'We are here. We have been here': How a Phoenix business owner is amplifying Indigenous voices

For Melody Lewis, a member of the Hopi, Tewa, and Mohave nations, finding other Indigenous-owned companies and businesses in the Valley is "a rare find."

Lewis, who originally hails from the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation in northern Arizona, was disappointed with the lack of Indigenous representation in the workforce when she relocated to the Phoenix area several years ago. This inspired her to launch the Indigenous Community Collaborative in 2019, a social enterprise that "creates Indigenous-inclusive solutions" for small businesses in Phoenix.

"For ICC, it's always been about system change," Lewis said of her company's initiative, which partners with Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous-owned businesses to promote commercial growth. "Sometimes, that means we're collaborating with other organizations or businesses. It's natural for us to want to collaborate and engage. We have a lot to learn from each other."

According to Lewis, the idea to "share knowledge and skillsets" with other corporate groups and individuals stemmed from another organization she had helped spearhead in 2021, known as Cahokia PHX.

Known for their annual Indigenous People's Day festival in the Valley, Cahokia PHX is an art space located in downtown Phoenix that "serves to uplift Indigenous culture" through events, exhibitions, and retail, who have since becoming pioneers in Indigenous-related initiatives in the Valley.

After resigning from her position at Cahokia PHX, Lewis pivoted to focus on a "service-based business," and launched ICC, offering guidance and programming to help locally-owned businesses and entrepreneurs that have "plateaued" in their economic development, according to Lewis.

"We uplift each other with the type of work that we do," Lewis said.

Bridging the gap between Phoenix and Indigenous communities

For Lewis, running a business that advocates for and envelopes "innate Native qualities" is a key aspect to her company's mission, and is one that contradicts mainstream systems, she said.

"Oftentimes, when services or programs or education are offered to us, we're not necessarily mentioned or seen," Lewis said. "Increasing Indigenous voices is multilayered. We need more Native people to be in spaces. We need more support mechanisms that makes sense to them culturally."

Michael Webb, a frequent collaborator with Lewis, says the ICC is about "creating visibility" by connecting Indigenous communities and individuals with business opportunities.

"It's really apparent that … there's still this gap of understanding how to incorporate Indigenous peoples," Webb said. "And especially Indigenous youth."

Webb, a Chicano and Chickasaw native whose identity is "tied with indigeneity," currently serves as a facilitator, contractor, and "idea man" for the ICC, having originally been employed by Lewis during her time at Cahokia PHX.

After "befriending quickly" with Lewis, Webb began collaborating with Lewis on a variety of Indigenous-led projects, where he saw his own personal and professional development flourish under Lewis' tutelage.

"She became a big sister to me," Webb said. "I truly have not seen anyone else do this work as well, as effectively, and as beautifully as Melody does. She's my friend, she's my mentor."

One of the primary endeavors that Webb and Lewis have pushed for includes "indigenizing design," which involves creating safe spaces for Indigenous communities that adhere to and align with traditional Native and tribal values.

"The need for representation and advocacy is so dire," Webb said. "There's still so much work that needs to be done to understand the way that the native community moves."

Despite this, Webb cited Lewis as one of the many "wonderful individuals" who are currently championing Indigenous communities through the ICC.

"I'm just amazed and inspired by the work that Melody does and the way that she approaches this work," Webb said. "It's truly an example that I think a lot of our colleagues and peers can learn from."

Additionally, Lewis continues to look for ways to "bridge the economies" between Phoenix and the Fort Mohave Reservation due to a desire to give back to the community she grew up in, in addition to supporting other Indigenous nations, she said.

While primarily serving the Phoenix area, Lewis' organization has also extended to parts of Nevada, New Mexico, and California as well, Lewis said.

As of now, ICC is a communal-based property and does not have a permanent facility, but this hasn't stopped Lewis from reaching out and connecting with clients and understanding the needs of the population she wants to serve, Lewis said.

Forging a path 'through their own lens'

In addition to ICC being Indigenous-founded and owned, Lewis also stressed the importance of the organization being woman-owned, or as Lewis referred it, "a matriarch-owned entity."

"It makes sense for us when it comes to stewarding our businesses," Lewis said. "(We are) incorporating the knowledge that's received from all of our matriarchs."

According to Lewis, the Indigenous communities that she belongs to are matriarchal, meaning that the women of her society are at the head.

"I ask myself, how are we incorporating the lessons that we learned from our moms, our aunties, our grandmas, and our sisters into modern-day society?" Lewis said. "That's what I think helps me navigate the business."

One of the program initiatives that ICC has introduced is REZponse, a digital storytelling platform that shares the backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of Indigenous people in the community "through their own lens."

"We interview other Indigenous people who are doing amazing things and talk about what it's like being native in their space," Lewis said. "There are Native people in these spaces and they're doing great things."

Adan Madrigal, an Indigenous contractor and collaborator with the ICC, went on to identify what he described as "an eye-opening experience" with the workforce development he's witnessed under Lewis' leadership, who helps transition Indigenous entrepreneurs from the reservation to the job market, according to Madrigal.

"What I've learned is that there's a lot of talented and educated people in the Native American community," Madrigal said. "What Melody and the ICC does is … empower them and help find them job opportunities."

Other workforce developments that ICC offers includes grants services, collaborations with nonprofits and educational platforms, and consulting firms for a variety of different markets that help diversify the Indigenous perspective, according to Lewis.

For Webb, the leadership cultivated through Lewis and the ICC serves as a foundation that sets their clients up for success and allows them to thrive.

"(ICC) is the bridge, it's the catalyst," Webb said. "(Lewis) is the connector and the protector for these individuals or groups that are trying to do new, exciting, amazing things, but maybe don’t understand how to advocate or to represent themselves."

Additionally, being able to amplify Indigenous voices goes beyond economic advancement, with a need to incorporate inclusivity into the classroom as well, according to Lewis.

"The curriculum is very different for us. The conversations that are had in classrooms are really centered around the past when really, we are here. We have been here," said Lewis, citing differences of Indigenous portrayals in "traditional Western systems." "That's why we chose to go into that environment and teach our youth about Indigenous identity because it's not necessarily taught. We're not mentioned in the classroom setting."

In response, Webb has helped lead a variety of ICC-related projects targeted toward youth, including hosting a career night for Phoenix Union High School students to help develop students professionally while "taking their Indigenous identities into account," according to Webb.

"We're trying to create an experience where these students really feel seen, heard, and represented while they choose what kind of careers they want to go into," Webb said.

Despite ongoing inequities, progress toward "uplifting Indigenous truths" in other areas, such as the media, has managed to capture the lived experience of different nations and tribal communities, Lewis said.

"It's really exciting that our stories are being told from our own perspectives," said Lewis, citing FX Network's "Reservation Dogs" as a prime example of Native relatability and recognition. "It hit home for all of us. Our presence in TV and film right now is so massive."

Becoming 'culturally confident'

Though Lewis doesn't feel Indigenous nations are obligated to educate the public on Native culture and identity, she does urge individuals to engage with their communities for inquiries and "utilize available resources" to pursue independent learning. Lewis also suggests maintaining awareness and consideration for local Native communities, advocating for Indigenous issues, and supporting Indigenous-owned businesses as additional ways to stay informed.

With a principle of "forward-thinking" at the heart of ICC, the most critical component of Lewis' organization is the setup of success for future generations.

"I just want to navigate and learn these systems in a way where it's not foreign to see a lot of Native people, and where it's not foreign to have our perspective at the table," Lewis. "I'm trying to create more Native folks in these spaces so it's easier for (younger generations) to navigate when they're ready to go to college or into the corporate world."

For Lewis, seeing her clients go into spaces as their authentic selves and "culturally confident" is the most aspiring part of the job, focusing on the growth and success of each individual she collaborates with.

"We've paved the road far enough where they don't have to deal with some of the things that we had to deal with. We're navigating these different environments," Lewis said. "It's generational impact."

Reflecting on their collaborative efforts, Webb went on to say that Lewis' "incredible perception" has made her an invaluable resource for the community, adding how her unwavering support and accommodative approach adds validity to those seeking help.

"I think that the most special thing that Melody does with me and with everyone else that she decides to work with is she provides a genuine, authentic relationship," Webb said. "And that relationship allows for … advocacy to move forward."

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Indigenous Community Collaborative unites Native entrepreneurs in AZ