Natives to Know: Norma Baker-Flying Horse

Hidatsa, Dakota Sioux and Assiniboine

Ten years ago, the life of Norma Baker-Flying Horse looked very different than it does today. At that time, she was a newlywed working for the tribal court system. Norma used her gifts of sewing and beadwork — handed down from her mother and grandmother — to make traditional outfits for friends and family. And while fashion was always her passion, it wasn’t her full time job.

That began to change in 2015 when one of Norma’s childhood friends won the title of Miss Indian World and asked Norma to design a few looks for her public appearances. Those looks got a lot of attention. And then Norma was asked to design for Ashley Callingbull, the Cree activist and actress.

From there, word of Norma’s incredible work spread like wildfire. 

Today, Norma has created couture looks for attendees at multiple major awards shows, including the Oscars. In 2019, Norma’s Red Berry Woman fashion line made waves at Paris Fashion Week. And this year, Norma was recognized as the designer of the year at Phoenix Fashion Week. Recently, Norma launched her first ready-to-wear line called The Hidatsa Collection on redberrywoman.com. 

Norma uses several of the same textiles and raw materials (like hides and shells) for her couture gowns that she would use in traditional garments. She explained to Smithsonian Magazine that her work can “show that Native people are still here." Her designs aim to "represent who we are while living in the modern world that was forced upon us.”