Sandra Hale Schulman<\/strong> The latest: <\/strong>\u00a0Festooned dresses at Smithsonian; puppets, Sasquatch and hoop dancers win Emmys; and pop stars unite for women’s health<\/p>\n HISTORICAL DRESSES: Military women honored in dresses with stories<\/strong><\/p>\n Two dresses, made 100 years apart, that honor active-duty and retired Native American service women and their Indigenous heritage, are on display at Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n The exhibit, \u201cMaking a Statement <\/a>,\u201d is open to the public now through Spring 2027 as part of the museum\u2019s events to commemorate the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Despite the harsh mention of Indians in the declaration, some women chose to fight for the U.S. by bringing their heritage with them.<\/p>\n The dresses bear powerful stories by Native women about identity, cultural continuity, and the roles they serve within their communities. Each dress and stitch tells a story about the wearer\u2019s relationship to the U.S. Armed Forces.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Lakota beaded dress is decorated with patriotic American imagery. During the late 1800s, Lakota women were forced to find new ways to carry their cultural traditions as they acclimated to reservation life. It was also a time of intense creativity and military jackets as well as the American flag became popular designs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dress designers often saw the banner flying over federal outposts, Fourth of July parades, and Wild West shows. They beaded the stars and stripes flag onto dresses to be worn for special occasions. The Lakota dress was likely made for a Fourth of July celebration.<\/p>\n One hundred years later, a blue jingle dress shows Native women\u2019s creative practice of blending the traditional with the new. The Native American Women Warriors, known as NAWW, color guard dress recognizes Native women’s military service.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2010, Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan, Aps\u00e1alooke [Crow]\/Hidatsa, founded NAWW, the nation\u2019s first all-Native women\u2019s color guard. To show her status as a Native woman and a 22-year Army veteran, she designed the blue jingle dress that she proudly wore during the 2013 presidential inaugural parade.<\/p>\n Patches representing BigMan\u2019s military service are on the sleeves and back. The patch over the heart on the front honors Lori Ann Piestewa, Hopi, (1979\u20132003) the first Native service woman to die in combat in a U.S. war when her unit was ambushed in the Iraqi desert in March 2003.<\/p>\n FILM: Emmy awards recognize Indigenous talent<\/strong><\/p>\n Indigenous works were honored by the 2026 Emmy Awards as they were handed out in separate regional award shows across the country.<\/p>\n The Indigenous documentary, \u201cGuardian of the Land<\/a>,\u201d won three Northwest Regional Emmy Awards, including historical\/cultural long form content;\u00a0 the director award, LaRonn Katchia; and for photography. Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting, the film explores Indigenous perspectives of Bigfoot as a sacred protector of the land rather than a hairy beast myth.<\/p>\n In La Jolla, California, the Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards named the film, \u201cTiger,\u201d from KVCR\/FNX Television as best documentary. The film chronicles the life of renowned Indigenous artist and elder Dana Tiger, Muscogee\/Seminole\/Cherokee, and her family\u2019s resilience as they revitalize the iconic Tiger T-shirt company.<\/p>\n \u201cNavajo Highways,\u201d a puppet show on KVCR\/FNX Television won Informational\/Instructional – short form or long form content and for set design.<\/p>\n \u201cCourage,\u201d from Eric Michael Hernandez, Lumbee,. won for director in long-form content. The film, which was also on KVCR\/FNX, tells the story of Hernandez\u2019s journey from a young boy who at first wanted to play basketball but turned to his family’s tradition of hoop dancing.<\/p>\n It has been racking up awards for months and features his real life hoop dancer uncle, Terry Goedel, who recently performed with Hernandez\u00a0 at the Autry Museum Indian Market. The film also features singer PJ Vegas, celebrity chef Pyet DeSpain, actress Cara Jade Myers and Mateo Ulibarri as the young dancer.<\/p>\n MUSIC: Women in music give back<\/strong><\/p>\n Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum pop star Olivia Rodrigo has announced Daisy Chain Fields<\/a>, a new music festival bringing together women in music to support and uplift women and girls. The festival celebrates the power of collective experiences for new ideas, deeper understanding, and a drive to action.<\/p>\n
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