Native beaded earrings are like my superhero cape—they make me feel seen and strong. But many of my earrings were not always comfortable for daily wear, and this is part of what prompted me to start Cheyanne Symone in 2018. My goal was to blend chic design with everyday comfort, reflecting my identity as an Indigenous Haliwa-Saponi woman, Environmental Scientist, and Artist. Cheyanne Symone features minimalist, contemporary Native beaded designs in neutral colors.Raised in Hollister, North Carolina, a close-knit Haliwa-Saponi community, I was the first in my extended family to attend college and will forever cherish my great grandfather’s tears of pride at my graduation. With only a fifth-grade education, he never thought he would see his grandchild attend college.In graduate school I met my partner, and we settled in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where we are happily married with an almost 5-year-old child. I work as an energy professional, and own Cheyanne Symone, a luxury indigenous jewelry company. With over a decade of experience in clean energy management, I’ve helped Midwest tribes and municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable populations. My passion for energy justice is driven by a desire to ensure affordable energy for my tribe.Cheyanne Symone was created to meet the need for high-quality, sustainable Indigenous-style jewelry that is both professional and bold. I seek financial support and mentorship to scale my business while balancing my role as Associate Director of Tribal Programs at Elevate, a non-profit focused on equitable access to clean energy.

Native beaded earrings are like my superhero cape—they make me feel seen and strong. But many of my earrings were not always comfortable for daily wear, and this is part of what prompted me to start Cheyanne Symone in 2018. My goal was to blend chic design with everyday comfort, reflecting my identity as an Indigenous Haliwa-Saponi woman, Environmental Scientist, and Artist. Cheyanne Symone features minimalist, contemporary Native beaded designs in neutral colors.Raised in Hollister, North Carolina, a close-knit Haliwa-Saponi community, I was the first in my extended family to attend college and will forever cherish my great grandfather’s tears of pride at my graduation. With only a fifth-grade education, he never thought he would see his grandchild attend college.In graduate school I met my partner, and we settled in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where we are happily married with an almost 5-year-old child. I work as an energy professional, and own Cheyanne Symone, a luxury indigenous jewelry company. With over a decade of experience in clean energy management, I’ve helped Midwest tribes and municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable populations. My passion for energy justice is driven by a desire to ensure affordable energy for my tribe.Cheyanne Symone was created to meet the need for high-quality, sustainable Indigenous-style jewelry that is both professional and bold. I seek financial support and mentorship to scale my business while balancing my role as Associate Director of Tribal Programs at Elevate, a non-profit focused on equitable access to clean energy.