Celebrate Native American Heritage Month all year long with these fantastic Native owned businesses! The guide below includes everything from art to fashion, from books to food. All businesses included below are Native owned, either by individuals or communities. Most give back to Native communities in need and support other initiatives, for example, environmental sustainability, educational programs, and reducing recidivism, among others. Some are small businesses, while others are internationally recognized.
Most importantly, this is only a small sampling of the wonderful Native owned businesses available. Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Native Owned Businesses Your Family Will Love
Art/Photography
Travis Novistsky: Nature and Wildlife Photography
A proud citizen and lifelong resident of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation at the northeastern tip of Minnesota, I have been photographing the woods and waters of the north shore of Lake Superior for over 25 years. My new book “Spirits Dancing – The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Connections to the Cosmos”, in collaboration with Annette Lee (Native Skywatchers), just released!
Prudy Correa: Acoma Pueblo storytellers/nativities and pottery.
Hand built / free hand painted with native earth clay, and paints.
Consultancy
Alison Tedford Seaweed: Storyteller, author, consultant
Alison Tedford Seaweed is a Nakwaxdaʼxw woman, Kwakiutl First Nation member and Indigenous communications professional based in Abbotsford, BC. She has over a decade of government experience contributing to culturally sensitive data storytelling, policy analysis, program development and seven years of private sector experience doing impact storytelling, Indigenous relations, communications consulting and providing learning opportunities for staff.
Jewelry
Copper Canoe Woman: On-trend indigenous jewelry rooted in tradition.
Founded on the Lummi Reservation, Copper Canoe Woman designs jewelry that makes a statement while maintaining a deep connection to ancestral strength and elegance.
Beadwork by Mikailah: Each Bead Tells a Story
Taught by her late grandmother, Mikailahhas created her own signature style blended with traditional Nimiipuu influences. Products include jewelry as well as clothing and home goods.
‘Oyosow’s Beads: Beadwork | paintings | acorn work
Chumash artisan creating custom beadwork.
Cosmetics and Beauty
Cheekbone Beauty: Indigenous-owned beauty brand paving the way in truly sustainable product development and manufacturing
Cheekbone is an Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics company. Its aim is to make a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth through donations that support educational opportunities for them, and to create a space in the beauty industry where everyone, including Indigenous people, feel represented and seen.
Ah Shi Beauty: Native American-owned and operated luxury skincare and cosmetics brand
Ah Shi Beauty strives to help customers look in the mirror and see themselves, feel empowered and continue to love the skin they are in.
Prados Beauty: Bringing awareness, amplification and collaboration with other Native and Indigenous artists through cosmetics.
High quality cosmetics, makeup brushes, lashes, and more that are not only beautiful but also affordable. Prados Beauty is committed to giving back through donating a portion of proceeds to Native communities in need as well as through charitable work in these communities and supporting other Native entrepreneurs.
Sister Sky: family owned, women led, Indigenous company focused on the diverse hair community
Sister Sky caters to the unique needs of diverse hair, paving the way for a more inclusive hair care industry.
Clothing
TPMOCS: Handcrafter moccasins cut, sewn, sinewed and branded by Native American artisans.
With every purchase, TPMOCS is able to take action to address poverty in Native American communities. Their goals are to employ Native Americans to handcraft each pair of moccasins; to use a portion of the profits to purchase necessities for underprivileged children living on reservations; and to keep their traditions alive.
Trickster Company: indigenous owned design shop
Trickster Company promotes innovative indigenous design, exploring living with traditional Northwest Coast values in today’s world. They strive to represent the way in which traditionally rooted people represent themselves in modern context and fashion.
The NTVS: premier online destination for Native clothing and accessories
The NTVS offers a wide selection of stylish and unique pieces that celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditions of indigenous peoples. All of our designs are created by Native designers, and a portion of profits are donated to related Native non profits and organizations.
Ginew: first Native American-owned denim collection
Ginew fuses contemporary Native American style with Ojibwe, Oneida and Stockbridge-Munsee design elements in heirloom-quality garments and goods. Collection includes denim, tees, accessories and other goods, with each item they make drawing direct inspiration from their cultures and relatives.
Beyond Buckskin: online store where customers can connect with Native American fashion designers and jewelry artists
Beyond Buckskin works with individual artists and small businesses to share their incredible and unique work out to a broader audience. Their designers all advance traditional Indigenous artistic practices by bringing ancient designs, natural materials, and cultural stories to modern fashion.
B. Yellowtail: Native American woman owned fashion and lifestyle brand
B Yellowtail is dedicated to sharing authentic indigenous design with the world, driven by the desire to see herself and her communities authentically and equitably represented in mainstream fashion.
Thunder Voice Hat Co: Carrying on the lineage of Native Fashion that emerged from a collaboration of cultures.
Each hat is vintage hand-sourced, steamed and shaped, creatively visioned, and lovingly made. Each hat holds stories, purpose, and the hope that you wear it with pride and meaning.
Urban Native Era: Indigenous visibility through fashion & design
Urban Native Era started as a way increase the visibility of Indigenous Peoples through social media. Today it crafts minimal yet powerful designs to create timeless garments
Red Rebel Armour: Celebrate Identity, Embrace Style
Red Rebel Armour is an Indigenous streetwear brand that weaves Anishinaabe culture through streetwear fashion to form a social enterprise. Their fashion is designed and produced by Indigenous artists, using ethically sourced and eco-friendly materials.
Home Goods and Gifts
Indigo Arrows: Reimagining the pottery and bone tool patterns of Native ancestors for modern home decor
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples in Manitoba created beautiful patterns to adorn their pottery collections and host of bone tools. The Indigo Arrows line picks up where these Native ancestors left off. Sustainably designed and handcrafted home decor made with high quality linens and non-toxic inks.
Eighth Generation: Seattle based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe
Eighth Generation partners with community-based Native artists around the country to design, manufacture and market beautiful wool blankets and gifts intended for everyone around the globe.
Food
Passamaquoddy Maple: 100% pure maple syrup sustainably harvested deep in the woods of Maine.
We are 100% tribally owned, with a mission to provide a high-end, small batch, product that will not only sustains our tribal land, but also create jobs for our people.
Bedré: Luxury chocolates
Owned by the Chickasaw Nation, Bedré Fine Chocolate produces premier chocolates. The company contributes to educational, health and wellness programs and supports the endeavors of a number of philanthropic organizations within the Chickasaw Nation.
Ioway Bee Farm: Natural honey bee products
Owned and operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Ioway Bee Farm offers a variety of products such as raw honey, creamed honey, lotion bars, lip balms and beeswax candles.
Séka Hills: Specialty foods from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
Olive oils, wines, honey, nuts, and more, grown in Northern California’s Capay Valley.
Books
Strong Nations: Indigenous owned and operated publishing house and online bookstore
Strong Nations’ bookstore offers a curated collection of works by Indigenous authors and illustrators for children, adolescents, and adults. Its publishing team works to produce Indigenous children’s books and additional learning resources that support and uplift Indigenous teachings.
Birchbark Books: Native owned independent bookstore
Owned by author Louise Erdrich, Birchbark Books specializes in indigenous literature for adults and children and supports indigenous artists and book lovers everywhere.
With Christmas approaching, I am sure these Native Owned Businesses gave you more than an idea or two to bring a smile on the faces of all your loved ones!!
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Leanna
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