Cathy Abercrombie (Cherokee Nation)
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Cathy Abercrombie, Cherokee National Treasure, carries on the legacy of Oak Hill Weavers as the third generation creating handwoven textiles on her grandmother’s 80-year-old handmade oak and iron looms. Her sons and grandchildren are the 4th and 5th generation weavers on the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma.
Bobby Brower (Inupiaq)
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ARCTIC LUXE, an Indigenous-owned, women-led Alaska Native clothing and accessory brand, was founded in 2010 by Bobby Brower, an Inupiaq artist based in Anchorage, Alaska. As an enrolled member of the Native Village of Barrow tribe in Utqiagvik, Alaska, Brower’s roots run deep in the region’s cultural traditions. Her upbringing was steeped in the art of traditional skin sewing, a craft she began learning at the tender age of 13 in her Inupiaq language class, surrounded by skilled skin sewers.
Raised in a family that practiced subsistence hunting year-round, Brower was immersed in the art of traditional skin sewing from a young age. After having her first child following high school, Brower’s aunt Florence Brower encouraged her to reignite her passion for skin sewing, initially participating in the traditional baby contest held every 4th of July. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Brower’s journey towards mastering the intricate art form.
Over the years, Brower honed her sewing skills with unwavering dedication, ultimately launching her business, ARCTIC LUXE, in 2010. Since then, she has devoted herself entirely to her artistic pursuits, exhibiting her one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces and ready-to-wear fashions at prestigious shows across Alaska, New Mexico, Canada, and New York. Her creations have garnered widespread acclaim, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship of Alaska Native artistry.
Beyond her fashion endeavors, Brower’s artistic talents extend to wardrobe design for television shows and commercials, as well as participation in art exhibits upon invitation. Her multifaceted career reflects her commitment to inspiring youth to keep their traditions and culture alive, ensuring the rich legacy of Alaska Native artistry endures for generations to come. Through virtual and in-person sewing classes, Brower shares her expertise, promoting the preservation of traditional techniques and fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage.
ARCTIC LUXE stands as a testament to Brower’s unwavering dedication to her craft and her deep-rooted connection to her Inupiaq heritage. Each meticulously crafted piece is a celebration of the enduring spirit of Alaska Native culture, blending traditional artistry with contemporary fashion sensibilities. Brower’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving indigenous traditions and empowering future generations to embrace their cultural identities with pride and reverence.
Franklin A. Carrillo – Laguna Pueblo/Choctaw Nation
Albuquerque, NM
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Hello to all, my name is Franklin A Carrillo, I live and work in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jewelry design of the wearable art includes rings, pendants, earrings, bolos, buckles, however, I specialize in creating link bracelets of all shapes and sizes, while many are purely aesthetic some represent the historic and natural places Pueblo culture honors and reveres. Link
bracelets are versatile and can be adjusted to fit the wearer of the link bracelet.
It has been my honor to receive awards at the Gallup Ceremonial, the Haskell Indian Market and the Santa Fe Indian Market where I have received several first-place awards and a Best of Division in the contemporary bracelet category. My jewelry has been purchased and placed in the permanent exhibits of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the California Institute of Technology, and the Arizona State Museum located on the University of Arizona campus. My work is represented in the book “Masters of Contemporary Indian Jewelry”.
Interpreting and expanding on Pueblo design elements to implement into the jewelry is what I strive for, that concept is reflected in the work I present at art shows, galleries and stores and to the public. My work can be found at the Wheelwright Museum and the Keshi Zuni shop both located in Santa Fe NM.
Donald Chippewa III – Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Lansing, MI
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Donald Chippewa III, owner of Gimishoome Design is Odawa, Turtle clan, a member of Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. Born and raised in Lansing Michigan, throughout his school years he volunteered his service with United Way Youth Board, Cristo Rey Community Center, and the Native American Camp. During his summers at Native American Camp he learned more about his heritage than he would learn during his public schooling. At the Native American Camp he learned how to build a Long House, Wigwam, and many other cultural practices and ways of living.
Donald believes that generational trauma exists within him and his Native community and feels that with persistence and grit he has managed to change his life’s trajectory. He started working as a young adult doing warehouse labor to teaching before moving to Washington state for a decade to specialize in Telecommunications. Now back in his hometown of Lansing, Michigan, Donald is committed to lifting the community through art and community.
Gregory A. Drapeau – Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Lemoore, CA
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Wama Kas Kan Ob Omani is a Two-Spirit fashion designer and proud member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. He has deep roots in the Dakota way of life from the Yankton Sioux Reservation. His fashion journey began as a means of creating ribbon skirts to fund legal battles for his children. Still, it has since blossomed into a thriving career dedicated to artistry, storytelling, and cultural preservation.
As a Two-Spirit designer, Wama embraces the harmony of both feminine and masculine energies, infusing his creations with a unique perspective and deep spiritual connection. His designs, inspired by traditional teachings, dreams, and his love for haute couture, stand as a testament to Indigenous resilience and creativity. Wama’s work has graced the red carpet, including the Shift Films documentary For Everybody Works, where Sonya Scott-Frazier wore his designs. He has also collaborated with renowned designers such as Galicia Drapeau, Wicahpi + Designs, Yamni Gen (Georgina Drapeau), and Jonita Zephier. Known for his meticulous appliqué and attention to detail, Wama’s ribbon skirts are celebrated as wearable works of art.
In under a year, Wama has grown his social media following to over 5,000 followers, reflecting the growing appreciation for his vision. Looking ahead, he is preparing to unveil his “Fire and Ice” collection in February 2025, a project inspired by the elemental forces of nature and his connection to Mother Earth. Through his designs, Wama hopes to evoke joy, compassion, love, and confidence in those who wear them. He envisions a world where Indigenous artistry is celebrated globally and hopes his creations inspire others to feel the universal power of love.
Teresa Dunlap – Catawba Indian Nation
Rock Hill, SC
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Teresa Dunlap is a Catawba potter and basket maker. Growing up away from the Catawba reservation and community, Teresa had limited access to learning about her traditional culture and art. However, since returning to the Catawba community in 2021, she has immersed herself in the cultural arts. This journey of discovery has been enriched by her apprenticeship under master potter Caroleen Sanders and by attending basket workshops with esteemed basket makers within her own and other Indigenous communities.
Hillary Kempenich – Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Grand Forks, ND
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Hillary Kempenich is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural bearer, and advocate, emphasizing her work to empower Indigenous people. Award-winning artist Hillary Kempenich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Hillary has immersed herself in sustaining her small business and continues her passion for community work. Raised on the Turtle Mountain reservation, Kempenich continues advocating for better education, health, and cultural standards through her work in urban and rural communities.
Hillary Kempenich is fluent in many mediums with a collaborative style influenced by her independent spirit as a creative woman and her deep connection to her heritage of Ojibwe, Cree, Assiniboine, Dakota, and French-Canadian ancestral roots. Kempenich comes from a family of strong artist abilities, of which are strong influences within her work. While holding on to the ties to the Turtle Mountains, Kempenich works on developing her trades with her own personal style.
Hillary has a growing list of group and solo shows and collaborations and is receiving recognition nationwide. The beginning of Kempenich’s career was marked by awards from the National Indian Child Welfare Association, Native Arts Gathering and the First Peoples Fund. Hillary Kempenich received a second-place ribbon in the prestigious SWAIA’s Indian Market in 2018. Hillary’s artwork has recently been published in the “Finish the Fight!” book by New York Times author Veronica Chambers. “Finish the Fight!” are chronicles of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color suffragists whose stories may have gone untold. Hillary’s work continues to be featured in private collections, museums, and galleries throughout the United States. The U.S. Department of Interior Museum and Secretary of Art has acquired the piece “Resilience: A Portrait of Zitkala-Sa,” in Washington, D.C. to be part of their permanent collection and catalog. Kempenich is a 2023 Bush Fellow through the Bush Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Hillary holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and currently taking courses at Harvard University for Museum Studies. Kempenich serves on the Grand Forks Foundation for Education Alumni Network board of directors and the Grand Forks Children’s Museum board of directors. Hillary also serves as an arts and cultural consultant and has started the wearable art line Zazegaa Designs by Hillary Kempenich. Hillary lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota, with her family.
Kyle Kootswatewa – Hopi
Tuba City, AZ
Kyle Kootswatewa (Hova/they/them) is an enduring practitioner of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and a rising Hova (two-spirit) traditional artist of natural materials. They are of Hopi descent and was born from the Kachina clan in Mungapi, Arizona. While Kootswatewa emerged as a traditional artist, they have also merged their knowledge into higher academia. Earning a BA at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Kootswatewa studied within the Indigenous Liberal Arts Department and its strong interdisciplinary curriculum. They utilize his academic training and traditional ecological knowledge to fortify earth stewardship and to help preserve and revitalize Hopi basketry, pottery, and foods.
Kootswatewa is the project assistant for the Hopivewat Learning Center, a Hopi-led non-profit focused on creating a future cultural heritage center and collections museum for Hopi. Concurrently a 23’-24’ LIFT fellow with the Native Arts and Culture Foundation, they are also finishing a Yucca Cordage revitalization project to reintroduce cordage weaving while looking at ways to utilize the technology in his community. Their pottery work has been heavily focused on helping re-introduce ancestral coal-fired pottery methods. Within the community, Kyle has mentored numerous relatives and friends. They have learned to outline project goals to engage and guide people’s artistic interests (i.e., natural paints, natural dyes, and weaving techniques.)
Regina Meredith Fitiao – Samoan Pacific Islander
Pago Pago, AS
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Samoan artist Reggie Meredith Fitiao is one of the few siapo makers on her island of Tutuila American Samoa still making tapa today in her village of Leone. Her credentials include a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from San Diego State University with a 40 year teaching career in the Fine Arts Department at the American Samoa Community College. But if you ask her about what grounds her, she will lean more towards being a 4th generation siapo maker who tends to her paper mulberry trees with constant grooming and monitoring so she can make siapo, the bark cloth art. “When you pinch up the leaves, the tree will grow a smooth skin and when it is ready to harvest, the outcome will be worth the process.”
Meredith Fitiao was a part of the American Samoa Delegation that just experienced the long-awaited 13th Festival of Pacific Arts that took place this year in Oahu Hawaii. Twenty-five Pacific Island nations came together to share, and exchange cultural practices in the form of art, song, and dance, among other things. Meredith Fitiao led the Siapo makers and the Visual Arts categories for American Samoa. “Siapo is the Samoan word for Tapa and it refers to bark cloth art. I learned how to make siapo at a young age from (late) Aunty Mary J. Pritchard., who’s world renowned for it.” Now in her 60’s, Meredith Fitiao is steaming at full speed with one particular project requiring the making of large siapo that will be installed as acoustic panels in the new modern Legislature building in Tutuila. “The siapo and I have grown together, and I feel at one with them. They confirm to me their purpose and necessity like other uses such as wearing siapo by our matai, or maidens of the village, and dancers, performers, and are used for funerals and weddings. Siapo is ever present, and I hope to keep sharing this beautiful part of our heritage with others for many more years to come.” Reggie and husband Su’a Uilisone Fitiao’s local non-profit organization nicknamed Faasamoaarts (short for Folauga ole Tatau ma laga Aganuu Faasamoa) aim to perpetuate cultural art forms such as the la’ei o Samoa (traditional tattooing), woodcarving and siapo making, leaving a legacy for future generations.
Golga Oscar – Yup’ik
Bethel, AK
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Golga Oscar, a Yup’ik artist from Southwest Alaska, creates artwork that reflects Yup’ik identity in both traditional and modern forms. His work is influenced by his Yup’ik ancestors and Indigenous artists all over Turtle Island. As a self-taught artist, Oscar has produced a variety of garments, from footwear to headwear. Living in a Western society, he challenges perspectives of what a Yup’ik lifestyle looks like. Oscar also emphasizes digital art, such as graphic design and digital photography. Through the lens of the Indigenous perspective, his main goal is to Indigenize Western spaces, creating a welcoming environment for current and future Native artists in conquering the ongoing Western assimilation.
Reine Pavlik – Tlingit
Yakutat, AK
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Reine Pavlik is a Tlingit artist, cultural educator, and founder of Alaska Soles, a brand that honors Indigenous traditions through handcrafted art. Based in Yakutat, Alaska, Reine is deeply rooted in her Tlingit heritage and draws inspiration from the ancestral knowledge and natural beauty of the land. Her work primarily focuses on the traditional practices of skin sewing and beadwork, blending them with contemporary design to create stunning pieces that celebrate the resilience and creativity of Indigenous culture.
Reine’s artistic journey began when her aunt, renowned master artist Jennie Wheeler, taught her the traditional art of sewing moccasins. After mastering the craft, she rekindled her childhood skill of beading, leading her to create intricate, meaningful works that reflect her heritage and indigenous modernism. Over the years, Reine’s passion for creating has evolved beyond moccasins, expanding into accessories, garments, and, most recently, fashion upcycling.
As an advocate for cultural preservation, Reine is committed to passing down traditional skills to the next generation. She teaches skin sewing and beading and has participated in numerous fashion shows across Alaska, including Alaska Fashion Week and Celebration 2024’s Everyday Indigenous. Through her art and teaching, Reine strives to inspire others to connect with their roots and embrace the beauty of Indigenous craftsmanship.
Reine’s work with Alaska Soles has garnered attention for its authenticity, craftsmanship. Each piece she creates is a bridge between past and present, merging traditional materials such as hides, furs, and beads with modern artistry. Through Alaska Soles, Reine Pavlik continues to explore new creative avenues while staying true to her cultural identity. Her mission is not only to create wearable art but also to foster appreciation for Tlingit traditions and inspire others to keep these practices alive.
Harrison Preston – Tohono O’odham
Tucson, AZ
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Wa:k O’odham artist, Harrison Preston is a traditional Basket weaver and potter, who creates both Traditional and contemporary work, all the while trying to preserve and respect the traditions therein. He was raised and currently lives on the San Xavier Indian Reservation (Wa:k), a district of the Tohono O’odham Nation, south of Tucson, Arizona. While attending high school, Harrison began learning traditional Tohono O’odham basketry from noted Tohono O’odham artist and activist, Terrol Dew Johnson. Under Terrol’s tutelage, Harrison would go on to win several awards at Native American art markets at the Heard Museum and the Arizona State Museum. After high school, Harrison attended the prestigious Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, before returning home for family reasons. Harrison also attended Pima Community College in Tucson, where he studied metalsmithing and sculpture. In 2017, Harrison began learning Traditional Tohono O’odham pottery from Kathleen Vance of Sells, AZ, and has worked with her and others to reinvigorate O’odham pottery traditions. Harrison can be found demonstrating and showcasing his work at regional markets and events across southern Arizona.
Shelby Rowe – Chickasaw Nation
Oklahoma City, OK
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Oklahoma-based self-taught bead artist, Shelby R. Rowe, is a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, inspirational speaker, nationally recognized suicide prevention expert, and mother of three sons. In 2016, Shelby was honored as the Chickasaw Nation’s Dynamic Woman of the Year.
For Shelby, art is an expression of mending brokenness, with symbolism alive in the process. Beads, those tiny, fragile broken pieces of glass, become nearly indestructible when they have been lovingly woven together. When she is not beading, Shelby is the executive director for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at OUHSC, the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. She also serves on the Suicide in Women and Girls Taskforce for the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Shelby’s piece “21st Century Chickasaw Hatchet Woman” received both the People’s Choice Award and a Judge’s Award at the 2020 Southeast Art Show & Market (SEASAM) and was also featured in the exhibit “Stitched in Sovereignty” at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site. She has been a juried artist at both the Santa Fe Indian Art market and the Heard Museum Indian Market. In 2019, her piece “Auntie Deb”, a beaded cuff bracelet featuring a portrait of US Representative Deb Haaland, was added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Select pieces of her work are available for purchase at the First Americans Museum Store in Oklahoma City, OK.
Lisa Rutherford – Cherokee Nation
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Lisa Rutherford (Cherokee Nation) balances her creative time between clay arts and textile arts, including pottery, sculpture, 18th century clothing, feather capes, southeast applique beadwork, and twined textiles. A graduate of Northeastern State University, she worked as an executive assistant for tribal administration for several years. She makes her home on a cattle ranch near Tahlequah. She has been making ancestral style pottery since 2005 and began making historic clothing to wear while she demonstrated her art, leading to her career as a living history interpreter as well as an artist. She creates historic clothing for museum exhibits, specializing in feather capes. In 2014, Rutherford participated in the Art Leadership Program at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, studying twined textiles, historic clothing and beadwork, and feather capes. She has demonstrated cultural and historic arts at numerous venues including Colonial Williamsburg, VA and the National Museum of American Indians. She is a member of the Southeast Indian Artists Association (SEIAA). In 2018, she was named Cherokee National Treasure by the Cherokee Nation for her work in preserving and promoting Cherokee pottery and culture. Her work is in many museum collections including the Smithsonian Museum’s National Museum of the American Indian, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, the Cherokee National History Museum, and the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum at OU.
Paige Skenandore – Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Oneida, WI
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Paige Skenandore is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. She teaches beadwork and porcupine quillwork classes throughout Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Community and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After college, Skenandore founded a small business, Moody NDN. She created her website to promote upcoming workshops, classes, markets, custom orders, and showcasing items for sale. Skenandore can be described as a Haudenosaunee woman that focuses on creating contemporary pieces while also incorporating Haudenosaunee traditional designs.
Frances Soctomah – Passamaquoddy Tribe
Orono, ME
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Frances Soctomah is a Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) artist from Motahkomikuk who engages video, audio, animation, graphic art, and traditional Wabanaki arts practices to explore and articulate relationships between people, Mother Earth, and our non-human relatives. Family, memory, responsibility, reciprocity, and interconnection are concepts often woven throughout her work. She grounds her practice in story, incorporating teachings from conversations with her family and community members.
Frances is one of eleven children who come from a long line of Passamaquoddy artistry. She began her journey as an artist at age seven when her late-grandmother Molly Neptune Parker – a renowned basketmaker and matriarch of four generations of weavers – began teaching her to make brown ash and sweetgrass baskets. While learning to weave fancy baskets in styles passed down to her family through generations, Molly shared stories of growing up in Motahkomikuk and the many places she lived. She passed down teachings from their ancestors, often reflecting on how our relationships with each other have shifted through time. The stories of community and connection that were woven during their time together inspired Frances to seek out other teachers in her community. She later apprenticed with Gabriel Frey, a Passamaquoddy cultural knowledge carrier, to expand her knowledge of
basketmaking and harvesting practices as well as Jennifer Sapiel Neptune, a Penobscot cultural knowledge carrier, to learn traditional bead embroidery techniques.
Creating in community paved the way for Frances to expand her arts practice to include digital material, centering and amplifying voices from her community through her work. In 2019 she enrolled in the Intermedia Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Maine. She is expected to complete her studies in May 2025.
In addition to her creative practice, Frances is committed to supporting spaces for Wabanaki artists to create, connect, thrive, and be seen. She is active in art, museum, and nonprofit circles where she advocates for cultivating sustaining relationships with Wabanaki artists.
Kayla Wave – Tlingit Tribe of Southeast Alaska
Port Ludlow, WA
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Kayla Wave (b. 1993) is a self-taught silversmith and proud member of the Tlingit community, belonging to the Raven moiety of the White Frog House in Gunaaxoo’Kwaan, Dry Bay, Alaska. Growing up in Washington State, her childhood was enriched by nature, cultural traditions, and artistic exploration. These formative experiences shaped her enduring connection to the natural world and her cultural heritage, which remain central to her artistic practice.
In 2013, following the profound loss of her best friend and the joyful arrival of her second son, Kayla Wave immersed herself in her silver diary, embarking on a transformative artistic journey. She developed her craft through self-guided exploration, drawing knowledge from books and the internet while blending traditional influences with her personal techniques. Raven, a central figure in Tlingit culture symbolizing light and life, frequently appears in her designs alongside celestial motifs such as the sun and moon. Kayla’s work is deeply inspired by nature, as she seeks to tell stories that honor her culture and celebrate the beauty of life.
In 2014, Kayla’s business, Fox and the Fawn, was honored as Etsy’s Seller of the Month. Since its inception, it has been featured in nearly a dozen small brick-and-mortar shops. Kayla has traveled across the U.S., showcasing her work at numerous independent alternative art shows, including Renegade Craft (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle) and Crafty Bastard (Washington, D.C.), as well as at cultural events such as the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference, In the Spirit at the Washington State History Museum, and Evergreen College, among others. Her art has been featured in the gift shops of the Washington State History Museum, Suquamish Museum, Carrie Goller Gallery, and the Artisan’s Bench.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Kayla serves on the local CTE Advisory Committee at North Kitsap School District, where she advocates for the arts. She has also raised funds for wildfire relief in Australia by creating Australian animal collections and participated in the One Tree Planted initiative. In 2020, Kayla took on her sister, Raven Kengerski, as an apprentice, and she has enjoyed watching her sister flourish in her own unique artistic journey.
Alica Wildcatt – Eastern Band of Cherokee
Cherokee, NC
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Alica Murphy Wildcatt is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Born and raised in the Birdtown Community on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in western North Carolina, Alica was exposed to and had an interest in the Native American arts and crafts tied to her ancestral roots from a very early age.
While she has been a collector of Native American arts and crafts for most of her adult life, it was only a few years ago that she found a true passion in artistry and decided to pursue creating items of her own. Alica is a lover of jewelry and found the trade of metalsmithing to be very interesting and fulfilling. Being a metalsmith allows one to express their creativity through the production of customizable and wearable pieces. The pieces are created through the manipulation of various metals and often entail forming and shaping, sawing, soldering, texturing, stamping and more, all of which give one the ability to create pieces that tell a story and will provide lasting memories.
Since beginning this trade, Alica has been able to express her creativity and skill through the production of bracelets, bangles, earrings, necklaces and more. All of these are made using precious metals and often include precious stones from tribal lands across Indian Country, as well as designs that express the native culture. In the future, Alica hopes to strengthen her skills and work as a metalsmith in an effort to represent her culture and create memorable pieces that showcase her talent.
Jennifer Wilson – Eastern Band of Cherokee
Reston, VA
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Jennifer Wilson, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, holds a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Cherokee Studies and works in the national Native American nonprofit sector. With nearly two decades of experience as a beadwork artist, she is the creative force behind Birds Beadwork, where her work has expanded to include laser cutting and engraving. Jennifer’s art reimagines the traditional designs and motifs of the Mississippian era to honor the Southeastern Tribes and Cherokee culture. Her methods blend cultural knowledge with modern techniques to create authentic pieces that can be appreciated in everyday life.
Venaya J. Yazzie – Navajo/Diné/Hopi
Farmington, NM
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Venaya J. Yazzie of the Diné and Hopi tribal groups in the American southwest. She is a cultural educator and Indigenous culture speaker and multi-disciplinary artist. Via her visual creations she paints imagery based on southwest women’s culture which focuses on personal adornment by way of hair, garments and jewelry. Venaya also creates distinct ear adornments and necklace medallions rooted in her Hopi culture which utilizes natural materials. She holds a M.A. in Education/Indian Education from the University of New Mexico and is alumnus of Fort Lewis College and the Institute of American Indian Arts
Shawn Zephier – Onondaga Nation, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Las Vegas, NV
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Shawn Zephier, from South Dakota, is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Onondaga/Iroquois nation. Growing up in a family of traditional beaders, artists, and dancers, his love for beading sparked from a desire to craft his own traditional dance attire for powwows.
Shawn specializes in creating one-of-a-kind beaded moccasins featuring traditional symbols and unique vibrant color-ways, each pair tells its own distinctive story. He is dedicated to preserving his cultural heritage and traditions through his beadwork, ensuring that these traditions remain alive for future generations.
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