Nishan Friesz is a Tribal Councilwoman from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Lame Deer, Montana. Her father came from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and her mother came from the Navajo Tribe, growing up in Vanderwagen near Gallup, New Mexico. Nizhoni introduces herself traditionally in the Navaho manner by stating her first clan and saying she is born for her father’s clan.

“I am Kinyaa’áanii born for Na łaa Ni. Both of my parents have been very influential in my designs, and they have always encouraged me to be creative. My parents have painted, and my mother taught me how to make jewelry from an early age. I remember watching my mother work with silver as she set stones, soldered, and created her own designs. She later introduced stringing semi-precious stones, turquoise, sterling silver, and shells, which I now use in my own designs. She comes from a long line of silversmiths and her side of the family continues to work with silver, sews traditional Navajo outfits, and fires ceramic pottery.