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Creating a Global Creative Circle: One bead, one mile at a time.
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Connect Indigenous artisans in a global eco-design collaboration. The goal is to link Maasai and Native American artisans in a creative partnership.
UPDATED It begins by
“sitting in the circle” learning, exploring and building creative community. At the invitation of an Oneida family of beaders
in New York I plan on doing a nearly 2,000 mile journey to do just that. Embark on a creative partnership and design
research project to help build a new creative community.
This has always been the dream and the meaning of Idia'Dega. To connect Indigenous artisans in a creative partnership. This campaign will help launch a project with
Northeastern Native American artisans and connect them with OMWA – Olorgesailie
Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya to develop a collection co-designed, co-developed by
Maasai and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) communities.
We can redefine globalization, as Globalization for Good – engage and
benefit the world.
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Northeast Indian: location. Map/Still.Britannica Online <http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-136185>.
Entering and Expanding the Circle
What the creative and design research
project is about and what it means. Why?
Through my experience working with
the Maasai, I have learned the only way to create a real creative partnership
and community is to go spend time, “In the circle” as Maasai elder and head of
SORALO and Idia’Dega’s Kenya Maasai partner, John Kamanga states.
Through a Native American festival in New
York this past month, I met artisans who expressed an interest working with our
eco-design collaboration with the Maasai.
So this research project is about expanding that circle to become truly
global.
So Far
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Idia’Dega launched the global Indigenous eco-design collaborations with the Maasai in
Olorgesailie in Kenya with your help through a successful IndieGogo campaign in
2014 (Thank you!). In 2015 through Advancing
Black Arts program grant of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments
in 2015 the work continued. The OMWA Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of
Kenya + Idia’Dega presented collections in Paris and New York Fashion weeks as
well as Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Nairobi Kenya. Garnering media praise and customers around
the world. Building on the success of
this first collaboration I am seeking to expand this Indigenous global
network to include a Native American community.
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image: Iroquois Nationals
Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederation
“The flag of the Iroquois represents the Hiawatha wampum belt….The center is the Great Law of Peace tree, it also represents the heart of the Five Nations and the Onodaga nation… The first square on the left represents the Mohawk Nation, Keeper of the Eastern Door. The inner square on the left, nearest the heart represents the Oneida Nation. The inner square to the right of the heart represents the Cayuga Nation. The last square, the one furthest to the right represents the Seneca Nation, known as Keeper of the Western Door.” - IroquoisNationals.org
Future – A New Fashion System
Imagine a fashion system that is
transparent and personal rather than opaque and anonymous. Imagine design not only inspired by Maasai
and Native American adornment but made by and with the very artisans who originate
and maintain that design through their culture and heritage. Moving from anonymous inspiration to innovators in the 21st century - sustain + ability. Maintaining traditional textile crafts and culture, now.
This is what this project is
about. Creating this, sustaining this - one bead, one mile
at a time.
This campaign begins September 29
and ends October 12, 2015.
Exploring the Unexplored
What would a collection co-designed
with Maasai and Native American artisans be? What would it look like? I have no idea, but cannot wait to find out.
This is the goal of the collaboration, of Idia’Dega. To connect people who would never meet in a
creative community. To build a creative circle around the globe. To in fact, redefine Globalization, to mean
Globalization for good – to engage and benefit the world.
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Nearly 2,000 mile journey Rand McNally TripMaker
Time is of the Essence
Due to the location of many of the Northeast
Native American groups, I plan on embarking on this trip by mid-October.
One of the Oneida beaders she met at the
Saratoga Native American festival said,
“Oh please come and
meet with us, but before the snow falls.”
Point taken.
As a creative partnership and design
research project several locations are on the agenda, with enough flexibility
to add sites as needed, covering over 1,500 miles:
·
National Museum of the American Indian – Washington D.C.
·
Museum of Indian Culture – Allentown, PA.
· The Institute of American Indian Studies – Washington, CT.
· Ganondagan State Historic Site – Victor, NY
·
Research Area – Rochester
NY
·
Shako: wi Cultural Center and Oneida Indian Nation – Oneida, NY
·
Research Area – Syracuse,
NY
·
Onondaga Nation –
Nedrow, NY
·
Akwesasne Cultural Center – Hogansburg, NY
·
Iroquois Indian Museum – Howes Cave, NY
· Seneca Iroquois Museum – Salamanca, NY
Funding
The plan is to cover as much ground
as possible while being a frugal as possible, keeping in mind the safety of a
solo woman traveling on the road for three weeks or longer. So here is our estimated budget:
Budget
|
USD
|
Car
Rental
|
$
800.00
|
Gas
|
$
225.00
|
Lodging
|
$
1,500.00
|
Museum
Entrance Fees
|
$
100.00
|
Food
|
$
375.00
|
Total
|
$
3,000.00
|
Perks
We have some practical and fun perks
that we hope will inspire you to support this project.
Perks |
Amt |
Buy a gallon of gas |
$ 2.00 |
Healthy Road Food Fund |
$ 5.00 |
Postcard sent from location
enroute |
$ 10.00 |
Personalized Thank you Tweet,
Instagram or FB from the road |
$ 25.00 |
Print of photo of Maasai men
in Olorgesailie |
$ 50.00 |
Sponsor
a Mile – Along the route photo with your name, image,
hashtag or message of your choice (no profanity please) shared on social
media. Available miles: Mile 1, Mile
101, 301, 501, 701, 901, 1101, 1301, and 1501. |
$ 100.00 |
Oneida wampum bracelet/armband |
$ 150.00 |
Portion
of donation will go to one of visited Native American Cultural
Centers/Museums or Community Centers in your name. |
$ 250.00 |
Other Ways to help
-
Giving comes in so many ways. Any
donation, even $1 is helpful. But if
that is not an option please consider:
-
Since the campaign is a short one, time is of the essence. Your help in getting the word out is key.
-
Sharing the campaign
with friends and family.
-
Spreading the word
via social media and even old fashion email.
The link to the campaign is: https://www.indiegogo.com/campaigns/connecting-indigenous-artisans-in-africa-america
-
Host or invite
Tereneh to come to upcoming events – book clubs, church meetings, etc. To give
a brief talk on what the global eco-fashion collaborations of Idia’Dega are all
about.
-
Follow Idia’Dega on
FB, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and on the site www.idiadega.com for updates.
Thank you, Ashe oleng. It means so much, every bit helps.
One bead.
One mile at a time.
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