October First Friday: IndigiNerds Assemble at the Heard!

Join the Heard and IPX from 5-9 p.m., October 6 as we bring a sprinkling of Indiginerd magic to the greater Phoenix area. Enjoy guests, workshops, cosplay, vendors, and more as we celebrate Native creatives in pop culture.

Since its debut in 2016, IndigiPopX has been the premier gathering of “Indiginerds” and Indigenous representation in pop culture, celebrating and highlighting the endless creativity and brilliance of Native creatives.

The Heard Museum has been a long-time supporter of IPX and our pop culture efforts and we are excited to host a mini-expo for the FREE First Friday event this October!

Activities:

Guest Star
Our wonderful IPX guest, Deanna Allison (Diné), will be on hand to meet and greet Indignerds of all ages (and galaxies).

Cosplay Contest
Bring your best cosplay for the contest, featuring fun prizes!

Native Creatives
Featuring some great Native/Indigenous vendors showing off some great merch.

Kids Area
Our kids area features a coloring station and cosplay maker station, where kiddos and families can show off their creativity.

Workshops
The program will feature two workshops: 1) Cosplay 101, led by cosplayer and IPX Board Member, Rahsaan Williams; 2) RPG (Role Playing Game) Demo, where participants will have the chance to engage in gaming and receive some fun gifts.

Indiginerd Comic History Walkthrough
IPX will launch its first pop up featuring the history of Natives in pop culture.

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About Deanna Allison:

Deanna Allison plays ‘Emma Leaphorn’ in AMC’s Western noir thriller series, “Dark Winds.” Based on Tony Hillerman’s popular Leaphorn & Chee book series, the project was created by Graham Roland and is executive produced by George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford. Deanna’s father introduced her to the Tony Hillerman stories at a young age and she is excited to be a part of the series. She also played defense attorney Dezba Lowe on an episode of the BBC crime anthology series Accused, “Naataanii’s Story” in season 2 on FOX, written and directed by: Tazba Chavez.

Deanna is a Diné creative of the Naaneesht’ ézhi Táchii’nii (Zuni-Red Running into the Water) clan born to the ‘Áshįįhi (Salt) clan. She is from northern New Mexico and is an enrolled member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker, Arizona. Deanna has a diverse background that includes kickboxing and fitness, multimedia arts, animation, film, and television.

With a strong background in theatre, Deanna has been involved as playwright for “Spider Woman Stories,” in collaboration with Indigenous female writers. She performed the leading role of Spider Woman, a Diné deity spinning life in and out of time, with an all Indigenous cast produced by the New Mexico Storytellers Association and Two Worlds Theatre and Film.

Deanna made her film debut in the Showtime movie “Edge of America” directed by Chris Eyre. She was also part of the Emmy award winning series “The Batman” directed by Jeff Mattsuda with Warner Bros Animation. In addition, she has created and performed the original short story films, “Our Blessing” and “Indigenous Housewives,” which screened at festivals within New Mexico and California.

Deanna is developing her storytelling and acting from a personal cultural narrative while embracing her Diné culture, creativity, physical health, and the pursuit for knowledge.

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Code of Conduct

We ask all of our attendees and guests to conduct themselves in a respectful way in accordance with the code of conduct and all laws and local ordinances.

• Wear appropriate clothing and follow our Cosplay rules.
• Disruptive behavior is prohibited.
• No weapons. Cosplayers, please follow our Weapons and Prop Policy
• Possession of open alcoholic beverages except in designated areas is prohibited
• No solicitation.
• No pets (except for service animals).
• Engaging in non-commercial expressive activity that is destructive is prohibited.
• Smoking except in designated areas is prohibited.
• No loitering.

Cultural Sensitivity Policy

The Indigenous Comic Con is a positive, family oriented event that celebrates Indigenous pop culture. As such, cosplay that can be interpreted as culturally disrespectful by any of the attendees or guests will be asked to be removed. We wish to ensure a positive experience for everyone and we thank you for your consideration.

Anti-Harassment Policy
The harassment policy applies to any individual attending the Indigenous Comic Con, including guests, exhibitors, staff, attendees, etc.

The Indigenous Comic Con is a safe space. This means we expect it to be a safe environment for fans from any ethnicity, creed, religious background, political background, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, sexual orientation, fandom, etc. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. This includes, but is not limited to: physical assault, verbal harassment, sexual harassment, stalking, unwanted physical contact, unwanted advances, or inappropriate media capture. (Inappropriate media capture is defined as photography, video, audio, or some other form of recording where the subject feels they are being stalked, exploited, degraded, or disrespected through being recorded. People are allowed to document the convention through media capture as long as no one feels they are being harassed.)

Harassment is defined by the victim.
“No” means no. “Stop” means stop. “Go away” means go away.
If it is determined – either by observation or by complaint – that an individual or group has harassed another attendee, any or all of the following things may occur –

That individual or group may be:

• Warned to cease and desist;
• Asked to leave the convention, or;
• Banned from the convention for a period of time to be determined by staff.

To report harassment please find the nearest Indigenous Comic Con volunteer or security personnel. They will direct you to an information desk or security center. If you feel your safety or the safety of others is in jeopardy please contact the Phoenix Police Department at 911 if an emergency.

For your own safety, if you feel that you are being harassed in a non-emergency situation please report your problems to us before anyone else. If you cannot find a staff, crew, or volunteer member to assist you, please go to the information desks located near registration or just inside the entrance of the exhibition floor. Please report to us before taking matters into your own hands (such as personally confronting the aggressor or posting on social media). We have professional security and they are properly equipped for these contingencies.

Cosplay Policy
Here is a brief overview of our Cosplay Policy. You can view the full policy HERE.
The Indigenous Comic Con is a family friendly gathering of Indigenerds. We may have elders and most certainly will have young children and we ask you to keep it PG. * Regardless of your gender identification, we require all attendees, exhibitors and guests to: * Wear sports bra-like coverage on top with leotard-type coverage on bottom. (i.e. no butt cheeks) * No thongs and no “plumber’s butt” * No bare chests, no singlets, and no Vampirella-type costumes. Under garments are a must!

Weapon/Prop Policy
Here is a brief overview of our Cosplay Policy. You can view the full policy HERE.
No prop weapons will be allowed. Period. If it’s not a weapon but is still dangerous it will be handled by our bonded Security on a case by case basis. (Wands, staffs, shields with no sharp points are all approved cosplay items).

Under 12 Years of Age
PLEASE NOTE: Children under the age of 12 years can not be left unattended. If a caregiver cannot be found, the convention staff will notify security.

• Please take time to note the location of our Registration Area, this is a great place to meet-up in the event that you are separated.
• Please take time to note our volunteers in the Indigenous Comic Con shirts with “VOLUNTEER” printed across the back. These people are here to help you in the event of an emergency.
• For parents, if you find yourself suddenly separated from your child, please notify an Indigenous Comic Con volunteer immediately; instruct your children to do the same.
• For parents, please do not allow your children to wander around unattended, even in kids areas.
• For parents, please so not allow your children to run, they might fall and get hurt.
• For parents, your children must wear shoes.

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