CHINLE, AZ-When Miss Central Navajo, Dorothea Paul, decided that she wanted to raise funds to send this year’s athletes to the Special Olympics, she wanted to have a charity event that would bring in the younger generation of Navajos to make them aware of getting involved to help their community. In these times, it is difficult to figure out what the Native American community will respond to with the hardships faced on most reservations. When it was proposed, Miss Central Navajo felt that a fashion show was the best opportunity to reach the younger generation. She focused on involving the most modern and hippest group of designers, models, make-up artists, and hair stylists on the reservation.
After a series of calls Miss Central Navajo was eventually contacted by designer, Dwayne Clauschee with Nizhoni Way Apparel. Through Clauschee, the Miss Central Navajo committee was able to find the necessary people to put on the show. “I was so grateful for all the work they did in putting together this event,” said Miss Central Navajo, “ I was lost as far as knowing designers, models and all the people it involves to put on such an event.” The designers involved were Tionne Linder from Glacsy (pronounced “Glassy”), Cameron James with “Destiny Evolved,” Dwayne Clauschee with “Nizhoni Way Apparel”. Clauschee also presented a spin-off collection/label called, “DKC*fx”, a younger and more edgy spin-off of “Nizhoni Way Apparel”.
Each collection presented spoke volumes as far as the journey of the Navajo from rural farmer to urban “hot-stepper.” Nizhoni Way Apparel presented for the first time ever their traditional Navajo-inspired collection. When asked why do a collection of Navajo ceremonial costuming when in blogs, websites, and interviews Nizhoni Way refused to resort to such an esthetic? “It was not because I had a distaste for such designs--I felt that there was this conflict with who I was as a Navajo and who I am as a designer,” Clauschee stated. “I would like to crossover to mainstream fashion and I know with my educational background and the work I did in Los Angeles makes that possible. Unlike most of the Native American designers, I design with every nationality in mind--not just Native America.” Clauschee felt that designing Navajo Ceremonial wear would confine his design skills to only one sector of the populas while shutting out another. Clauschee also added that Nizhoni Way was intended as a modern Southwestern Wear label and with the interests in his edgy modern designs that a lot was lost with the traditional Navajo garb Clauschee is known for among tribal officails and Native American royalty.
Ya'at'eeh, my name is Joshua Tso, I'm Navajo (Dine`), and I am 18 years old, from Mesa, Arizona. I am now a student at Mesa Community College as a freshman majoring in Aerospace Engineering, where I also competed as a Cross Country runner for the college as well.
Currently I hold the position of Male Co-President of the National UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth) Executive Committee. Though it's my first year as serving as a Co-President, this is my third year on the committee and eighth year overall in UNITY. While being apart of UNITY, I have traveled many places and have met many different people, people who are now great friends of mine no matter where they are or from. So I would be very thankful for what opportunities I have receive through UNITY and what it has done for me in the many ways it has, even those unnoticeable. For that I am thankful for the way things happen, Ahe'hee'.
Kelsey Leonard is a member of the Shinnecock Nation. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and her family resides on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and in Bellport, New York. Kelsey is a sophomore at Harvard University pursuing a joint concentration in History and Anthropology. She is a resident of Currier House.
Miss Leonard is the 2007-2008 Female Co-President of the National UNITY Council Executive Committee. She has been a member of United National Indian Tribal Youth since 2004. Prior to her election as Female Co-President Miss Leonard served as the National Female Representative for the Shinnecock Youth Council and as one of the 2006-2007 National UNITY Council Executive Committee Female Members-at-Large.
Kelsey's campus activities include: The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, the Harvard Program for International Education, the Radcliffe Rugby Football Club and Native Americans at Harvard College. Kelsey is the current Vice President of Native Americans at Harvard College. Miss Leonard participated in a parliamentary internship in Dominica this past summer where she was able to work with the Indigenous communities of Dominica (the Kalinago) and their youth to work towards creating opportunities in their community for economic development.
This past year Kelsey was selected as one of 300 international youth action partners from around the world to participate in the Oxfam International Youth Partnership program from 2007- 2010. She is committed to the protection of Indigenous rights and youth leadership. Over the next three years Miss Leonard will be working with United National Indian Tribal Youth to carry out a project that helps to combat injustices faced by indigenous youth and to create a path for sustainable change.
Ya'at'eeh, my name is Joshua Tso, I'm Navajo (Dine`), and I am 18 years old, from Mesa, Arizona. I am now a student at Mesa Community College as a freshman majoring in Aerospace Engineering, where I also competed as a Cross Country runner for the college as well.
Kelsey Leonard is a member of the Shinnecock Nation. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and her family resides on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and in Bellport, New York. Kelsey is a sophomore at Harvard University pursuing a joint concentration in History and Anthropology. She is a resident of Currier House.
