Eagle Creek Entertainment
WNT: What an exciting journey you have just embarked upon! Might you give our readers a glimpse of who and what Eagle Creek Entertainment is?
ECE: Sure, Eagle Creek Entertainment is a company founded & operated by Native American women, myself and Daris Reno. I am a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Tribe and Daris is from the Cherokee Nation. We represent Native Americans in the entertainment, public service & academia industries. We specialize in public relations, social marketing & promotions. Our wonderful clientele supports our strong belief in supporting the communities in need in Indian County, especially
our youth. We all give back to our communities in a diverse, creative ways! Stay tuned for that!!
WNT: Tell us about the significance of the name? How did it come to be?
ECE: I wanted our name to honor our ancestors, culture and have an important meaning to us. So, I put parts of special names together and came up with “Eagle Creek.” My biological, maternal grandma's name was Josephine Pretends Eagle. My business partner, Daris Reno's ~
ECE’s President ~ Cherokee name is Runnin Creek.
WNT: I would imagine you have entered a competitive market for artist representation. Why did you see a need - what is the void in the industry that you are trying to fill and why?
ECE: I did not necessarily see any needs or deficients in the industry. I saw a need for me to be a part of team that works and supports with Native talent. I believe if you have a team that supports you, you have a better chance of reaching your goals & dreams, especially in this competitive industry.
WNT: No one knows better than Whisper n Thunder about launching a new venture in these economic times. Passion for the subject matter, to increase awareness and seek both justice and change were and are, our key drivers. What are your key drivers?
ECE: Our key drivers are supporting Native artists and helping them get where they want to go. At the same time, we help bring more attention to our wonderful Native music. I think Native music makes a difference in people’s lives! It is powerful! Yet, is it not as well known in the US as I would like it to be! So, I wanted to be a part of trying to spread the word about our music through public relations and social marketing.
ECE is an extension from the work we have been doing within Indian Country: supporting & advocating for the betterment of our people. Like any business, you put a lot in, just to get started. It’s a lot of work but it is worth it. It is challenging for some to see the need for public relations. So, it is our job to help others understand the importance & need for it.
WNT: How were you able to attract a client base, in particular as Eagle Creek Entertainment is new to the market? Are you accepting new clients and for that matter, how do they find you?
ECE: Our previous work & networking within the Native Community helped us establish a solid base of clientele and colleagues within the Entertainment Industry. We are very fortunate that all our hard work really paid off for us! My networking as a Native Entertainment Journalist gave me the opportunities of a life time! I am forever grateful to Robbie Robertson for giving me chance to interview him, six years ago. It opened the door for me to get my work published, when others shunned me. That interview got me in the industry. I never forget that.
We can be contacted at: eaglecreekentertainment@gmail.com or through our website: www.eaglecreek-entertainment.com
WNT: OK. We're dying to know! Tell us about your artists.
ECE: Our clientele is amazingly talented. Each one has more than one
talent that is at a professional level! We represent: musicians, professors, actors, traditional dancers & artists etc. We are so proud to work with them!
We are presently working with the following Native American talents:
Bryant High Horse-Lecturer, Indigenous Psychology, Chekote Washakey-Actor & model, Joseph Strider-Musician, Mashu White Feather-Lecturer, Cherokee Culture & Artist, Melanie Stormm-Musician, Naava-Model, Tony Goulet-Author & Traditional Singer, & Terry Tsotigh-Muscian.
WNT: Working with people in the arts can be a little testing sometimes. Having been with Motown myself as a performer, I may have been told that once or twice! The word diva was never used. Not exactly that word anyway! LOL What's your secret for keeping the waters smooth and the artists happy?
ECE: It is important to have good communication with clients. In terms of public relations, the clients may have a different idea than we do initially. It is our job to do what we think will create the best publicity & image for them. Our clients need to develop a trust and understanding in order to go along with something that is a new to them. It takes time and can be challenging. In the end, we want our clients to be happy. We are working hard to make this happen.
WNT: What about your personal history led you to work in this field?
ECE: I have a great love for music! I grew up on rock & roll in Cleveland, Ohio where going to concerts starting at a young age, was a regular part of my life. Almost like a hobby. I have seen so many wonderful legendary bands. I always wanted to be a part of it, some how. But did not really think it would ever happen! So, after 20 years as a social worker working with thousands of people who were going through very difficult times, it was time for me to make a change. Over a course of years, writing, volunteering & networking with the right people, my dream came to life.
I knew I wanted to start a company to work with and represent Native American talent. I knew that I could not do it alone. My path crossed with my business partner, Daris Reno at the Native American Music Awards. We shared our dreams and they were similar. So, without hesitation we worked behind the scenes for many months, establishing our business and designing the website.
WNT: As a Native American business woman, what challenges have you faced both with Eagle Creek Entertainment, and also in your previous work up 'til now? Have you found challenge because you are a woman, because you are Native, or both?
ECE: I think there are challenges for Native American women in the work place, whether is because we are women who are brown or because we are women. I think in any industry, you can be a threat or targeted for who you are. Sometimes, you are not sure why you are being treated so poorly. I learned to ignore the small stuff but addressed the harassment & racism appropriately.
My sense of humor & sarcasm got me through some tough times. Like the time, I worked with 110 police officers (1 woman & 1 African American). I had to train them on domestic violence laws as at the age of 24. That was hard work, just interacting with them. It was horrible. However, they did not have a problem calling me from a domestic violence call to see what the law was…Those calls were when I got to use my sarcasm & sense of humor because they needed my knowledge! : )
That job, made me see that I can endure anything in the workplace. Being my own boss is definitely something I greatly appreciate and is another dream comes true!
WNT: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. iTunes. Hulu.com. The list goes on and on for internet exposure. What do you see in the current climate as a strong marketing technique for your clients?
ECE: I think social networking is needed for anyone who wants to ‘make it.’ It is important though to know how to utilize it correctly. Getting assistance with it, is very important. It is definitely some thing that is definitely a learned craft. That is why we offer it, as one of our services. J
WNT: As we interview artists and leaders in Indian Country we are always interested in your message to our young people. What advice would you give to young women?
ECE: Taking the time to heal yourself! It is so important in making your dreams come true! It does not come easy. It takes a lot of hard work! Know that no one can take your dreams away. As Natives, we can do whatever we want with our lives. Surround yourself by people who support & believe in you. It may only be two or three people, but that’s all you need! Go for it! Make things happen for yourself. Because no one will do it for you!!
WNT: To young men?
ECE: The same goes for our men! Heal and pursue your dreams!
WNT: Do you see Eagle Creek Entertainment having a social justice component? What would that look like?
ECE: We have a philanthropy component to our company! We support those organizations who are working to make a difference in Indian Country. For example, we support “Independence through Music,” a project out of Pine Ridge that is working with young musicians. We recently had a beautiful drumstick donated with proceeds going to “Independence through Music.”
All of our clients have done work in Indian Country to help the healing & support those communities in need.
My work with families that have missing children & adults is something I continue to do. As well as advocate for children, who are suffering from Neuroborreliosis. ECE is another format used to get our messages out about these devastating issues.
WNT: You have a wonderful son. What's he think of Mom's new venture?
ECE: Thank you! Ranson is recovering very well from Neuroborreliosis. We are so grateful to “Advanced Cell Training’ for restoring his quality of life & Dr. Charles Ray Jones for saving his life!
Ranson thinks it is great that his mom has a new business. He loves to hear our clients’ music and see them on YouTube. He wants him mom to make him famous, now! He wants to be in commercials & movies with animals! J
WNT: Its 5 years from today. What impact will Eagle Creek Entertainment have made?
ECE: Hopefully, we will have created a better understanding how social marketing & public relations plays a vital role in being successful in the Entertainment Industry. We hope to bring Native music to places it hasn’t yet been to. We will continue to be a part of supporting Native American youth in their dreams! Lastly, we feel it’s important for us to have made a positive impact & difference as Native American business women in an industry that can be very challenging. We are looking forward to what the future will bring!
All Photos Courtesy of the Author All Rights Reserved
Banner Graphic: www.firstpeople.us
