Swaia - Indian Market

Sunday morning during the Santa Fe Indian Market is arguably the weekend's most photographed event -- the Native American Clothing Contest. The contest has evolved through the decades of Indian Market, and now includes about 100 artists and family members who take to the Plaza stage to model the traditional and beautiful dress of their Nations. The carefully designed and constructed clothing ensembles can take up to a year to assemble.

A spectacular fashion statement herself, Jeri Ah-be-hill (Kiowa/Comanche), Volunteer Chair of the Santa Fe Indian Market Clothing Contest says, "In some tribes, when a Native American child is born, you give them an Indian name, you teach them your tribal language, your dances, and when they are old enough, you teach them which tribal clothing is to be worn with these dances. Some dances are religious, while others are social, and there is much work, artistic talent, and time that goes in to making traditional outfits. There is a tremendous amount of pride taken by the artist who has the knowledge and talent to create such beautiful works of wearable art. The Native American Clothing contest through SWAIA gives the public an insight into this form of art."