Delina White, an enrolled Minnesota Chippewa Tribe member from the Leech Lake Anishinaabe Reservation in northern Minnesota, is a Native apparel designer, beadwork artist, Indigenous materials jewelry maker, and an Old Style Jingle Dress dancer. She is the founder and owner of IamAnishinaabe, a design studio based in Anishinaabe values and aesthetics; where she creates bold, contemporary fashion inspired by Woodland floral design and visual stories unique to the Great Lakes. Delina is also the visionary behind Native Nations Fashion Night (NNFN), an annual Indigenous fashion show and Native Marketplace featuring brilliant Native designers, artists, culture bearers, and entrepreneurs. Since 2023, the State of Minnesota has issued Proclamations honoring NNFN for advancing community empowerment, supporting Native-owned creative business, and contributing to the cultural economy of the state. A lifelong maker who learned beading and sewing from her grandmother and mother, Delina applies traditional knowledge with a modern lens, elevating Native fashion as a powerful language of identity, presence, and beauty. Her work celebrates original Indigenous design, honors natural materials, and amplifies the pride and resilience of the Woodlands people. Her artistry has been recognized nationally through major awards and fellowships, including United States Artists, the McKnight Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, and the Bush Foundation. Delina holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and a minor in Management Information Systems. After more than 20 years in Tribal government administration, she now works full-time building platforms, creating opportunity, and opening space for Native fashion to thrive.
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Delina Lynn White
Presenter