A model wears a piece by Leech Lake fashion designer Delina White during Native Nations Fashion Night on April 25, 2024, at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis.
The fourth annual Native Nations Fashion Night was a vibrant celebration of creativity and culture, showcasing the latest and most innovative works of Indigenous designers.
MINNEAPOLIS — For Delina White, the runway is a place to show off Native ingenuity and spotlight underrepresented designers and models.
The Leech Lake woman, who is the creative force behind Native Nations Fashion Night during Fashion Week Minnesota, brought together fellow Indigenous creators on April 25 for a Victorian Goth-themed show titled “Messengers, Protectors and Great Mysteries.”
Lorie Shaull
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Special to KAXE
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wears a piece by designer Rebecca Mousseau during Native Nights Fashion Night on April 25 at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis.
From the bright and colorful to the moody and dramatic, the rich tapestry of designs included modern twists on ribbon skirts, furs and other traditional Indigenous garb were highlighted along with boots fashioned like deer hooves.
Among the models at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis was Minnesota’s Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the highest-ranking Indigenous woman in statewide elected office in the U.S.
Flanagan is a longtime supporter of White, who designed the Democrat’s inauguration gown when she and Gov. Tim Walz were reelected in 2022. The governor officially proclaimed April 25 as Native Nations Fashion Night in the state.
“It means a lot. I’m really honored,” White said. “I think so highly of her and what she’s done for the Native community.”
In addition to White's I Am Anishinaabe fashion, the event also included designers Christy Ruby, an Alaskan Native Tlingit Indian from Ketchikan; Spirit Lake Dakota Nation’s Rebecca Mousseau, and The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection at the University of Minnesota, including Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s Sage Davis.
Lorie Shaull
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Special to KAXE
Cassandra Okimosh, Red Lake Nation, stands at the end of the catwalk with other models wearing designs by Rebecca Mousseau on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
The models themselves included members of Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake tribal nations, along with other Anishinaabe nations of the Upper Midwest and even the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. And a marketplace offered wares from a variety of Indigenous entrepreneurs.
“It’s about appreciation, not appropriation,” White said in an interview on the KAXE Morning Show. “ ... If you purchase it directly from a Native person, then you know that you’re not going to be wearing anything that’s considered offensive or something that’s maybe ceremonial or for sacred purposes.”
KAXE is a co-sponsor of Native Nations Fashion Night, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Listen to a conversation above from KAXE staffers who attended the event.
Lorie Shaull
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Special to KAXE
Closeup of a model's deer hoof high heels, part of a piece by Delina White at Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
Ojibwe designer Delina White on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
/
Special to KAXE
Models wear pieces by designer Christy Ruby during Native Nations Fashion Night on April 25, 2024, at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis.
More photos from Native Nations Fashion Night
1 of 17 — 16 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
2 of 17 — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan models designs by Delina White on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan models designs by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
3 of 17 — 07 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Rebecca Mousseau.
Lorie Shaull
4 of 17 — A model for designer Christy Ruby's CRuby Designs on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Christy Ruby.
Lorie Shaull
5 of 17 — 12 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
6 of 17 — Closeup of a model's shoes on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Closeup of a model's deer hoof high heels part of a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
7 of 17 — 14 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
8 of 17 — 15 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Cassandra Okimosh, Red Lake Nation, wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
9 of 17 — Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan reads a proclamation from Governor Tim Walz declaring the day Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in Minneapolis.jpg
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan reads a proclamation from Governor Tim Walz declaring the day Native Nations Fashion Night.
Lorie Shaull
10 of 17 — A model wears a piece by Christy Ruby on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Christy Ruby.
Lorie Shaull
11 of 17 — 03 Models on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Models wear designs by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
12 of 17 — 02 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection.
Lorie Shaull
13 of 17 — Models on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection.
Lorie Shaull
14 of 17 — A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection.
Lorie Shaull
15 of 17 — Emcee Grace Goldtooth at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Emcee Grace Goldtooth at Native Nations Fashion Night.
Lorie Shaull
16 of 17 — Closeup of a dress by Rebecca Mousseau on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Closeup of a dress by Rebecca Mousseau.
Lorie Shaull
17 of 17 — Closeup of a Delina White's dress and shoes on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Closeup of a Delina White's KAXE/KBXE dress and shoes at Native Nations Fashion Night.
Lorie Shaull
1 of 9 — 03 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection.
Lorie Shaull
2 of 9 — 06 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Rebecca Mousseau.
Lorie Shaull
3 of 9 — 10 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
4 of 9 — 09 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Rebecca Mousseau on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
5 of 9 — 11 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
6 of 9 — Native fashion designer and beadwork artist, Delina White on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Ojibwe designer Delina White holds a proclamation from Governor Tim Walz declaring April 24, 2024 as Native Nations Fashion Night day. Native Nations Fashion Night was held at Quincy Hall in northeast Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Lorie Shaull
7 of 9 — 12 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by Delina White.
Lorie Shaull
8 of 9 — A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
A model wears a piece by The Restorative Apparel Co-Design Collection.
Lorie Shaull
9 of 9 — 05 A model on the runway at Native Nations Fashion Night in Minneapolis.jpg
Cassandra Okimosh, Red Lake Nation, wears a piece by Rebecca Mousseau.
