Women Warrior Bling Luncheons

Native Action Network invites you to join us for inspiring gatherings of our Native Women Warriors. We're dressing up, putting on our favorite Native BLING, treating ourselves to our favorite lunch and hanging out with our Native sisters. We're all dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 and working to ensure the safety and health of our families. Join us as we take some time out of our busy days to relax, connect, and laugh.

All events are free, and held online via Zoom. Attendees receive a snack pack from Native-owned companies in the mail following the event, and we host earring giveaways each session.

Luncheons and Speakers

Dr. Charlotte Coté, University of Washington
April 8, 2021, 11:30am-1:00pm
Featured Artist: Mary Kelsay (Unangax) of MEKA

Dr. Charlotte Coté (Nuu-chah-nulth) presents A Pathway to Healing: MMIWG and the REDress Project. Dr. Coté’s presentation focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and the REDress project that honors the women who lost their lives or disappeared, and brings attention to their stories as a pathway to healing from historical and colonial trauma.

Dr. Charlotte Coté is associate professor in the Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington. Dr. Coté is from the Nuu-chah-nulth community of Tseshaht on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She has dedicated her personal and academic life to creating awareness around Indigenous health and wellness issues. Dr. Coté works with Indigenous peoples and communities in addressing health disparities through the revitalization of traditional foodways. Her current book focuses on Northwest Coast Indigenous food sovereignty (UW Press, Fall, 2021). Dr. Coté is the founder and chair of the annual UW "Living Breath of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ" Indigenous Foods Symposium. Dr. Coté teaches classes on the historical and colonial legacy of racial and systemic violence against Indigenous women in the U.S. and Canada.

Lulani Arquette, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation
March 11, 2021, 11:30am-1:00pm
Featured Artist: Lehuauakea (Native Hawaiian)

Lulani Arquette is the President and CEO of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity and Native knowledge with a focus on arts and cultural expression that helps strengthen American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists and communities. Under her leadership, the nonprofit opened its doors in 2009 in the Pacific Northwest. After completing ten years of programming and successful work, in 2019 the ownership of a building in SE Portland was unexpectedly transferred to NACF and will become the new Center for Native Arts and Cultures.

Arquette, a theatre performing artist herself with degrees in Political Science and Drama & Theatre, brings over 30 years of professional experience steering organizations to their highest creativity and potential. Her background includes running the largest multi-service organization for Native Hawaiians with over $20M in revenue and creating the Hawaii Leadership Center. She has served on the boards of the National Insight Center for Community Economic Development, Organization of Women Leaders, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Grantmakers In the Arts, and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. Arquette’s current interests are especially focused on addressing positive social change through the arts, leadership development, and environmental advocacy to build a more compassionate and just nation.

Sovereign Bill, Molly of Denali Actor
January 28, 2021, 11:30am-1:00pm
Featured Artist: Shaadootlaa Iyall

Sovereign Bill (Tlingit and Muckleshoot) resides in Auburn and is 15-year-old. She is an active member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and T’ak Dein Taan clan of the Tlingit Tribe. She’s worked as a lead puller with the Muckleshoot Canoe Family and she’s served as speaker for the Muckleshoot Canoe Family during formal protocol at Tribal Canoe Journeys. Sovereign Bill is also the voice actress of Molly Mabray in Molly of Denali, the first nationally-broadcast children’s program to feature an Indigenous lead character. Through the show, audiences join Molly, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska. Along the way, Molly’s life is enhanced, kept on track, and flat-out saved by maps, guide books, websites, weather reports, and more.

Kimberly Brave Heart, Etiquette Catering Company
November 17th, 2020, 2:00-3:30pm
Featured Artist: Vina Brown (Haíłzaqv and Nuu-chah-nulth) of Copper Canoe Woman

Etiquette Catering Company, an Indigenous Kitchen, is passionate about providing only the very best in organic, locally sourced, and fresh ingredients. Etiquette offers beautiful, nourishing food for your soul. Owner Kimberly Brave Heart, Jewish and Lakota, has been cooking since the young age of ten. Growing up in a household full of men, being raised by her single father and two brothers, she prepared food out of necessity. But over time she has fallen in love with the limitless opportunities that cooking provides. Utilizing traditional recipes from both of her cultures while incorporating a modern twist, Kimberly's creativity, experimentation, and attention to detail bring to life incredible dishes that taste like love in every single bite.

Hillel Echo-Hawk, Indigenous Chef and Owner of Birch Basket
June 18, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm

Hillel Echo-Hawk (she/her; Pawnee and Athabaskan) is an Indigenous chef, caterer and speaker born and raised in the interior of Alaska. As the owner of Birch Basket, her food and work has been featured in multiple national and international media sources. She provides catering and private chef services, with menu’s consisting of pre-colonial, Indigenous ingredients, paired with both traditional and modern techniques, and the stories of the people and the land that the food tells. Echo-Hawk is dedicated to the food sovereignty of Native peoples and is committed to empowering all Indigenous Peoples by increasing knowledge of an access to traditional diets and foods. Hillel is a proud member of the I-Collective, an autonomous group of Indigenous chefs, activists, herbalists, seed, and knowledge keepers. Hillel is a sister, aunt, daughter, and active member of her community.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, Director of Urban Indian Health Institute
May 15, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm

Abigail Echo-Hawk, MA (Pawnee), was born in the heart of Alaska where she was raised with the traditional values of giving, respect for all, and love. As the Director of Urban Indian Health Institute and Chief Research Officer of Seattle Indian Health Board, Abigail works to engage community partners, conduct research and evaluation, and build capacity for Native organizations. In these roles, she also works to identify health research priorities and ensure research is done in a manner that respects tribal sovereignty and is culturally appropriate.