Models walked over 50 designs down a runway constructed in the lobby of Fort Randall Casino near Lake Andes in a celebration of Native culture.

The fashion show featured the work of indigenous designers, models, make-up artists and musicians.

Taira Little and Cecily Rose Englehart spent a year putting together the event.

“I’m not really from the fashion world, I’m new to it,” said Englehart. “But I knew from the start that Taira and I both felt really strongly that this wasn’t about competition, it was about encouragement and uplifting the creativity and brilliance that we see in our community.”

By the time the first model walked the runway Saturday the room was packed wall to wall with spectators.

Indigenous models from around the Lake Andes area as well as from across the state traveled to display the work of designers. As part of encouraging younger generations, Englehart and Little recruited local teenagers to volunteer.

Some of the models had never walked a runway before, while others were not strangers to the stage.

Danica Miller modeled her best friend’s design, a yellow, red, white and black dress with a pattern representing her friend’s tribal nation.

Miller said she thinks of fashion shows as a time to see her “fashion family.”

“I think people need to come give it a change, people that aren’t used to Native American culture. Like, I love seeing people of all races out there watching this because a lot of people are naïve to Native American culture,” Miller said. “So, yeah, I want people to shop indigenous and I want people to be like look at that Native model, because you don’t see that much these days.”

Englehart said she and Little hope to make an Indigenous fashion show a regular event in the Lake Andes community, and have received good community feedback about the idea.