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July 24, 2013
Patricia Michaels Given the Eugene Crawford Memorial Peace Pipe Award

Albuquerque, NM – Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) honored fashion designer Patricia Michaels, Taos Pueblo, with the Eugene Crawford Memorial Peace Pipe Award on July 10, 2013 at a community reception hosted at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Michaels rose to national fame for her innovative vision and design as a finalist in the hit television series Project Runway as the first Native American cast member and became the first Native American featured in the prestigious New York Fashion Week, where she will make a return appearance this September. Michaels is a style-maker at the forefront of modern fashion design and aesthetics. She has studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has worked in Chicago, IL and Milan, Italy.

The Eugene Crawford Memorial Peace Pipe Award honors individual leaders who have created positive change and made everlasting contributions by creating more opportunity for Indigenous peoples and communities. AIO honored Patricia Michaels for her burgeoning international presence and positive representation of Tribal America. The Peace Pipe Award is given in remembrance of Eugene Crawford (Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux) who served as Vice President of AIO for many years. Other recipients of the Crawford Pipe Award have included U.S. Senator Bob Dole, U.S Congressmen Tom Udall, Dale Kildee and J.D. Hayworth, the New Zealand Ambassador John Woods, Governor of Alaska Tony Knowles, Founding President of Te Wangana o Aotearoa (New Zealand University) Rongo Weti, and Bolivian President Evo Morales.

“As a brave pioneer in a hyper competitive industry, her proud representation of tribal America and her exhibition of Indigenous core values excited me during her run on Project Runway. She is an incredible role model for contemporary Indigeneity,” said LaDonna Harris, founder and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity.

The late Eugene Crawford (Sisseton-Wahpeton Lakota Sioux Nation) was a tremendous advocate for Native peoples, having been the Director of the National Indian Lutheran Board. The award is given in remembrance of Mr. Eugene Crawford and is in honor of a recipient’s lifetime achievements, particularly their dedication and contributions to Native America and ensuring future opportunity for Indigenous peoples.