Indigenous content creator represents his people
Chante’ Reddest has been educating his social media followers on Dakota history for the last few years and recently done so on one of the largest stages
Kalle Benallie
ICT
Chante’ Reddest, Oglala, Sičangu Lakota, at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Nogueira)
Chante’ Reddest began making videos on TikTok to educate people about Dakota history in February 2021. He eventually began creating inspirational content and videos on folklore, quickly hitting one million followers.
“My whole motto, my whole thing, even before I first started was to inspire the next generation and to be you, be real. That was my whole message that led me this far because I never strayed away from that path that was set in the beginning,” he said.
Reddest, 23, said he sees his social media reach as a blessing and is aware that he is representing the Oceti Sakowin people and Indian Country.
“It happened so quickly for me. I didn’t really get to process it. I was just always posting, making something new. It was kind of like a really quick turn around because I think it was not even less than a year that I got to a million in that year,” he said.
Reddest, who is also an activist, said he was invited to the Democratic National Convention to do their ceremonial roll call to represent his community. He wasn’t nervous at all but confident to say what he needed to say.
Amid music and cheers with states and U.S. territories pledging their delegate votes, he began the cast for South Dakota’s vote in the Lakota language at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“I want to say that my people, the Oceti Sakowin, are still here. The Seven Council Fires are still here,” the Oglala, Sičangu Lakota, citizen and activist said in the roll call.
“This election can make or break us for the future, for our future generations because of what has happened in the last four years with everything. I really want to have affordable housing, clean energy, a lot of things like that for our community, and good education especially for the youth,” he said.
He was the only Indigenous person, who represented a state, to help cast a vote. South Dakota, Utah and Nebraska were the only states to mention tribal nations in their speeches.
“It felt pretty powerful to represent,” he said.
He also said the moment was also monumental as an Indigenous content creator because having Native content creators in important spaces like the convention shows the vast potential of Native people and gives a good example to the youth.
“Most important thing is that we always need good representation for our people because there’s really not that many good representation, especially men in our community. It’s hard to find that and we need more of that,” Reddest said.
