WILLOW JACK

Bunnuh, Nu Nanewanuh. Hello my peeps my name is Willow Jack and I am a mixed blood Indigenous woman who is seriously motivated and wants to see good things happen for our future generations. I am a jingle dress dancer in the powwow circle and honored to be a champion jingle dress dancer as well. I have great respect for this style of dance because it has truly brought me to be where I am today, physically. Although I do participate in the contemporary world of powwow dance, don't be fooled. I am also a dancer of my ceremonial dances and participant of my ceremonial ways. I do not claim NAC, but I believe in NAC, Sun dance, Sweat lodge, Longhouse and much more.

I am a descendant of Sacajawea and member of the Lemhi Shoshone Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho. I am a rez girl and not scared to say it, regardless I am still versatile where ever I may be, whether it is the big cities or in the mountains. Now, I come from the bloodlines of the Lemhi Shoshone, Bannock, Colville, Couer d'Alene, Spokane and Kootenai people. I have more bloodlines that I carry but these are my most prominent. I follow the ways of the Agai Dika, the Salmon Eater, Lemhi Shoshone because my people are matriarchal and I follow the ways of my mother. My son follows my ways as well.

As for life right now, I am currently attending the University of Kansas for my Master of Social Work in Indigenous Policy-Advocacy and Administration. I enjoy school and it is a blessing to have it going so well for me. I plan on furthering my education upon completing my Masters degree in May of 2010. I dream of working for Indigenous peoples on a National and International level and I know these dreams will someday come true.

I am a speaker, it sort of runs in the family from previous generations of Taigwahnee, and I have been invited to speak on various topics: reservation life, suicide, teen pregnancy, believing in oneself, grief, overcoming the odds, reaching for the stars in education and life, the story of my life and the loss of my child and husband in 2005, decolonization and empowerment. I have also done keynote speaking, motivational and educational speaking for various groups, organizations, institutions and so forth.

I even do a little artist or book modeling for Native American Themed books and other things. I have also done film, but very little.

Now that you know more about me, here are some more blanks I did not previously fill: I am a mother to a son, I have a dog, I travel extensively, I like to sew, bead, cook, and I LOVE FOOD. Food is my weakness and hopefully not my demise! If I was given any super hero power, I would be able to eat and never gain weight or get diabetes..lol However, I'd rather not worry about weight and just CULTIVATE these curves because that's how I roll. OOSE

If you would like to contact me for any reason please feel free to email me at smokinmoccasins@yahoo.com