The Indigenous-Owned Gift/Business Issue

Shop these Indigenous-owned Businesses....

I did this badly on Threads, figured I’d try to do this a little better here. To the best of my research (and PLEASE correct me if I get any wrong) but I went looking for Indigenous-owned businesses not just ones selling “inspired” selections. I’m trying to promote not just Indigenous art and creative works but the Indigenous business owners. If you know of any I missed (and I assume there are thousands), please add them in the comments. Thanks!

There’s no way I could open this particular post and not have the first thing be me and fav Indigenous artist, Jeffrey Veregge. His bio is below but Jeffrey returned to the Ancestors on April 12, 2024 after spending about 3 years in the hospital fighting lupus. I met him just a few times and corresponded with him just a little but I’ll never forget him. Not just his art but his kindness. I’m an anthropologist who also loves Jeffrey’s “Salish Geek” art style and wanted to get a tattoo in that style. I was concerned about that being cultural appropriation though so I asked Jeff what he thought. He said he taught kids on the reservations how to draw and paint in the style of Dutch masters for example - with a grin, he said that was cultural appropriation too but what mattered was the intent. If the intent was to honor a culture, then he was OK with it and said if I wanted him to, he’d draw the outline and if anyone had an issue, they could email him. He was like that. I never got him to draw that for me. I miss his art and him. His stores and art live on and I’m sure his family would appreciate you seeing what he created.

• Stonington Gallery: (prints)

• HCG Art.com: (prints)

• Fingers Duke: (shirts)

• Space Needle Art: (print and shirts, etc)

“Jeffrey Veregge (March 1974 – April 12, 2024) was a Native American (Port Gamble Band of S'Klallam Indians) artist. His work, which blended traditional Coast Salish aesthetics and pop culture references into what he called "Salish Geek" style, was featured in exhibitions at the George Gustav Heye Center, the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, and the Center on Contemporary Art. Veregge was also known for his work in the comic book industry including variant covers for Marvel Comics.”

---

I’m not going to try and describe the offerings from each of these stores/shops/businesses - I could never do them justice. Go take a look, even if its not what you’re looking for, you’ll see some amazing designs.

The NTVS (the Natives): “Team is made up of Red Lake Ojibwa, Fond du Lac Chippewa, Native Hawaiian, Kiowa, Choctaw and features artists and designers from many other tribes.”

Urban Native Area: “Joey Montoya (Lipan Apache) is a multimedia artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur whose work is aimed at designing and re-designing an inclusive world. He is the Founder, Creative Director, and CEO of Urban Native Era, a fashion brand built to bring Indigenous visibility through fashion and design. His designs can be seen on the show ‘Reservation Dogs’, and are currently being sold at REI.”

B.YELLOWTAIL: “NATIVE AMERICAN FOUNDER, DESIGNER & CEO OF B.YELLOWTAIL-Bethany Yellowtail is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and proudly hails from the Mighty Few District of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation.”

Ginew: “Ginew (Gih-noo) is the first Native American-owned denim collection. This family business was founded by Dr. Amanda Bruegl – Oneida, Stockbridge-Munsee and Dr. Erik Brodt – Ojibwe.”

Kotah Bear: Owned by enrolled members of the Diné (Navajo Nation) tribe

Aconav: “The name ACONAV represents the cohesion of cultures between its founders Loren (Acoma Pueblo) and Valentina (Navajo) Aragon.”

Trickster Company: founded by siblings Rico and Crystal Worl and Deg Hit’an Athabascan from Fairbanks Alaska.

8th Generation: Love their tag line “INSPIRED NATIVES®, NOT "NATIVE-INSPIRED"

Indigo Arrows: “Founder and owner Destiny Seymour (Anishinaabe) holds a Master of Interior Design degree from the University of Manitoba and has 15+ years of interior design experience under her belt. Seymour is a member of Peguis First Nation.”