MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
1
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
3
EDITOR’S WELCOME
W
elcome to our first annual Native Women’s issue! With this issue, we’re focusing Native American and First Nations women who are making a change within their communities, unselfishly giving back and creating waves across Indian Country. With Juliana Brown Eyes-Clifford on our cover, this issue spotlights Native women in health and fitness, Native women who strive to promote self-confidence and self-beauty, and Native women with stories of contributing change behind the scenes.
@kellzholmes KELLY HOLMES FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
N AT I V E M A X Native Fashion & Lifestyle publication
www.nativemax.com FACEBOOK: /nativemax TWITTER: @nativemax INSTAGRAM: @nativemaxmag
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 Fashion TIFFANY LEBARON Photographer RYAN YOUNG
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
MAY/JUNE 2015
52
42
58 COVER STORY
42 BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL & BAD-ASS: JULIANA BROWN EYES-CLIFFORD 52 WOMEN OF INDIAN COUNTRY 57 FUNNY NATIVE WOMEN 58 REAL LIFE INDIANS, REAL LIFE STORIES
STYLE
6 SPRING STREET STYLE 7 SPRING PICKS 9 SELF-CONFIDENCE WITH LISA MUSWAGON 10 INDIAN COUNTRY’S STYLE ICONS
12 SILVER STANDARD 20 AMASTE WIN
HEALTH & FITNESS 26 NATIVE WOMEN IN FITNESS 28 FIT FASHIONISTA
ART 30 32 34 36
EXPRESSING HEARTS AND TELLING STORIES CHILL BASKETS WELCOME HOME, KIT! NATIVE WOMEN IN PHOTOGRAPHY
STYLE
SPRING STREET STYLE It’s not always about dresses and drapes for Spring. Our current obsession --tees. Lakota tee, Lakota Art Studio; lakotaartstudio.com Necklace, bracelets, Urban Turquoise Accessories PHOTO BY TARA ROSE WESTON
6
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
STYLE
SPRING PICKS This S/S 2015 season is all about statement pieces. Rock these vibrant baubles by our editor’s picks --Antelope Women Designs and Paula’s Custom Creations
BUY Antelope Women
Designs offers custom orders! Just visit AWD on Facebook and Instagram
ANTELOPE WOMEN DESIGNS Lenise Omeasoo is a Blackfeet and Northern Cree beadwork artist who creates statement pieces with unique designs. A young mother of two, Omeasoo hails from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. Omeasoo admits being an artist helped her see the world in a brighter point of view. Omeasoo is known for creating pieces of different sizes and textures, even types of beads to showcase details and color. In the future, we’ll see clothing as a part of Omeasoo’s collection of statement jewelry.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
7
STYLE
SPRING PICKS This S/S 2015 season is all about statement pieces. Rock these vibrant baubles by our editor’s picks --Antelope Women Designs and Paula’s Custom Creations
PAULA’S CUSTOM CREATIONS Paula Meghan Johnson is a Maskwacis Cree from Alberta, Canada. Johnson’s thriving custom business began as a simple hobby of creating colorful cabs for girls in her community. Once she posted her work on social media, her talents spread like wildfire, and soon developed a customer base in both Canada and the U.S. Johnson is known for her colorful cabs and wooden jewelry sets accompanied by a matching box.
BUY Check out more works
from Paula’s Custom Creations on Facebook and Instagram
8
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
STYLE
BEAUTIFUL SELF-CONFIDENCE
LISA MUSWAGON
“ LISA’S ADVICE FOR SELF CONFIDENCE? “Whenever I have the opportunity to speak in front of young people, I tell them they got to have G.U.T.S. –Get Uncomfortable to Succeed. The first thing I tell them is you will get nervous, your hands will get sweaty, your legs will tremble and your mouth will twitch, [Laughs], but if you can get through that first time, the next will be easier and with more practice the easier it gets.”
Growing up I was a tall, lanky girl with no curves. I was made fun of and even called a giraffe in high school because I was the tallest girl in every class I was put in.” Lisa Muswagon, Nakoda Cree of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, knows what it’s like to stand out of the crowd, literally. Despite hearing hurtful comments regarding her body, Muswagon discovered modeling as a way of expressing herself. With the love and support from her grandmother, Muswagon modeled in various fashion shows throughout Winnipeg. Muswagon learned through each fashion show, with each one as a learning experience for her. Now, the mother of three manages her soon-tobe husband’s entertainment company and hip hop career and handles finance at the Child and Family Services Metis Authority. She’s also a hand drum singer and is very active in the Aboriginal communities surrounding Winnipeg, her home. What Muswagon is notable for is co-founding Native Model Studio, a collective of photographers, models, artists and designers who provide fashion show coordination, event planning, model training services and facilitate workshops on confidence, self-esteem and support issues. With co-founder Larry Price, Muswagon collaborates and hosts fashion events that help aspiring models gain experience throughout the United States and Canada. Muswagon shares her history of being in the fashion industry and how she took back her self-confidence. Muswagon helps alleviate the lack of self-confidence with her work with Native Model Studio. “We host model workshops to talk about fashion, modeling, and professional development along with training which include components of discussing self-esteem and confidence.” The Native Model Studio team also touches on issues that face our communities, and as a group, discuss becoming role models to help. Despite a hectic schedule and thriving career, Muswagon always maintains her confidence every day. “We’re all human and sometimes we can be a little hard on ourselves. I remind myself that I have a new healthy baby and my body has been through extremes,” she admits. “So I take pride in going for a run. Plus I have a real awesome partner who tells me I’m beautiful every day.”
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
9
STYLE
NEKIAH TORRES – FROM THE REZ TO THE CITY
Indian Country’s
Style Icons Nekiah Torres, Jenna Herne and Crystal Szczepanski are all fashion & style enthusiasts with one goal – to showcase their culture and heritage through fashion.
10
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
Nekiah Torres, Hopi-Tewa and a member of the Colorado River Indian tribe, always had a natural interest in fashion. “My mom used to buy fashion magazines and the first time I picked one up and looked through It, I was hooked!”As a little girl, watching old Hollywood glamour movies with her grandmother inspired her to be one of the beautiful, elegant actresses she saw on screen. “Those women looked so well put together, almost perfect. That was foreign to me because I’d never seen any woman in my hood looking like that! Seeing that made me want to learn how to look like that.” Yet, Torres had a love for fashion but was located on the reservation
where fashion isn’t a common interest. When Torres moved to the city from the reservation, she went crazy for fashion. “If I had to categorize my style, I would call it classically chic with a touch of glam and drama.” In an effort to inspire fellow full-figured fashionistas, Torres chose to share her style through her newly-established fashion blog, From the Rez to the City. On her blog, Torres promotes self-love no matter what size or shape her reader is. “I do that by sharing fashion inspiration specifically targeted toward the larger women. Although I blog plus-size styles, I don’t believe that style has a size.” With From the Rez to the City, Torres archives her daily looks and outfits of the day, and shares her prayers and favorite Bible verses.
STYLE
CRYSTAL SZCZEPANSKI - NORTH STARR STUDIOS JENNA HERNE – HOUSE OF HAWI
Jenna Herne, founder of online fashion blog and consignment shop House of Hawi, is located between two between two fashion capitals of North America – Montreal and New York City. Mohawk from Akwesasne territory, Herne studied fashion and merchandising at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh while supporting her family. Herne began House of Hawi in 2010 out of her small apartment with the idea that the every woman should be able to express her individual style to its full potential, along with the ability to find quality and affordable clothing. Under House of Hawi, Herne offers personal styling services and a sort of online community of other fashion designers, stylists
and “Indigenistas”, a word coined by Herne. Herne admits finding inspiration for House of Hawi from the growing indigenous movement on social media, as grassroots artists and fashion designers reached global markets through the web. Herne believes all indigenous people are collectively rewriting the history and stories of their culture. “Centuries ago, getting dressed for ceremony, so much love and care went into to each stitch. The same is true for the modern indigenous woman.” With House of Hawi, Herne hopes to provide education on negative stereotypes and cultural appropriations, mentorship for students interested in fashion and showcase art and fashion galleries for public viewing.
Crystal Szczepanski, Athabascan, Yup’ik and Colville, recalls the first time she fell in love with fashion and makeup when looking through glossy pages of popular fashion magazines. “I was intrigued by the transformation of makeup.” However, the image of what mainstream society considered “beautiful” was also harmful to young Szczepanski. It was a double-edged sword, as the image imprinted in my mind was unattainable; blue eyes, blond hair and wafer-thin bodies.” Years later, Szczepanski found her self-confidence again through her sobriety and created a way she could both express herself and teach others the beauty of the Native culture. North Starr Studios is Szczepanski’s online hub made up of tutorials, DIY projects and language lessons. Even the content Szczepanski touches on is as multi-dimensional as the artist herself. One look through her YouTube channel and you can learn how to create turquoise designs on your nails, create your own beauty products and learn phrases in Tlingit. As Szczepanski explained, traditional teachings from indigenous tribes all over Turtle Island existed way before what’s trending today, which is why she teaches her fans beauty regiments and fashion tips passed down from generations before her.
WATCH Crystal shares her beauty and fashion tips in her videos, now available on the Native Max website!
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
11
All clothing, Sage & Silver Boutique and Gallery Makeup, Kamamak Cosmetics
SILVER
STANDARD With the help of Sage & Silver Boutique and Gallery of Rapid City, SD, we’ve put together this season’s top looks in boutique western wear. Photography by: Tara Rose Weston Styled by: Lauren Good Day Giago
12
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
13
14
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
15
16
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
17
18
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
19
Amaste Win DESIGNS BY darla takes the knife & lakota art studio PHOTOS BY tara rose weston
SKIRT amaste win designs facebook.com/darla.takestheknife
SHIRT lakota art studio www.lakotaartstudio.com
22
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
23
24
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
25
HEALTH DEB’S TIPS FOR GETTING FIT
- Research healthy recipes, workouts, daily vitamins, etc. - Start a fitness journal. This will help you keep track of your progress - If you’re going to a gym make sure you have your workout written down - If you start to get bored with your workouts, switch it up
MY DAILY DIET & EXERCISE
NATIVE WOMEN IN FITNESS
We profile two Native women who are fit, fine and fierce. By Kelly Holmes MEET DEB BUTLER, a Navajo from Crownpoint, New Mexico is known throughout Indian Country for her energy and passion for being healthy. An alumni of Haskell University, 32-year-old Butler lettered in both Volleyball and Track at the college. She’s been athletic ever since she was a little girl, and credits her family for guiding her. WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO HEALTH AND FITNESS? Sports. My entire family had always been active so that was a great start for me. There wasn’t much to do on the reservation when I was young so sports kept me busy. Being fit helped me excel in the sports I participated in. I really didn’t understand the health part of it until I started to see my body change when I played at a collegiate level. It was then I started to learn more and more on how important health is to maintain in your everyday life. EXPLAIN YOUR PASSION FOR FITNESS. My passion for health and fitness has helped me in a lot of ways. I feel better about myself more each and every day. It’s also allowed me to learn what my body is capable of. I feel there are a lot of Native Communities out there that
26
lack the knowledge of the importance of eating healthy and getting shape. My goal is to get out there and help educate these communities, but it first starts with me. TO YOU, WHAT DOES NATIVE BEAUTY MEAN? HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THAT WITH YOUR PASSION OF HEALTH AND FITNESS? To me, Native beauty means a proud confident Native American as a whole. I incorporate this in everything I do by staying close to my cultural roots and following our traditions in life. For example, I greet the sun each morning with a prayer. Having knowledge in the health and fitness world has allowed me to help others in the Native community, whether it’s about eating the right foods or how to be active with or without a gym. HOW DO YOU STAY FIT AND HEALTHY? I stay fit and healthy by eating “clean” and staying active. When I say “clean” that just means I stay away from fried foods and I eat a lot of veggies and intake a lot of water. It took some research to find out what was good for me in terms of staying on a plan where I eat all the right meals. I workout six days a week and my
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
workouts normally last about an hour or less. I have one day where I allow my body to recover. On this day I like to go on an easy hike or swim. THERE IS A LACK OF POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE IN YOUNG NATIVE GIRLS ON RESERVATIONS, HOW DOES HEALTH AND FITNESS A VIABLE SOLUTION? The lack of self-esteem and self-confidence in young Native girls today needs to be fixed; we are losing these young girls to drugs, alcohol and suicides. My solution would be organizing a group for each community that these girls can join. The group would allow these girls to be able to talk about their problems and let them know that there are others that may be dealing with the same issues. Health and fitness plays a big part in these types of issues. Some of the young girls today put a lot of pressure on themselves when it comes to physical appearance. Society and media are packaged and airbrushed into unrealistic levels of beauty and thinness. The group could have fitness classes or some type of activity that will keep them active so that they start feeling better about themselves. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL ALL YOUNG NATIVE GIRLS EVERYWHERE? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL THE ONES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HEALTH AND FITNESS? I tell the young girls today that beauty comes in all sizes, shapes and forms. It is very important to feel beautiful on the inside rather than the outside. Love yourself first so that you can love others. Appreciate your body and what all it does for you - running, dancing, breathing, laughing, thinking, smiling, etc.
PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF DEB BUTLER
“My daily diet consists of protein from meats such as fish, chicken or ground turkey, and carbs like whole grains and veggies. I don’t really use protein powders much because I get most of my protein from my meals. My daily exercises are lifting weights with light cardio and calisthenics workouts. Calisthenics workouts are basically using your bodyweight to workouts such as push-ups, pull-ups, wall sits, etc.”
HEALTH YOUR DIET IS IMPORTANT
“Eating the right kinds of food compared to your workout is 80-20; that means 80% of what you consume will make or break you. You can do anything and everything you want in the gym but if you’re not eating right, you’re outcome won’t be as good as if you ate right too.”
HOW RHONDA KEEPS HER FAMILY HEALTHY
I have a family of 5 and we’re constantly on-the-go. My husband and I play in a volleyball league. Our children are into sports such as baseball, football, basketball and track. We are scattered everywhere yet we manage to sit down together. Planning meals ahead of time, and taking a walk in the evenings. . We recently built a garden in our backyard and eat our own organic fruits and vegetables.
RHONDA TREE - MANGAN
For Rhonda Tree-Mangan, Navajo, being healthy wasn’t always a part of her lifestyle. Possessing a high metabolism, Tree-Mangan never gave a second thought on what she was putting into her body. However, being physically active with volleyball and basketball wasn’t enough, as Tree-Mangan noticed her sluggish moods. It wasn’t until she met her husband that she discovered that the right diet played an important part of being healthy as a whole. Fast forward to present-day, Tree-Mangan is a thirtynine-year-old mother of three. She’s recently graduated from Haskell University and played collegiate volleyball at the age of thirty-five right after the birth of her third child. Her and her husband both exercise and lift weights together, and even pass on their healthy diets and exercise onto their children. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTO HEALTH AND FITNESS? Health hasn’t always been a part of my life. Growing up, I had always been thin. People, including my family, would tease me about my weight and appearance. I had a
high-metabolism so I had no problem eating whatever was given to me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t always healthy. As for fitness, I loved basketball. I loved everything about it and I was good too. I started playing in the fourth grade and it was all I ever thought about after that. It was an escape from reality for me. Never did it cross my mind that it was helping me stay fit. I would play every chance I got until volleyball came into the picture in the 8th grade and I only played because the coach asked me to and said it would help me stay in shape for basketball. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE YOUR DIET FOR THE BETTER? It wasn’t until my college days that I really begin loving the weight room. My roommate was a rugby player and she would lift all the time. I began going with her and fell in love with it but my eating habits were bad and although I was building muscle, I still felt sluggish. That’s when my future husband came into the picture and showed me that eating right played a bigger role. From then on, we ate right and lifted together and I had never felt better from the inside out.
EXPLAIN YOUR PASSION FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS. My passion comes from the inside out. It’s how I feel, when I get that good lift or run in. My heart is racing, beating to its maximum, just testing my mind and body to see how much more I can lift than the rep before or how further and quicker I can get when I run. It’s a challenge I take on every time I walk into the weight room or step on that trail. It’s all mine and it’s all up to me what I can accomplish. When I am done, I feel energized, powerful, and ready to conquer the world. WHY IS BEING HEALTHIER A PRIORITY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? My family comes from a harsh background. I don’t need to explain the epidemic of diabetes or of alcoholism, we all know about it. It has hit close to home and I’ve lost family members because of it. As a Navajo mother of three children who look up to me and watch my every move, they are my responsibility. Because of them, I try to keep my life healthy and continue to strive in being the best mother I can be to them. I don’t want them to experience the pain of losing a
loved one or the feeling of being unhealthy. There is too much negativity in this world and if I can keep my children healthy and fit to face it all, I’ve done my job saving three Navajo children and I hope they carry that along to their future families. HOW DID YOU UTILIZE HEALTH AND FITNESS TO COPE WITH NEGATIVITY? I grew up in a racist town. I wasn’t proud of being Navajo or my appearance. It was a tough and thankfully I found my outlet in basketball, volleyball, lifting and running. I don’t know where or what I would’ve become without sports, another statistic maybe. I think every little girl, no matter race, needs their confidence built up at an early age. It is important that these girls have the courage to face this sometimes harsh world we live in. If their health is good and they’re eating right, it’ll help keep them balanced mentally and physically. It’s imperative the lives of our young generation stay focused and in harmony with themselves and their outside world, without them we can’t move forward and continue our way of tradition and culture.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
27
HEALTH
FIT FASHIONISTA Trina Secody tells us how she keeps in shape, and her new athletic apparel project she’s currently working on. By Gia Bolton
W
ith a busy lifestyle, it’s easy to overlook taking care of yourself, be it physically or mentally. Dine’ wife, mother, model and designer Trina Secody certainly has a hectic schedule, but makes wellness a priority for her, her husband, and their three children. I see you’re an avid hiker, what other activities do you do to remain healthy, fit, and active? Yes, I enjoy hiking very much! Nature is essential. My workout routine will shift to hiking, running, yoga, walking, and weight-lifting. I simply can turn a household chore, or turn just about anything that is around the house into a workout! Sometimes I walk across my living room doing lunges, or dancing pow-wow-inspired kicks! My kids enjoy seeing their mom stay active in any form she can. I also see that your family works out together, which is fantastic! How do you motivate each other? What fitness activities do you as a whole family enjoy? Yes, we love our family activities. We do a variety of fitness activities to work our physical abilities, as well as wellness to benefit our wellbeing so that we can continually move towards
28
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
a healthier place in mind, body, and spirit which include all the benefits of prayer ceremony. Our fitness activities range from basketball drills, incline running, long-boarding, and biking, to hiking. The motivation exists among us naturally; if one of us is lacking the motivation, someone is always there. What type of fitness clothes do you design? What was your inspiration behind creating your fitness line? We are Insurgents Community, since 2000. Votan is the owner as well as the creativity behind Insurgents. There are six of us on board covering Native America, and expanding; I am the southwest representative. We are in the early stages of planning and creating the athletic department soon to be launched in the near future, which will be inspired by me. I wanted to collide sport and fashion to create stylish, active Native wear that are missing in the marketplace, and I think I found it! Athletic wear is part of dressing today, and I think it adds a cool factor to your look. Currently, I’m just working with different styles by creating custom cuts. My inspiration is simply my body and movement.
SHOP INFO Shop online at www.nsrgnts.com today! You can also spot Trina at her mobile Insurgents store anywhere in the southwest area, at powwows and other local events.
PHOTOGRAPH: ELI SECODY
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
29
ART
EXPRESSING HEARTS AND TELLING STORIES Mary Adams, a fascinating leader and storyteller, joins Native Max Magazine to detail how stories change lives, discuss her own magical story, and present a new cross-cutting writing. By Anjelica LS Gallegos
AG: Where are you from? Mary Adams: I am from the Suquamish Tribe, a nation in western Washington State. AG: How did you start exploring and writing stories? MA: It was during my late thirties when a friend’s child asked me to tell him a story. I just made one up in my head, on the spot. While I was telling this story, he was very moved and started to cry. That was the realization that story telling should be something for me to develop and share emotion with. Writing stories came in my early forties. I did not put pen to paper until then. I consider myself a beginner although stories have built up inside me for a long time.
30
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
Incorporating the knowledge of my ancestors, life experience, and creative ideas, I am now pursuing writing to stir others. AG: What messages do you convey through writing? MA: I focus on children’s stories. I have a good memory of my childhood and aim to bring the sense of childhood and fascination of the creation around me to my writing. So many youngsters are caught up in modern technology that they are really missing out on the basic fun of adventuring outside and using their senses to experience the world around them. Playing in the natural world like on the beach, in the backyard or at a playground. Making and meeting old and new friends. The shear delight of being carefree. Making the
ART most of wherever they are. I was blessed with growing up right next to be told. Much of history we read is found only in what has been to the beach. The shore changes every day, every season. It was a examined in the historical written word or pictures. There are so fascinating playground to have as child. There is strength and beaumany civilizations that existed but nothing is known about what life ty in innocence. Every child, I wish, could experience that. Many of was like for them. Ensuring that our histories are known can occur our Native children today are raised with stress and broken hearts through writing and storytelling. denying them a part of life that will never come again. My life is not As a teenager I sat down with my great grandmother without those disappointments but I enjoyed a lot of my childhood to find our history but didn’t ask the right questions. As a result, because of having a connection with nature. Helping youth find some of her stories are lost. Years later, after my great grandmother that meaning today is critical. I remember not being able to express was gone, my mother and I sat down with an aunt to rekindle the myself as a child because I didn’t know the words to the feelings I conversation. We learned about how my great grandmother left her was feeling. My aim is to help children put words to the emotions abusive husband and came back to her hometown. Her two sons they feel and give a moral to a story. stayed with their father. Apparently, they were very good looking AG: Why is story telling a critical role of advancing Indigeyoung men and went to Hollywood securing acting jobs in silent nous cultural well-being? movies. I couldn’t believe my ears. It demonstrates the need to be MA: For myself, growing up by the beach was an amazing excurious and find the best way to engage elders to harvest the knowlperience that no one can take away. I did not know until later in edge and stories they have. my life of the history of how my Peoples ended up living there. I Those that take an interest in the family tree find so many was not aware of how tribes were relocated, some far away from interesting facts to be shared if we take the time to ask them. Story their original territories. I am truly grateful though that I got to telling can preserve that. That would come under the category of experience a life similar to my ancestors true storytelling and history. before me. We were able to fish and get crab Tribes can support history and stoAppraising the solutions that and other sea foods. I got to live and play ries by developing museums. This encourstorytellers, like Mary Adams, on the beach on one of the camp areas that ages the preservation of culture in a central Jamestown has camped for generations. We place that many can contribute to through provide to restore interest in did not have electricity until I was five years writing and bolster the Indige- stories, art, film,and more. Having some of old. Many of those before us had to make my work in museums gives me comfort to nous future supports a healthi- know it is protected for many to enjoy and many sacrifices and compromises to get what they had for us, their children. They er and happier Indian Country. learn from. had to learn to survive in that changing AG: Describe your new story, Bay Walk: Writing with elegance and a world. I do appreciate what they did with all What Might We See? and what you want mission to give voice to the my heart. Their strength of enduring those readers to take away from it? changes has given me a quality of life that speechless and unheard, Mary MA: Bay Walk: What Might We See? is a has been good. Their love and bravery for picture story. Many of the animals menis a tribute to the art of storymy well-being and for our own survival as tioned I see in my daily living and are influtelling. Indigenous Peoples, has shaped me even enced by. The four otters mentioned in the though I wasn’t even born yet. Our lot in life story I saw during a summer sunset. They Catch the vibrant debut of could have been different. We can appreciate sky was red and golden. It was warm out. the life we have and choose to live according The tide was starting to come in. In a short Mary Adam’s new story Bay to what we learn and believe, knowing where distance I spotted these four otters coming Walk: What Might We See? on we’re from and want to go. Taking all lessons at me. They were bobbing up and down in the Native Max website with us on our journey can assist in making the water swimming close along the shore. a healthier and happier life for ourselves and I thought as they would approach me they for our families. would swim away from me. Much to my Last summer, a sister and I took surprise they bobbed along without breaka small group on a surprise outing to spend the day at the beach. ing their pace. Once they got to me they stopped a bit and looked One of my young and precious nieces said, “This is the best day at me, apparently unimpressed, then swam and bobbed along ever!” Our purpose was accomplished. They loved and lived the continuing along their course. It looked like they were looking for experience. I remember asking my great grandmother about her someone. The bay mentioned is a bay that is on the Dungeness Spit life history and she didn’t want to talk about it. She said that there That is a 5 mile sand spit, a natural breaker from the Juan De Fuca wasn’t much to tell. We forget sometimes that our parents and straight. It’s shallower and the low tides coming in make the water grandparents had a life before we came along filled with stories to warm after a long day under the summer sun. I still can envision be told. Now I do but my great grandmother isn’t here anymore. that experience. I just had to write this down. That’s a great loss. Hopefully stories will prompt our curiosity to ask Indigenous Peoples, myself included, are given a gift the right questions. I am told to write what you know about. Somefrom the Creator. We must remain confident in who we are and our times that knowledge is up us to find out. It will keep our Peoples relationship with the environment. Our dreams are often becomalive. ing endangered from technology, mainstream living, and climate AG: How can storytelling be preserved and encouraged change. Molding our future must include stories and retention of among tribes? our magical life ways and histories. Shedding light on what we can MA: Building stories only requires the pen and pencil. Years ago love in the world and how our children can prosper is what I do. I those things were not available.Newer technology can support share that beauty. writing too, carrying the message even further. People, especially youth, have to muster up the desire to value the stories that need
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
31
ART
CHILL BASKETS Carrie Hill explains her passion for basket weaving, and how she passes this artistry to the next generation. By Jenna Herne
W
hen Carrie Hill, a Mohawk from Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, was pregnant with her first born daughter, Rain, she learned the art of making a sweetgrass basket. She was eager to become a new mother, a caretaker, and a life-giver while learning from the matriarchs of her family. Her aunt’s house smelled of “splint, sweet grass, and Camel Turkish silvers.” These were her first few steps into womanhood. The baskets are a piece of her heart, and she filled it with the strength and hope for a future that would hold her family close and a legacy that remained positive and rewarding for her children. Carrie explained how every step of the basket-making process involves her relatives. Her uncle gets the splint and makes her mold cutters. “I like to keep it a family trade because it means more to me.” The other day her brother offered to pay for her splint. “It feels good supporting one another, there’s a comfort level in building each other up.” The peace and calm that this creative process brings into her world, Carrie describes as the comfort zone that consists of a centering with no distractions from the outside world. Her hands will bleed and nails will crack, but she keeps going; the images of the completed basket clear in her mind. “Occasionally, a friend or my daughters will join in with their pottery at my kitchen table work station. I take comfort in only hearing the rhythm of our breathing while we work in silence.” Carrie said.
32
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
Passed down generationally, the artistry of basket making has provided many opportunities for Carrie to teach her skills and the cultural significance to audiences across Turtle Island. Carrie credits her experience working at a cottage in Blue Mountain as the onset of many invitations to demonstrate throughout New York State and Canada. Her arms open to the family experiences that grow from the basket making trade. She has traveled with her girls out to Victor, New York to sell baskets at the Ganondagan Arts, Music, and Dance Festival. The girls would make their own collection of baskets and some pottery all year long and keep their profits. They learned about the hard work and reaping the reward from it. As Rain grew up with Carrie, she is now becoming a young lady with the same interest as her mother has in baskets. “She wants to make baskets now more than ever and that’s what it’s all about; showing my girls that they can have this gift for themselves as well.” This affirmation of passing on her legacy is rich with a bond and important teachings in their lives. Carrie looks away, and as she speaks you can hear the time gone by in a single sentence. “We often value the youngest years of our children’s lives and lose sight of that as they grow into adults. These old and new memories of them making baskets will keep their bond strong throughout the years.” Her favorite part of the basket making is picking the sweetgrass and teaching her daughters the trade. She was
ART
(Top) Carrie working on a basket in her workspace (Bottom left) Carrie’s daughter Rain. Basket weaving isn’t found in any State curriculum (Bottom right) Ready to pick sweetgrass
taught to give back to the earth if you’re taking something from it. It is a sacred act of respect to the Earth. “Every time I pick, I put tobacco down. That’s how I was taught.” She’ll take her girls out with a packed lunch and cover their bodies head to toe to avoid the bugs. “I ran out one time and wouldn’t go back the rest of the day because of a huge fricken garden spider that was right in my face!” Carried laughed. The bright green color of the grass and tall blades are her shelter from any storm as she walks through fields gathering blades. “Even on the hot summer days we’re out there picking sweet grass in 80 degree weather, the smell is phenomenal.” With pain still fresh in her voice, Carrie shares, “I took my girls out to pick the day my grandma passed away. She was everything to me. She called me her Carrie, and I was her favorite.” She works hard to balance her roles in life. Focusing on her family came naturally and not surprisingly, she successfully held a career in education. Years passed and this mother, wife, and professional looked around and thought to herself, “Was this all I am?” Carrie wanted something of her own. All the women around her depended on these roles as their whole identity. There was this creative voice inside her that longed to speak out. Growing up she remembered her brother being extremely talented in his art and being praised for his talents in the community. She said, “I didn’t want to wake up in fifty years, still working at the school with any
regrets.” For years she danced front and center, singing along to her husband’s music during every show. Hand in hand with their daughters, Carrie is the biggest supporter of her husband’s dreams. Full-time basketry waited on the back burner for the “right time.” She made a decision to leave her career at the school. Slamming her hand on the table, she looks at me and says with defiance, “I am gonna do what I am gonna do and you’re gonna love it!” Sharing her work with the public always feels personal, because she takes pride in her innovations. “The color palettes come to me in dreams or at random throughout the day; I’m watching a show and it comes to me. Yes! Black and Gold foil leafs! Blue and lime green curls!” she exclaims. Carrie is changing her ideas and stands out among the crowd as her personality collides with divine creativity. Other accessories have been a wide-brimmed hat and recently, bracelets. She is willing to explore other designs such as purses or couture designer clothing. The collaboration with other local businesses interests her and her willingness to take chances leaves Carrie excited to begin. A chill basket is more than an accessory; it is a symbol that having courage and going after your dreams with your best intentions is a gift to the world. Carrie’s business can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and on chillbaskets.com.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
33
ART
WELCOME HOME, KIT! Kit Thomas is a Mohawk from Akwesasne, she returned to her home town from Roanoke, Virginia. This is her story. By Jenna Herne
34
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
ART
H
er biggest challenge was meeting her father for the first time. She states that if she had met him when she was a teenager she probably would have flipped him the bird, Kit said laughing, finger in the air. Now, the time was right to connect with him. Her dad was “cool” with her in a sense he accepts her just the way she is. Who is Kit Thomas? A woman full of light and love. Determined to chase her artist passion and go with the flow attitude. She believes a higher power kept her going in life. “I’ve lived many different lives and rebuilt myself many times in the past sixteen years.” Her first life began with a body transformation. In 2010 Kit was a smoker and heavy drinker and made the decision to get sober after her aunt Corrine White passed away. A tattoo showcased on her forearm reads “Carpe Diem” in translation “seize the day”. At the time of her transformation Kit was working as a manager at a pet food store and doing her artwork around the clock. She wanted to take the business to a new level and was at the top of her skill. Kit was getting recognized by her photographer friends and included her in a photo shoot called “Raven Locker”. This nude pictorial came at a great time considering she had new found confidence in herself. Renewed by shedding her weight, she also shed emotions. Her positive outlook on life and the beauty in it is felt by all that meet her. She woke up one day and said she no longer wanted to do her nine-to-five job and all she wanted to do was paint. All she could think of was painting. Society will tell you to conform and will praise blue collar professions. Kit was breaking the rules and felt free. “People would ask me what I did for work and said, ‘No, really, what is your real job?’” Her motivation came from her weight loss and feeling unstoppable. Hunter Down was born. Her alter-ego and drag show performer braved the stage for the very first time. Her performer friend called her up and said “Hey Kit, I have one spot open for the drag show.” Challenge accepted! Kit is a self-proclaimed ham and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. Her alter-ego Hunter was a sassy, confident, rough and rugged persona known for infamous performances as boy band heartthrobs from New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys. Less than a few months in, she was hosting the show. What is really happening in her creative process as Kit creates her art? Described as a mania, her many ideas come to mind simultaneously. Then a calm sets in with fluid movements on the canvas with her brushstroke. She can leave all mistakes in front of her and work on top of them, fully immersing herself in artistic freedom. While working on a piece, Kit’s process mirrors lucid dreaming. She has become more confident and secure with her talent and her work reflects that love and light. Kit is a traveler and educated from Pratt and Brooklyn colleges. She decided to discontinue her studies in graphic design. Up until that point she had validated those choices by not wanting to disappoint her family. Now she had reclaimed her life as an artist and Kit Thomas Art was born. She grew up with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Art was her creative outlet to soothe the difficult days. She speaks of being shipped around to different areas as she grew up. Kit’s aunt Corrine provided the roots that Kit has returned home to Akwesasne to grow. “Love people and love what you do!” The Kit Thomas mantra to life and art. “People would look at me like, ‘Are you for real? Is that real?’” Kit remains true to herself by not letting others knock her down. Being fulfilled by carrying out your passion is how she will live her life. This truly inspiring lifestyle is a testament to being a woman with a dream. “A lot of situations strengthen you, you rebuild your life many times,” says Kit.
Kit’s newfound adventurous spirit included wrestling in pudding at a local dive bar. “I told myself if I had a bathing suit in my car I would do it. I had just returned from a vacation to Myrtle Beach, bathing suit in tow. There was no backing out now.” Dancing to the beat of her own drum, Kit braves any conquest. Kit explains, “There’s always people who want to stomp on your dreams and you just keep going.” Sobriety lifted a fog and with clear eyes she started writing her own blog on Tumblr and freely shares her experiences with others. Her infectious personality is uplifting in a sense where you’re rooting for Kit to never dim her light. Kit lived in Virginia for two and a half years. During this time she credits life lessons learned about family and love. Her life there working at a co-op consisted of local hippies and crazies. “You know the conspiracy theory types.” Kit Laughs and explains, “I would
go around and around debating with a few of these folks.” After a heartbreak in Roanoke, she says there’s no hard feeling there and continues moving forward. That was when she decided it was time to return to Akwesasne. One phone conversation later, her cousins Randa and Marla were on a mission. The women organized for three days to raise travel funds for the twelve hour drive. Ready to reclaim her life and return to the family and culture she once knew, Kit was grateful. Kit reminisces about days looking in on the longhouse socials and ceremonies. “I’d like to get back over there one day and see it again and understand my culture more. Now that I am in my community of Akwesasne I want to do good and feel good.” Kit Thomas wants to explore textiles and mass production of a t-shirt line. She credits Facebook and Instagram for her followers and recognition. “I want to collaborate with global artists! This artist in Portland reached out to me and I am thrilled to be noticed by these inspirational people.” Kit wants to be known as more than a Native artist. As a designer of custom canvas shoes, fashion is within her arsenal. Long gone are the days of painted “emo girls,” with choppy hair and an empty face. Now her work has progressed along with her self-worth as a bright, vibrant and colorful painting that evokes a feeling of a woman who stands in her own light. Akwesasne welcomes you and your talent. Welcome home Kit.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
35
ART
NADYA KWANDIBENS
NATIVE WOMEN
in PHOTOGRAPHY The field for professional women photographers expanded substantially within the last century. Now, Native women are proving they are just as prolific and skillful as today’s top photographers across the world. By Kelly Holmes
36
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
Nadya Kwandibens’ is an artist and photographer who’s known for traveling and her striking portraiture. In October 2008, Kwandibens established Red Works Photography after photographing in Arizona, and in the same year developed her photography series Concrete Indians. After seven years of steadily traveling between Canada and the U.S., Kwandibens returned home to her Northwest Angle #37 First Nation to slow down and refocus on her business. Kwandibens is currently working on opening an artist retreat where she will have the opportunity to give back to the circle of artists who’ve supported and nurtured her talent and vision. You’ve traveled the continent for years with your photography. Please explain your travels to us. If you ask my friends they would say I’m a nomad; I’ve travelled quite steadily for seven years, devoting my energy and focus on Red Works Photography which was founded in October 2008. It’s been a remarkable and humbling experience having travelled for that long and I’m grateful I was able to do it but recently I decided that it’s time to slow down and refocus. What are you currently working on? I returned home to my First Nation last fall and now my goal is to open an artist retreat and invite artists to carry out
PHOTOGRAPH: SARAH FAITH BIRD
Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)
ART
PHOTOGRAPH: SKYE MANIKATERI
workshops or presentations for Native youth in neighboring communities. The retreat is also a way for me to give back to the circle of artists who’ve all become friends over the years, and to give back to those who’ve supported and nurtured my talent and vision. I hope to open the retreat early next year. When did you first develop an interest for photography? When did you start taking it seriously? I first picked up a camera while studying filmmaking. As part of my studies, taking a course in photography was obviously a requirement and it became a hobby for many years. It wasn’t until five years later that I realized it had become my main creative outlet. I started taking it seriously when I moved to Arizona, and in 2006 I began shooting portraiture sessions. From then on the opportunities to shoot just snowballed which led me to establish Red Works Photography and I’ve been shooting full-time, going on nine years. Native women photographers are constantly overlooked, why do you think that is? Are you redefining that? I’m not sure. I guess there’s that “old school” mentality that good photographers are men, specifically white men, behind those National Geographic features, behind those high-fashion magazine spreads. And we’ve all been subject to the imagery that white men produce, in that we’re constantly bombarded with the objectification of women. But I think that mentality is changing and I’m doing my part to shine a spotlight on what beauty means to me as a Native woman. How do you capture Native beauty in your photography? Beauty can be expressed and perceived in so many ways; what I think is beautiful may not be the same for you. Foremost, I think beauty is a trait that is expressed through confidence, a positive attitude, and in feeling proud of who you are. I see this beauty in the people I photograph because they exude such pride in being Native. During portrait sessions I hear stories about what it means to be Native to a particular Nation or territory. My photography is about bringing those stories out and showing mainstream society just how beautifully complex, vibrant, and thriving we are as contemporary Native people.
SKYE MANIKATERI
Hidatsa, Mandan, Assiniboine, and Crow Skye Manikateri once was an artist, jewelry designer, model and Jingle dancer, and now a self-taught photographer. When did you first get into photography? I first started photography when I had my jewelry business going. I had to take photos for my advertising and the jewelry. I really gained a strong interest with taking pictures ever since. I also grew interested with modeling; I’m very observant and a fast visual learner, so I learned a lot from watching photographers when I modeled. Native women photographers are constantly overlooked, why do you think that is? How are you redefining that? Most photographers seem to be men; it’s a male-dominated field. I think it’s either you have an eye for photography or you just do it to snap a picture and get paid. Women seem to have a nice eye for creativity, especially Native women. The way I change the idea of photography is making it more artistic and I put more thought into what images I want to capture. How do you capture Native beauty in your photography? Native beauty isn’t just the person you’re shooting; you want to capture them at their best but also get an image of who they really are and being able to bring their beauty out even more in an image captured. I don’t judge beauty as just the outside, you have to see within the person as well and the picture can do that. Images have a strong voice. I like to make my clients as comfortable as possible to get their true beauty though my work. When you can be yourself in a photo, you’re the most beautiful.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
37
TARA ROSE WESTON Lakota
Tara Rose Weston’s interest for photography began at an early age. At age eleven, Weston recalls times where her mother would send her and her twin brother on field trips with disposable cameras. Weston spent some time in front of the camera as a model, but wanted something different than what photographers were offering at the time. Now at age twenty-three, Weston is an established photographer and multi-media maven, having her work published in Vogue Italia. When did you first get into photography? Along with being business owners, my mother and grandpa were avid shutterbugs. I grew up seeing them with cameras and camcorders in hand, and it my mother who nurtured my photography skill. She bought us disposable cameras to document class field trips and last days of school. Eventually seeing I had a deeper passion, she bought me my first point and shoot film camera when I was 11, and upgraded me to a digital point and shoot when I graduated 8th grade. I took a photography class in high school and nearly failed due to the archaic point system my teacher used, but finally understood the technicality of photography. When did you start taking it seriously? It wasn’t until I was modeling in high school and after that I
38
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
considered buying a DSLR to take my own portfolio photos, because I wanted something different than what the photographers I worked with were delivering. I realized I was serious about it when I realized that shooting and editing had become an obsession, that I needed create something new every day. Native women photographers are constantly overlooked, why do you think that is? That’s very true, I didn’t realize how male-dominated the profession was until moving back to SD from Georgia, where a majority of military spouses are photographers. It’s almost the “go-to” small business move among spouses, and most of them are female. With any job in any industry, males don’t have to worry about the same things we do - with raising a family and making a home, we have a habit of falling into our gender roles whether we like it or not, especially being Lakota, and that automatically causes people to think that anything we do is temporary. I’ve followed many male Native photographers for years, being a model, and that’s what inspired me to work just as hard, if not harder, when I chose to pursue a career in this industry. I wouldn’t work this hard for something I didn’t see myself doing for the next few decades. What do you love being a photographer? I love having a fast paced, demanding job that allows me to travel and work from basically anywhere in the world. A lot of people say that they’re supportive and uplifting, but in reality, it’s just as much a competition as any other profession. We have to stay on top of things and be innovative. With that, I love motion and details, I’m very meticulous. What does “Native beauty” mean to you? How do you capture that in your photography? What Native Max does for our generation, the seventh generation that Sitting Bull often spoke of, is giving the creatives a voice and exposure in a world that appropriates our traditions or thinks we don’t even exist anymore. I’m definitely very humbled to be a part of that and to be right alongside all of my fellow artists to pave a way for Natives in the entertainment and arts industry.
PHOTOGRAPH: TARA ROSE WESTON
ART
ART
DAWNEE LEBEAU Lakota
PHOTOGRAPH: DEANNE BILLINGS
Dawnee Lebeau is a self-taught photographer, without ever attending a photography class. Instead, she built up her experience and learned techniques by shadowing professional photographers. With the help of Four Bands Community Fund and First People’s Fund, Lebeau was able to successfully launch her photography business on the Cheyenne River reservation in South Dakota. Lebeau is known for volunteering her services to several projects throughout the state, including the Cheyenne River Youth Project’s annual Fashion for Passion event and Lakota Elderly Speakers photography project. When did you first get into photography? When did you start taking it seriously? I was gifted my first Nikon N90s film camera in 1997 and this is when I learned how to develop my own photographs in a dark room and I’ve enjoyed being a freelance photographer ever since then. Do you feel Native women photographers are constantly overlooked? The Native women photographers that I know of seem to be doing well in their photography endeavors. I see their photography work and projects’ being posted on social media sites a lot and this is definitely inspiring. How do you capture Native beauty in your photography? Native beauty to me is a lifestyle of how a person or group preserves their cultural values and traditions while living in today’s society. Seeing Natives take pride in their traditions, learning their languages and preserving what their elders have passed on to them is beautiful. I feel that I’ve captured photographs of many beautiful people from my reservation, whether it’s in lifestyle portraits, family portraits, and senior portraits or in photographs that I have captured at community events.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
39
ZOE FRIDAY
When did you first get into photography? When did you start taking it seriArapaho ously? My grandmother gave me my first camera It was Zoe Friday’s grandmother who for my eighth birthday. I was extremely recognized her talent and encouraged fortunate to have someone who was able her to explore photography. A versatile to recognize my talent and provide me the photographer, her genres range from art means to explore photography. My natural to commercial, both of which led her to instinct to document life through the lens photograph children, powwow dancers, of a camera grew into more of a passion celebrities, and even roaming buffalo. She’s as I got older. I referred to it as a hobby currently in Los Angeles pursuing her ed- during high school. Going to art school ucation at The Art Institute of Hollywood was unacceptable. I remember talking California. about it and people making feel like it
40
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
was another ridiculous dream of mine. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I decided to pursue photography as a serious endeavor. What sort of photography classes or courses have you taken? In high school, I took every photography class I could. Developing film amazed me; the dark room became my home. I started taking online classes and attending Photoshop seminars in my spare time. After receiving a certificate from The New York Institute of Photography, I knew what I wanted to focus on. Relocating to Los Angeles, to study at The Art Institute of Hollywood California, was my best move to date. Native women photographers are constantly overlooked, why do you think that is? How are you redefining that? Being an Indigenous woman is a battle all in itself, let alone to be a professional Indigenous woman. Tough skin is something that we all develop throughout life. My personal oppressions have attributed to my drive for success and I’ve somehow managed to establish my presence in this competitive industry. Respect from men in this industry isn’t easily acquired. Discrimination still exists, but I choose not to be a victim of it. I’ve had some disappointing and discouraging experiences. People will always try to hold you back by focusing on your flaws. You have to learn how to turn it into positive energy and strength. When I think about young women and their dreams, my ambition to inspire gets stronger. I may not be the most positive role model but my intentions come from heart and I take that seriously. I want them to know they have every right to aspire in any profession they desire; I want them to have the courage to be fearless leaders. Most importantly, I want them to know their worth. How do you capture Native beauty in your photography? I like photographing woman in my family. They’re so beautiful. Their strength, integrity and sacred existence are something I seek to express. The men in my family are just as beautiful. I watch them love, protect and provide for their families. Moments, when my people care for each other unconditionally, that’s what native beauty means to me.
PHOTOGRAPH: JACKELINE FLAMENCO
ART
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
41
FEATURE
BRI LLI ANT, B EAU TI FU L & BAD - AS S JULIANA BROWN EYES, Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge reservation, embodies the very spirit we wanted to capture for our first ever Native Women’s issue. A devoted wife, caring mother and a multi-dimensional artist, she’s also a positive role model and resilient rockstar. By Kelly Holmes
42
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
Photographs by Willi White
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
43
44
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
T
he first time I came across “alter-Native” rock group Scatter Their Own was a few years ago when a friend shared a photo of them on social media. What caught my eye was the girl next to lead singer (and husband) Scotti Clifford – Juliana Brown Eyes. Not only was she breathtakingly stunning and her style, impeccable, but her gaze into the camera had me mesmerized. Was she happy, sad? Excited or angry? Besides determination and energy, I couldn’t spell out more of her enigmatic impression by looking at the photo. It’s not surprising that is exactly how she is in person – gracious and driven. Twenty-four-year-old Brown Eyes co-founded Scatter Their Own with her husband and has a hand in both managing the band behind-the-scenes and on stage. Besides occassionally lending her vocal adrenaline to their music, she plays drums and the bass and acoustic guitars for the band. Long road trips across the country and intensive days of shows, appearances and projects are now a norm for Brown Eyes. She even showed up to a fashion show in Albuquerque during the Gathering of Nations Powwow after a grueling day on the road, terribly ill. Juliana helped throw the set together and rocked the evening away all with a smile. I’d know; I seen it for myself. She was even ready to take photos with fans and admirers. Being in her presence seems uplifting and encouraging. Not once did I hear one shred of gossip. She is widely known for her charisma and kindness. “Aside from her multi-dimensional talents that she shares from her heart, she is just one of those people that you always want to be around,” admits Clifford. “She is bold, beautiful, brilliant, brave and bad ass! It’s not hard to fall in love with her!” Brown Eyes’ musical accomplishments started way back when she was a child. At only fiveyears-old she knew every lyric to Marvin Gaye and The Isely Brothers. Thanks to KILI Radio, she grew accustomed to old country like Loretta Lynn and George Jones. When Brown Eyes’ father took her to her first concert, Destiny’s Child, for her 9th birthday, Beyonce inspired her. Brown Eyes would listen to her CD and dance around the living room with her imaginary microphone, dreaming of the real thing.
She made her first guitar out of an empty Kleenex box, paper towel roll, and four rubber bands, which surprisingly worked just like a bass guitar. Brown Eyes has certainly evolved since her days as a young dreamer. A wife and mother of three teenagers, she’s an avid artist who is currently obsessed with sculpture. She periodically models and takes part in photoshoots with different Native American photographers along the road. A photographer herself, she operates her own photography business on the Pine Ridge reservation. Besides the bass and acoustic guitar, Brown Eyes taught herself to play mandolin, ukulele and violin. A role model, Brown Eyes strives to empower and inspire everyone she meets, especially young women. “I do a lot of work within my community especially with our youth, because I’m a survivor of domestic and sexual abuse,” she explains. “Scotti and I go into the school systems here on our reservation to inspire our youth to follow their hearts.” For Brown Eyes, growing up on the reservation was tough with all the heartache derived from alcoholism, domestic violence and suicide. “When I speak about my adversities, I, of course, state the facts but never focus on the negativity.” Instead she directs the children on the positive aspects of each situation she overcame. “My grandmother always said that everything happens for a reason. It took me a long time to agree with that teaching, but with each heartache and sunset there is always a new beginning, a new sunrise. It is our opportunity to take advantage of and see it that way.” Juliana Brown Eyes is a resilient, kind, confident and empowering indigenous woman. There’s no mystery as to why this powerful and positive role model was chosen to grace the cover of the Native Max Women’s Issue. Native Max: How did music influence your upbringing? What music did you listen to when you were younger? Juliana Brown Eyes: My dad used to listen to Marvin Gaye and the Isely Brothers almost every evening. I was only five or six and I knew every word. My mother, on the other hand, listened to a variety of artists, anywhere from Tupac to Fleetwood Mac. MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
45
I,also, grew up listening to KILI Radio in the mornings. So, I grew accustomed to old school country. I love Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, and George Jones. I guess you could say I had a very diverse musical upbringing. But on my own, I remember discovering strong women vocalists such as Lauryn Hill, Gwen Stefani, and Beyonce! Actually, my very first concert was Destiny’s Child. My dad took me for my 9th birthday and I completely fell in love with Beyonce. After watching her perform, I would pop in my Destiny Child’s CD and dance around the living room with my imaginary microphone. NM: You’re just an all-around artistic person! Can you tell us about all that you do creatively? Brown Eyes: I’m currently all over the place when it comes to my art. I love to paint, draw, and I recently fell in love with sculpture! As for the business aspect of my art I focus on photography when I am home. I’ve especially become very fond of newborn photography. Things get hectic sometimes but I always do it in the name of art. NM: And what roles do you have in Scatter Their Own, besides playing? Brown Eyes: Aside from my photography business I’m also the business manager and the director of media and marketing for our band. NM: Were you always a musician? What was your very first instrument? Brown Eyes: Well I’ve always been a musician. When I was younger, I loved to sing, “Break a piece of that Kit Kat Bar.” I would grab a bucket, stand on top of it and envision myself singing to millions! I remember making my first guitar out of an empty Kleenex box, paper towel roll, and four rubber bands. Surprisingly, it worked just like a bass guitar and I got some good tones out of it, I was pretty proud of my creation. In high school, I begged my mom for a guitar, but due to finances it just wasn’t possible. One day, she surprised me and brought home a purse shaped like a guitar. She apologized that it wasn’t the real thing but said it was the best
she could do. I still have the purse and I bring it with me all over the country. It’s our band merchandise bag and, theoretically, my very first instrument. When I was a senior in high school, I worked all summer to save money to buy my first guitar. I purchased a crappy fender knockoff from the “Mall” in Pine Ridge beside Sioux Nation. The steel frets jutted out of the side of the guitar neck and would tear the skin on my fingers when I played. I didn’t care though; I finally had my very own guitar! I taught myself different chords and simple songs using the Internet. Soon afterwards I was in college and Scott had asked me if I would like to start a band. NM: What was your first thought about starting a band? Brown Eyes: At the time Scotti and I had already been dating for two years. While we were in college he would find gigs on the weekends to play at local bars and clubs in Spearfish, SD to pay the bills. He would leave his bass guitar under my bed and instead of doing my homework I would get it out and play it for hours. Because musicians are scarce he always had trouble finding a solid drummer and bassist for his shows. Then one day he asked me if I could play the drums at the Kentucky Head Hunter concert at the casino. NM: How did it go playing your first shows? What was it like? Brown Eyes: I had only been playing the drums for a month when Scott asked me to play an entire set! I was so scared because I had never even thought about performing in front of people. So essentially, when we began as Scatter Their Own, I was the drummer. At the show, we got really positive feedback and some elders in the crowd suggested that we should both play guitars and sing with one another. NM: This year Scatter Their Own was on the list for the SXSW, which is one of the biggest musical and film festivals in the country. What was it like being one of the few Native artists to play there? How did the crowd take to Scatter Their Own? Brown Eyes: Wow, fast forward to this year at
“All women are artists; we were all blessed with the ability to create life.”
46
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
RADAR
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
47
SXSW! First of all, we took our children, Scotti Jr. and Wahpe, with us to perform. So, it was a family effort. We had two showcases this year, the “Global Local Showcase,” and the “Remembering the Ancestors featuring John Trudell, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Sihasin.” Our shows were amazing and the venues were unbelievable! We performed at St. David’s Historic Sanctuary, where the 48
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
previous night well-known artists such as James Bay and Leon Bridges performed as well. We finally felt like we belonged somewhere! The crowd was radiating with positivity and also received many awesome reviews. We took a lot positive energy with us from the experience and use it to propel us even further. NM: In person, I’ve seen you come straight onto the stage at a show in Albuquerque after a long
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
49
50
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
road trip from California. How can you handle that? Tired and exhausted yet somehow putting on a smile and playing the evening away. Brown Eyes: I think the toughest part about being on the road is trying to stay healthy, not only eating right and exercising, but also your overall health. For example, we do not get sick days. The show must go on! I remember our last fall tour, both Scott and I had the flu and we had shows one right after another in California. Soon after, we drove a straight shot from California to Albuquerque for the Gathering of Nations powwow. I think that’s the time you are referring to. But in the end it comes down to our determination. We love one another as well as our music and it’s always worth it! NM: You’re a strong advocate for empowering, confident and strong Native women; how do you try and inspire others? Brown Eyes: Well first of all, I hardly think of myself as an advocate. I just try to live my life in a respectful manner and always am sure to treat others as if they are family. One of my biggest influences is my grandmother Hazel Stands, as well as my mama Ronnie Brings Plenty. I grew up in a very matriarchal family centered on prayer and practicing our traditional Lakota spirituality. If there is anything I could inspire young women to do, it would be to respect our bodies. One of my main philosophies is, “All women are artists; we were all blessed with the ability to create life.” NM: What sort of issues do you focus on when visiting with young women? Brown Eyes: I also try to focus a lot of my time on positive body image, healthy life choices, gender equality, and safe sex issues. These are things that are tough to talk about with teens particularly young women. But when you speak from the heart, and the youth see you actually doing something about it, they tend to respect you more. NM: So you are a wife, mother, role model, photographer, model, and one of the leading members of STO; how do you balance it all? Brown Eyes: When I married my husband, I took his three children as my own. I have a 13 year old girl, 15 year old boy, and a 17 year old boy. I guess I never really compiled a list of all the things I do, but
I’m constantly busy. I only do what makes sense for my little family. When we started the band, we initially wanted to show our children how to conduct themselves spiritually and professionally within the music industry. Everything I do in the future and now will be for my children. NM: Does Pauly Weiner tag along with you to your shows? Can you fill us in on him and how he’s doing? Brown Eyes: Yes, Pauly is my wienie baby; I originally named him after my favorite bassist Paul McCartney from the Beatles! I think this dog has seen more of the country than most people do. He really is his own character and I love to watch him interact with new people in different environments. I taught him all his commands in our Lakota language, so it’s a real treat to show children his tricks. He, also, just celebrated his 3rd birthday; it sounds like I’m talking about a human, but you have to meet him! I guarantee you will fall in love with him. You can also follow his travels on Instagram using the hashtag #Paulywiener. NM: What does “native beauty” mean to you? Do you incorporate your definition into your guys’ music today? Brown Eyes: It means everything! At the risk of sounding ethnocentric, I think Native women are the most beautiful women on the planet because we have a natural connection to spirit, and to me beauty comes from that place within. A lot of our songs are inspired by our connection to Grandmother Earth and to me she is the most beautiful! NM: So I sort of came up to you out of nowhere at one of your performances and offered you the chance to be on the cover of our Native Women’s issue, how big of a surprise was it? Brown Eyes: I am overjoyed and honored to be on this month’s Native Women’s Issue! I could easily think of many different Native women who deserve this spotlight as well, especially all our Native Elder women who have come before us. I was super flattered when the Native Max team contacted me; I think we need more platforms like this for Native women to express themselves. Thank you so much to everyone at Native Max, ya’ll are amazing! And a special Pilamiya [thank you] to all my family and friends! MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
51
ENTERTAINMENT
PHOTOGRAPH: LC MIRANDA
52
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
WOMEN OF INDIAN COUNTRY From the outside looking in, many do not see Native women as leaders. But Native women have always been the heart and backbone of Indian Country. Their strength, integrity and determination have always made their counsel invaluable. So, it is not a surprise to see Native women, Like Shadana Sultan, Grace B. Gillette and Paula Whitehorse-Crawford being trusted to hold prestigious leadership roles. By: Kelly Holmes
Shadana Sultan
Shadana Sultan, Oglala Lakota, achieved her life’s goal of working in television. She worked for Fox, NBC and Telemundo, and met celebrities such as Prince Royce and Pitbull. However, Sultan’s realization of assisting Native American businesses, professionals and tribes towards the greater good influenced her to take over as executive director of the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce. Alongside her duties of assisting Native American entrepreneurs and organizations to expand their business, Sultan partly manages a business with her husband and is looking to take on an additional venture. One of Sultan’s greatest concepts as executive director of the Chamber has been Natives Go Global, a program aimed to assist American Indian businesses, professionals, and tribes in reaching the global market. Participants of the Natives Go Global delegation will travel to sister cities abroad to discuss economic, business, and professional development opportunities on a global level. Sultan admits pondering the idea since taking over the Chamber, and felt now was the time to bring her vision to life. This undertaking is the first of its kind in all of Indian Country,
and serves as a source of inspiration for numerous organizations. Sultan’s mission of leading her people to thrive successfully in today’s world is a reflection of her Lakota name, Tokaheya Win, which translates to She Who Leads. Can you share a bit about yourself? My mom is from Pine Ridge South Dakota and my father is from Kentucky. I’m a bit of a math and language nerd. I worked for Fox, NBC, and Telemundo. I am fluent in Spanish, and I studied French, Japanese, and Arabic. At work I’m hyper-focused, direct, strategic, even calculated. At home, I never take myself too seriously. I love to laugh and you’ll find me cooking ethnic and international dishes and listening to anyone from Porcupine Singers to BB King. What are some of your roles and responsibilities as the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce? I’m the current executive director for the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce. That’s a glorified title that means I’m a humble servant to our American Indian community. I help American Indian businesses,
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
53
professionals, and tribes to start and grow businesses; basically move money that benefits American Indian communities. I also fundraise for scholarship support of American Indian students. Aside from RMICC, I also own a business in partnership with my husband. We help keep restaurants up to fire code 96. We are expanding efforts to become a distributor of Middle Eastern furniture and house wares and American Indian arts and crafts. How do you give back to the native community? I try to promote positive images of American Indians. People that have limited interaction with Natives tend to box us into memories of the past or Hollywood portrayals. I really try to promote the fact that American Indians are savvy, relevant, modern
54
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
yet traditional, and viable. Fact, come to Colorado and meet four random Natives; statistically speaking, one of them will have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Meet ten random Natives, and one will have at least a Masters, JD or PhD. Oh yeah, forty percent of those degrees are in Science and Engineering. It’s good for our youth to see visions of themselves in these paths of success. I take a personal vested interest in seeing members of our communities succeed. In a quiet, humble, yet intentional way, I try to help the next Native along their path of success. How does the RMICC give back to the Native community? Empowerment. It’s essential to provide our communities with resources that allow them to pursue their own destiny, their own version of success.
We can’t afford to wait for anyone else to make and define their version of success for us. What’s Native beauty mean to you? I think overall, the most beautiful people are those comfortable in their own skin while truly embracing and respecting their culture and traditions. Native beauty is seeing our tiny tots in the dance arena. Native beauty is seeing our youth understanding the importance of respecting our elders. Native beauty is seeing one of our brothers or sisters rocking quillwork, beadwork, or braids in the boardroom or legislative floor. Native beauty is sometimes being the quietest person in the room, when you have every right to be the loudest. Native beauty is vibrant. Native beauty is resilient.
Gillette had the honor of bestowing a traditional blessing upon Denver Mayor Michael Hancock at his inauguration
Grace B. Gillette
PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF GRACE GILLETTE
Grace B. Gillette is the executive director of the Denver March Powwow, with her reign beginning in late 1990. Of the Arikara, Mandan and Hidatsa Nations, Gillette is responsible for the daily operations of the organization and all preparation activities involved in organizing the annual Denver March Powwow. Gillette is also active within the Native communities, having a hand in coordinating ceremonies and celebrations throughout the country, especially within the city of Denver. Can you share a bit about yourself and your upbringing? My father George Gillette was a fullblood Arikara and was an ordained Congregational Minister, held Tribal Chairman and Chief Tribal Judge Positions and held a lifetime position of Tail Feather Carrier for the Arikara Tribe. My mother Evelyn Wilkinson-Gillette was 3/4 Arikara and 1/4 Norwegian. My sister Barbara was inducted into the “War Sister Society.”
As a result, I’ve actively participated in the planning of numerous ceremonies, celebrations and dances my entire life. During a ceremony I was given my paternal grandmother’s Indian name, WaHuux, and an eagle plume. Even though I reside in Denver, I maintain close ties to my family on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. What are your everyday responsibilities as the executive director for the Denver March Powwow? As the only employee of the Denver March Powwow, I’m responsible for the daily operations of the organization and all preparation activities involved in organizing the annual Denver March Powwow. Organizing the powwow involves preparing and disseminating public relations materials, along with fund-raising inviting and selecting tribal artisans, meeting federal, state, county, and city reporting requirements, maintaining social media, participating in local networking meetings, responding to inquiries,
and conducting American Indian Dance performances. You’ve held the executive director position since October of 1990, what’s it like to take a look back at the twenty-some years you directed the powwow? My work with the Denver March Powwow has been gratifying. I was named in the Denver Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Denver Business” and Strathmore’s Who’s Who. Recently I was selected as one of “Denver’s 150”, a special honor recognizing ordinary citizens who are making extraordinary contributions to the Mile High City commemorating Denver’s 150th Birthday. I was honored to bestow a traditional blessing upon Denver Mayor Michael Hancock at his inauguration. How do you feel you give back to the Native American community? Besides organizing the annual Denver March Powwow, I’ve been actively involved in the Denver Indian community by serving as a speaker,
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
55
panelist, emcee and Head Dancer and on Boards of Directors. I serve as a resource for Indian organizations hosting their national conventions in Denver. I was called upon to coordinate the opening act for Saturday Night at the Summit, when the world’s G-8 leaders convened in Denver. I was also called upon by the White House to organize Denver Indian Community’s grassroots organizations to meet with President Obama’s staff. How does the Denver March Powwow give back to the Native community? The Denver March Powwow began
as the Youth Enrichment Powwow forty-one years ago. The program offered beading, sewing, dancing, and singing classes. It was established to provide an event where our local Denver tribal children could dance. It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction to see three or four generations of families participating in the Denver March Powwow. They may be dancers, singers, arts and crafts vendors, volunteers or individuals that make the dancing regalia. The Denver March Powwow provides our local tribal people, particularly the youth, an opportunity to experience their culture on a large scale and take pride
in being Native American today. What does Native beauty mean to you? The beauty of being native is our spirituality and our inherent need to continually expand our family base, and we have so many ways to come together in fellowship. To gain a greater understanding of ourselves, we can attend a Native American Church meeting, sweat lodge, Powwow, sun dance, ceremonies, and other celebrations sitting with family and strangers in total harmony. However, when the activity is over, there are no strangers, only family. This is a lasting gift from God.
Paula Whitehorse is Lakota, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Paula was raised with her culture and language and feels this has taught her to be a strong Native American woman. She is a proud mother of four girls. She works as a Native Loan Officer for the HUD Guaranteed 184 Loan Program. She has been given the opportunity to work for and with her Native Community. What are some of your roles and responsibilities as a 184 specialist? I work one-on-one preparation for successful application for a mortgage. I work with other organizations to source financing for community development on Tribal lands by building up twenty units at a time. I also teach financial literacy and help my people overcome credit obstacles in order to become home owners. How do you feel you give back to the Native community? Helping and giving back to my people to make a better future for their families on and off the reservation has been absolutely rewarding on a daily basis. Through collaboration, I provide access to financial services for Alaskan Natives and Native American communities, creating economic independence, development and sustainability. What’s Native beauty mean to you? To preserve the beauty and culture of our ground-roots of our people.
56
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF PAULA CRAWFORD
Paula Whitehorse-Crawford
U
FUNNY NATIVE WOMEN
PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF ADRIANNE CHALEPAH
ndoubtedly Adrianne Chalepah, Kiowa and Apache female comedian, stood out in comparison to the others in the comedy troupe 49 Laughs Comedy, which includes fellow Native comedians Pax Harvey, James Junes, Tatanka Means and Ernie Tsosie. Not only was Chalepah the only woman standing in an award-winning ensemble of funny guys, she was also going against the stigma surrounding Native women today – that Native women can’t be funny. One of the most quick-witted, hilarious, (and intelligent) figures in Native comedy, Chalepah founded Ladies of Native Comedy alongside Tonia Jo Hall, Deanna “M.A.D.”Diaz and Teresa “Sh-girl” Choyguha. The groundbreaking quartet travels nationally, performing at casinos, comedy clubs, universities, and in Hall’s and Choyguha’s case, a wedding.
Their comedy spurs hundreds of jokes and reactions – often through singing, dancing and storytelling – with occasional role-playing. Hall’s fictional character, “Auntie Beachress”, is highly popular in her homemade comedy videos, which are on her YouTube channel. Each lady utilizes comedy to connect with people of all walks of life, and as a form of positive force in the Native community. Diaz brings her “tell it like it is” attitude to her comedic storytelling. Hall is an aspiring Lakota language teacher who also creates instructional videos on Lakota common phrases and expressions. Choyguha enjoys entertaining and learning the different cultures of her audiences, and Chalepah addresses ignorance and injustices commonly inflicted on Natives.
ADRIANNE CHALEPAH
TERESA CHOYGUHA
DEANNA “MAD” DIAZ
TONIA JO HALL
Adrianne was inside a bookstore when she realized comedy was where her heart was. After ten years of stand-up comedy, Adrianne made the decision to create a Native women comedy troupe.
Although Teresa fell into comedy by winning a joke contest at a comedy show, she’d been tickling audiences for years. Teresa believes in finding humor in every situation, good or bad.
Deanna utilizes comedy as a way of telling her story. Upon meeting Adrianne, Deanna immediately joined the team. Before every show, Deanna admits to hyping up with Electric Powwow.
Tonia Jo is known for her hilarious videos she posts on her social media pages. From powwow workouts to “Aunt Beachress”, her videos are shared all over the net. Tonia’s also a very talented jingle dancer.
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
57
REAL LIFE INDIANS, REAL LIFE STORIES What started out as an inside joke stemmed into a photo project that combats the stigma surrounding present-day Native Americans. The founders of Real Life Indian, Viki Eagle and Amanda Williams, are teachers with passions for working with youth on embracing their cultures and success to become modern day warriors. Their goal was to portray the fact that today’s real life Indians are more than a group of people but are human beings as well. BY K EL LY HOL MES
58
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
PHOTO GR APHY B Y V IKI E AGLE
Real Life Indian founder Viki Eagle
V
iki Eagle, Sicangu Lakota, attended University of Denver where she’s currently working towards her Masters degree in the Higher Education Program. With her passions in education, she assists underrepresented Native American students by promoting education and success. In 2011, she cofounded University of Denver’s New Beginnings Powwow in which she still helps with today. Eagle has always worked with young students; she used to teach Photography and Multimedia at Red Cloud High School on the Pine Ridge reservation alongside driving the school bus. Amanda Williams, San Carlos Apache and Navajo, lived on the Navajo reservation until moving to Denver, CO to attain a higher education. Majoring in psychology, she currently works with minority youth from low-income families and hopes to bring her work back to the Navajo reservation. “I aspire to become an advocate for youth back on
the reservation and develop stable youth programming on the Navajo reservation” explains Williams. Ultimately her goal is to teach young students to not only incorporate the duality of traditions and modern ways of living, but also show pride and progress by becoming modern day warriors. Eagle felt firsthand what it was like being singled out. Eagle recalls in elementary school, “I found my classmates in disbelief that I was Native American and they would say things like ‘you’re a real life Indian!’” This made Eagle realize the reality of what many assumed about Native Americans – they no longer exist. This encouraged Eagle to create a photo project for her portrait class that made a bold statement. “To make it a statement that there are Natives in Denver and on the University of Denver campus.” Although she didn’t expect anything to become of it, Eagle is now convinced Real Life Indian would be her lifelong
project. Eagle began taking portraits of her friends at the time and enlisted Williams for help. “Viki came to me with this idea and I was all about it.” Upon developing the photos Eagle captured, Williams came up with the idea of utilizing them as an educational tool. The girls compiled workshops that educated people about Native American peoples, histories and stories. “She was right to start workshops on educating people about Native American peoples, our history, understanding the social justice element to have discussions on stereotypes from the media and experiences being a Native American in a predominantly white institution of .53%,” Eagle admits. “As an urban Indian living in the 21st century and being asked if you live in a Tipi is problematic.” They felt it would show that not only are Native Americans are a group of people but are human beings as well. “At the end of the day that’s what it comes down to,” explains Williams. “We can all relate to that no matter where you come from.” Both Eagle and Williams wanted to display the realities American Indians face on a daily basis all throughout the country, and how they are different than what society expects. “Who we are goes beyond wearing a headdress at Coachella.” The girls host occasional presentations that touch on how much Native Americans are thriving now more than ever and taking more opportunities in business, academia and media. The journey of putting together Real Life Indian was complex. Williams recalls the first night creating a Facebook page and putting up the first post. “The thrill of being able to show people your ideas and the dedication and motivation is definitely exciting.” The girls received positive support and feedback from others on the Pine Ridge and Navajo
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
59
Real Life Indian co-founder Amanda Williams reservations, and the commercial they produced spread their message even further. “The commercial we did with Jozer definitely allowed us to showcase our ideas and prove to our viewers that we are doing more than surviving in America, we are finally making it ours again” explains Williams. Eagle envisioned using her photography to show people raw images of Native Americans being “real life Indian”, but not necessarily in traditional regalia. “It means us really being us, if that is being an athlete, artist, student, professional, doctor, lawyer, or loving Iron Maiden,” explains Eagle. “People love images of Native Americans in regalia and I understand why but this project is to take all the distractions out and to focus on the story of each person.” Eagle hopes this teaches Native youth to tell their own stories, instead of permitting National Geographic, CNN or any other major outlet to tell it for them. “Taking
60
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
an image on Instagram is a statement within itself especially for contemporary Native American photography.” Upon photographing a subject, Eagle has them write their story. “I ask people to write stories about themselves they want to share with everyone. I think that is important.” Looking into the photo, the subject is standing in front of an either white or black background with their tribe’s name next to them. “My focus is to capture the simplicity of just being an Indigenous person and the raw image of that person.” Eagle expects viewers to deconstruct the stereotypes they carry and assume when they think of “Indian”. Eagle continues explaining why she uses the word “Indian”, even though a lot of Native Americans no longer identify with the term because of its origin. “There is a reason we use “Indian”, we see a lot of comments about why we use it and that we need to stop calling ourselves that and we are not from India,
but we use this in our project intentionally.” Eagle’s reasoning for using the term “Indian” is to exaggerate the understanding that Real Life Indian is deeply rooted in a longer history before the actual term. “It’s that broader conversation of looking at what exists and seeing that connection of where history has led us today. In that I hope people start to get that by just calling everyone “Indian” does not begin to explain the diversity that exists among Indigenous peoples.” With Real Life Indian, Eagle and Williams stray away from incorporating intense political discussion in their project such as stereotypes, cultural appropriation and mascot issues, with the mission primarily focused on the day to day lives, emotions, education and pure existence of an Indigenous person. “We want to share peoples’ live experiences and by debating over their feelings and lives is invalidating their lived experience; which we believe is not okay,” explains Eagle. “Real Life Indian does stand as a social justice platform wanting to transform the media into good representation of Native Americans that tell the full story.” Williams and Eagle hope to see Real Life Indian evolve into more than a movement that involves everyone and not just their team. “We can just be who we are and express who we are in our own ways instead of trying to fit into this labeled box” explains Williams. Eagle agrees. “I hope to continue to inspire youth to tell their own stories of where they came from and who they are. Seeing that intersection of having multiple identities is natural. Our lives are about balance and how we as people live in that every day is who we are.” In addition to the portrait project, Real Life Indian will stem into a media outlet of sort, where others are encouraged to share their own stories. With additional time and funding, the Real Life Indian team plan to include podcasts, poetry and other methods of sharing content, where viewers can see into the life of a real life Indian free of interruptions. Check out Real Life Indian at reallifeindian.wordpress.com
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
61
62
NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015
MAY/JUNE 2015 NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE
63