A List of Native American Creatives, Entrepreneurs and Voices to follow
Photo by SADAF EBADI on Pexels.
November is a special time of year when we embrace our favorite fall activities, adjust to cooler temperatures, and gather with close friends and family to celebrate holiday traditions. Among these celebratory moments is the official time dedicated to observing the historical achievements, significance and cultural impact of Native American and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Heritage Month signifies a dedicated space to reflect on past, present and future relations with American Indian and Alaska Natives.
It’s important that we acknowledge the traumas associated with the Native American experience and continuously strive to educate ourselves and one another in hopes of building stronger connections to the people, lands and traditions that have helped shape our country. To help celebrate and help journalists connect with those in the community for more inclusive, impactful stories, we have created a list of select creatives, entrepreneurs and change-makers who are constantly raising the bar when it comes to exhibiting Native excellence.
🪡 Designers & Artists
- Chizhii by Carrie Wood, (Artist, Fashion Designer)
- Korina Emmerich of Emme Studio and Relative Arts (Fashion Designer)
- Jamie Okuma (Fashion Designer and CFDA Member)
- Naiomi Glasses & Tyler Glasses (Textile Artists, Designers)
- Joey Montoya of Urban Native Era (Multimedia Artist, Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur)
- Stevens and Snyder (Artists, Dancers, Fashion Designers)
💄 Entrepreneurs (Beauty/Cosmetics/Fashion/Entertainment)
- CeCe Meadows, Founder and CEO of Prados Beauty
- Kelly Holmes, Creator of Native Max Magazine
- Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, Fashion Curator and Fashion Show Director/Producer for Native Fashion Week Santa Fe
- Dr. Jessica R. Metcalfe, Educator, Writer and Owner of Beyond Buckskin Boutique
- Ruth-Ann Thorn, Businesswoman, Host, Producer, Gallerist and Founder of N8iV Beauty
✍️ Authors/Writers/Journalists
- Christian Allaire (Vogue Writer, Author)
- Deborah Jackson Taffa (Author)
- Tommy Orange (Fiction Writer)
- Navarre Scott Momaday (Pioneer of modern Native American literature)
- Kate Nelson (Independent journalist)
📽️ Film/Television/Documentary
- “Frybread Face and Me” by Billy Luther (Film)
- “Rez Ball” co-written by Sterlin Harjo (Film)
- “Reservation Dogs” created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi (TV Show)
- “Prey” produced by Jhane Myers (Film)
- “Sugarcane” by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie (Documentary)
🎵 Music
- Mato Wayuhi (Producer, Musical Composer)
- The Halluci Nation (DJ, Producers)
- Stella Standingbear (Rapper, Singer and Songwriter)
- Tia Wood (Singer-songwriter)
- Mozart Gabriel (Singer-songwriter)
- Native Guitars Tour (Music Collective)
- Anachnid (Electronic Musician)
This list of Native American innovators represents just a minor portion of a much larger force of past and present tribal members, descendants and advocates paving the way for future generations. Behind each of these individuals and their work is a story that helps showcase the beauty, strength and ancestral resilience that is ultimately fueled by a deep passion for cultural preservation.
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Kyle (Diné) is a Senior Distribution Customer Support Specialist for Cision PR Newswire. In the past 5 years with the company, he's assisted our clients with requests ranging from "billing" to "best practices" and everything in between. When he's not working, he enjoys brunching his way through Chicago, visiting family in New Mexico, and learning all he can about fashion, art, photography, and design.
