CROW RESERVATION- Elias Jade Not Afraid is on top of the world, he’s working on himself and advancing his community.

“Its been a really good 2023,” Not Afraid said.

He’s become a household name in the fashion world but he’s incredibly humble.

“It kind of starts to hit, every once in a while,” Not Afraid said, “I don’t know I have always been taught not to be prideful and not to get to ahead of myself. 

He was born and raised on the Crow Reservation, but left for a bit—to work on his sobriety.

“I didn’t have anything going on in life… and I did the only thing I knew how to do which was beading,” Not Afraid said.

It turned his life around, he’s featured in magazines on the cover of, most recently “The Wrap,” magazine—and on the red carpet.

“It’s really new for me,” Not Afraid said.

He just did a project for Lily Gladstone who is also from Montana, the two have been friends on the Internet for many years, mutually supporting one another.

“With her—it was like if you need anything, earrings for a photo shoot… I can hook you up,” Not Afraid said.

She recently wore a pair of his earrings on the red carpet and she even said—everyone was obsessed!

“I was like .. we need to uplift, help and support all native artists in all mediums,” Not Afraid said.

His mission with this most recent project was to incorporate their tribal roots, incorporating both Crow and Blackfeet nods in the earrings. 

Gladstone wore the earrings to the Critics Choice Awards, they featured antique Russian blue trade beads and large shells historically used in headbands and hairbows.

“We want our people that are representing our people to look good,” Not Afraid said.

So with 2023 behind us, 2024 it’s already starting off on a high note for Not Afraid and Gladstone, two incredible people from Montana making waves representing their culture.

For Gladstone she’s using her voice to amplify and visually represent the community and for Not Afraid, with every bead stitched, and every photo taken—it’s Heritage protected.

“Its an art it’s a craft that our tribes have been doing for some time now… we need to keep it going,” Not Afraid said.