MY STORY
Lorene Willis
"I grew up in a small, rural Protestant community in Oklahoma, where my family was one of the few brown families around. However, most summers were spent with my maternal grandparents on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in northern New Mexico, in the Hillcrest area. To my young eyes, it felt like a completely different world—one without running water, electricity, or modern conveniences. We relied on an outhouse and a wood stove for cooking.
This was my introduction to Jicarilla Apache culture and language. My grandfather was fluent in multiple languages, while my grandmother spoke only Jicarilla Apache—no English at all. From those formative years to the present day, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of understanding who I am and the countless benefits it has brought me. My goal is to pass on the pride I feel in my identity to the younger generation. I believe that knowing our culture and language is key to living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
In my business, my team and I take great pride in sharing the rich history, culture, and language of the Jicarilla Apache with anyone eager to learn."
L Designs, Etc. is more than just an arts and crafts store. We pride ourselves in being a minority-owned business that is wholly Native American. Please checkout my resumé click here.
"The Etcetera in the name means we have SO MUCH more to offer."
Bryan Vigil
MY STORY
Bryan Floyd Vigil, also known as Dide Yooł Kai ii, has a diverse background rooted in military service as a Marine and co-ownership of L Designs, Etc. His upbringing within the Apache community instilled in him profound traditional wisdom, passed down from his parents and extended family, encompassing Apache customs, ceremonies, and ways of life. Throughout his life, Bryan has assumed significant roles within his community, including serving as Baalooma (Leader) of the Ollero (White) Clan for Go-jii-ya and fulfilling various duties as a Bear Dance participant.
In addition to his cultural responsibilities, Bryan has also pursued livelihoods as a farrier and rancher, contributing to his ex-wife's cattle-raising endeavors. His dedication to preserving Apache heritage led him to work as a Heritage Specialist for the Jicarilla Apache Cultural Affairs, where he gleaned invaluable insights from the elders of both the Red and White Clans. Today, Bryan is esteemed as an elder, speaker, storyteller, consultant, and custodian of traditional Jicarilla Apache knowledge, sharing invaluable insights into the "Lifeways of the Jicarilla Apache." "I stand for keeping the culture going at all cost because I made a promise to my mother not to die with my knowledge," stated Bryan.
And so much more . . .
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L Designs, Etc. provides services in a wide array of projects; from tours to a traveling teepee museum, and a UFO conference that was orchestrated as a fundraiser for Apache Journeys.
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