Soul of Nations Foundation

Meet Madeline “Maddie” Lamb (Mvskoke/Creek & Mojave) from Oklahoma. Maddie is a SONF Alumni member and has participated in two programs. In 2018 she was a participant in the inaugural Indigenous international: Digital National Project in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Maddie is currently a participant in the Indigenous International: Green Architecture Project in Rwanda. Maddie previously attended the Institute for American Indian Arts and is now a graduating Senior at Fort Lewis College, where she is studying Communication Design. 

We are shining a spotlight on Maddie to highlight her entrepreneurial endeavors and honorable art-activism. Maddie is the CEO of Holatte Hokte Creations, which is an Indigenous-led beadwork company. Maddie is also a passionate advocate for shedding light on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic. 

Congrats on all of your accomplishments, Maddie! The Soul of Nations Foundation team is very proud of you!

Holatte Hokte derived from the Mvskoke words for a blue girl. To Maddie, blue represents calmness, the ocean, and the sky. When Maddie beads, she am reminiscent of her ancestors and her Tribes ways and traditions. It is how she reconnects and centers herself; beadwork tells a story and shows expression. She hope to inspire others and encourage young Indigenous women to see the importance of preserving cultural heritage through art. Each piece that she creates is unique and handmade with love. By purchasing items on her website, you are helping fund her education, bills, and passion.

Please support Maddie’s BIPOC small businesses by shopping Holatte Hokte Creations!

Website: www.holattehokte.com

Instagram: @holattehokte

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic affects Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, including the First Nations, Inuit, Métis (FNIM), and Native American communities. It has been described as a Canadian national crisis and a Canadian genocide. The numbers are staggering. Our women and girls are being taken from us in an alarming way. Our women are murdered at a rate 10 times higher than other ethnicities and it’s the third leading cause of death for our Women. The majority of these murders are committed by non-Native people on Native-owned land. Because of the lack of communication between state, local, and tribal law enforcement, it’s difficult to begin the investigation process.