20 Indigenous and Native-Owned Businesses You Need to Know About
- 4) Stronger Together Mug
- 2) Wildflower Honey
- 3) All Dark Chocolate Delight
- 10) Sacred Fire Cherry Lip Balm
- 5) Eyeshadow Palette
- 12) Wild Rose Face Masque
- 17) Beauty Sustain Lip Kit in Nude
- 8) Red Lavender Soap
- 6) Soy Wax Candle
- 11) Throw or Baby Blanket
- 15) Niswi Napkins in Red Earth
- 7) Fringe Earrings
- 13) Wolf Mountain Lodge Cardigan
- 14) Large Glass Beaded Cuff
- 9) Lighting Canvas Wristlet
- 3) Oversized Plaid Flannel
- 13) West Fork “RED” Jeans
- 20) Thunder Voice Hat Co. Hat 928
- 16) Arctic Air Baby and Child’s Moccasin
- 18) Seasonal Subscription Box
This November, we’re celebrating Native American Heritage Month, also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Aside from learning about the rich culture, traditions and history of Native and Indigenous peoples, you can support their communities by purchasing items from Native and Indigenous-owned companies.
While many refer to Native people as Native American, the National Museum of the American Indian notes that it’s best to use the individual tribal name, when possible. In the United States, Native American is the most common term, but many people prefer to use “American Indian” or “Indigenous American” instead. When in doubt, ask people what term they prefer to be called.
By buying Native, we can celebrate Native and Indigenous peoples’ heritage through products that are as varied as the cultures they come from. And if you’re looking for a gift that’s truly unique, all of these options will fit the bill. Through the use of traditional methods and hand-sourced goods, many of these products are one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of earrings that will earn endless compliments, a bespoke hat that will elevate every outfit or a beautiful tablecloth to pass down through generations, there are plenty of Native and Indigenous-owned businesses for you to shop and support this season. And with the holidays right around the corner, these companies are a great place to start checking things off your holiday shopping list. There’s definitely something for every taste and holiday gift need.
And for the book lovers in your life, don’t forget to check out our list of books by Native American authors to add to your bookshelf as well.
4) Stronger Together Mug
$18.00
Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe. Their products are a unique mix of Native art influences and their urban environment. Give this mug to the coffee-drinker in your life who likes statement sippers.
2) Wildflower Honey
$11.00
Séka Hills sells a wide variety of artisanal goods including honeys, olive oils, nuts, wines and gift baskets. Each product is hand-sourced from the land in Northern California’s Capay Valley.
3) All Dark Chocolate Delight
$49.99
Bedré Fine Chocolate is owned and operated by the Chicksaw Nation. Each delectable product is a reminder of Native American peoples who first cultivated the cacao bean into the chocolate we know and love today.
10) Sacred Fire Cherry Lip Balm
$6.00
Owners Leonard Marcus and Virginia Boone pride themselves on being one of the most traditional Native herb companies in the U.S. Each handmade product, like this cherry-flavored lip balm, melds tradition and culture with health and wellbeing.
5) Eyeshadow Palette
$48.00
Owned and operated by Cece Meadows, a Xicana/Indigenous woman, Prados Beauty offers everything from eyeshadow palettes to makeup brushes. The company donates a portion of all proceeds back to charities and causes that support Indigenous communities.
12) Wild Rose Face Masque
$49.00
Skwálwen is a botanical skin care product honoring traditional Squamish plant knowledge. Each product has a Squamish name, like this Kalkáy (wild rose) face masque, to help honor the place where this plant knowledge comes from.
17) Beauty Sustain Lip Kit in Nude
$45.00
Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded sustainable make-up company. With every purchase, like this nude lip color set, Cheekbone makes a donation to Indigenous youth that helps to address the educational funding gap, and create a space in the beauty industry where Indigenous youth feel represented and seen.
8) Red Lavender Soap
$12.00
Bison Naturals’ products are made from organically, naturally and locally sourced ingredients. All products, like this red lavender soap, are 100% vegan and are dye and perfume free, so they’re suitable for sensitive skin.
6) Soy Wax Candle
$20.00
Owner Arianna Lauren is a member of the Quw’utsun/Cowichan Tribes. She combines Native ancestral knowledge and Native plants to create lotions, salves, candles (like this tobacco-scented jar candle) and more.
11) Throw or Baby Blanket
$42.95
Each Kotah Bear product is a piece of art, handmade by Native makers. Owners Kotah and Misty are both members of the Navajo Nation. The owner’s nickname, Kotah, is from the Lakota (Sioux) tribe and means “friend.” This beautiful blanket would make a great baby gift or as a piece of cozy decor.
15) Niswi Napkins in Red Earth
$68.00
Indigo Arrows focuses on the patterns of the Indigenous peoples in Manitoba, including the owner’s Anishinaabe ancestors. While these patterns are usually found on pottery and bone tools, they now adorn home goods that are meant to be thought-provoking reminders of a rich heritage.
7) Fringe Earrings
$54.95
SheNative believes that real confidence and beauty comes from knowing who you are and where you come from. Their handmade leather handbags, jewelry like these beaded fringe earrings and accessories are made by Native artists through techniques that are handed down from generation to generation.
13) Wolf Mountain Lodge Cardigan
$298.00
BYellowtail provides economic opportunities for Native businesses by featuring up-and-coming Native artists who create jewelry, accessories and other handmade goods especially for the company. Each item is a representation of authentic Indigenous designs and artistry.
14) Large Glass Beaded Cuff
$285.00
The delicate jewelry from Etkie fuses traditional techniques with modern design. The company employs a select group of Native artists who bring the culture of the Southwest into every piece, like this gorgeous beaded cuff.
9) Lighting Canvas Wristlet
$85.00
The name ACONAV represents the cohesion of cultures between its founders Loren (Acoma Pueblo) and Valentina (Navajo) Aragon. The couture fashion brand hopes to empower and strengthen Native women through positive and respectful representation of Native culture in the fashion world.
3) Oversized Plaid Flannel
$160.00
This Los Angeles-based company specializes in clothing design and content that strives to increase visibility and awareness of Indigenous people, like this super-soft oversized ref flannel shirt.
13) West Fork “RED” Jeans
$268.00
Ginew is the only Native-owned denim company in the world. Using Ojibwe, Oneida and Mohican heritage as a foundation, the company creates premium apparel and accessories like these versatile jeans. Ginew jointly crafted their first series of belts from their wedding buffalo, which was hunted, prepared, tanned and hand-dyed by them and their families. Ginew’s leather goods are made with pre-industrial methods, heirloom leather-working tools and vintage patterns.
20) Thunder Voice Hat Co. Hat 928
$725.00
ThunderVoice Hat Co. carries on the lineage of Native fashion through their handmade Navajo hats. These iconic hats, which come in a variety of colors and styles, are hand-sourced, steamed and shaped to fit each buyer’s head. There are new hat releases every Wednesday because they sell out fast. Offerings also include hat bands, hat accessories, tribal blankets and more.
16) Arctic Air Baby and Child’s Moccasin
$74.00
TPMOCS offers authentic, handcrafted Native American moccasins for beginning walkers and up to size 7. Each pair is beautifully made with ethically-sourced leather. Proceeds from sales go to Blackfeet Indian Reservation located in Northwestern Montana.
18) Seasonal Subscription Box
$169.99
If you sign up for Raven Reads’ seasonal subscription, you’ll get a curated selection of indigenous goods, include a book written by a Native author, a letter from that author or box curator, a printed culture card to learn more about them, a literature-themed trinket and a craft. There’s also a junior subscription, for kids five and up.
