Aanii, ndinaawamagaanadog! Maygabow Ogidajew Kwe, nindizhinikaaz; Valerie St. Pierre Smith is my English name. Gaa-waabaabiganikaag + Um’oha, ndoonjibaa, Migizi ndoodem. Hello, my relatives! My name is Woman Standing on the Mountaintop…my family is from White Earth, and I currently reside on the unceded lands of the Um’oha people, commonly known as Omaha, NE, USA. I am Eagle clan.

A two-spirit mischief maker, multi-disciplinary designer/artisan, scholar, writer, and healer, Valerie has an eclectic creative background including fashion, costume, and textile design. Her award-winning costume designs have been seen across the US with highlights that include McCarter Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Sea World: San Diego, the National Museum of the American Indian, and Pilobolus Dance Theatre. A bit of a unicorn, Valerie’s research and scholarly work focuses on indigenizing and decolonizing western design paradigms, pedagogies, and practices. Her creative practice is inspired by the craft and aesthetic traditions of her Anishnaabe heritage, exploring and reflecting her own experiences as a mixed blood Anishnaabe-kwe at the confluence of healing, social justice, traditional Anishinaabe teachings, and the power of identity. St. Pierre Smith holds a B.F.A from Stephens College, and an M.F.A from San Diego State University. Miigwech agindan- thank you for reading.
valeriestpierresmith.com; IG: @valeriestpierresmith