08/20/2025
The Generations Barbershop Collaboration with the Spokane Tribe Casino and the Spokane Tribe of Indians
Wellpinit, Wash. - On August 19, 2025, Generations Barbershop collaborated with the Spokane Tribe Casino and the Spokane Tribe of Indians to provide professional haircuts to the youth on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
Douglas Baxter, owner of Generations Barbershop, had initiated a conversation with Spokane Tribal member Ricky Sherwood about giving back to the community.
“Doug started the conversation of doing something in the community for the community,” Sherwood said. “He spoke to me about the possibility when he was giving me a haircut. He also spoke to Frenchie SiJohn, Spokane Tribal Executive Director and let him know that he talked to me. Frenchie asked me to see what it would take to put it all together.”
Sherwood and Baxter devised a plan to best serve the reservation kids.
“We lacked funding, so I reached out to Triston Andrews, Marketing Director for the Spokane Tribe Casino and he didn’t hesitate to partner with us to bring a positive event to the rez,” Sherwood said.
Triston Andrews talked about the inspiration for contributing to this event.
“I think what the community is going through right now is very important to help with something,” Andrews said. “Our GM challenged the leadership team to try and think of some ideas on how we can help the youth on the reservation and how we can be more involved. That is a large conversation and it’s going to take time, so when this opportunity came about, it was shortly after he suggested we get more involved, so it was a natural connection.”
Andrews explained more about why this was important to give back to the community.
“Our industry is very adult-focused and so when there are opportunities to do something involving the youth on the reservation, we try our best to make it work,” Andrews said. “It is our Tribal Youths Casino as well and they don’t always get to enjoy it to its full potential. We like to be involved and give back to the community on the reservation when we can. We also do a lot for the West Plains community, where the casino is located as well. There is a negative connotation with the gaming industry, so being involved in the community helps us break that stigma. We are a tribally owned property, so our gaming revenue is helping a larger purpose.”
Andrews then talked about his personal connections with the community.
“I grew up on the reservation and typically understand the hardships and challenges that the youth face, but what they are currently going through is something I couldn’t imagine,” Andrews said. “My heart goes out to all the youth affected. I hope there are other things in the work to help with what they are going through.”
When asked why this event is important right now, Andrews talked about finding positive outlets for the youth on the reservation.
“It is important right now with what is going on, there are a lot of heavy hearts in the community and we need to try and do things that are going to bring everyone’s spirit up,” Andrews said. “Community events should be a large focus right now for leadership; finding positive outlets for our youth to put their energy into is more important than ever. We have to break the cycle that our youth are facing and I think trying to give them more local activities and opportunities is a good start.”
Sherwood talked about how this event will affect the youth and community.
“It gives kids the opportunity to get the barber experience without the barbershop price,” Sherwood said. “I’m a firm believer in looking good, feeling good, you’ll do good. That applies in whatever you do.”
Anissa Abrahamson, a parent of two boys who had the opportunity to get a haircut through this event, talked about her experience from a parent's perspective.
“I signed my two boys up for this event since they both needed haircuts before school started,” Abrahamson said. “It worked out perfectly, as getting haircuts was one of the stops we had planned for this weekend before school starts.”
Abrahamson’s family lives on the reservation, and she saw this as a valuable resource for her boys.
“It was a free community event dedicated to serving students from the reservation,” Abrahamson said. “Walking into the barbershop, the boys felt like a mix of excitement and a little nervousness. The barbers greeted us with easy smiles, instantly making the boys feel comfortable. They chatted with the boys about school, sports and even what they wanted to be when they grew up, making them laugh and helping them forget any nerves. For my son Easton, it was his first sitting in a barber’s chair to get a professional haircut. When the haircuts were finished, the boys looked so grown-up. Their proud smiles said it all. For me, it was more than just a haircut; it was a simple but special moment. We shared smiles back and forth as the barbers included me, asking for my opinion and making sure everything was exactly what we wanted. Walking out together, the boys looking sharp and ready for school, felt like a little milestone. From start to finish, our experience was amazing.”
Abrahamson talked about what kind of support the community needed right now.
“Right now, I think families in our community need support that helps ease daily pressures and gives kids opportunities to thrive,” Abrahamson said. “One way to do this is by offering more community and social events such as talent shows or performances, seasonal festivals (spring fair, fall harvest, holiday events), and community service projects for kids. Wellness and confidence-building events, like storytelling or public speaking workshops and team-building games and challenges. Additionally, combining fun with access to essentials - such as free haircuts, grooming events, shoe or clothing drives paired with activities and back-to-school events with games, snacks and giveaways.”
Abrahamson wanted to thank the barbers.
“Your time, care and generosity made my boys feel seen, special and confident,” Abrahamson said. “This simple act of kindness created a memory we’ll always cherish.”
Abrahamson also gave appreciation to the people who made this event happen.
“I truly appreciate everyone who helped make this event happen,” Abrahamson said. “It was such a great experience for the boys and I think it would be amazing to have an event for the girls, whether it’s offering haircuts or even something fun like nail painting.”
Bobbi Williams was also another parent who signed her son up for this opportunity.
“When I saw the announcement for this event, I thought it was a cool opportunity for our community,” Williams said. “And my son has had his hair cut by the Generations owner, Dougie and he always did a great job.”
Williams talked about what kind of support families in the community need most right now.
“Right now, our community needs healing after the recent challenges it has faced,” Williams said. “So activities like this that bring smiles to our kids’ faces are always welcome. I hope that our tribe, community and programs can continue to expand on this idea. We need to offer more activities that boost morale and make our kids feel loved. We also need to remember our adults. Their health and wellness are also important.”
Williams also wanted to thank the barbers at Generations Barbershop.
“I would like to tell all of the Generations Barbers that their services to our community were greatly appreciated,” Williams said. “For some kids, it may have been their first real barber cut. Taking the time to show our kids you care is the best part.”
Williams wanted to thank Ricky Sherwood and everyone that were involved in the process of getting this event going.
Along with Baxter, he also has his son, Sakima Sanchez, working with him at the barbershop.
Sanchez is a Tohono Oódham nation tribal member and is 17 years old.
Sanchez was born in Carson City, Nevada. He lived in California for seven plus years and moved to Spokane in 2015.
Sanchez grew up watching his parents in the barbering business most of his life.
“Both of my parents have been in the business for most of my life,” Sanchez said. “I have always been fascinated with the art of barbering.”
Sanchez finished working with the Spokane Tribe of Indians Summer Youth Employment, apprenticing in his dad’s Barbershop.
“I am a high school senior this year and will be attending the Barbering School graduation,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez has had a great experience so far, working in this profession.
“It’s been a very good and exciting experience,” Sanchez said. “I’ve learned so much from when I started. I look forward to growing my skills.”
Sanchez talked about what he’s most excited about in this new role.
“The things I’m most excited about in this new role are meeting new people and trying new things,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez has been barbering for two years and is something that he is planning on doing it after high school.
Sanchez’s mentor is his dad.
“It’s my dad. He’s the one who has always pushed me to do this and helped me with it,” Sanchez said.
When asked if he could give advice to someone else starting this profession, Sanchez talked about not giving up on oneself.
“Always keep going and never stop,” Sanchez said. “Once you get it, it just keeps getting better.”
Sanchez wanted to thank everyone for letting him have the opportunity to participate in this event and give back to the community.
“Thank you guys for letting me attend this ‘Back to School’ event. It was very enjoyable,” Sanchez said.
Douglas Baxter is the owner of Generations Barbershop.
He grew up in California between the Bay Area and Fresno, California. Baxter is a barber, husband and father of six kids.
Baxter has always wanted to be a barber.
“I knew since my teenage years I wanted to become a barber,” Baxter said. “I always thought they were so cool and had a lot of friends. I never envisioned myself to be a barbershop owner, but a lot has changed over the years.”
Baxter explained his experiences that he has gone through up to now.
“I went to barber school 14 years ago,” Baxter said. “I worked at three shops in California, then moved here, started cutting in my garage and finally went to a barber school to obtain my license. I have been working at Legacy Barbershop for the last three and a half years. With a lot of encouragement, I opened up my own place a month and a half ago.”
Baxter had some setbacks.
“I battled with addiction in my past, along with the mindset that comes along with it,” Baxter said. “I grew up partially in group homes, feeling unwanted. I resorted to the streets in the wrong crowds and landed in prison.”
People are the reason he does what he does today.
“The love I have for each person is real,” Baxter said. “I love to experience others' highs and be there for their lows. It’s like a real-life TV series with real people.”
When asked about what success means to Baxter now, compared to when he first started, he talked about core values and happiness.
“Success is defined by core values and happiness, love what you do and never work a day in your life,” Baxter said.
Baxter talked about advice he would give to someone just starting out on a similar path.
“Slow is the fastest way to get where you want to be,” Baxter said. “Love the people and they will love you.”
Baxter talked about a lesson that’s stayed with him through everything.
“The only thing stopping you is air and opportunity, now take a deep breath and all that’s left is opportunity,” Baxter said.
Baxter wanted to do something for the kids to raise their spirits.
“I wanted to do something for the kids, raise their spirits in their youth. Give them a sense of self-respect and pride as they face this new year of school. It’s scary enough, and bullying is real,” Baxter said.
Baxter wanted to give back to the Spokane tribal community because his family has been a part of it for years and his kids have participated in their programs.
“I wanted my son to be able to give back to the community that he started from,” Baxter said.
Baxter talked about what he would carry into other projects in the future.
“I will go into the future projects with more confidence, especially with the team that we have,” Baxter said. “Watching them interact with children today really was a blessing.”
The advice that Baxter would give to someone who wants to start similar community-centered projects is to reach out, provide a service and make yourself available.
The inspiration for starting Generations Barbershop was generations.
“I wanted to create a barbershop where one, we would meet all generations of your family and two, you would meet the generations of mine through barbering.”
Baxter explained the theme of his barbershop.
“Our barbershop theme is, ‘man sharpens man as iron sharpens iron,’” Baxter said. “Our signature quote is let the rest of your day be the best of your day.”
Sherwood said that planning the event was not too bad as far as time went.
“Scheduling is always tough just to get everyone on the same page,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood said that they’re currently working on a day for the young ladies on the reservation as well.
“That takes a little more planning just due to the fact that I had the owner of the barbershop to work with before,” Sherwood said. “We will get organized soon and we are working with some great people to make it happen.”
By/CCFlett
Photos for RP/CCFlett
