Beyond the red suit: How Native Santas are reclaiming holiday representation

But this isn’t a typical delegation from the North Pole. Santa wears a ribbon shirt dotted with candy canes, as well as a beaded snowflake belt buckle and feathered bustle. A large candy cane with silver bells serves as his staff, and both Mrs. Claus and Peppermint sport otter fur wraps and beaded peppermint-candy earrings or barrettes.

“Solte in Salish means ‘warrior,’” explained Jerry Payne, the man behind the beard. To that end, his portrayal of Santa includes combat boots. Payne, who is affiliated with the Salish Tribes, is a U.S. Army veteran who says he was “voluntold” for the role 10 years ago.

Colleen Payne, an Alaska Native Athabaskan who plays Mrs. Claus, said the Portland-Vancouver chapter of the Northwest Indian Veterans Association started doing Native-themed Santa programs just over 25 years ago.

“It all started because there were kids who could not afford to go see Santa and they didn’t have gifts,” she said. “Then they drug us into it. They’ve had quite a few Santas that were also veterans.”

Past Santas have represented the Crow, Wasco and Lakota nations, with each one incorporating elements of their culture with the traditional Santa garb to create a unique interpretation of the holiday season’s most iconic character.

“We’ve had some friends help us make him a bustle,” said Colleen, pointing out the distinctly Native features of the regalia. “We worked on his trailer for his breechcloth, so all of it — he looks like a men’s traditional dancer.”

The elf hat and beard complete the look. All that’s left is for Solte Santa to engage children and families to help spread Christmas cheer. The North Pole crew make appearances at various schools, community centers and even Portland’s Bison Coffeehouse, the city’s sole Native-owned coffee shop.

Solte Santa’s Native accents contrast against the iconic image of Santa that originated with Coca-Cola in the 1930s: a stout, grandfatherly white man wearing a red, fur-lined suit and cap, with immense black boots and belt. For generations since, this rendition has remained popular in mainstream American culture.

“The Coca-Cola Santa, for whatever reason, kids are scared of that Santa,” said Jerry. He said Native kids feel more comfortable with his portrayal of Santa. “Their parents would say that they never come up to take a picture. Next thing you know, they’re hugging me and jumping in my lap. And their parents are crying because they never got a good picture with their kid.”

“The last event, one girl was so shy,” added Colleen. “And as soon as she got close enough and she got her picture and she left, she ran right up to Santa and threw her arms around him three or four times that night. Every time there was an opening, she was there.”

The Call of Claus

Online and in shopping centers, there’s a growing number of Santas that break the traditional image of jolly old St. Nick. A First Nations man called Powwow Santa has been wowing crowds for his dancing and richly patterned overcoat, while other Native Santas have been firing up children across tribal communities as Christmas nears. Borbala Csillag is Oregon State University’s Stirek Assistant Professor of Management, and co-author of a study on portraying atypical Santas that was recently published in the Academy of Management Journal. Based on surveys of 849 professional Santas across the U.S., as well as interviews with nearly 400 more, the researchers found the Santas had passionate feelings about their role whether or not they matched the prototypical Santa.

“They do not see that as a requirement or a limitation for living out their calling,” Csillag told Buffalo’s Fire. “It’s really about connecting with children and other clients, spreading the magic of Christmas, having and sharing love in our hearts.”

Csillag said whether it’s a Native, Black or Asian Santa, these performers generally do not call attention to their racial identities. They view themselves as Santa Claus, and feel that they are able to portray their role successfully.

“The Coca-Cola Santa prototype does seem to still dominate in some ways,” she said, “but it’s not actually the origination of the myth of St. Nicholas and Father Christmas.” Before the iconic image launched by Coke’s campaign, there were many renditions of Santa that would be seen as curious and unusual by those who have been raised with just one portrayal.

“So it makes perfect sense that we found Santa Claus is played by a more diverse group of people than we might imagine,” added Csillag.

BeLonging Space is an inclusive community initiative that has been bringing Black, queer and Indigenous Santas to special events in Oregon since 2022. “There is nothing like seeing children encounter a Santa that looks like them for the first time,” said executive director Naphtali Renshaw. “And when you see children come back year after year, you begin to understand that it isn’t just about a one-off representation, it’s about breaking systemic cycles of violence, and reclaiming identity– and that is so, so important.”

Back at the Chifin Native Youth Center, Santa and Mrs. Claus welcome another family for a group photo, as they use snow white feather fans to keep cool in the crowded and warm classroom. Kids lean in and whisper their wish lists to the pair, as Peppermint the Elf (Qalch’ema Friedlander, of Colville and Athabaskan heritage) prepares the next group.

“Having her next to us makes it really approachable,” said Colleen, adjusting one of Friedlander’s otter wraps. “For some kids, she’s walked a couple of them up, they’re excited. She says, ‘I’ll go up with you.’”

Colleen joked that while she and Friedlander also sport holiday bling, including abalone shells and shiny snowflakes in their hair, “Nobody outshines the man.”

The team includes several worker elves, who help set up the staging area for the Clauses, and line up toys that kids can take home. Others prepare food and arrange special arts and craft activities. Altogether, Solte Santa & Co. are making nine appearances this month across Oregon, including in Portland, Eugene and Lebanon.

With the nation contending with political and cultural polarization even during the holiest of seasons, the North Pole team is dedicated to giving Native families a connection to the Christmas holiday, as well as a safe space.

“That’s the overall goal,” said Jerry, “to make sure that everybody knows that Natives are still here. We’re still here fighting and wanting to be represented and acknowledged.”