My grandparents (in red) met as students at Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nev. They instilled pride in our culture and heritage.

My parents met at Western Washington State College after my dad returned from the Vietnam War. They moved to the Dresslerville Colony in the early 1970s so my dad could reconnect with family, the Washoe culture, and his ancestral homeland.

I am named after my father's ??ma? Sadie. I was very lucky to grow up with my s?ma?, Aunties Therese, Lucille, JoAnn, and Geraldine. The Original Smokey sisters. I grew up in Dresslerville. I moved away to attend university. I've been an "Off-Reservation" member of the tribe since.

Sadie Jo Smokey-Crews is based in Phoenix, Arizona. I am an enrolled citizen of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Pawalu). I am also Kiowa and White. I am influenced by my multicultural background. I also volunteer as the editor of my tribe?s digital Off-Reservation newsletter. I strongly support inspired Natives and groups and organizations that celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Indigenous peoples. I am committed to raising awareness of the breadth of our traditional homelands. 

The impetus for this digital marketplace came when I asked where I could buy a T-shirt that expressed pride in our Washoe history and culture. I was told I wasn?t allowed to have one. It could have been an off-the-cuff comment, but don't tell a modern, educated Washoe woman what she can and can't do. I decided to create the T-shirts I wanted, expressing our people's history, humor, and pride. T-shirts will fall into the following themes/campaigns.

• LAND BACK - Show support for the original stewards of the rivers, lakes, mountains, and valleys of the Sierra Nevada.
• YOUTH MATTER - This is what I know. I am proud to acknowledge the pivotal role my peers and relations play in the lives of our young people. From instilling confidence and academic excellence to teaching and preserving our language, their dedication and vision play an integral role, ensuring that the legacy of our language, of our grandparents, aunties, and uncles, endures and thrives for generations to embrace and cherish.
• FAITH - I am a Christian. My Aunties and my grandmothers made sure I had a relationship with God and that I had room in my heart for those who pray in the traditional ways.
• AUNTIE HUMOR - Popular culture celebrates the Indigenous Auntie. We all have "traditional" wisdom to share. We all have more to learn. Part of my mission is to remind others that Off Reservation or ?at large? members matter. We can all embrace our native language be it numbers, colors, or cuss words.
• LIVING LANGUAGE ? This is what I was taught. Tribal members have authority as the holders and guardians of our traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. With 1,380 tribal members, no one person/entity "owns" our language. No one person/entity grants permission for artistic license regarding our language - be it a tattoo, sticker, hat, T-shirt, or novel. By normalizing the use and presence of our language, I hope to help keep our language vibrant and thriving.

During the 25/26 school year, I planned Indigenous Community Recognition nights during basketball season at one of the two high schools, where many of our Washoe youth attend. Funds helped with honorariums for the drummers, singers, dancers, publicity, and educational activities.

During the 2024/25 school year, I made W???iw skirts for girls in the Hung-a-lelti community. Sewing is one of the skills female students at Stewart Indian School learned. For many years, our elders made W???iw skirts and dresses for the girls and women in their communities. Fewer modern families have sewing machines or the skills to make these garments. Fabric for a 2- or 3-tier skirt is more expensive than an A-line "ribbon" skirt since it requires more fabric. Our cotton and ricrac skirts represent our identity, resilience, survival, creativity, connection, and sacredness through kinship.

Thank you for your support.