09/10/2026
Native Women Lead, our core commitment is to uplift, protect, and stand beside Indigenous women entrepreneurs and leaders.
We want to take a moment to address our recent reel featuring Kansas Begaye, as well as the comments and attention surrounding it.
Our platforms exist to uplift Native women and create a safe space for their voices, truths, and leadership. Kansas bravely shared her story with us to shed light on real, systemic issues—including racial profiling, racism, and border town dynamics commonly experienced by Diné and Indigenous people.
While the reel was created and shared in good faith to bring awareness to these critical issues, we recognize that a short video clip cannot fully capture the entire depth, context, and vulnerability of her full story. We take full responsibility for not providing complete context upfront, and we deeply regret any distress or harm this caused.
We do not condone bullying, harassment, personal attacks, or harmful commentary toward Kansas or any of the women who share their stories with us. Native women in the public eye already face heightened scrutiny and violence, and it is our responsibility to protect the individuals who step into these spaces.
We ask our community to engage with respect, dignity, and care. Personal attacks and harassment do not reflect the values of our organizations or the community we strive to grow. Abusive comments will be removed, and accounts violating these boundaries will be blocked.
We stand firmly in support of Kansas Begaye, her leadership, and her resilience. We remain fully committed to upholding Hózhó, accountability, and safety for all our relatives as we work toward a healthier future together.
