About the author
Gary “Litefoot” Davis is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He is a Native American rap artist, actor, role model and entrepreneur. He began realizing his entrepreneurial dreams twenty years ago by starting his own recording label, Red Vinyl Records and releasing his own music. He has since recorded ten award-winning albums that have been distributed throughout the world.
Mr. Davis currently serves as President and CEO of the National Center For American Indian Enterprise Development. Before being appointed as the new President and CEO of NCAIED, Mr. Davis served on the organization’s Board of Directors and was named interim President/CEO for four months beginning in January 2012. Mr. Davis’ facilitation of business opportunities in Indian Country, from casino gaming, hospitality, land development, and various green energy initiatives, aligns with the NCAIED’s motto of “Putting Indian Country to Work!” He has also served as co-chair of the National Indian Gaming Association’s, American Indian Business Network. He has served as Vice-President of Native Affairs for the Triple Five Group, owners of the world’s largest retail shopping malls; the Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall. Mr. Davis has facilitated a range of business opportunities in Indian Country from casino gaming, hospitality, land development and various green energy initiatives.
Mr. Davis’ lyrics are used today to teach both high school and college level students throughout the United States; and as far away as Germany, about historical and contemporary Native American issues and views. He has lectured at various colleges throughout the United States ranging from Virginia Polytechnic College and State University to Sitting Bull College. Mr. Davis still spends a great deal of his time each year speaking and holding workshops for elementary and high school students throughout North America.
Mr. Davis’ newest company is the Litefoot Entertainment Group, a full service booking, merchandising and marketing company that specializes in expanding the reach of successful Native American public figures. It provides the services of accomplished Native American presenters like Levi Horn of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah who has won titles such as the World Boxing Council’s Continental Americas Middleweight Champion.
Mr. Davis has also been successful as a feature film actor and starred in such major motion pictures as, The Indian In The Cupboard and Mortal Kombat, Annihilation. He has also appeared on the television programs: C.S.I. Miami, Family Law and Any Day Now.
Mr. Davis’ entrepreneurial spirit has grown to include successful pursuits in the world of fashion through his popular “Native Style®” clothing line. The Native Style brand enjoys distribution via Native American casinos, various retail outlets, Native American powwows and events nationwide.
In early 2010, he became the first Native American actor or musician to begin developing his own branded line of sneakers aptly named the Litefoot “FlexArrow®.” The first pairs of the Flexarrow sneakers will be available in 2013.
Mr. Davis continues to motivate and inspire the American Indian community as a highly sought after public speaker. In the last 7 years he has traveled over 150,000 miles throughout the United States bringing hope and empowerment to over 450 Native American communities as the spokesperson of the “Reach The Rez Tour.