JESSICA CLARK, Lumbee Tribe of NC

Jessica is known for her figurative works of Southeastern Indigenous peoples which document and preserve their everyday lives. Her work has been exhibited in the US and France; including the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Pennsylvania State University, the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC and the Painting Center in New York. 

In 2010 she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since 2011 she has been a visual arts educator while maintaining a full time art practice. She currently resides in Northern New Mexico and teaches visual arts at the Santa Fe Indian School.

SYMPHONY OXENDINE, Cherokee/Choctaw Tribe

Symphony is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership. Symphony worked in Student Affairs for 6 years before pursuing her doctorate. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Higher Education and a doctoral minor in Educational Research Methodology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she also received her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration. She received her B.A. from Oklahoma State University in Applied Sociology.

PAMELA YOUNG-JACOBS, Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of NC

Pamela is the immediate past Chairwoman and the current Vice Chief of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe of North Carolina. She is the first elected female Vice Chief to serve her tribe. She is charged with using her voice to protect tribal sovereignty, promote economic development, health and educational initiatives. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where she is currently an MBA student. She graduated from the Institute of Political Leadership, Raleigh North Carolina, and the Native Leadership Institute at UNC Chapel Hill.  She is a former Miss Waccamaw Siouan. She is the current NC Pecan Queen, the first American Indian to serve for Columbus County. She is employed by Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, North Carolina, and is the first American Indian woman to hold the title as Director of the Small Business Center. She is breaking down barriers and leading the way in American Indian activism and awareness in her county. She has changed the trajectory of the economic development climate in Columbus County by increasing the number of minority owned small businesses creating an environment of inclusion and opportunity for future generations.  

She was born to a mother who was an activist for the community and father who was the first Vice Chief of the Waccamaw Siouan people. She accepted the mantle of service passed to her from her parents. She is song writer and a poet with works published in Marijo Moore’s Feeding the Ancient Fire. It is the fire that burns bright within her and keeps her pressing on.  She is the wife of Marine Veteran, Velton Jacobs, together they have six children and three grand-sons. She is from the St. James community and resides in Buckhead with her family. 

NANCY STRICKLAND FIELDS, Lumbee Tribe of NC

Nancy Strickland Fields 18-year museum career has been focused in museum education and administration. She has worked at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico; The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.; and The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City. Her current role is Director and Curator of The Museum of the Southeast American Indian in Pembroke, North Carolina.

She is the first Lumbee graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies. Nancy earned a master’s degree in History from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is currently a doctoral student in the Public History program at North Carolina State University.

Nancy’s area of research focuses on Southeastern Native peoples and the American colonial experience. She is a trustee for the North Carolina Humanities Council and serves as a board member for the Robeson County Arts Council and the Museum of the Cape Fear. Nancy is a member of the Lumbee Tribe. Her family resides in and around the Pembroke area. She was raised in Charlotte with very close ties to her family in Robeson County.

ALEXIS RAEANA, Lumbee Tribe of NC

Alexis Raeana (She, Her, Hers) is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She is the CEO of Alexis Raeana, LLC where she offers elite entertainment, makeup artistry, modeling, environmental and indigenous advocacy /education services. Alexis received her B.S. in Environmental Science in 2019 from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She is a former Miss Lumbee, received a Golden Ticket on ABC's American Idol, opened for Patti Labelle, released an award-winning music video highlighting #MMIW, a current ambassador for the United States, a published model, and makeup artist, as well as an environmental/ indigenous organizer for the great state of North Carolina. She continues to break through glass ceilings while exuding confidence as an indigenous woman and continues to be a voice for all indigenous people.

SMOKEY RIVER

Smokey River is a Traditional Southern Drum from Coharie land, Clinton, NC. Although many members are Coharie, Smokey River also consists of a number of other tribal members from all around the Nation. Our Drum family is always excited to share our songs with the world. We sing for The Creator and The People!

WARPAINT

WarPaint was established in 2013 in Backswamp North Carolina. Comprised mainly of Tuscarora and Lumbee members, we also have members from the Lakota, Dakota, and Ojibway. One of our main goals as a drum group was to be able to write songs in our language and showcase it across powwow country. We are honored to be part of your celebration. nyà·wę

Land Acknowledgement
Symphony Oxendine

Elder Blessing
Pamela Young-Jacobs