Native American Heritage Month is celebrated every year in November. One way to celebrate and support Native communities is by purchasing from Native-owned businesses. This list includes apparel, home goods, jewelry, food, and more. These brands combine sustainability practices, artisan craftsmanship, and culture. Each of these businesses offers products and goods that make fantastic gifts as well, just in time for the holiday gifting season. Take a look through the following and find a number of great businesses to support this month (and beyond).
Eighth Generation
Instead of “Native-inspired” products, Eighth Generation specializes in completely Native-designed goods. Owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe since 2019 and originally created in 2008 by Louie Gong (Nooksack), Eighth Generation sells a collection of home goods, wool blankets, and accessories. Their brick and mortar store is located in Seattle, Washington, but you can shop their selection of beautifully crafted products on their website.
B.YELLOWTAIL
B.YELLOWTAIL was founded and is owned by designer Bethany Yellowtail from the Mighty Few District of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation. (She is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation.) The website features a variety of dresses, skirts, jewelry, scarves, textiles, and more.
Prados Beauty
Prados Beauty is owned by Cecelia Meadows (Yoeme). Based out of the homeland of the Piro-Manzo-Tiwa people—Las Cruces, New Mexico—Meadows runs the beauty brand known for beautifully-designed, colorful palettes and packaging. You can shop their products online and in-store if you’re in the Las Cruces area, or at select JCPenney locations.
Copper Canoe Woman
ƛ̓áqvas gḷ́w̓aqs (whose English name or “Goomishwa” is Vina Brown) founded Copper Canoe Woman while living on the Lummi Reservation in Washington State. Brown specializes in beading and weaving, both of which influence her jewelry work available on the Copper Canoe Woman website.
Kahomelani’s
Kahomelani’s is a Native Hawaiian owned and operated business that sells hair accessories and stickers. Their colorful claw clips and other products are “inspired by the islandʻs beauty and individuality,” according to the website. Shop them here.
Urban Native Era
Joey Montoya (Lipan Apache) founded Urban Native Era as a brand in San Jose, California in 2012, and he currently serves as the brand’s creative director and CEO. The brand began releasing clothing one year later and specializes in streetwear that has been featured in publications such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Urban Native Era is committed to sustainability and Indigenous visibility.
Ginew
Ginew is a Native-owned denim collection based out of Portland, Oregon. The brand carries outerwear, accessories, and apparel that draws from Native American cultures to create sustainable, heirloom goods. Shop the brand on their website.
Séka Hills
The Capay Valley in Northern California—the homelands of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation—is also home to a number of organic fields that serve as resources for Séka Hills products. Séka Hills implements sustainable practices to create a range of olive oils, wines, vinegars, honey, nuts, and more. They also offer a number of gift boxes, perfect for the gifting season.
