by Creative Native Consulting

 

 SPOKANE, Wash. – Native American models will bless the runway for the first time at the Spokane Convention Center on Oct. 15 wearing fashions designed by Native Americans – including several Cougs.

“Native American fashion designers throughout the Northwest region and beyond have joined together to create this event. I believe it’s the first-ever all-Native  fashion show like this  in our region, said Angelena Campobasso, producer of the show and owner of Creative Native Consulting. “Several teams of designers will present their fashions, including modern and traditional clothing, jewelry and other accessories.”

Designers and models hail from the Colville, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock, Coeur d’Alene, Cree, Arapaho, Chehalis, Tlingit, Spokane, Kalispel, Warm Springs, Cherokee, Paiute, Quinault and Wampanoag and Massachusetts tribes.

Several of the participants have WSU ties.  Native American Programs’ Assistant Director Faith Price (Wampanoag/Massachuset), graduate student Kalina Ebling (Quinault), and Cougar alum Sequoia Dance (Shoshone-Bannock) will all have designs on the runway. Ebling, Dance, and senior psychology major Alianna Cash (Nez Perce) will also model.

Men, women, and children’s fashions will be featured.

“This is going to be more than a fashion show. We will have exhibitions of live performances of champion dancers,” Campobasso said. “Our runway performances will be pure excitement and pure entertainment for the whole family.”

Designers will also sell their fashions beginning at 4 p.m. prior to the show. The event schedule includes:

  • Doors open at 4 p.m. for Native Designers Vendor Booths. Anyone can come to the Vending Event from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Vendors will be available during the VIP Party as well.
  • For the fashion show, doors open at 6 p.m. and show time is at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2016
  • VIP party follows at 9:00-10:30 p.m.
  • Tickets can be purchased at TicketsWest.com and at the door

Proceeds from the fashion show will benefit Hearts Gathered, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that works to revitalize the Native languages of the Colville Reservation by operating a language immersion school.

The Waterfall School is a Montessori school for children ages 3-10 that immerses them in the Okanogan Salish language throughout their academic work, said Melissa Campobasso, executive director of Hearts Gathered.

“The children experience their indigenous language in an inviting, comfortable yet challenging educational setting. In this way, they build strong foundational roots in their Native heritage, and this supports their growth, development and success in life,” Campobasso said.

“At the same time, these children are becoming the new speakers and carriers of our Okanogan language. That is an amazing and beautiful thing.”

Please visit www.heartsgathered.org for more information.