Living by Design

On March 25-26, when Miss Indian MSU reigns over the 46th Annual American Indian Council (AIC) Powwow in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University-Bozeman, Maleeya Knows His Gun will be wearing the beaded artwork of former Fort Belknap resident Wozek Chandler.

Knows His Gun was crowned on October 9, 2021, and although she does not know Chandler personally, she claims to have heard amazing things about her. However, Knows His Gun does have first-hand knowledge of Chandler's talent with dancing and beading.

"The crown that Wozek made for Miss Indian MSU exceeded my expectations. It is far more beautiful than I had imagined, and I am so fortunate to be able to have such a beautiful piece. One of my favorite things about the crown is that you can see the 'Wozek touch' in it. She added her famous sunflowers that contribute so much character to the crown. I have gotten the chance to wear it a couple of times already, and I am in love with it! It is a show stopper piece that will carry on for many years to come. Wozek is filled with talent for sure!"

A member of both the Aaniinen and Nakoda tribes, Chandler began learning the art of beading when she was eight years old. With her mother as her teacher, Chandler started out by beading headbands and barrettes.

Last year, Chandler's beadwork was featured in Bozeman's Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture exhibit "We Are Still Here, and This is Our Story." The exhibit brought awareness to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

Another hobby Chandler enjoys is dancing. To honor her mother, who passed away in 2017, Chandler uses her mother's fan and eagle plumes when jingle dancing. The dance was her mother's specialty. "My dancing connects me to my childhood, my mother, and my Indigenous identity," she stated.

Chandler is looking forward to dancing in the upcoming MSU AIC Powwow. This will be the first powwow she will attend since the pandemic. "However, I did participate in the virtual powwow that they held last year, by dancing in the driveway," she laughed.

"Both of my hobbies serve as good activities to maintain my mental health, especially during the pandemic shutdowns. Dancing and beading give me a space to express myself on my own terms. I feel a lot of people see me as a quiet person, and when they see me dance or put myself out there with my art, they are 'surprised.' I often reflect on how thankful I am to be able to choose these manners of expression as an Indigenous person-as some of my ancestors did not get that choice as freely."

In fact, this past November-while reflecting on Native American Heritage Month-Chandler posted to her Facebook page: "I am thankful that my parents instilled Indigenous identity and pride in me. For that, I also have my grandparents and their parents to thank for passing those qualities and teachings to them, finally reaching me. It's why I carry the name Wozek, which means Ghost Calf. I'm able to live in a world where I can be proud to be Aaniinen and Nakoda while still thriving in colonial settings like higher education and in the workplace. Now it's up to me to use that knowledge to contribute to cultural continuity for those coming up and those that will be."

In May 2021, Chandler earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American Indian Studies from MSU. She is currently using her education in Bozeman at an internship with Spirit Aligned. As she juggles her roles and responsibilities, she is learning to adapt to whatever situation comes her way. With her small staff, Chandler is working to establish a social media presence that will enlarge the organization's reach in providing services to Indigenous women and girls. "Social media also gives us an opportunity to elevate the voices and stories of Indigenous Women Elders that become a part of the program," Chandler reports.

She describes her position at Spirit Aligned as a positive experience. "I've been learning a lot of skills and professional tools to prepare me for my future. I've gotten the opportunity to meet (virtually) inspiring women who want to make positive impacts on their communities for the betterment of future generations."

Eventually, Chandler plans to pursue a master's degree, but for now, gaining work experience and determining a direction have her focus. "For my future, I'm not entirely sure what is to come. I know that I want to pursue a career in the museum field; it's my dream. But I also have other commitments and responsibilities to uphold first. Ever since I was younger, I knew that wherever I went, I would always return home to do language work and to help with the White Clay Immersion School."

As a graduate from that school's first cohort of students, Chandler not only feels obligated to return but also wishes to keep her mother's legacy alive. Her mother, Dr. Lynette Chandler was the catalyst behind the language school's success and growth. Her father, Dr. Sean Chandler taught language lessons there. He currently serves as President of Aaniiih Nakoda College.

Further explaining her future, Chandler stated: "My cultural lifeways are what give me strength in difficult times and have helped shape the career path that I aspire to achieve. Throughout my undergrad education, I've been finding my voice, and I'm developing it more so now that I'm working on my career goals. I've learned not to put too much pressure on myself to have everything figured out, because once I started going with the flow and what feels right, I was led to Spirit Aligned."

According to their website, the Spirit Aligned Leadership Program exists "to elevate the lives, voices, and dreams of Indigenous elder women who heal, strengthen, and restore the balance of Indigenous communities."

The idea of cultivating a sisterhood through the generations lies at the core of Spirit Aligned Leadership philosophy. Spirit Aligned recognizes the legacy of knowledge and experience that Indigenous women carry. From these beliefs, Spirit Aligned seeks to create a circle of Legacy sisters who will help to create a more nearly balanced world.

The name "Spirit Aligned" itself derives from nature. The design and alignment of kernels on a corn cob, as well as the neat rows of corn themselves as the stalks grow, mirror the lives of Indigenous women. "Their spirits are aligned within their homeland and peoples in distinct patterns of knowledge, wisdom, and service," claims a Spirit Aligned spokesperson.

"As I continue to take my path towards my future, I know I will find my purpose and be led to where I'm supposed to be," Chandler concluded.