Rez Dog Swimsuit Models Address Native Voice Criticism

Rez Dog Clothing Company Responds to False Allegations Written About Them in the Native Voice Newspaper

We at Rez Dog Clothing Company would like to address some misconceptions put forth in a two year old article by Native Voice about our company and the annual swimsuit calendar that we produce. Reviewing and not liking the calendar, okay, fine, we can accept and take that. We understand that a swimsuit calendar is not for everyone, and that not everyone in Indian country might like the idea of an all-American Indian swimsuit calendar. But when you attack our company and misrepresent us as a ghetto gangster company that is producing pornography and marketing and advertising it as role models for our young Indian girls, well, that is completely wrong, not who we are, not what we are about and not what we are doing what so ever.

We take great offense to those allegations and would like to set the record straight and answer some of the questions posed to us.

Why produce an all-American Indian swimsuit calendar in the first place?

When you look at main stream media, you see White, Black, Hispanic and Asians, but where are the Native Americans? For years we have heard our models and actors say they can't get jobs in the entertainment industry because they are still perceived as buffalo hunters, and just out of the teepee in their buckskin dress. All we are doing by producing a swimsuit calendar is evening the playing field a little and giving our models who want to pose in swimwear the opportunity and forum to do so. Why not have equal opportunities for our Indian women? Our cover model, Jamie Vondal-Everett took the calendar around to agencies in Los Angeles and just got signed with the same agent that handles successful models Brooke Burke and Nikki Ziering. This calendar is being used as a stepping stone for the beautiful women in it who want to further their modeling and acting careers. Until main stream media can see us as something other than savages and buckskin wearing teepee dwellers, we will never get further than that in the roles our models and actors are offered. Well, we could be like the Taliban and put all of our Indian women in burkas and keep them completely covered. That way no one could look at us, or see us as having beautiful bodies or a sexuality.

Yes, times are changing. Do we as Native people have to change with the times? Not in everything, no, but isn't it nice to live in a free country where we can have the opportunity to view or be in a swimsuit calendar if we want to and still dance and celebrate our great past and traditions!

How are you marketing and advertising this calendar?

We have not now, nor have we EVER marketed and advertised this calendar as a "role models for young Native American girls" calendar. The calendar has always been marketed for adults as "The only all-American Indian swimsuit calendar." PERIOD. When a staff member from Native Voice was criticizing the girls as she looked through the calendar, considering them bad women who could only make it in this world peddling their flesh, yes, owner Keith DeHaas stood up for our models and defended their characters and let her know that all of these women were brains as well as beauty, and all were known as role models in their communities. These women are college students, bright, articulate, self confident high achievers and quite active in their community. But has that ever been our marketing or advertising strategy? No. The role models statement was made as an opinion statement to Native Voice in defense of the models' character, but has never figured into our marketing or advertising.

Are you producing soft porn?

No, absolutely not! None of the models are nude and none are showing private parts. That would be pornography. It is just a swimsuit calendar, shot in the style of Sports Illustrated, but with Indian women in natural settings - mountains, rocks, waterfalls, creeks, in fields of wild flowers and on horseback.

Are the models paid and where do the proceeds from this calendar go?

Yes, the models are financially compensated for the shoot plus they receive an all expense paid trip, stay in a beautiful resort, pictures for their portfolios, swimwear and Rez Dog clothing, and they have a week to network with their peers. After expenses a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of this calendar are going to Native American Cancer Research. This calendar was produced and dedicated to the memory of Miss Indian America 1955 - Rita Ann McLaughlin DeHaas (mother of Rez Dog owner Keith DeHaas), who died of breast cancer. Keith's wife Mary's mother, Edna Boardman, is a breast cancer survivor. We wanted to do something to give back to Native American Cancer Research, so we chose this area within our company to do that.

Is Rez Dog Clothing Company really a "ghetto, gangster style" clothing company?

Not in the least. We are a small hard working Indian family company specializing in Indian athletic apparel and humorous tees. We started out on the pow-wow circuit in 1998 with 4 designs, and have grown our company to over 100 designs, using our own money, initiative, and hard work. We chose the Rez Dog as our symbol and logo because it is the tough scruffy survivor, the community dog that every reservation across the country has in common. We liked the concept of relating to ourselves with pride and humor through that scrappy little survivor, the Rez Dog. If you own a Rez Dog ballcap, beanie or hoody, it is owner Keith DeHaas that does 100% of that design and embroidery work himself in his workshop.

If there are some Indian "gangsta" type kids somewhere in this country wearing our apparel, we are not aware of it, nor do we promote or endorse that lifestyle. We understand Indian kids were being told they could not wear Native Pride or Native Threads to school for fear it might be gang related. That has never been a problem with Rez Dog Clothing Company apparel. Main stream contemporary clothing includes graffiti as just one design element. We offer a hip alternative to buying FUBU, Ecko or Tommy Hilfiger. You can feel pride in being Indian when you purchase and wear Rez Dog, and we try to reflect all Indians in our product line.

We have also just developed and brought on a new American Indian Spa Line Native Naturals with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body scrub, botanical body wash, bath gems and massage oil all in traditional native scents like sweetgrass or chokecherry.

Due in part to our many sponsorship programs, in September Rez Dog Clothing Company received the Djusa Indianmuseum of Sweden Award of Excellence, given by Europeans every four years to one American Indian doing diverse and great work for his reservation and the Indian community. We traveled to Scandinavia , bringing with us two dancers, and spoke to schools and presented a full workshop about the modern American Indian.

How else is Rez Dog involved in their Indian community in sponsorship endeavors?

Rez Dog is proud to be actively involved in sponsorship of Indian athletics, musicians, entertainers, models and causes. We sponsor a rodeo team of all Indian riders that compete not only on the Indian rodeo circuit, but nationally on the PBR as well - The Rez Dog Rodeo Team. It brings attention to cowboys of Indian heritage in that national arena.

Iron Five - Championship winners - Men's All Indian Basketball Team

Oyate Challenge - All Indian High School Basketball Tournament

The All American Native American High School Football Championships

Oklahomans for Indian Opportunities Spirit of Women Sponsor

We give to The N.A.T.I.V.E. Project in Spokane Washington providing assistance to over 5250 children and families with addiction, mental health and primary health care services.

1st Annual Northeast Kansas - Midwest Native American Women's Basketball

Championships Double Elimination Tournament - Horton , Kansas

Indian rap artist Natay

Indian comedians Chance Rush and Drew Lacapa

Can a woman appear in swimwear and still be considered any kind of role model what so ever?

The Miss America pageant has been a scholarship pageant for years and a big portion of that pageant is the swimwear competition. Every one of the Miss America contestants is considered a role model in her community and state, despite her decision to appear on National television in swimwear.

She does it to show her self confidence in her body and physical appearance, just as the 12 models for Rez Dog do. It was big competition to appear in the Rez Dog calendar, with over 100 applicants. The 12 models chosen for the Rez Dog calendar are judged not only on physical appearance, but on achievements, education, and self confidence. Whether we like it or not, we are always judged to an extent on our physical appearance. It is human nature, and I don't think that will ever change.

Rez Dog Clothing Company has always been known for maintaining high standards in our growing product line. Indian people have embraced our company because of these quality products but more importantly because of our company's commitment to uplift the spirit of all Tribal people. Rez Dog Clothing Company understands the ongoing struggle of American Indians in this modern age.

Judge for yourself:

Rezdog 2005 Calendar

Christy

Autumn

Calendar Models

Ashley Robert and Kahsaklahwee

Toni

Editorial Note from My Two Beads Worth:

Rez Dog Clothing had been listed on this website earlier, as one of many American Indian businesses, musicians, etc., that should be listed. The business will again be listed as I re-design and revise this website. Why shouldn't we be PROUD and SUPPORT our people in these endeavors?

Many young women dream of a modeling career or dream of becoming an actor or producer, or any number of careers in the media - newscaster, reporter, and so on.

Why would anyone denigrate the beautiful young Native Women that are part of the calendar? The manner in which they are dressed is part and parcel of any modeling career. They are attired no differently than we would see on any beach or lake anywhere in this country. This is not PORNOGRAPHY and as a woman, I feel the allegations made about the women and the calendar to be nothing more than another negative native voice-the voices that want to attack everything, challenge everything, and attempt to force their power onto others because they have somehow become self-appointed, self-righteous REAL Indians who believe they have the right to decide for other native people what they should or should not do in their own lives.

To allege that these young native women are being used, or involved in an illegal activity is the worse allegation anyone who claims to be native themselves could make. To denigrate our own, when at the same time, voices are screaming out that our people are not equally represented in the media is counter-productive.

We are living in modern times. Our young men and women are becoming well educated and many are working very hard to realize their dreams. They are in fact, "role models" for the younger generation. Instead of losing our young people to suicide and the feeling of hopelessness, these beautiful young native women are showing the younger generation that they can also realize their dreams and continue to live with and respect their nation and native traditions. It takes hard work and determination but it can be done.

I was so proud as I looked at these photographs, which are tastefully done and which show the world that native women are as beautiful, if not more so, (I'm somewhat biased here) than any other young women of color whether White, Asian, Black, Brown or American Indian.

My hope is for the greatest success for all these young women and I fully support this American Indian business.

For these self-appointed American Indian rulers and bullies they should hang their heads in shame and spend more energy in supporting our people in their endeavors. Maybe if we support these young women, we may see more of our people equally represented in the media and isn't that what we want? Equality and Equal Opportunity for all our People?

Kudos to Rez Dogs and to all the beautiful Native American women who have modeled for the calendar. May your dreams come true!

April Reports

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Last updated on April 22, 2005