By Kaylum Red Gun
Selena Medicine Shield is a Blackfoot and Sioux model who has built, and continues to build,
her presence through her focus on cultural and community representation. Her traditional
Blackfoot name is Ayohkiistinskiiaakii, which translates to “Different Singing Woman.” She
showcases and embodies her background as a proud Indigenous model with past experiences
modelling at events such as the Four Winds YYC Fashion Show, the Honouring Traditions and
Reconciliation Fashion Show, and with the BIPOC Foundation. Selena’s many past experiences
and efforts have granted her a well‑earned new career opportunity taking place in Manhattan at
New York Fashion Week on September 11th. Through her efforts, Selena wants to act as an
example to Indigenous youth and Indigenous peoples in general, exemplifying her message of
finding success by persevering through adversity as Indigenous peoples.
During her youth, she grew up with her mother, Kaily Bird‑Blackplume, and had strong
connections with her grandparents, Evangeline Medicine Shield and Joseph Leather, as well as
her father, Franklin Medicine Shield. She recalls being creative and having a need to express
herself as a youth, along with a desire to help people. This translates into the present in relation
to her current achievements and endeavours. Selena’s accomplishments extend beyond
modelling into education and mentorship roles that support Indigenous youth. She is actively
pursuing a degree in the Indigenous Health program at the University of Lethbridge and
previously graduated from the Child and Youth Care program at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
Currently, Medicine Shield works at the University of Lethbridge within the Faculty of Health
Sciences as a research assistant.
Medicine Shield started her modelling career relatively recently, in 2021. Her first introduction
to the modelling industry was through the Four Winds YYC Fashion Show hosted by Tony
Tootoosis and his wife Melissa, where she also gave a speech regarding MMIW as an advocate.
From there, she participated in multiple fashion shows and events in which she continued to
honour and showcase her Indigenous culture and identity. During the first stages of her
modelling career, Selena worked mainly as a freelance model, focusing on collaborating with
Indigenous‑based creators and designers. One of the key partners through which Medicine Shield
showcased her modelling talent is Native Diva Creations, a Blackfoot‑owned beadwork and
fashion brand conceptualized and operated by Melrene Saloy. From these efforts, Medicine
Shield now finds herself with the International Indigenous Fashion Council (IIFC) model sector,
which she joined earlier this year, in February 2026, gaining access to international Indigenous
modelling opportunities and networking with global Indigenous models.
Presently, through her efforts, Selena has secured a major career milestone by being accepted to
model at New York Fashion Week in September through the IIFC, taking place at the Duggal
Greenhouse. Her next step toward this milestone is to begin fundraising to support the trip. She
plans to start soon through donation letters, possible community sponsorship, organizational
connections, and raffles. Overall, Medicine Shield is looking forward to the event and intends to
make the most of her time in New York. This event is especially significant to her, as she feels it
is important to be in a position that allows her to represent her loved ones, community, and
culture. She dedicates her trip to those who supported and continue to support her along her
journey; these include her late father, Franklin Medicine Shield, her aunts and uncles Terry
Medicine Shield, Lacy Medicine Shield, and Sasha Medicine Shield, as well as her cousins
Julian Medicine Shield and Jaymen Medicine Shield.
Regarding the importance she feels toward this milestone, Medicine Shield shared the following:
“What matters most to me is being able to represent my family, community, and the
loved ones I have lost along the way.
Whenever I step onto a runway, volunteer in my community, or pursue a new
opportunity, I carry their memory with me. Their love, strength, and influence
continue to motivate me, and I often think of them as being with me wherever I go.
In many ways, this journey is for them as much as it is for me.”
Medicine Shield proves to be an example of overcoming struggle and finding success while
honouring those who supported her along her journey. One of her main driving forces in finding
success is her desire to lead by example for Indigenous youth, in the hopes of inspiring them to
pursue success through overcoming challenges. On her motivations, Medicine Shield states:
“One of my biggest motivations for pursuing this opportunity is to inspire
Indigenous youth and show them that they are not limited by their circumstances or
where they come from. No matter what challenges someone faces growing up, I
want young people to know that they can dream bigger, take chances, and pursue
opportunities they may never have imagined for themselves.
