with anyone else.” LB: “What did you think when you heard it was a potential project at Marvel?” JV: “I was excited of course. I felt like this would be the perfect opportunity to make my Marvel debut as an artist. I also loved the idea that Marvel wanted to have a Native voice behind the book and was willing to give me the chance to help provide that.” LB: “What is it like being part of the creative team behind Red Wolf?” JV: “The first group call was awesome! Here I am calling in with people who have written, edited and worked on comic titles I love and read, so it was real hard not to geek out. But once I calmed down, I found it exhilarating to be adding my ideas to the Marvel lore.” LB: “How would you describe the character Red Wolf? JV: “Other than being Native [laughs], I would describe him as a man who knows the meaning and need for justice. That there is a difference between right and wrong, but sometimes you need to bend the rules to get things done. He is extremely intelligent and capable of holding his own without the use of powers in the Marvel universe.” LB: “What do you like about Red Wolf?” JV: “I love what he represents. As a Native professional I love that he shows what we as a people can bring to the world; that while we have different cultures than the ones we work within we, like Red Wolf, can show the globe that we cannot only succeed in this environment but thrive in it as well.” LB: “How would you say that the new Red Wolf is different from the previous one?” JV: “The first run was originally way back in the late 60’s. Red Wolf could talk to animals and he wore a costume that was inspired by old Native warriors. The new one: he is a man out of time, displaced into a different world and time, trying to figure out what happened to him while still trying to do the right thing as a man of the law.” LB: “What would you say to people who think the comic portrays stereotyped images of Native Americans? What is done so that the character is authentic in its portrayal of Native Americans and not a caricature?” JV: “I think that for whatever reason they see this as a stereotype is based off of their own personal experience. Being a Native man of S’Klallam, Suquamish and Duwamish ancestry, I myself don’t see stereotypes but parts of our culture that have never truly faded away. I think any time you do a book with a strong ethnic tone, you walk a fine line of what some may see as stereotypes and what others may see as necessary elements of the culture being presented. Every effort has been taken by this creative team to make sure we honored the Native people and our heritage.” LB: “Not to give away the story line, but what do you imagine will be the future of Red Wolf?” JV: “A great question. For me personally I would like to see him tangle with some of today’s rogues, borrowing from Daredevil, Punisher and Hawkeye. Maybe team up with some agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” LB: “How was Red Wolf’s debut? What was the reception of the two issues that have been published?” JV: “It’s been great. Every Native I have encountered at conventions and signings have been so wonderful. Seeing the looks on children’s faces, especially on my rez and others has been priceless.
Them knowing I work for Marvel and am working on a Native superhero comic has been the icing on the cake, as they make me feel like I’m the superhero.” LB: “I hear that you and your son are working on a comic together. Is this true?” JV: “We are. It is one of three that I am developing. This one is special for two reasons. The first being that I am working with my oldest son Morgan, who is in his second year of art school. The second being that my friend Brett Dalton (Grant Ward) of Marvel’s agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fame will be helping with it as well. I created a character specifically for him and he will be writing that character’s dialogue.” LB: “Do you have a message for those who are interested in designing or comic books?” JV: “It isn’t an easy road being an artist or designer. It takes lots of time and dedication. Life is too short to not try. We come from a rich culture that has much to share with the world; go out and let the people see the best that we have to offer as Native Americans.” LB: “Are you Team Captain America or Team Ironman?” JV: “As much as I love Tony Stark, I’m Team Cap.”
Order your own copy of Red Wolf on Marvel’s online comic store.
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COMING FALL 2016