News and Press Releases

08/01/04 - Native Threads Sponsored Artist, Shadowyze Spearheads Hurricane Relief Effort For Mississippi Choctaw Reservation

Native American Music Award winning rap artist Shadowyze (AKA Shawn Enfinger) from Muscogee Creek organized and coordinated a series of relief efforts to assist hundreds of Native families battered by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi

Betty Sutton, the Community Center Manager in the small town called Bogue Homa which means red water, informed Enfinger about the poor living conditionsincluding no electricity for two weeks and lack of food, first aid, and personal hygience supplies. The rapper turned truck driver rallied his family, friends and fans.

Thanks to their generosity, more than enough desperately needed supplies to fill a few large tractor trailers were donated. The relief supplies also included baby food, diapers, kids shoes and toys, flashlights, new womens' shoes, household cleaners, and over the counter medicine. Accompanied by his sister-in-law, Xunan Quetzal, and other selfless volunteers, Enfinger made multiple trips from his hometown of Pensacola Florida to hurricane ravaged Native communities in Bogue Homa and Ocean Springs Mississippi.

Shadowyze would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for supporting the relief effort:

A&E Pharmacy
Long's Used Cars
Bayou Chiropractic
Dan Jaquish of First Choice Automotive in Pensacola, FLA
Amerinda.org of NYC
Police Officer, Cecil, for the escort to the Rez
and the many friends and fans that dropped off boxes of groceries and supplies.

After the truck was unloaded, I sat down next to Betty Sutton and she gave me a big hug, and told me how much she appreciated what we had done to help her community in a time of need. She nearly came to tears several times during our conversation. I was about to as well since the emotional intensity of the moment was so overwhelming. She said: "I cant thank you enough for all you've done."

I knew in my heart that I had done the best I could in a week's time to gather the goods and deliver them to my Native brothers and sisters in need. - Shadowyze.


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