About

luis robert lee/Guin Yah Geyh

Seneca • Tribal Enrollment #2824.0000

Luis Robert Lee was born on the Seneca Nation's Allegany Indian Reservation, Quaker Bridge, NY. He is a member of the Seneca Beaver Clan. His clan name, Guin Yah Geyh, means "Something from the Clouds" and was given to him by his maternal grandmother in the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Longhouse.

Luis worked as a connector on the high steel with his father while obtaining his BFA degree in Advertising Design from Syracuse University. After working his way up in the corporate world, Luis finished his "big business" career as Director of Packaging at Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., in Ontario, Canada. He then formed his own boutique design firm specializing in packaging design and consulting with major national and international clients. He has won many prestigious graphic design awards.

Luis is also a former lacrosse player and now coaches high school lacrosse in Connecticut. He has played for the Newtown Athletic Club (Iroquois Can/Am box lacrosse leagues), Syracuse University and the New York City and New Jersey lacrosse clubs.

In his spare time, Luis creates beadwork jewelry, horn rattles and, most recently, Quahog "wampum" shell necklaces and earrings. The designs are based on the tradition, color and style of the Haudenosaunee; they are unique but faithful to the American Indian heritage.

Each piece created by Luis is, by its very nature, one of a kind and all are a joy to wear or collect by both Native and non-Native people.