Native American entrepreneur Kelly Holmes launched the world’s first Native fashion magazine in 2012 and has since expanded it into a thriving digital media platform that highlights indigenous art, culture and entertainment.
Now, the Minicoujou Lakota entrepreneur — who grew up on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota — is sharing her success as a mentor, and as an investor in many more budding creative startups run by aspiring Native American entrepreneurs, women and people of color in New Mexico and other Western states.
kAmw@=>6D 96=A65 4C62E6 2?5 =2F?49 “$<@56? ‘6?EFC6D” E9:D J62C H:E9 p=:46 {@J[ E96 4C62E:G6 :?5FDEC:6D 8FCF H9@ 7@F?565 2?5 CF?D E96 “rC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD” 3FD:?6DD 2446=6C2E@C 😕 $2?E2 u6] w@=>6D 2?5 {@J H:== 4@\>2?286 $<@56? 2D 2 7:CDE\@7\:ED\<:?5 “:>A24E” G6?EFC6 7F?5 E92E E96J D2J DA64:7:42==J 7@4FD6D @? 96=A:?8 q=24<[ x?5:86?@FD[ 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[ @C “qx!~r[” 3FD:?6DD6D 8C@H :?E@ DF446DD7F=[ =@?8\E6C> 6?562G@CD E92E 92G6 A@D:E:G6 D@4:2=[ 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?5 4F=EFC2= :>A24ED 😕 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm“’6?EFC6 42A:E2= 😀 2? 6DD6?E:2= D@FC46 @7 7F?5:?8 E@ 96=A =2F?49 2?5 8C@H 3FD:?6DD6D[ D@ H6 H2?E E@ :?4C62D6 2446DD:3:=:EJ E@ DE2CEFA 42A:E2= 7@C x?5:86?@FD[ q=24<[ 3C@H? 2?5 H@>6? 6?EC6AC6?6FCD[” w@=>6D E@=5 E96 y@FC?2=] “(6 H2?E E@ 96=A 3F:=5 E9@D6 4C62E:G6 3FD:?6DD6D 7C@> D4C2E49 :?E@ DF446DD7F= G6?EFC6D E92E 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ =@42= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ AC@>@E:?8 FAH2C5 >@3:=:EJ]”k^Am
kAm$<@56? 😀 3F:=E @? 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 2AAC@249 E@ G6?EFC6 7F?5:?8 E92E 4@F=5 5:DCFAE E96 EC25:E:@?2= G6?EFC6 :?5FDECJ 3J 3C@256?:?8 E96 8@2=D 2?5 E96 4@?G6?E:@?2= >62DFC6>6?E @7 DF446DD — H9:49 😀 32D65 @? 7:?2?4:2= C6EFC?D — E@ 2=D@ 6>A92D:K6 E96 G2=F6 @7 9F>2? 8C@HE9[ D@4:2= 36EE6C>6?E[ 4F=EFC2= 6?C:49>6?E 2?5 ?2EFC2=[ @C 64@=@8:42=[ AC6D6CG2E:@? 2?5 :>AC@G6>6?E[ {@J D2:5]k^Am
kAmxE C6567:?6D E96 4@?46AE @7 G2=F6[ @C “42A:E2=[” E@ C67=64E 9@=:DE:4[ x?5:86?@FD H@C=5 G:6HD E92E 2C6 ?@H H@G6? :?E@ $<@56? ‘6?EFC6’D 7@F?52E:@?2= >:DD:@?]k^Am
kAm“|@?6J[ @C 7:?2?4:2= 42A:E2=[ 😀 ;FDE 2 E@@= H6 FD6 E92E D9@F=5 C6EFC? >@C6 42A:E2= E92? >@?6J 2=@?6[” {@J E@=5 E96 y@FC?2=] “~G6C E96 564256D[ G6?EFC6 42A:E2= 92D 364@>6 2 3=F?E E@@= E@ 6IEC24E H62=E9 2?5 4C62E6 2 =@E @7 >@?6J 7@C 2 76H H9:=6 =2C86=J :8?@C:?8 E96 36?67:ED @7 ‘4@>>F?:EJ 42A:E2=]’ uC@> @FC A6CDA64E:G6[ E9:D 😀 23@FE C6\:?G6DE:?8 😕 E96 64@=@8:42= DJDE6>[ 4C62E:?8 ;@3D[ 6IA2?5:?8 4F=EFC2= 6IAC6DD:@?[ 2?5 96=A:?8 A6@A=6 E@ 36EE6C 4@>>F?:42E6 H9@ H6 2C6 2D 9F>2?D]”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mpDD:DE:?8 F?56CD6CG65 4@>>F?:E:6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw@=>6D 2?5 {@J 3F:=E E96 7@F?52E:@?2= G2=F6D 7@C $<@56? H:E9 :?AFE 7C@> @E96C qx!~r 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 2?5 :?G6DE@CD 27E6C E96 H@>6? 3682? D66<:?8 DE2CEFA 2?5 8C@HE9 42A:E2= 7@C 8C25F2E6D @7 @?6 @7 rC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD’ ?6H 2446=6C2E@C AC@8C2>D 42==65 “rC62E:G6D x?5:86?@FD[” H9:49 @776CD :?E6?D:G6 EC2:?:?8 3@@E42>AD 7@C }2E:G6 p>6C:42?\CF? 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am
kAm%96 @C:8:?2= rC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD AC@8C2>[ H9:49 {@J =2F?4965 😕 a_`c[ 92D E@ 52E6 EC2:?65 2?5 2DD:DE65 ?62C=J ed_ 4C62E:G6 3FD:?6DD6D E9C@F89 D4@C6D @7 2446=6C2E@C 3@@E42>AD] p3@FE gaT @7 E9@D6 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 CF? 3J H@>6? 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[ H:E9 23@FE 92=7 32D65 😕 }6H |6I:4@ 2?5 E96 C6DE 😕 @E96C DE2E6D 2?5 4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
kAmr@==64E:G6=J[ E96J’G6 8@?6 @? E@ C2:D6 23@FE Sb`d >:==:@? 😕 7F?5:?8 E@ 4@?E:?F6 3F:=5:?8 2?5 8C@H:?8 E96:C G6?EFC6D[ {@J D2:5]k^Am
kAmv6?6C2==J DA62<:?8[ E96 4C62E:G6 :?5FDEC:6D 6?4@>A2DD 2 3C@25 DH2E9 @7 3FD:?6DD 24E:G:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 56D:8?[ 82>6D[ D@7EH2C6 2?5 7:=> E@ >FD:4[ AF3=:D9:?8[ 2?5 A6C7@C>2?46 2?5 G:DF2= 2CED] p?5[ 8=@32==J[ E96 4C62E:G6 64@?@>J 😀 3@@>:?8[ 6IA2?5:?8 2E EH:46 E96 C2E6 @7 E96 @G6C2== 64@?@>J H:E9 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sb EC:==:@? 😕 2??F2= C6G6?F6 2?5 >@C6 E92? d_[___ 4C62E:G6 G6?EFC6D =2F?4965 6G6CJ J62C]k^Am
kAmv:G6? rC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD’ DF446DD @G6C E96 A2DE 564256[ {@J A2CE?6C65 =2DE J62C H:E9 w@=>6D E@ 3F:=5 E96 ?6H rC62E:G6D x?5:86?@FD AC@8C2>[ H9:49 w@=>6D ?@H CF?D 7C@> s6?G6C[ r@=@C25@[ H96C6 96C @H? 3FD:?6DD[ }2E:G6 |2I }6H |65:2[ 😀 32D65]k^Am
kAmqFE 27E6C 4@?4=F5:?8 @?6 @7 E96 ?6H 3@@E42>A 4@9@CED =2DE J62C[ w@=>6D 2?5 {@J 925 5:77:4F=EJ 7:?5:?8 7F?5:?8 D@FC46D 7@C AC@8C2> 8C25F2E6D[ =625:?8 E96> E@ BF6DE:@? H9J 2446DD E@ 42A:E2= 😀 D@ D<6H65 7@C H@>6? 2?5 >:?@C:E:6D]k^Am
kAmx? a_a`[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ G6?EFC6 7F?5:?8 😕 H@>6?\7@F?565 DE2CEFAD D9C2?< E@ ;FDE aT @7 E@E2= :?G6DE>6?E — :ED =@H6DE =6G6= D:?46 a_`e[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E:DE:4D 4@>A:=65 3J E96 H@>6?\7@4FD65 6?EC6AC6?6FC\2?5\:?G6DE@C ?6EH@C< $AC:?83@2C5 t?E6CAC:D6D] p?5 qx!~r 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 😕 86?6C2= DECF88=6 E@ 6G6? 86E E96:C 7@@E 😕 E96 5@@C[ H:??:?8 ;FDE A2CE @7 E96 7F?5:?8 E96J D66< @?=J eeT @7 E96 E:>6[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 g_T 7@C H9:E6\=65 DE2CEFAD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ a_`h 52E2 7C@> E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 C62= =24< @7 2446DD 7@C x?5:86?@FD H@>6? 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C[ 2?5 E92E ?665D E@ 492?86[” w@=>6D D2:5] “$@ H6 D2:5[ =6E’D DE2CE @FC @H? 7F?5 2?5 96=A C6HC:E6 E96 CF=6D E@ 6>A@H6C Wqx!~rX 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 2?5 :?4C62D6 2446DD:3:=:EJ E@ DE2CEFA 42A:E2=]”k^Am
kAm%96J E96? 3682? 56G6=@A:?8 E96 7@F?52E:@?2= 7C2>6H@C< =2DE $6AE6>36C 7@C $<@56?[ H9:49 😀 }2E:G6 p>6C:42? J@FE9 D=2?8 7@C “{6E’D 8@ E96?[” w@=>6D D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$66<:?8 AC@DA64E:G6 6?EC6AC6?6FCDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmrC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD[ H9:49 😀 DA@?D@C:?8 E96 :?:E:2E:G6 2D $<@56?’D “86?6C2= A2CE?6C[” 2:>D E@ C2:D6 S`_ >:==:@? 7@C $<@56?’D 7:CDE 7F?5]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 23@FE 2 E9:C5 @7 E96 H2J E96C6[” {@J D2:5] “(6 6IA64E 2 ‘7:CDE 4=@D6’ @? E96 7F?5 E9:D 72==[ 2?5 E96? H6’== DE2CE >2<:?8 :?G6DE>6?ED] (6’C6 2=C625J E2=<:?8 H:E9 4@>A2?:6D 😕 }6H |6I:4@ 2?5 36J@?5]”k^Am
kAm%96 7@F?56CD =2F?4965 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^D<@56?G6?EFC6D]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD<@56?G6?EFC6D]4@>k^2m 😕 pAC:= E@ 65F42E6 E2C86E 4@>>F?:E:6D 23@FE E96 7F?5’D >:DD:@? 2?5 8@2=D[ 2?5 E@ :?G:E6 AC@DA64E:G6 6?EC6AC6?6FCD E@ 368:? 5:D4FDD:@?D 2?5 AC6A2C6 7F?5:?8 “A:E496D” 7@C H96? :?G6DE>6?ED 368:?]k^Am
kAm“%96 EC25:E:@?2= G6?EFC6 42A:E2= H@C=5 😀 86?6C2==J @A2BF6 2?5 D64C6E[” w@=>6D D2:5] “(6 5@?’E H2?E E92E] (6 H2?E EC2?DA2C6?4J E@ 4@??64E H:E9 6?EC6AC6?6FCD 2?5 :?4C62D6 2446DD:3:=:EJ[ D@ H6’C6 AFD9:?8 @FC >6DD286 @FE E9C@F89 D@4:2= >65:2]”k^Am
kAm%96 7F?5 H:== E2C86E 62C=J\DE286 DE2CEFAD 2=C625J 😕 3FD:?6DD 23@FE @?6 J62C[ 2?5 FA E@ E9C66 @C 7@FC J62CD] p?5[ 2=E9@F89 :E’D E2=<:?8 H:E9 >2?J }6H |6I:4@\32D65 6?EC6AC6?6FCD[ :E H:== :?G6DE 😕 qx!~r 3FD:?6DD6D E9C@F89@FE (6DE6C? DE2E6D 2?5 36J@?5]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 7@4FD65 @? }6H |6I:4@[ H9:49 😀 2 8C62E A=246 E@ =625 @FC :?:E:2E:G6 3642FD6 :E C67=64ED 2== E96 5:776C6?E 7@C>D @7 ‘42A:E2=’ H6 H2?E E@ 3@@DE[ 8:G6? 2== E96 :?5:86?@FD 4@>>F?:E:6D 96C6[” {@J D2:5] “qFE H6’C6 ?@E =:>:E65 E@ }6H |6I:4@] (6’C6 =@@<:?8 @FE 24C@DD E96 (6DE]”k^Am
kAm$<@56? >2?286CD H:== 6DA64:2==J D66< 4C62E:G6 DE2CEFAD E92E 2C6 3F:=5:?8 :??@G2E:G6 AC@5F4ED 2?5 D6CG:46D 😕 F?56CD6CG65 4@>>F?:E:6D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E9@D6 E92E 42? :?;64E ?6H G:3C2?4J :?E@ 6I:DE:?8 >2C<6ED[ @C 6G6? 4C62E6 6?E:C6=J ?6H G6?F6D[ =:<6 E96 |6@H (@=7 2CE:DED’ 4@==23@C2E:G6 😕 $2?E2 u6[ {@J D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 AC@DA64E:G6 4@>A2?J[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 😀 3F:=5:?8 2 G:CEF2= C62=:EJ >65:F> 7@C x?5:86?@FD 4@>>F?:E:6D 6G6CJH96C6 E@ 4@??64E 2?5 3@@DE 4F=EFC2= EC25:E:@?D 2?5 ?2E:G6 =2?8F286D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D FD:?8 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 E@ C6G:E2=:K6 :?5:86?@FD =2?8F286 😕 E96 }@CE96C? !=2:?D[ 2==@H:?8 6=56CD 2?5 J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ 4@??64E 😕 4J36CDA246[” {@J D2:5] “xE FD6D H@C5D[ 52E2 D6ED[ D@F?5D[ :?E@?2E:@? 2?5 >@C6 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ C6=62C? ?2E:G6 =2?8F286D]”k^Am
kAm$<@56? H:== 2=D@ AC@G:56 4C:E:42= E649?:42= 2DD:DE2?46 E@ 96=A 7F?5\4@??64E65 4@>A2?:6D 7FCE96C 56G6=@A 2?5 8C@H E96:C 3FD:?6DD6D[ D2:5 p?E9@?J |2CBF6K[ 2 }2E:G6 p>6C:42? H9@ 8C6H FA @? E96 }2G2;@ }2E:@? 2?5 62C?65 568C66D 😕 >2?286>6?E D6CG:46D 2?5 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C:?8 7C@> $E2?7@C5]k^Am
kAm|2CBF6K 4@\7@F?565 !C26E@C:2? — 2 9:89=J DF446DD7F=[ %6I2D\32D65 4J36CD64FC:EJ 7:C> — 2?5 😀 A2CE:4F=2C=J D<:==65 😕 96=A:?8 4@>A2?:6D D42=6 E96:C 3FD:?6DD @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 >2C<6ED]k^Am
kAm“|@DE A6@A=6 7C@> x?5:86?@FD 4@>>F?:E:6D 5@?’E 92G6 E96 6IA6C:6?46[ ?6EH@C<D 2?5 4@??64E:@?D E96J ?665 2D 6?EC6AC6?6FCD[ 2?5 EC25:E:@?2= G6?EFC6 :?G6DE@CD 86?6C2==J 5@?’E 36=:6G6 😕 E96> 6?@F89 E@ AC@G:56 42A:E2=[” |2CBF6K E@=5 E96 y@FC?2=] “%9C@F89 $<@56?[ H6 42? 3C:?8 4C:E:42= <?@H=6586[ 7:?2?4:2= 324<:?8 2?5 6IA6C:6?465 :?G6DE@CD H9@ 36=:6G6 😕 E96> 2?5 42? 96=A E96> DF44665]”k^Am
kAm%C6G@C (@=76 — 2? :?G6DE@C 2?5 =@?8E:>6 rC62E:G6 $E2CEFAD 3@2C5 >6>36C — D2:5 $<@56? 😀 3C:?8:?8 4C:E:42= :??@G2E:@? E@ E96 e_\J62C\@=5 G6?EFC6 42A:E2= :?5FDECJ[ H9:49 92D ?6G6C 7@4FD65 😕 2?J D:8?:7:42?E H2J @? F?56CD6CG65 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm“%96 G6?EFC6 :?5FDECJ :?G6DED 😕 ?6H[ :??@G2E:G6 E649?@=@8:6D[ AC@5F4ED 2?5 D6CG:46D[ J6E E96 :?5FDECJ :ED6=7 ?665D :??@G2E:@?[” (@=76 E@=5 E96 y@FC?2=] “xE 7@4FD6D @? DF446DD7F= ‘6I:ED’ 3J 3F:=5:?8 4@>A2?:6D FA E@ 6G6?EF2==J 6:E96C 8@ AF3=:4 @C 36 D@=5 @77 E@ 2 =2C86C 4@>A2?J] qFE >2?J DE2CEFA 6?EC6AC6?6FCD H2?E E@ 3F:=5 DE23=6[ DFDE2:?23=6 4@>A2?:6D E92E H:== C6>2:? =@42= 2?5 D6CG6 E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D 😕 E96 =@?8 E6C>[ 2?5 2E $<@56?[ H6’== H@C< E@ 96=A E96> 249:6G6 E92E]”k^Am
We want to hear from you
This content was originally published here.