I met this gentleman at a Tribal Powwow at Discovery Park in Seattle, WA. The first thing that impressed me about him was his posture, and incredible sense of pride and integrity. I have since come to know him and his family and have discovered this first impression was spot on. Additionally, this gave me the opportunity to discover more about him and his heritage. He is the Great Great Grandson of Chief Joseph, and his grandfather was Chief George Calf Robe. Dennis’ Native American name is Sixanum which means Blackie. He was named after a Blackfeet warrior named Blackie who was a “Dog Soldier” (a warrior that fights alone). Dennis is of the Nez Perce/Blackfeet/ Colville/Yakima tribes of Montana and Washington. He lived on the Yakima Reservation in Washington and the Colville Reservation (Nez Perce) in Nespelem, Washington. In this particular painting, Dennis is dressed in traditional regalia for the “Prairie Chicken Dance” (old time grass dancers). This dance does honor to the prairie chicken which was a main source of food for the tribe. The head dress belonged to the grandmother of Chief Joseph. She later did the beading on the regalia worn by Dennis. As I have spent more time with Dennis and his family, I have gained a deeper understanding of cultural values and how they are expressed in everyday life. I value this relationship.