On this episode, I will be addressing some questions that I have received regarding why we chose to pivot and retire Wenatchi Wear. I am going to get into some of the nitty gritty of being an advocate paired with owning and operating small businesses. I have been working on the dialogue for this podcast for a while, and it seemed like a perfect day to publish in honor of an advocate who many are quoting today. Let today be a day where we take up space where space wasn’t made for us. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me! No, really take the time to pause and consider others boundaries. My boundaries are put in place to protect my mental health, well being and space. Everyone has boundaries and it is important to acknowledge and respect. 

I get a lot of requests to donate my time. Some of these requests come in aggressively, disrespectful or off-putting. When I get multiple calls & pop-in’s to discuss your event or project, that is not respecting my space. 

I understand your project or event is important to you. I am the owner of two small businesses and a chair of a nonprofit I founded, so these consume a lot of my time. I do not always have time to stop what I am in the middle of doing to chat about your event.

I know that I do not sit around and wait for opportunities, as I am actively working towards my goals. This isn’t to call out anyone specifically, but if you have found yourself asking people to present, talk at your event or to read over your college paper, or assuming the amount of time tasks take others to complete, or are clutching your pearls - here are a few tips.

Being in the service industry, we often hear “ oh, this shouldn’t take much time, it is real quick like 10 minutes.’ First of all, if you do not specialize in this service, you do not have a clue what that task takes. Asking me to come speak at your event for 30 minutes is not just 30 minutes out of my day. It is time to prepare, research, understand what your organization/business is about so I can outline my speech to capture the audience, travel to & from - your only 30 minutes quickly turns into an hour and half or more. I do not tell my CPA, banker or other service industry individuals how much time they should take on my information, so don’t assume - respect and pay what is being charged. What is being charged is a livable wage, it helps pay for mortgages, rent, lease, utilities, food, healthcare and more. 

Asking to come speak at your event to share what it is like to be Native American in our valley is sharing my time, experiences and knowledge. That time is valuable to me. I understand that you would like to know more Native American history or that your child is interested, but it is not up to one person to educate for free. I offer resources and guides to information. It is not an easy task to share history that our country actively works towards erasing, nor is the information always at our colonized fingertips. 

So the next time you reach out to a BIPOC individual to come present, speak or share information at your event, start the conversation with an email outlining all details and what you are willing to compensate or ask what their rates are. Let the individual who is being asked to provide services decide if they want to donate their time rather than you assuming it is free. This isn’t a say all for all Indigenous Peoples, as I always state I am one person who doesn’t represent an entire culture, we are not monolithic beings and we have our own preferences, requirements and boundaries. 

If you have topics, questions that you’d like to submit to be considered being discussed, email [email protected]

I wanted to do a quick podcast about a hot topic in Wenatchee, WA. The Skookum sign was removed from the top of the Office Depot building. I have been tagged in multiple posts regarding articles I have written, our design and my opinion on the image. 

I would like to reiterate the purpose of Wenatchi Wear reclaiming that image and the mission of Wenatchi Wear is to create awareness and empower Indigenous Peoples through authentic threads. Our designs are created by myself or husband, we also have owned and operated a graphic design business in the valley for the past 9 years - R Digital Design, and our goal is to educate and share history, stories, tales through art. Our Skookum image was created in 2019 with the intention of reclaiming & educating. 

NDN Talk-O's with Mary Big Bull-Lewis
In this first episode of NDN Talk-O's, I talk about reconnecting with my culture, what inspired me to launch my second business, Wenatchi Wear, how I launched a land back fundraiser and formed a nonprofit, Indigenous Roots & Reparation Foundation. I also talk with my friend, Chelsea Murphy, who is a local advocate and inspiration. She wears many hats and recently added co-producer to her title as the new Brave Space Media film Expedition Reclamation has now entered the film festival world. She shares how they as a female lead media group are looking to redefine what the norm is in this predominantly male lead industry.