When we talk about inclusivity, we aren't talking about just one group of people. There are many groups of people who face systemic oppression because of their race, including America's Indigenous people, and they — some would say, especially — deserve visibility. Indigenous communities also happen to be subjects of major appropriation by others, and so we want to help support the businesses that bring their authentic culture to the world as it should be.
And we think everyone else should, too. We found 20 different Indigenous-owned brands from across North America — from Canada and the United States — from founders and owners living both on and off reservations who create beautiful and useful products. There are Native American-owned makeup and skin care brands, shoe shops, jewelry companies, candles, and more. And books for kids and adults, too. Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else, consider one of these brands.
Prados Beauty
$35
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Prados Beauty
Prados Beauty is a great beauty brand to add to the rotation to shop from for products ranging from lashes to eye shadow palettes to makeup brushes, and even a few beauty tools, like reusable makeup remover pads. According to founder Cece, who is an Indigenous woman, the brand's "mission is to create an inclusive and uplifting beauty brand that inspires people through the lens of Indigenous communities throughout Turtle Island."
Aly McKnight
Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have made it so much easier for artists to share and sell their work to more people. That includes Aly McKnight, an Indigenous artist from the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ territory. Her work is largely watercolors of figures in her community.
Urban Native Era
$38
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Urban Native Era
For clothing that pays homage to Indigenous communities and how they have been treated unjustly by the US, look not further than the brand Urban Native Era. It sells different kinds of apparel like shorts and hoodies, including one that says "You Are On Native Land."
Thunder Voice Hat Co.
$875
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Thunder Voice Hat Co.
Some people are hat people, and for those people, the Thunder Voice Hat Co. is a great place to go shopping for one. They're on the pricy side, but that's because they're authentic vintage one-of-a-kind hats. The business is owned by a person of Navajo/Totonoc roots. The brand sells other items, too, like prints and clothing.
Makwa Studio
$56
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Makwa Studio
Hats can come in a few different styles. Makwa Studio handmakes soft beanie-style hats from 100% wool. They're all handmade in Minnesota by textile designer Maggie Thompson, who is Fond du Lac Ojibwe.
Strong Nations
$18.5
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Strong Nations
Looking for a children's book relating to Indigenous people and produced by Indigenous people? Then look no further than Strong Nations' collection of children's books, all of which can be bought online. According to the site: "We work hard to provide authentic books and gifts in our online store. As a publisher, we are proud to say that ALL our resources that Strong Nations creates are Made in Canada."
Birchbark Books
$20
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Birchbark Books
If parents want to buy books by Indigenous authors by an Indigenous bookstore, there's a place for that, too: Birchbark Books. The company sells books, art, and jewelry and according to its about page, "are native owned (Louise Erdrich is an enrolled Turtle Mountain Chippewa) and our staff is of either Native background, or exceedingly Native-friendly!"
Bedré Chocolates
$7
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Bedre Chocolates
Many Native communities make amazing food, including candies. That's why we're excited to include Bedré Chocolates on this list. It's an Indigenous-owned chocolate store. It didn't start out that way though, "Chickasaw Nation purchased the company and gave it new life" in 2000 and "turned the small chocolatier into a nationally recognized luxury chocolate brand."
Kokom Scrunchies
$8
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Kokom Scrunchies
One can never have too many scrunchies these days. Instead of getting them at the regular spots, it's possible to get them from an Indigenous-owned business that makes them. Or, get scarves and stickers, which are made by Kokom Scrunchies, too. The best part is that they're handmade by the young founder from the Kitigan Zibi in Canada, who started the business when she was 10 years old.
Sequoia
$28
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Sequoia Soaps
Another item that people always buy at some point: candles. Buy a homemade one from an Indigenous-owned candle company like Sequoia Soaps. The one shown here is Sweetgrass and smells grassy and sweet. According to the about page, "Sequoia is a Proudly Indigenous brand that is 100% owned and operated by Indigenous women."
Lofttan
Looking for a fresh set of beads? Lofttan has a ton of jewelry pieces, including necklaces and beaded bracelets. The company is run and founded by April Mitchell-Boudreau, who is a Turtle clan Mohawk who has roots at Six Nations. It "is an Indigenous owned company based in the heart of the beautiful Niagara region and traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishnabe people."
Ah-Shí Beauty
$45
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Ah-Shí Beauty
People are always down for a new eye shadow palette to freshen up their makeup stash, especially one that's versatile and can be used every day. We love this palette from Ah-Shí Beauty. The cosmetic company is owned by Ahsaki Baa LaFrance-Chachere, who is both a Native and Black woman. In Navajo, Ah-Shi means: "This is me, This is mine."
DeMontigny
$74
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DeMontigny
Angela DeMontigny is a Canadian fashion designer who owns the brand DeMontigny. She sells clothes, handbags, and jewelry, and according to her brand's about page, "Angela has not only been a trailblazer for Aboriginal fashion for 2 decades, she has also produced some of Canada's most important showcases for Indigenous designers."
Ginew
Stock up on a warm beanie before winter hits. Or visit Ginew when it's time to gift someone one, even if it's for their trip to the slopes in the warmer months. It'll be an even sweeter gift as Ginew claims to be "the only Native American-owned denim line."
Cherokee Woman
$22
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Cherokee Woman
Cherokee Woman gathers items handcrafted by various Indigenous artists into a single online store, like these Upcycled Aluminum Feather Earrings by Kathy "Elk Woman" Whitman. "Owner, Marta Robinson, is an enrolled member of Cherokee Nation and a native of Oklahoma."
Nizhoni Soaps
$10
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Nizhoni Soaps
Nizhoni Soaps has two brick-and-mortar stores, but luckily for us they also have many items available to purchase online. The business sells soaps, as the name suggests, in both solid and liquid form, and includes other herbal ingredients as well. Eleven-year-old Kamia Begay, who is part of the Navajo Nation, started the business with her parents.
Native Brews
Price may vary
from
Native Brews
Don't think Indigenous folks brew beer? Think again. We're all about these brews from Native Brews, a food and drink establishment based in Cherokee, North Carolina. The food looks so incredible, it's probably worth the trip to try it. According to its social media page, Native Brews is "Native American Woman Owned."
Beyond Buckskin
$240
from
Beyond Buckskin
Indigenous groups are well-known for their traditional footwear. That's what makes Beyond Buckskin's handmade moccasins that much more special — "Made by Jamie Gentry (Kwakwaka'wakw), they have fringe at the heel, a leather insole, leather laces, and a crepe sole for added durability on the streets."
SheNative
Fringe has become a style that has been appropriated by non-Indigenous brands, and so we want to bring it back to the group who invented it to begin with. This fringe bag is so chic and authentic, made by SheNative, "a brand led, made and created by Indigenous women."
Manitobah Slippers
Indigenous communities also lead when it comes to warm footwear, so it's only fair to get some of the most comfy and fashionable slippers from a business owned by someone in the community. That's where Manitobah comes in. It's an Indigenous-owned moccasin company founded in Canada, because "they know cold."
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
