Litefoot pushes global business expansion

‘Litefoot’, New President and CEO of NCAIED, Pushes for Indian Country To Expand Its Global FootingNow Davis is directing his energy toward the NCAIED and its goals to advance global opportunities for Indian country through its Global Native Trade Center (GNTC). Sponsored in part by the Forest County Potawatomi and UPS, the GNTC is geared at helping tribes and Native businesses establish international trade relationships with foreign entities.

“At a time when diversifying our economic vision has never been more important, the National Center’s role in fostering global relations between Indian country and other countries to facilitate new opportunities beyond the U.S. is the future,” Davis said. “And that’s not just a one-way street. Tribal leaders have spoken about import and export, and how to exercise tribal sovereignty to not just help their own tribal communities, but to help drive the U.S. economy.

“While many people may find the idea of Indian country driving the U.S. economy absurd, I believe there is a way to do it,” he continued, citing the success of gaming in Indian country as an example. “Some people thought gaming was crazy. They never thought it would become so lucrative for many tribal nations.”

Davis realizes global expansion has to start at the regional level. The NCAIED plans to widen its scope by taking the highly successful Reservation Economic Summit (RES) into additional regionally focused events throughout the country. “It will be the RES model expanded into regionally focused events with nationally relevant content, so that we really drive economic momentum to regions across the U.S. by showcasing tribal enterprises,” he said. The first regional event, “RES Oklahoma,” will take place this November 14 and 15 at the Cherokee Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa. Next year, the main “RES Vegas” event will be held from March 11 to 14 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.Comment:  For more on the subject, see NIGA 2012 (Day 2) and Litefoot Appointed NCAIED President.

NIGA 2012 (Day 2)

After meeting Wes Studi, Adam Beach, and other celebrities during our first day at NIGA, there was no letup on our second day.

Walking into the convention center, we met Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and his entourage.

Comedy duo Williams and Ree, aka the Indian and the White Guy, stopped by our booth. My pal Victor cracked them up so much that they thought he might be a comedian too.

I saw Gray "Litefoot" Davis, new president of NCAIED, talking business with some attendees.

Dennis Banks, co-founder of AIM, was there for some reason--perhaps to tout his documentary. Victor thanked Banks for inspiring him at a school assembly 33 years ago.

Sonny Skyhawk pigeonholed me for some talk about Hollywood's failure to cast Native actors to play Natives. He doesn't think Johnny Depp should play Tonto in the Lone Ranger movie.

In fact, his committee investigated Depp to see if he has any enrolled Cherokees in his family tree. Apparently not. That doesn't mean Depp is fibbing about having a Cherokee great-grandmother, but it casts more doubt on his worthiness to play a Native.

Walking to our car through the Gaslamp Quarter, we saw Irene Bedard eating at a sidewalk cafe.

We had a late lunch at Lou & Mickey's in the Gaslamp Quarter. From our table, we saw Adam Beach walking by, talking on his cellphone. Victor called him over and he joined us for a few minutes.

More photos: NIGA (Day 2)--April 4, 2012

For more on NIGA, see Pix of NIGA 2011 and Report on NIGA 2011.

Below:  Sonny Skyhawk and Dennis Banks.

Litefoot apponted NCAIED president

Gary ‘Litefoot’ Davis Appointed NCAIED Interim President, CEOGary “Litefoot” Davis succeeded Eric Trevan, former president and chief executive officer of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), as the interim president and CEO of the NCAIED on January 30, 2012, the nonprofit announced in a press release on February 14.

Davis has previously hosted the NCAIED Reservation Economic Summit (RES) and served on the NCAIED board of directors. The Cherokee rap artist and actor Litefoot recently released the album “Relentless Pursuit” featuring hit songs such as “I Am It,” “Different People,” “I’m So Fresh,” “My Chick” and “The Chief.”Comment:  For more on Litefoot, see Litefoot's Reach the Rez Tour and Litefoot's Message of Faith.

Litefoot's Reach the Rez tour

Carmen Davis on ‘Reaching the Rez’ with Litefoot in 2012The group Reach the Rez (RTR) has announced plans for its 2012 RTR “RISE” motivational tour, which will make stops at 48 reservations around the country and reach potentially 75,000 Natives. Reach the Rez was started in 2005 by the Cherokee rapper Litefoot and his wife Carmen Davis (Makah, Yakama, and Chippewa Cree), who is president of the parent organization Association for American Indian Development, and in that year traveled to 211 communities.

“RISE” stands for Revitalization, Inspiration, Sustainability and Empowerment. At stops on the tour, Indian leaders, entertainers, athletes and others speak and perform, delivering positive messages to the tribal communities. We spoke with Davis (who also runs the Native Style clothing line) about her thoughts on this latest leg of the journey to, as she put it, “inspire and empower our Native people and promote self-reliance and sustainability.”

Indian Country Today Media Network:  Now that you’ve been doing this for a number of years, do you hear stories from people who say they were inspired by previous events?

Carmen Davis:  Absolutely. We hear from people immediately after a Reach The Rez event is over; expressing to us what it meant to them. You can view the Reach the Rez Documentary film trailer on our website and see the impact its had on people. There are literally hours more of those kinds of testimonials from our Native people all over Indian Country. We still hear today, stories from people nationwide who were helped and strengthened through the messages of the tour back in 2005. In regards to lasting relationships, we are blessed with family on every reservation throughout the United States. And that’s not an exaggeration. To us, it is such an honor to be blessed with that much extended family across the country. It’s also very humbling to know that we have the support of so many people who keep us in their prayers and thoughts. It just makes us want to work harder.Comment:  For more on Litefoot, see How Football Shaped Litefoot and Litefoot's Message of Faith.

Below:  "Litefoot performs in Albuquerque on the Reach the Rez tour."

How football shaped Litefoot

Rapper Litefoot talks about how his experience as a football player at the University of Tulsa shaped his life.

Litefoot:  Football helped lead rapper to music

By Jimmie TramelLitefoot had what could be categorized as a typical walk-on experience: All work, no play. He said he never got in a game. But he also said it was "definitely worth it" because he got exactly what he wanted out of the experience.

Elaboration? Litefoot said you learn resilience when you are an athlete, especially at the college level. And he's glad he chose the difficult road--trying to make it with a Division I-A team--instead of an easier one.

"A prevailing theme throughout my life is to truly follow your heart and not do what everybody else says was the obvious choice," he said. "That served me well through all these years."

Litefoot intended to bulk up and move to tight end after his rookie season, but weightlifting-gone-bad resulted in a vertebra stress fracture.Comment:  For more on Litefoot, see Litefoot's Message of Faith and Litefoot's Four 2010 Releases.

Litefoot's message of faith

Spirituality provides strength, says Litefoot

Cherokee speaks to Stoney Nation

By Jamie KomarnickiThe Stoney Nakoda First Nation can benefit from the strength that comes through spirituality, says a Native American hip hop artist.

Litefoot, in Calgary recently speaking to members of the Stoney First Nation, said he has a special connection with the tribe after his father attended an ecumenical conference on the reserve in 1971.

The musician and actor, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, was in the city to share the message of his book, The Medicine of Prayer. The book's forward was written on behalf of the Stoney First Nation, but the message is intended for a wider audience.

"The message isn't specific solely to the Stoneys or to any tribal nation--I think it's a message for all people. That would be that we've all been put on this earth for a reason and our responsibility in this life is to find out what that purpose is," Litefoot said. "Sometimes we mistake that with what we want to do versus what we were born to do."Comment:  For more on the subject, see Litefoot's Four 2010 Releases and Litefoot's Sneakers for Diabetics.

Litefoot's four 2010 releases

Litefoot expands brand, shares his life

By Babette HerrmannNot one to stay in a comfort zone, he has four big release dates starting on his birthday, Sept. 11, with the release of his first, self-published memoir, “The Medicine of Prayer.” It chronicles his childhood, music and acting career, family life, and his all-encompassing entrepreneurial spirit.

This October, the abORIGINALFOOT wear line, will be released for sale on Litefoot’s Web site and at retailers nationwide.

The Cherokee rapper merges Native vocals and musical stylings with his brand of hip hop. His 11th album “The Testament,” slated for release Nov. 11, features 11 new tracks and 20 previously released, re-mastered “Conscious Cutz.”

Dec. 11 marks the release of his first box set, “The Lite Years,” a library of all 11 albums.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Litefoot's Sneakers for Diabetics and Litefoot's Product Lines.

Litefoot's sneakers for diabetics

Cherokee rapper Litefoot designs sneakers for diabetics

By Tesina JacksonIn collaboration with Sole Nation Health, Cherokee rap artist, actor and entrepreneur Litefoot has become the first Native American celebrity to develop and produce a personal brand of sneakers to accommodate diabetics.

“A lot of orthopedic shoes are not the coolest looking shoes, and some of the young people who should be wearing those shoes don’t because it’s not a cool shoe,” he said. “I think this shoe will give them the opportunity to wear something that’s really cool and that they won’t be embarrassed of, and it also speaks to their Native American heritage.”

The shoe idea came about earlier this year when Litefoot met Ernesto Castro, a citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona, who started the Native American-owned company, Sole Nation Health. The company’s mission is to provide footwear for the prevention of diabetic-related foot problems and to offer therapeutic shoe-fitting education to individuals in Native communities.

It was after meeting Castro at a reservation economic summit in April that Litefoot and Castro came up with the idea of producing a stylish shoe for diabetics.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Litefoot's Product Lines and Gong's Shoes in Fashion Showcase.

Below:  Litefoot Aboriginal Footwear black sneaker.

Litefoot's product lines

Litefoot expands brand

By Litefoot EnterprisesThe year 2010 has been a busy one for hip hop artist/entrepreneur/motivational speaker/actor Litefoot. Litefoot, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, has an array of new projects.

He will debut his new abORIGINAL FOOT wear line, the "Litefoot" sneaker this October. With the launch of the "Litefoot" sneaker, Litefoot becomes the first Native American actor or musician to create a branded line of sneakers. The footwear line is a joint venture collaboration with Sole Nation Health, an American Indian owned footwear company. The Litefoot sneaker will be distributed throughout North America to Tribal Nations as well as through normal retail outlets and on line via www.litefoot.com

Litefoot, who launched the Native Style Clothing brand (www.nativestyle.net) in 2001, is also expanding its retail presence throughout North America and venturing into brand-specific marketing products for casino resort properties and for Native organizations and events. Native Style Clothing creates apparel featuring iconic contemporary Native designs.

Ever expanding his outreach, Litefoot has recently started work on an inspirational book, The Medicine of Prayer, detailing key events from his journeys throughout Indian Country over the last twenty years. The Medicine of Prayer will be self published.Comment:  For more on the subject, see NIGA 2010 (Day 3), Twilight's Indians at RES 2010, and Litefoot Dispels Stereotypes.

Pix of NIGA 2010

Here are the photographs to go along with my reports for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 of my trip to San Diego for the National Indian Gaming Association:

National Indian Gaming Association--April 7, 2010
National Indian Gaming Association--April 8, 2010
National Indian Gaming Association--April 9, 2010

Plus Joanelle Romero's NIGA photo album featuring her, Adam Beach, Victor Rocha, me, the Guess Who, and more:

Joanelle Romero's Photos--NIGA Convention April 8, 2010

Plus a pic of Victor and me with Walter Lamar.

Plus NIGA's photo album of the Wendell Chino Banquet featuring Litefoot and the Guess Who:

National Indian Gaming Association's Photos--Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award Banquet

For more on the subject, see Pix of NIGA 2009 and The Facts About Indian Gaming.

Litefoot dispels stereotypes

Off ‘the Rez’

By Cheryl HatchWhen Cherokee rapper Litefoot was asked to read the script for the 1995 movie “The Indian in the Cupboard,” he resisted. “That’s a crazy title.”

After he read it, he accepted the role of Little Bear. “Little Bear had tattoos and was half bald.”

He walked up to a teepee and didn’t know what it was. When the child offered him a horse, Little Bear said “We don’t ride horses. We walk,” said Litefoot, explaining that the representations of the Indian were historically accurate. “They go against mainstream media stereotypes of Native American people.”

As an actor and rapper, Litefoot uses the same media—movies, music and marketing—that perpetuate negative stereotypes to challenge and dispel them.

“I have control over what gets presented to the public.”Comment:  I haven't read the Indian in the Cupboard books, but I saw the movie. I liked it. I think Litefoot achieved his goal of dispelling stereotypes and creating a realistic Indian character.

For more on the subject, see Litefoot's Native Green Energy and The Best Indian Movies.