Commemorating the 60th year of Seneca Women’s Right to Vote
The Women’s Right to Vote Committee hosted a Fashion Show during the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum’s Heritage Day on May 25th. Councillor Lisa Maybee, Councillor Tina Abrams, Councillor Arlene Bova, Councillor Odie Porter, Councillor Marta Kettle, Councillor Geraldine Huff, Rebecca Bowen, Fallon Snyder, Barbara L. Hill, Nakida Redeye, Angela Steckman, Natalie Hemlock, Tami Watt, Stephanie Seneca, Lisa George, and Mary Jacobs worked to get this event to our community. This event concluded the commemorative activities that included a 5k with giveaways, and a luncheon on May 23rd. Rovena Watt Abrams and Corinne Lay were honored for their contributions to their community’s and the Seneca Nation.
Five Seneca fashion designers showcased their latest contemporary pieces. Faye Lone, Rachael Schindler, Shquanebin Lone, Randee Spruce, and Tami Watt lined up Seneca models to flaunt their handmade and designed fashions. Each designer was given five outfits to present to the community to honor our strong, brave, creative, fierce Seneca women, those who came before us and those who will come after. Seneca women will continue to rise above adversity and leave a legacy.
Faye Lone has incorporated her original quilting stitching designs on some of the skirts. Own her one-of-a-kind skirts to build your designer wardrobe. Series pieces include orange skirts with a mother and two children for memorializing our missing children. A series for MMIW are red skirts with women in ribbon skirts holding hands around the skirt. Series with pow wow dancers or smoke dancers stitched around the skirt. Many more designs, including clans, hummingbirds and more! See Faye’s latest creations at www.longhausoflone.com and FB: FayeLoneDesigns
Rachel Lea Schindler, 38, is a proud Beaver Clan member of our Seneca Nation, born and raised on the Cattaraugus Territory. She started her sewing career six years ago with the talented Darice Sampson as a role model. Today Rachel is learning and perfecting her skills at The Sully Huff with Darice as her teacher. She is also sole proprietor of Starberrie Studios. Rachel has inherited the belief that every stitch is a prayer, so her clothes are made with joy! She In-Joys making ribbon shirts, skirts, pants, and hoodies. Her first love was weaving dreamcatchers, and has since learned to sew, bead, and hoop dance! We look forward to a long life of creativity from Rachel, who always has time to say “hae.”
Shquanebin Lone is Tonawanda Seneca, Hawk clan and is the mother of 5. She has been sewing since she was 9 and has many awards. She has pieces in various museums and private collections including the Smithsonian. She has been dabbling in the fashion industry for years with hopes of gracing runways in Paris one day. Her pieces focus on wearability for every body type with one-of-kind flare and indigenous representation, especially our Haudenosaunee community. View Shquanebin’s best looks at www.longhausoflone.com, Insta: BinLoneDesigns, FB: FayeLoneDesigns
Randee Spruce is a Seneca Multi-Media artist from the Allegany Reservation. She is Heron Clan and the daughter of Georgianna Lecceardone and Wade Spruce. She is a mother to her one-year-old son, Orlan Arnold. Randee attended the Institute of American Indian Arts where she majored in Museum Studies and Studio Arts. Her preferred mediums include drawing, painting, beadwork, quillwork, sewing, and graphic design. Randee’s work is unique by using Haudenosaunee designs and making them her own through her style. She has been in multiple art Shows and competitions around the country including the Ganondagan Juried Art Show, St. Bonaventure University, Jamestown Community College, the Institute of American Indian Arts, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market, and the Santa Fe Indian Market.
Tami Watt’s work entails graphic design, graphic art, photography and sewing. As a traditional Seneca mother of four from Ohi:yo’, she produces art that represents who she is, how she sees her community and social injustices they face as Indigenous Nations and individuals. She enjoys photographing smoke dance contests, landscapes, people and traditional crafts. Her signature style is to infuse Hodino:sho:ni’ beadwork patterns and earth elements into graphic art designs. She wants to make her art accessible. She likes to make custom clothing, shoes, stickers, scarves and other items to educate and represent authentic Indigenous designs because representation matters. You can purchase Tami ‘s clothing at www.tamiwattdesigns.com. Her photography portfolio can be viewed at https://tamiwatt.myportfolio.com/work and Instagram: tamilynn_watt
Twenty Seneca models from ages 5–70, ladies and gentlemen, walked the runway to celebrate Seneca women including; Arien Stevens, Taylor Issac, Zoey Nephew, Sarah Nephew, Renee Quinn, Kasey Santiago, Alyssa Santiago, Nicole Hill, Liz Crouse, Angelina Hinton, Alleyana Abrams, Charli Rae Hill, Michaelynn Lecceardone, Xanthe John, Heron Watt, Hattie Watt, Eli Himelein, Madison Brown, Gina Larvie, and Rebecca Bowen.
Darelyn Spruce was the emcee for the day. The event was well attended with standing room only. The committee would like to thank Mary Jacobs, Lisa George, and Natalie Hemlock for organizing the event! Stay tuned for bigger and better next year!
