WHO WE ARE
Lailani Upham-Bear Chief
President | Lead Creative
is Amskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet Nation) tribal member, and Aaniiih, Nakoda, Dakota tribal descent and an adventure explorer, photographer, videographer, writer, storyteller who travels throughout Montana to tell stories from an Indigenous perspective.
Lailani, grew up on the Blackfeet and Fort Belknap Indian reservations where she explored her home landscapes as a kid and got into trouble for taking off into the mountains (without notice) on “adventures.” She grew up hearing the stories and history of her tribal people and was grounded in identity through the passing down of oral traditions from her grandparents on both sides of her family and tribal lineage.
She says her experience and passion has led her to a closer connection to nature, likeminded storytellers, while vamping up a hunger to encourage others to tap into their voice through written and visual storytelling.
Lailani is on the board of directors for the Freeflow Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana, that delivers opportunities for creativity, space, and access to wild places for writers, artists, and leaders of all backgrounds. She also is an advisory board member for The Common Ground Project, based in Yellowstone, Montana, connects people from all walks of life to foster understanding of each other and the environment through campfire retreats.
Another added service was to Wild Montana as a Native Conservation fellow where she fostered Indigenous land-based story hikes to advocate for public land protection. She taught tribal story-based video courses at Salish Kootenai College, and is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Climate Change Advisory committee.
Upham works to capture stories that inspire people of all walks of life to consider their relationship with nature, while advocating the preservation of tribal stories and public lands.
Layered by outdoor travel adventures and lifestyle, Lailani hopes through her work to share her vision of wild places, Indigenous culture, untamed landscapes to inspire others to explore for themselves new understandings and relationships.
Her visionary perspective has earned her opportunities to work on an award-winning journalism team, “Framing a Movement - The Media at Standing Rock, Montana Journalism Review a Special Report;”and also an award-winning film documentary project, The Blackfeet Flood, and film shorts Sixty Four Flood. She created a hobby storytelling YouTube channel called, Pikuni Bigfoot Storytelling Project to gather tribal encounters and stories of Sasquatch.
She worked as a reporter and photojournalist at the Flathead Reservation tribal newspaper, Charkoosta News, where thousands of news articles have been published in the 10 year span.
Her production studio is based on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.
But beyond all the career stacks, Lailani is most proud of her three children, Ryan, Joseph, and Ashley; and three adorable grandchildren. Holly, Iverson, and Zion.
Cultural Traditional Mentors & Storytellers
Chief Earl Old Person was the first to give the go ahead to launch Iron Shield Creative. It was on his birthday April 13, 2021, when he told me, “This is a good thing (ISC vision). Go ahead and do it. I will be here to help you.” Later that year he passed away, but I and our team/family, whom loved him dearly, feel his spirit, support, love and his wisdom, understanding and teachings with us today. We at ISC are honored and grateful for Chief Earl Old Person’s leadership in our lifetime. ~ Lailani Upham ISC founder
Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person, Stoo'saa'poo (Cold Wind) April 13, 1929 - October 14, 2021
“When you become a Chief, you’re expected of a lot of things. Our Chief’s in the past were the leaders. They watched for their people. They watched for things that might harm the people. They do their best to try to lead their people in a way where they won't be hurt. They were warriors.”
Darnell and Robert “Smokey” Rides At The Door
Traditional Power Couple | Amskapi Pikuni | ISC Mentors
Darnell Rides At The Door, Nii Too Kimm Mii, (Lone Camper), and Smokey Rides At The Door Ess Sta Kaawn (Dependable, Works For The People).
Darnell and Smokey are respected elders and Keeper of Traditions. They strive for a greater understanding of the Ways of Knowing of the Real People. Darnell comes from a long line of healers and knowledge keepers with emphasis on history and genealogy. She is a fourth-generation herbalist and her teachings began by her great-grandmother Mary (Grass Women) Ground. Smokey, former Blackfeet Tribal Council member is a respected hunter and gatherer. He comes from the famed Rides At The Door warrior clan on his father’s side and the Nina Oot Tatsey clan, John Tatsey, on his mother’s side. His father was known as the Blackfeet “Will Rogers” as a writer, policeman, and composer.
Darnell and Smokey are Keepers of the Ookaan (Medicine Lodge/Sun Dance), Thunder Pipe, Beaver Medicine, Painted Lodge, Brave Dogs, members and advisors to many Societies of the Amp Ska Pii Pii Kun Nii.
Darnell carries traditional knowledge use of plants that are specific to the culture and region of her ancestors.
Darnell and Smokey are parents five educated and respected children and grandparents to 17 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. They reside on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.
Visit Darnell’s stories at Turtle Island Tales.
OUR TRIBAL CULTURAL STORYTELLER GUIDES
Carrie Bear Chief, Amskapi Pikuni
Carrie, a Blackfeet storyteller holds an understanding of tribal elders knowledge. Carrie co-pastors’ with her dad, at the Faith Dominion church on the Blackfeet Reservation. Carrie loves the mountains and stories of Bigfoot.
Ryan Upham, Amskapi Pikuni/Dakota
Ryan, a wildland firefighter packed with outdoor survival knowledge and a talented traditional singer and drummer. Ryan loves to fish and travel to powwows across the state.
Joe Wagner, Amskapi Pikuni
Joe, Blackfeet storyteller and tribal sacred site preservationist, traditional society member, and high altitude hiker. Joe loves to get out across the landscape during his free time.
CULTURAL STORYTELLER GUIDES
Termaine Edmo, Amskapi Pikuni
Termaine, Climate Change coordinator for the Blackfeet Nation, cultural youth mentor, traditionalist and passionate hiker. Termaine loves to spend time with her three awesome kiddos teaching them the Pikanii way of life.
Tyrel Fenner, Amskapi Pikuni | Little Shell
A hydrologist and social scientist who loves photography, fly fishing, hiking and sharing his knowledge with others.
Aspen Many Hides, Amskapi Pikuni/Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Aspen “Istaiyi” (Deep Diving “Diver) is a devoted teacher, mother and wife. She is driven by a strong desire to help develop culturally sustaining educational opportunities through Indigenous pathways. As a protector of sacred knowledge, she is an avid herbalist and studies the traditional uses of native plants on the Siksikaitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy). Aspen enjoys time with elders in the community, her husband, and most importantly her daughter.
Joe Upham, Amskapi Pikuni/Dakota
Joe is an Air Force veteran, powwow singer, and traditional prairie chicken dancer, and an outdoorsman who enjoys exploring around Montana, and spending time with his daughter Holly Rose.
Arlan Edwards, Amskapi Pikuni
Arlan is a Middle School counselor and educator. He is a traditional singer and drummer and knowledgeable of the Blackfeet cultural. He loves spending time with his daughter and son. Arlan is the grandson of Chief Earl Old Person of the Blackfeet Nation.
Naomi Billedeaux Q’lispe’/Amskapi Pikuni
Naomi is an Indigenous language advocate and teacher of the Selis Qlispe’ languages of Montana. She travels the powwow trail as a fancy dance and jingle dress dancer. Naomi is a singer and loves all realms of music. She especially loves escaping to new places and learning about other cultures as well.
Titus Upham, Amskapi Pikuni
Titus is a dad, grandpa, friend, and Pastor of First Nations Embassy of Faith located on the Blackfeet reservation. Titus is a engaging Blackfoot storyteller who carries lifetime knowledge of the cultural way of life and tribal history from his parents, and great uncle Chief Earl Old Person. Titus sense of humor has brought him along the paths of many friendships throughout the years.
Jesse DesRosier, Amskapi Pikuni
Jesse is a husband, father and relative and friend, to many on the Blackfeet reservation. He is a Blackfoot language teacher, tribal cultural knowledge keeper, artist , storyteller, and leader. He grew up and resides on the Blackfeet Reservation. Jesse is an U.S. Marine veteran. He is also the Iron Shield Creative logo artist.
Angel Little Plume, Amskapi Pikuni
Angel Little Plume is a life-long learner of the Blackfeet language. She is currently serving at the Blackfeet Community College in the Piikani studies. Angel who is known by many as a quiet, reserved woman, who grew up listening to stories from her great-grandmother and carries a rich knowledge Blackfeet history. She is a descendent of “Maistoinna” Crow Chief Reevis, the last leader of the Slickfoot Society of the Two Medicine community. Angel enjoys getting outdoors on our ancestral lands with her four children.
Ben Gallagher Horn, Amskapi Pikuni
Ben is a counselor, student, father and husband. He grew up on the Blackfeet homelands with both Amskapi Pikuni parents and grandparents, hearing the history and stories of the area. Ben is a youth pastor and worship team musician at the Four Winds Assembly of God in Browning. Ben just recently became a father to a vibrant little girl. Ben loves to hunt and spend time with family and friends.
Souta Calling Last, Kainai/Amskapi Pikuni
Souta is featured as one of 8 Female Entrepreneurs who are changing the travel space working to foster a different outdoor experience. Souta is an independent researcher, founder and executive director of an educational non-profit called Indigenous Vision. Souta spends her time traveling and hiking to significant Blackfoot sites in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and throughout the U.S. working on the Blackfoot Place Map. Her passion as a mother and future grandmother is preserving and sharing this significant place information for future generations.
Vina Little Owl, Aaniiih
Vina is an auditor, accountant, business woman and traditional knowledge keeper and storyteller of the Aaniiih people on the Fort Belknap reservation in Montana. Vina comes from a long line of educated and cultural leaders in her tribe. She loves to give back to her community, encourage youth, and most of all spend time with her three children.