10/22/2026
More than a fashion show.
WALK IN HER SHOES 2026 ❤️🔥PART 1
Art has always been a form of resistance. A way to tell our stories, reclaim our identities, challenge injustice, and make ourselves heard.
On October 3rd, I had the honour of photographing the 4th Annual Walk In Her Shoes MMIW Fashion Show at Buffalo State University, created by Aiyana Jacy Martin. A Mohawk woman from Six Nations of the Grand River residing in Buffalo, Aiyana and her family brought together Indigenous artists, designers, advocates, and community for an evening of creativity, remembrance, and action.
Being an Indigenous woman myself, this work is personal. We grow up knowing the realities our women, girls, and Two-Spirit relatives face. We hear the stories, see the red dresses, and witness families fighting for justice. In Canada, Indigenous women and girls were murdered at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women and girls between 2009 and 2021. In the U.S, a study found 84.3% of American Indian and Alaska Native women had experienced violence in their lifetime. Different countries, different statistics, but a shared reality.
Behind every number is a person. A daughter, mother, sister, auntie, friend, or relative. A life and future that mattered.
Our connections existed long before these borders. Our responsibility to protect one another doesn’t end at them. Our existence is so much more than trauma. We are artists, designers, storytellers, innovators, and creators. Our cultures are living, evolving, and powerful.
Through fashion and storytelling, Aiyana and her family created a space where Indigenous creativity was celebrated, our missing and murdered relatives were honoured, and resistance existed alongside beauty, joy, and real experiences.
I’m grateful to Aiyana, her family, and everyone who made this gathering possible.❤️
May we never stop creating, speaking, remembering, and demanding better.
🧡
Event: WalkInHerShoes
Made by: Aiyana Jacy
Lead Photographer: Khayri Salter
Photos: G.E.M. 🌿 by Shauntay Longboat 📷 INDIGENOUS PHOTOGRAPHER
Special Thanks to:
MC: Tristin Jacy
Buffalo State University
and more!
