2025 Coaches

Sydney Akagi

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Sydney Akagi is a Chilkat and Ravenstail weaver, residing on the lands of Lingit Aani (Tlingit Land) and the Takuu Kwaan (Taku River Valley). Her Tlingit name is Tleinax Shaawat, Sydney is an enrolled member of Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska, and she is of the Kiksadi Clan, and Raven moiety. Sydney’s passion for art began as a young child. While attending Fort Lewis College, Sydney received a degree in fine arts, and shortly thereafter returned to Alaska where she would begin working for Sealaska Heritage Institute with the Arts programs and find herself weaving with mentors Lily Hope, Delores Churchill, and receiving design instruction from Steve Brown. Sydney completed her first Ravenstail piece in 2018 and in early 2020 left her job to pursue weaving full time. That year Sydney began learning the techniques of Chilkat weaving. In 2021 Sydney was a recipient of the Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award, and in 2022 received the Native Arts and Cultures LIFT Grant. With both of these grants Sydney completed significant works including a full size ceremonial Chilkat Tunic, and a full size ceremonial Chilkat and Ravenstail transitional robe which was acquired by the Gochman Family Collection in March 2024. Sydney’s work has been featured in various shows around the United States, and recently her work was seen dressing the Gochman Family Collection team in Venice, Italy at the La Biennale di Venezia, and opening the Alaska Fashion Week show. Sydney has recently begun teaching weaving and plans to continue with various mentor-apprenticeship programs and during a residency stay at Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.

Sarah Dogeagle

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Sarah Dogeagle, Mea Shiíri, artist & fashion designer rooted in the Northern Great Plains. Child of the Dripping Dirt Clan, proud member of the Hidatsa Xx0’sgha Nuéta & Hunkpapa Lakota nations & third-generation Native American college graduate. Sarah’s passion for sewing began at a very young age, a skill passed down by her grandmother and namesake, Buckskin Horse Woman. Her work is a continuation of this legacy, creating new clothing designs for everyday wear and ceremony. By incorporating prayer & good thoughts into each piece, she finds immense joy in rekindling this deep connection to her cultural roots. In her designs, Sarah uniquely utilizes Indigenous artists’ prints, fabrics, and blankets as her primary materials. Her practice not only creates new fashion but also actively supports and perpetuates interest in the work of other Indigenous artists. Seeing her clients wear her creations is a powerful experience that reinforces her purpose & joy in this creative space.

Lily Hope

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Lily Hope (Tlingit. Raven. T’akdeintaan clan) is an award-winning distinguished artist and community leader born and raised on Lingit Aani. Her finger-twined, adapted formline, ceremonial Chilkat dancing blankets take years to complete. Her work is collected by Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, Burke Museum, Museum of Nature and Man (Germany), The Eiteljorg, Alaska State Museum, and in the private collection of Jeffry Gibson and numerous other museum and private collectors. Lily is an Enthuser and advocate for artists and the arts. Trained in Northwest Coast Ravenstail and Chilkat design. She mentored 19+ artists and now, for the first time in over 100 years, more than two dozen artists can create adult Chilkat Dancing Blankets. As a Mentor, Lily inspires budding artists to flip the script that every artist must starve. Her conversations, collaborations and ideas contribute lasting support and a rich artistic community for artists in Alaska and beyond. Lily lives in Douglas, Alaska, with her five children.  

Rebekah Jarvey

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Rebekah Jarvey is an esteemed international designer, artisan, Fashion Show Director, and model, proudly representing her Chippewa, Cree, and Blackfeet heritage as an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe. Rooted in a family legacy of four generations of beadwork and sewing, Rebekah continues this rich tradition with her son, Royce, marking a fifth-generation legacy. Her collaboration with Nike N7 led to the creation of the SB Nike N7 Dunks, which are currently on display at The National Museums of World Culture in Göteborg, Sweden. She has also been featured in Vogue and made her runway debut at Santa Fe Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week & showed during the Cannes Flim Festival. Rebekah presents three distinct clothing lines: ready-to-wear, upcycled one-of-a-kind pieces, and Indigenous Luxury. Her NEO collection is inspired by the Cree geometric beadwork her mother crafted during her childhood, featuring two distinct color palettes—one of vibrant neons and the other of traditional hues—both reflecting her cultural roots and personal history. Most recently, Rebekah showcased her Survival to Fashion collection during Super Bowl LIX Week in New Orleans, further solidifying her impact in the fashion industry.

Lisa La-Rue Baker

Website – Facebook

Lisa LaRue-Baker (Cherokee Nation) is a contemporary double-wall basket maker, taught by elder Anna Sixkiller and focuses on creating traditional-based art with modern and abstract materials. As a staff member of Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Resource Center and later Director of Language, History and Culture for the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, she has taught thousands of children over a 25+ year timespan in cultural arts including baskets, cornhusk dolls, traditional clothing, jewelry, as well as guidance in the Cherokee history, language and culture. Lisa is currently a gallerist and teaching artist at 785 Arts studio and gallery in Topeka, Kansas (2022 People’s Choice recipient), and a board member of NOTO Arts and Entertainment District, a local organization that advocates for and represents artists in Shawnee County, Kansas, a member of the Steering Committee of the Kansas Arts Network, and Director of 785 Native Arts Council. She is also Lead Curator of the (Topeka) Mayor’s Art Initiative and a facilitator for Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Lisa Stice

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Lisa Stice is the CMO and co-founder of Cherokee Copper, a Native American-owned, family-founded brand that began when she saw the potential to turn her husband Greg’s art into a sustainable business. What started as a small passion project with a $1,000 investment has grown into a multi-six-figure business, honoring Cherokee culture and craftsmanship while reaching customers across the country. With a background in marketing and linguistics, Lisa has spent the last seven years immersed in digital marketing, learning and adapting strategies that work for small creative businesses. She built and manages Cherokee Copper’s e-commerce site—where most of its revenue is generated—and leads all marketing efforts, including email, social media, and online advertising. Beyond digital marketing, Lisa has over 20 years of experience in event planning, including coordinating Native American art markets. She understands both the online and in-person aspects of selling art and believes that with the right tools, Native artists can create sustainable businesses while staying true to their craft. Lisa is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what she has learned with Native artists. She knows firsthand how challenging it can be to turn creativity into a business and is passionate about helping others navigate marketing and sales. Her goal is to make digital marketing more approachable and to empower artists with strategies that work for them—so they can spend more time creating and less time worrying about business.

Greg Stice

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Greg Stice, a renowned Cherokee artist and coppersmith, embodies the spirit of artistic excellence and community engagement. His work at Cherokee Copper, a family-owned business deeply rooted in Cherokee tradition, reflects his commitment to preserving and celebrating Native American heritage. Through his intricate copper jewelry, Stice creates tangible connections to the past while offering a modern interpretation of Cherokee culture. Beyond his artistic contributions, Stice’s dedication to community welfare is evident in his mentorship of others. He mentors emerging artists, fostering a new generation of talent, and his role as Senior Risk Management Administrator at Cherokee Nation Businesses demonstrates his dedication to the well-being of his people. His ability to balance his artistic pursuits with his professional responsibilities demonstrates his deep connection to the Cherokee community and his innovative approach to both creativity and business.

Jessica Pilista Towns-Camara

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Jessica Pilista Towns-Camara, a multi-heritage artist hailing from Sugpiaq/Alutiiq, Yup’ik, and Scotch-Irish lineage, utilizes jewelry as a potent medium to forge profound connections with her ancestral Sugpiaq homeland in Alaska, particularly the Native Village of Pilot Point. Based in Renton, Washington, her work resonates with the enduring strength and resilience of her Alutiiq ancestors. Drawing inspiration from her ancestors, Jessica weaves cultural narratives into her jewelry, skillfully employing unique shapes and materials as visual expressions of her artistic evolution. Her leadership extends beyond artistry, as Co-Director of the Pacific Northwest Alutiiq Culture Camp, fostering a community of sharing, learning, and cultural vitality. Recognized with prestigious grants, including the Bill Holms Center Visiting Researcher Grant at the Burke Museum in 2022, the Creative Native Grant from the TESC House of Welcome in 2023, and a Phoebe Hearst Museum Research Visit, Jessica’s journey transcends aesthetics, bridging the past and present in her creative expressions. Her work is a profound dedication to celebrating and practicing her culture, offering a conduit to connect with Sugpiaq ancestors and perpetuate the cultural legacy of her people.

Alex Vega

Coach Introduction – Schedule Website Review – Schedule Coaching Session – LinkedIn

Alex Vega is a Cultural Brand & Marketing Consultant who helps Native artisans and crafters get unstuck and grow their craft businesses with clarity and confidence. With a deep respect for culture and a gift for simplifying what can feel overwhelming, Alex guides makers through a step-by-step marketing system designed to build trust, spark real connections with craft fans, and drive sustainable sales. His approach blends strategy and storytelling, helping artisans clarify their message, share the deeper meaning behind their work, and create a system that supports both growth and values. Alex walks alongside artisans as a guide who listens first and leads with care. Because when Native artisans and crafters are supported and equipped, their craft work becomes more than a business; it becomes a way to protect tradition, inspire community, and pass culture forward through every piece.

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