Red Dress Fashion Show honors loved ones affected by heart disease
3/4/2015 4:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

Natalie Shattuck, Editor 

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. In conjunction with healthy heart events, the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways hosted a Red Dress Fashion Show on Friday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the lobby.

            The 24 models who dressed in red and walked the runway did so for loved ones affected by heart-related health problems. 

According to statistics, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds in the United States, and every 60 seconds someone in the U.S. dies from a heart disease-related event.

            SCIT Elder and Ziibiwing Center Board Member Suzanne Cross (Bneshiinh kwe – Bird woman) was the first to tread the runway. Cross walked with her granddaughters; 11-year-old Elizabeth Kay Cross and 6-year-old Alexis “Suzanne” Holochwost, who is a namesake to Cross.

            Cross is an associate professor at Michigan State University. Cross and her granddaughters walked in honor of all of those who have walked on as a result of heart disease.  She also shared her appreciation of the community support on her “Healing through Culture and Art Shawl Collection” on display at Ziibiwing.

            “Although heart (cardiac) disease is the number one cause of death for male and female American Indian/Alaska Natives, the female population often experiences heart disease differently than men and often aren’t aware of these differences,” Cross said. “Women may still think heart disease is only a man’s condition and not a concern for them.  The Red Dress Fashion Show and dinner was a wonderful way to raise awareness for not only SCIT women, but also for the children and men who participated and attended the event.  The Ziibiwing Culture Center was a wonderful locale and a collaborative event for the (shawl collection) Changing Exhibit…”

Cross created the collection with a cultural approach to increase awareness and emphasize cardiac health and care. She is hopeful the collection will inform, support, and encourage mindfulness of self-care to increase heart health, which will result in an improvement of overall health.

Tribal community members of all ages walked the runway. Tahlia Alonzo walked in remembrance of her great-grandfather Albert Alonzo, who passed away of a heart attack in 1961. Tahlia encouraged everyone to get regular check-ups, regardless of age.

Mary Graveratte’s granddaughters Julianna and Adrianna and great-grandson Donovan took to the runway in her honor. Graveratte is a heart disease survivor. The children also walked for their late great-grandparents Chester and Christine Graveratte.

Nimkee Executive Health Director Karmen Fox walked the runway with her daughter, Ella.

“We walked in honor of my grandma, Estella, who passed away from a heart attack in August 2009,” Karmen Fox said. “I believe she really died of broken heart syndrome. My grandpa had passed away from cancer, and she was his caretaker. She began having heart palpitations, dizziness after his death. Two heart doctors cleared her and said she was fine. She had all the common symptoms of women associated with heart attacks; she thought she had the flu. Ultimately, she went to sleep and never woke up. (My daughter) Ella is her namesake, born in June 2010.”

Punkin Shananaquet traveled from the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi – Gun Lake Tribe – to join the special occasion.

“My red Jingle Dress is significant for healing,” Shananaquet said. “I’m honoring my entire family who has gone to healthy eating and physical activity to honor my significant other – David Shananaquet – so he will be here for our grandchildren. Jingle Dressers also represent healing for all creation; past, present and future.”

SCIT Public Relations Manager Marcella Hadden and her granddaughter, Christina Benz, walked together. Hadden walked for “all of the grandmothers who take care of their grandchildren.” She keeps healthy by not smoking and encouraged others to quit, no matter their age. Benz walked for “all Native teenagers and would like to remind them that smoking is not cool and to keep sema sacred.”

Three-year-old Mari Gomez was escorted by her grandmother, Terri Biggs, down the runway. Gomez is a heart disease survivor and had heart surgery shortly after birth. Her sister Aviana Gomez and friend Layla Pigeon also walked in her honor.

Tribal Elder Marvin Davis was the last to take the runway in his red attire. Davis survived two heart attacks. As an active patient with diabetes requiring insulin three times a day and 17 units at bed time, he is doing well and recovering fine.

“Staying healthy, proper diet and progressive weight loss; this, our Tribal people can also achieve as help and advice is readily available from staff at Nimkee Health Clinic,” Davis said.  

After the Red Dress Fashion Show, Nimkee Center Physicians Dr. Prem Barry Kissoondial, M.D., and Dr. Jeffrey P. Striebel, D.O., presented healthy heart information.

Striebel provided information to on how to “know your risk of heart disease including: Family history, tobacco use, diabetes, blood pressure/hypertension, cholesterol, waist line, activity level and stress levels.”

He also suggested “knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers, get a physical, have the courage to change what you can and don’t give up, know your body and if you don’t feel well; get help, and find ways to decrease stress.”

            After the presentation, guests were treated to a healthy heart dinner catered by Nbakade Family Restaurant.

Ziibiwing Center Sales and Events Coordinator Glenna Genereaux assisted with the event planning, and made details come together smoothly.  

“The planning was a group effort from all departments, which made it easier,” Genereaux said. “The committee thought it would be nice to have red napkins, so I was researching rental fees for those and stumbled upon heart-shaped tables. I was so excited when I saw those so I asked (Ziibiwing Director) Shannon (Martin) and got approval to get them for the event.”

Youth Alternatives Worker Alice Jo Ricketts made the flower arrangements, and young students created additional decorations.

“I reached out to the principal (Marcella Mosqueda) at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy and asked for heart decorations,” Genereaux said. “So, the students spent a day making them. I had enough hearts to put up around the stage, podium, and tables. I spend all afternoon hanging up the hearts. No heart was left behind.”

            Sasiwaans Immersion School students created tulip decorations made out of egg cartons that were on display along the runway.

Eighty-five guests attended, and with the great turn out, there is already hope Ziibiwing will also host next year’s Red Dress Fashion Show.