Like the diverse geography across the continent, Indigenous groups in North America form a mosaic of different languages, histories, and cultures. This richness and diversity are shown in the broad scope of goods and services offered by Native-owned businesses.
Whether you’re planning an outdoor adventure with your family, searching for a unique gift, or need a web designer, there’s an Indigenous business that caters to your needs. To celebrate and reflect this richness and diversity — and to help you support Native businesses and communities — I’ve curated this list of 88 Indigenous-owned businesses in the US and Canada.
Indigenous Businesses in the USA
Art
Products: Nativities, Storytellers, Pottery, Ornaments
Third-generation potter Prudy Correa grew up helping her grandmother gather clay and natural paint from the mountains. She primarily crafts ornaments, animal storytellers, and nativity scenes inspired by her heritage from the Pueblo of Acoma. Her work has been featured at several art shows, including Red Earth, the New Mexico State Fair, and the Heard Museum show.
Beauty
Products: Shower Steamers, Balms, Body Care, Soaps, Candles
Mother-daughter duo Jean and Carissa Pankey founded the Cherry Street Farmers Market, making organic, handmade personal care products. 3Ps in a POD’s product range includes CBD and sinus balms, soaps, scrubs, talc-free powders, insect repellent, and linen sprays, which it sells online.
Products: Cosmetics, Skin Care, Branded Merchandise
Ah-Shi is the first Native American/Black-owned beauty brand that offers a full range of skincare and cosmetic products. As a dark-skinned Indigenous woman, the founder Ahsaki Chachere created the brand to showcase Indigenous people’s diversity, and inspire people of all ages through its quality merchandise. “Ah-Shi” is a Navajo term meaning “this is me, this is mine, that’s me,” thus claiming ownership and respect over Indigenous beauty.
Products: Soaps, Bath Salts, Lotions, Balms, Branded Merchandise
Married couple Angelo and Jacquelene McHorse founded Bison Star Naturals after starting a family and realizing they wanted to use more natural personal care products. What began in 2013 as a fun hobby expanded to a small family business. In 2019, they began construction on a workshop funded by their company’s product sales. They completed the project’s first phase in 2021, and now sell soaps, lotions, bath salts, and lip balms sourced from local ingredients.
Products: Salves, Oils, Lotions, Creams
Since 1995, Virginia Boone has been selling natural, handmade herbal products to combat issues like eczema, insect bites, arthritis, and burns. She changed the company’s name from “Medicine of the people: A life way revolution” to “Medicine of the People: A Native America Made Product” to emphasize the originality of her ancestor’s culture and traditions.
Products: Cosmetics, Skin Care, Linens
Cece Meadows is the founder of Prados Beauty. Descended from the Yoeme and Nʉmʉnʉ people, Cece started her makeup brand to create beauty and bring awareness to the stories, resiliency, and heritage of Indigenous people around the world. Aside from donating a portion of all proceeds to Indigenous charities, Prados is also committed to volunteering in the local community and promoting Native entrepreneurs.
Products: Cosmetics, Skin Care, Candles, Branded Merchandise
This Indigenous-owned apothecary brand sells natural perfumes, soaps, candles, healing salves, and other personal care items. All of its products are cruelty free and vegan, and the ingredients and packaging are sourced from local companies to reduce carbon emissions from additional transport. Arianna Johnny-Wadsworth created Quw’utsun’ in 2016 to share her ancestral knowledge from the Coast Salish Nation.
Products: Soaps, Seasonal Agricultural Goods
By selling luxury, handmade soaps, SHIMA’ of Navajoland seeks to create employment opportunities and cultivate sovereignty for the people in its community. The company uses high-quality ingredients, and its soap-making process is deliberately slow, taking over a month to cure each bar. According to their website, this attention to detail is said to give SHIMA’s soaps a deep lather and gentleness, and create a luxurious expense for its users.
Business Education
Services: Workshops
Focusing on how to start and run a small business, RedWind offers technical assistance to Native entrepreneurs. Its workshops cover a wide range of topics integral to start-ups, such as bookkeeping, marketing, and human resources. After the workshops are completed, RedWind provides free follow-up assistance to participants to help them sustain their businesses and support their communities.
Services: Workshops, Webinars, Training, Technical Assistance for Entrepreneurs
Sister Sky, Inc. provides business empowerment workshops to Native entrepreneurs in Indian Country. Led by a team of Indigenous women, the workshop’s curriculum is designed to be culturally appropriate and specific to the Native business context, both in and out of the classroom. Sister Sky also hosts webinars to train organizations that work with Native individuals and tribal communities to develop their small businesses.
Engineering Services
Services: Planning, Designing, Engineering, and Managing Engineering Projects
This Native-owned professional service firm Akana is the result of a merger between Cascade Design Professionals and Cooper Zietz Engineers. The company assists clients in the planning, design, and construction of large-scale engineering projects. The name Akana comes from the Northern Plains Arikara Indian term akana’u, meaning to build, and akaanu’, which means lodge.
Services: Permitting Assistance, Archaeological Studies, Tribal Consultations, Tribal Coordination
New Mexico-based Beaver Creek Archaeology manages cultural resource inventories for small- and large-scale projects. The company’s tribal relations and excellent stakeholder relationships enable it to assist clients in navigating Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which mandates that federal agencies assess the effects their projects have on historic properties.
Some of Beaver Creek Archaeology’s services include permitting, GIS mapping, preservation compliance, interpretive planning, coordination, and tribal monitoring management, which involves tribal members partaking in land surveys for culturally sensitive areas.
Services: Cyber Security, Systems Integration, Software Development, Program Management
Certified as “Woman and Native American Owned” by the Small Business Administration, Caribou Thunder has been operating since 2006. It provides global engineering services across 23 countries and 35 US states, including Wisconsin, where the company is headquartered. Caribou Thunder works in several industries, including space operations, national defense, and operations and logistics.
Products and Services: Lumber, Forestry Management
Owned by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Menominee Tribal Enterprises manufactures lumber and other forest products. The company has been operating since 2008 and employs over 300 people.
Committed to harvesting sustainably, Menominee Tribal Enterprises uses a strategy of sustained yield management to ensure the forest’s resources aren’t depleted. The company’s LEED Green Certification shows its commitment to following efficient, healthy, carbon- and cost-saving practices.
Services: Construction Services, General Contracting, Building Development
Metcon’s name combines the words “metal” and “construction,” which reflects the panelized metal studs and trusses the company specializes in. The general contractor business has operated out of North Carolina since 2000, and has grown from housing construction to full-service commercial construction. With Native American Lumbee roots, Metcon is committed to sustainable environmental practices and protecting nature in its work.
Services: Consulting and Design Services, Pallet and Supply Chain Management
Frank Bonamie, former Chief of the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York State, founded Ongweoweh Corp in 1978. The company provides full-circle pallet solutions from procurement and transportation to recycling, reporting, and analytics.
Meaning “the original people” in Iroquois, Ongweoweh emulates Indigenous values in its environmental stewardship and the respect it shows employees and customers. To give back to the community, Ongweoweh supports Native Americans through scholarships and other financial means.
Services: Financial Investment Management
Potawatomi Business Development Corporation was created in 2002 to help drive the economic development of the Forest County Potawatomi Community. Based in Wisconsin, Potawatomi Business Development Corporation has several subsidiary companies in the construction and IT sectors, including Data Holdings, Greenfire, and Silver Lake.
Services: Civil Engineering Specializing in Water Resources
Hailing from the Navajo nation in Leupp, Arizona, Dr. Ronson Riley Chee was inspired to study civil engineering to improve access to potable water for his people. His company, founded in 2017, was named after his grandfather and nephew, and aims to improve socioeconomic well-being across Native communities by improving civil infrastructure. Riley Engineering supports construction, water supply management, and land development.
Fashion
Products: Jewelry, Clothing, Accessories
This sustainable, Navajo-owned art wear brand creates handmade, restored, and upcycled clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home care items. 4KINSHIP sources vintage textile pieces from around the world and brings them to its atelier to clean and craft into timeless, sustainable pieces. The company also features unique, small-batch collections created from deadstock (remnants and other pieces considered unusable for their original purpose by the manufacturer).
4KINSHIP is focused on supporting the Indigenous community in New Mexico, and leads fundraisers for the Navajo youth in that area.
Products: Dresses, Purses and Bags, T-shirts, Face Masks
ACONAV is a fusion of its founders’ Acoma Pueblo and Navajo cultures and heritages. The couture fashion brand strives to uplift and empower women through its modern designs. While putting a novel spin on the pottery art culture from the Indigenous people of the Southwestern United States, the brand remains a respectful representation of their traditional aesthetic.
Products: Fine Art, Custom Jewelry
Founder Keri Ataumbi creates wearable art in the form of jewelry, each piece telling a unique story. Ataumbi Metals takes inspiration from Keri’s Kiowa heritage, and applies the traditional forms and modern artistic methods learned in part from her family’s history of bronze sculpting.
Products: Jewelry, Textiles, Footwear, Beadwork, Accessories
Originally a blog, Beyond Buckskin expanded to include an online boutique in 2012. The updated platform helps new and established Native American artists and designers from small rural and urban communities reach a global, online audience.
Along with advocating for Indigenous artists, this boutique helps promote cultural appreciation, authenticity, and community building through “positive activism” and by making authentic Indigenous works available to a global market.
Products: Jewelry
Inspired by nature and her coastal culture and identity, Vina Brown makes modern, trendy Indigenous jewelry for her brand Copper Canoe Woman Creations. Her statement pieces incorporate styles from her ancestors – Haíłzaqv and Nuu-chah-nulth weavers and beaders. Through her creations, Vina hopes to honor her culture and help others love beauty as much as her ancestors did.
Products: Textiles, Jewelry, Fine Art, Stationery, Candles, Accessories
Nooksack educator, activist, and artist Louie Gong founded this lifestyle brand in 2008. In 2019, he sold the business to the Snoqualmie Tribe, which has hundreds of local indigenous craftspeople working to support the company.
Eighth Generation was the first Native-owned brand to sell wool blankets on the global market, re-establishing Native producers as the cultural owners of these traditional pieces. Its expansive collection also includes jewelry, apparel, home goods, and gifts designed by Native artists.
Products: Outerwear, Headwear, Clothing, Jewelry, Accessories
Led by husband and wife Erik Brodt and Amanda Bruegl, Ginew is the first Indigenous-owned denim brand. The company also makes leather goods using traditional methods passed down through generations. Notably, the first line of belts Ginew released were handmade from Erik and Amanda’s wedding buffalo, which their families helped hunt, prepare, tan, and dye. Ginew’s collection includes premium denims, tees, and accessories directly inspired by its culture.
Products: Jewelry, Textiles, Accessories
Founded in 2013, Kotah Bear sells authentic jewelry and plush blankets from Native artisans in the Southwestern United States. The brand was founded by Tessie and Kotah, who are both siblings and enrolled members of the Navajo tribe.
Whenever they visited family in the Navajo Nation, Tessie and Kotah would be asked by their friends near their home in Utah to bring back authentic Indigenous jewelry. This was their inspiration to form Kotah Bear as a way to support Native American artisans. They also donate to the American Indian Services, a scholarship program that helps Indigenous people overcome the challenges associated with poverty to obtain their education.
Products: Clothing, Wearable Art, Fine Art
Since she was six years old, Lauren Good Day has had a passion for creating Indigenous art. From beadwork and tribal regalia (custom Native American clothing and accessories worn during traditional dances) to quillwork and fashion design, she has experience in many media important to her culture.
Lauren has won numerous awards and has excelled in prestigious art shows, including the Heard Guild Museum Market in Phoenix, Arizona, and the Autry American Indian Arts Marketplace in Los Angeles, California. Her wearable art collection features geometric patterns and is a modern take on traditional Native designs.
Products: Contemporary Jewelry, Textiles
This Diné jewelry brand sells handcrafted pieces made from a variety of metals and stones, and creates custom Indigenous language necklaces. Founder Nanibaa Beck named the brand after someone mispronounced her name in 2007 as NotAbove. She was inspired by her parents, who taught her the craft of jewelry making throughout her childhood. Although they have both passed away, Nanibaa keeps their memory alive through her creative work.
Products: Clothing, Accessories, Prints
Founded by self-taught artist Jared Kee Yazzie, OXDX is a fashion brand that sells digital art and cut’n’sew apparel, which is clothing created from raw materials that are stitched together rather than being mass produced.
OXDX has a store in Tempe, Arizona, and also provides graphic design services such as logo design and branding. The brand’s name means “overdose,” which Jared uses to describe our modern world and the Indigenous experience. He strives to inspire people to reflect on their consumption, honor ancestral traditions, and give back to the environment.
Products: Stickers, Totes, T-shirts, Scarves
Eugene Tapahe is an artist who dreamt about healing the land and her people with the help of
the jingle dress dance. Four Navajo women, two pairs of sisters, volunteered to help make her dream a reality, and together they embarked on The Jingle Dress Project. The five women travel to the spiritual places where their ancestors once thrived and document the experience through photoshoots, highlighting their Indigenous heritage, and trying to heal from the past.
The Jingle Dress Project sells t-shirts, stickers, and pins, and also accepts donations through Venmo and PayPal.
Products: Clothing, Headwear, Accessories, Art
The NTVS (The Natives) features Native American prints on casual t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and snapbacks. Its unique designs are created by collaborating with Indigenous artisans like
Steven Paul Judd, and are released in limited collections to ensure the highest quality.
The brand’s designs are for everyone who supports and appreciates Native culture. The company encourages consumers to buy authentic Native products instead of knock-offs that have appropriated the culture.
Products: Hats, Apparel, Footwear, Art, Jewelry, Stationery
Like Native fashion at large, ThunderVoice Hat Co. draws inspiration from many Native cultures. The company’s Navajo brim hats are each uniquely designed, sourced from reclaimed materials, and steamed and shaped by hand.
According to the company’s site, “Each hat holds stories, purpose, and the hope that you wear it with pride and meaning.” ThunderVoice Hat Co. also has lines of caps, scarves, and other apparel, as well as blankets and fine art.
The company also promotes the Families to Families and From the Family charities, which help families struggling with poverty obtain clean water, food, and other basic needs.
Products: Moccasins
TPMOCS sells traditional, custom-made baby moccasins from the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Each pair is handcrafted by Native Americans, and a percentage of the profits go toward financially supporting underprivileged kids living on reservations.
Growing up in a single-parent home herself, the business’ founder, Maria Running Fisher Jones, was inspired to create this brand to give back to Indigenous communities and support their economic growth.
Products: Apparel, Jewelry, Fine Art, Stationery, Sports Equipment, Postal Stamps
Crystal and Rico Worl are siblings and the founders of the design shop Trickster. After their creations were a hit with family and friends, they opened a shop in Juneau, Alaska, and quickly expanded to selling their products online.
Focusing on apparel and home goods, Trickster Company brings modern Indigenous lifestyles to light through unique
Northwest Coast formline art. The company’s goals include creating an avenue of cultural exchange in which non-Natives can wear pieces of cultural significance without the fear of cultural appropriation.
Products: Clothing, Headwear, Accessories
Joey Montoya (Lipan Apache) created this brand in 2012 to uplift and increase the visibility of Indigenous people. The line of casual wear features minimalistic designs with powerful messages that support the “Idle No More” movement, a protest against the Canadian government’s destruction of environmental protection laws.
Food and Beverages
Products: Chocolates, Coffees, Gift Bags and Baskets
Chickasaw Nation is the only Native tribe to create a brand of fine chocolate. Bedré Fine Chocolate uses traditional, time-tested recipes to craft luxury chocolate and coffee out of Ada, Oklahoma. The brand also supports several philanthropic organizations within its community, focusing on education, health, and wellness.
Products: Corn Meal, Polenta, Whole Corn, Mugs, Gift Baskets
In 1962, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe started selling the heirloom varieties of corn that it’s been cultivating for centuries. The tribe created the Bow & Arrow brand, under which it sells cornmeal, polenta, and whole corn in white, yellow, and blue varieties. All of the tribe’s products are non-GMO, kosher, and certified gluten-free.
Products: Honey, Candles, Lotions, Pollen, Cosmetics
Owned and operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the IOWAY Bee Farm was founded in 2017. The tribe’s bees have access to a diverse selection of plant life, including sweet clover and various wildflowers, giving its honey a sweet and distinct flavor. In addition to honey and bee pollen, the farm also sells candles and cosmetics such as lip balms and lotion bars.
Products: Coffee
In 2016, Quapaw Nation built an in-house roastery to provide quality coffee to the Downstream Casino in Quapaw, Oklahoma. This was the origin of O-Gah-Pah Coffee, with “O-Gah-Pah” meaning “Downstream People.” The company has since expanded its support to other restaurants and casinos in the area. Still, the company’s vision of improving and inspiring local communities has remained the same.
Products: Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar & Candies, Baking Mixes and Seasonings
The Passamaquoddy people from Eastern Maine and Western New Brunswick created their maple syrup company to help sustain the Indigenous economy in their communities. The tribe’s small-batch, 100% pure maple syrup is sustainably harvested to support their land, maintain their traditions, and provide jobs for their people.
Products: Tepary Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Pinole, Corn Meal, Wheat Berries, Wheat Flour
Hailing from the Akimel O’Odham (Gila River Pima) Community, Ramona Button and her husband have farmed land in Sacaton, Arizona, for almost half a century. Without using pesticides, they grow non-GMO tepary beans, kalvash, wheat berries, and other traditional foods, which they sell online.
Products: Baking Mixes, Wild Rice, Snacks, Teas, Jams, Jewelry
As the only American Indian Tribe in the US to cultivate wild rice on its local lands, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is a pioneer in the industry. The tribe’s brand, Red Lake Nation Foods, also sells fruit jams, jellies, and Native American herbal teas. The company’s logo symbolizes its nation, reflecting the beautiful nature found in Minnesota.
Products: Herbs, Hot Sauces, Teas, Clothing, Plant Medicines, Skin Care, Bath Salts
In the heart of central Oregon, Sakari Farms is nestled in the community of Tumalo. It’s owned by Upingaksraq (“the time when the ice breaks”), who serves as the company’s principal ecologist and agriculturalist, and her husband, Sam Schreiner.
Along with operating as a seed bank for local tribal members, the company sells teas, herbs, hot sauce, and a variety of other natural products. The farm also focuses on education by teaching seed-saving classes and on-farm tribal cooking classes.
Products: Olive Oil, Wine, Honey, Nuts, Vinegar, Gift Boxes
Northern California’s Capay Valley is home to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the creators of Séka Hills. The brand name was chosen to honor the blue hills of the region, as “Séka” means “blue” in their people’s ancestral language. The company sells sustainably sourced artisanal products such as wine, olive oil, honey, and pickled vegetables.
Products: Coffee, Apparel, Tumblers, Picture Books
Takelma Roasting Co. is a Native-owned wholesale coffee brand based in southwestern Oregon in the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. Takelma is the language of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and was used as the brand name to honor the tribe’s rich and vibrant culture. Each of the company’s roasting profiles is associated with a word from the Takelma language to honor the tribe’s heritage.
Products: American Buffalo Jerky
Feeding the mind, body, and spirit is Tanka Bar’s priority. The company’s bars, bites, and sticks are based on traditional wasna and pemmican recipes, and combine buffalo with the taste of sweet cranberries. The brand aims to convert a million acres of prairie into regenerative agricultural land for buffalo to support Indigenous communities.
Health
Services: Medical Laboratory Testing
Helping advance health outcomes through affordable and accessible medical diagnostics, Tribal Diagnostics specializes in serving disadvantaged communities, especially those in Indian Country.
The company supports Native sovereignty by creating healthcare jobs for Indigenous people and working with other Tribally owned organizations. Pricing for laboratory tests from its full-service clinical laboratory depends on each patient’s insurance plan, and can be adjusted for those struggling financially.
Travel and Hospitality
Services: Gambling, Entertainment, Dining, Resort
Designed to look like a ranch, the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino is owned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Boasting an award-winning golf course, resort amenities, and luxury rooms, it’s one of the most indulgent casinos in Lakeside, California.
Products: Books, Games, Art, Audiobooks
This small independent bookstore is tucked away in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Indigenous-owned and run, Birchbark Books focuses on titles by Native American authors and non-Native journalists and historians, some of whom give sponsored readings in the store. Besides the books, almost everything in this bookstore has been salvaged or repurposed, including a sound booth used as a personal confessional.
Services: Dining Experiences, Gathering Trips, Cooking Classes, Language Classes
Inspired to promote their traditional Ohlone culture, Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino created an organization called mak-‘amham in 2017. They host cooking and language classes, gathering trips, dinners, and cultural sessions for their community. In 2018, they opened Café Ohlone in Berkeley, California, where they serve their ancestral foods according to season and strive to educate the public about their heritage.
Services: Hotel, Conference Center, Meeting Rooms, Tours
Built on Hopi tribal land, The Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites has over 3000 square feet of amenities. This Arizona hotel also provides tours departing right from the lobby so guests can experience Hopi culture with ease. A van takes visitors to explore beautiful places like Coalmine Canyon, Prophecy Rock, and Dawa Park. Afterward, guests can enjoy traditional American and Hopi food at the TUUVI Café.
Services: Gambling, Entertainment, Dining, Shopping, Hotel and Spa, Live Racing, Convention Center and Meeting Rooms
One of the largest entertainment attractions in Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono is owned by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut. This gambling destination comprises 82,000 square feet of gaming space, 2500 slot machines, and a plethora of dining and shopping options. The casino resort even has its own racetrack, where visitors can watch free live harness racing.
Services: Dining Experiences, Merchandising, Catering
Located in Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Owamni is a modern restaurant reviving Indigenous cuisine. Representing the Northern Cheyenne, Anishinaabe, Oglala Lakota, Mdewakanton Dakota, Wahpeton-Sisseton Dakota, and Navajo tribes, its diverse team aims to educate and provide access to real, traditional Indigenous food.
Owamni’s menu consists of fresh game, corn sandwiches, and a host of plant-based dishes. To increase its outreach, the company also operates a food truck, provides catering services, and is planning to open the first Indigenous food lab restaurant and training center.
Services: Gambling, Entertainment, Hotel, Dining
From spa treatments with traditional ingredients like Pima cotton and sweet mesquite to luxurious pools and five different restaurants, Talking Stick Resort has a wide range of excellent amenities.
The resort is operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which comprises two distinct Indigenous tribes: the Pima (River People) and the Maricopa (People who live toward the water). The tribes also run the Talking Stick Golf Club and several other successful enterprises.
Services: Hotel, Cabins, Camping, Dining, Tours
Nestled in the Navajo Tribal Park in Monument Valley, Arizona, The View Hotel is owned by Armanda Ortega of the Kiy`anníí (Towering House) Clan. Out of respect for the natural environment and true to her Diné heritage, she employs environmental practices such as biodegradable cleaning materials and low-water, computer-controlled washers.
To allow guests to get closer to nature, The View Hotel also provides cabins and a campground with RV and wilderness camping. At the hotel’s trading post, visitors can purchase handmade, traditional American Indian Art and souvenirs from Monument Valley.
Indigenous Businesses in Canada
Art and Literature
Products: Original and Print Art, Greeting Cards
Delreé Dumont has been a full-time artist since 2014, when she left her corporate job to follow her passion. Delreé’s paintings are often done in the pointillist technique in acrylics, and she also creates medicine bags, smudge fans, and dreamcatchers. Her work is internationally recognized and inspired by her Cree heritage.
Products: Prints, Woven Baskets, Masks and Carvings, Jewelry, Fashion
Located on the site of the original K’ómoks Village on Vancouver Island, between Courtenay and Comox, the I-Hos Gallery features the authentic work of over 50 Indigenous artists. From hand-carved masks to jewelry and woven cedar baskets, the gallery has a wide variety of beautiful items to buy.
Products: Art, Jewelry, Textiles, Apparel, Blankets, Books
The independent gallery and gift shop Moonstone Creation sells handmade Indigenous products in Inglewood, Calgary. To educate visitors about Cree culture, the store also provides online and in-person classes and do-it-yourself kits that guide you through the assembly of moccasins.
Products: Subscription Boxes of Books and Giftware, Self Care Products, Blankets, Apparel
This subscription box service gives readers access to a combination of Native literature and handcrafted gifts. Each purchase supports Indigenous authors and businesses and helps raise awareness of the impact residential schools had in Canada. To date, Raven Roads has invested over $600,000 into Indigenous communities throughout North America.
Beauty
Products: Makeup
Designed to be low waste and long lasting, liquid lipsticks and eye pencils are just some of the products Cheekbone creates. The makeup brand was founded by Jenn Harper, a native of St. Catharine, Ontario. She instills her Anishinaabe roots into every component of her business. Since its inception, Cheekbone has donated over $150,000 to various charities across North America to support Indigenous communities.
Products: Essential Oils, Hair Care, Candles, Skincare, Soaps, Tea, Books
Descended from Cree Medicine women, Carrie Armstrong has been drawn to traditional plants since her childhood. After working in the cosmetic industry and teaching at Amiskwaciy Academy, she launched her brand of luxury bath products to share the natural recipes and knowledge of plants rooted in traditional medicine.
You can learn about the Indigenous methods that Carrie uses for her lotions, essential oils, and other self-care products in her book “Mother Earth: Plants for Health & Beauty.”
Products: Eczema Relief Creams
Originally formulated for eczema, Satya Organic Skin Care relieves many irritating skin conditions, and is made with only five ingredients: cold-pressed sweet almond oil, cold-pressed jojoba, calendula petals, colloidal oatmeal, and beeswax. Patrice Mousseau created the formula using her crockpot after extensive research to help her daughter’s dry, itchy skin patches. The resulting balm cleared up her daughter’s eczema in two days.
Products: Soaps, Moisturizers, Candles, Scented Oils
Proudly Indigenous owned, Sequoia Soap started in 2002 in Michaelee Lazore’s kitchen. Michaelee was inspired by an environmental consciousness rooted in her Mohawk heritage to source all ingredients ethically, and sustainably produce her products. Don’t let the name mislead you – Sequoia Soap’s product line also includes candles, bath bombs, lotions, and other self-care products.
Products: Soaps, Salves, Sprays, Bath Bombs
Sisters Sage doesn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to its wellness products. The company uses traditional cold press manufacturing methods and quality Indigenous ingredients like sweetgrass and sage in its soaps, bath bombs, and salves to celebrate its Gitxaala, Nisga’a, and Metis heritage. The brand also helps uplift female entrepreneurs and youth through outreach, including podcasts and workshops.
Products: Facial Oils, Toners, Salves, Masques, Branded Merchandise
Respect for the environment has been ingrained into Styawat since her childhood, leading her to become an ethnobotanist (a person who studies a culture’s traditional use of native plants), researcher, and community activist.
Along with sharing her knowledge of Indigenous plants with the world, Styawat’s passion inspired her to create a line of botanical skincare products. Handcrafted in the Canadian Pacific Northwest, every product carries a Squamish name to celebrate the land.
Products: Candles, Skincare
This small-batch skincare brand sells minimalist, all-natural products at an accessible price. Founder Laura Whitaker’s Mohawk heritage inspires her to be conscious of the environmental impact of her line. She avoids using plastic in her packaging and donates 1% of the proceeds to environmental charities. If you’re unsure which products are best for you, Wildcraft also has an online quiz to help determine your skin type.
Products: Soaps, Body Oils, Shampoos
Yukon Soaps uses northern ingredients like juniper berries and wild rose petals that are handpicked by members of the community, providing them with employment opportunities and helping them connect with their culture and the environment. Decorated with Indigenous beadwork from local artists, the company’s soaps, shampoo bars, and essential oil blends are handcrafted in the heart of the Yukon.
Business Services
Services: Environmental Management, Ecosystem Restoration and Remediation
In 2019, Xwisten community members founded Coldstream Nature-Based Solutions Inc. to support Indigenous and local communities across North America. Unlike other specialized environmental companies, Coldstream has a holistic approach to nature that balances the needs of the communities, environment, and industry. The company offers a full range of environmental services, including biology, forestry, fisheries, and restoration, as well as skills development and training in the industry.
Services: Business Development, Indigenous liaison, Marketing and Promotion, Content Creation
President and founder Steven McCoy started Gencity Consulting part-time in 2012. The company has since evolved to provide marketing, speech writing, and content creation services in addition to liaising with Indigenous communities. In 2020, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce named Gencity Consulting “Indigenous Business of the Year.”
Engineering Services
Products and Services: Industrial Liners, Installation (including cold weather)
Mining and construction in the North require specialized tools and knowledge, which A&A Technical Services has in abundance. Through innovative technologies developed over 23 years, the company develops construction liner installation processes suitable for -40 degrees Celsius.
Services: Waste and Environmental Solutions, Fleet Servicing, Machining, Welding, Cleaning
Combining traditional Indigenous knowledge with the environmental industry’s most advanced technologies, Acden Helios offers the full range of environmental services. Professional engineers and biologists work together with Métis Settlements and First Nation communities on field surveys, avian radar control systems, and drone detection.
Services: Civil Engineering Planning, Development, and Management
Headquartered in Ohsweken, Six Nations of the Grand River, First Nations Engineering Services Ltd. (FNESL) has worked on municipal and community infrastructure projects since 1995. Servicing Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta, FNESL prides itself on being service-oriented and delivering high-quality work.
Fashion
Products: T-shirts, Hoodies, Accessories
Decolonial Clothing increases Indigenous visibility through the powerful messages printed on its shirts and hoodies. The owners come from Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories and base their business out of Western Canada in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (TsleilWaututh) regions.
Products: Jewelry
Blending authentic Native iconography with modern fashion design, co-founders Alex and Angel aspire to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Visual storytelling plays a big part in their brand as they have an in-house multimedia production company to help share and reclaim traditional Native culture. Their statement pieces have been displayed in Calgary, Ottawa, and Shenzhen, China.
Products: Scrunchies, Scarves, Bows, Textiles, Apparel
Eleven-year-old Mya started selling her handmade scrunchies in 2019 to support her community powwow (an Indigenous celebration with traditional songs and dances) after it was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The positive feedback she received motivated her to start her own business in 2020.
Each of Mya’s original scrunchie designs is named after a Native role model who inspired her on her journey, and her product line has since expanded to include floral Kokom scarves. Mya is part of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation from Algonquin.
Products: Apparel, Jewelry
Lesley Hampton’s self-named fashion brand offers a wide variety of sizes and styles, from luxurious evening gowns to casual athletic wear. The company’s mission is to promote inclusivity and community in the fashion world. In addition to being a designer and model, Lesley is also an activist, and has held numerous speaking engagements empowering Indigenous women in business.
Products: Mukluks, Moccasins, Slippers, Mitts and Gloves, Accessories
Warm, waterproof, and extremely comfortable, mukluks are the original Canadian winter boots worn by Indigenous people for thousands of years. Manitobah Mukluks is headquartered in Winnipeg and handcrafts these shoes along with moccasins, mittens, and gloves from rabbit fur and cowhide.
As well as serving as a shop for their own wares, the website is also a market for other Indigenous crafts-people and promotes traditional styles while benefiting the Native community. They offer artists mentoring and marketing opportunities, and allow other Native creators to use their site free of charge.
Products: Blankets, Accessories, Mittens, Shawls
Created in small batches, MINI TIPI’s blankets, shawls, and winter accessories are designed and produced in Quebec. Working with Indigenous artists across Canada, founders Trish and Mel celebrate their heritage and give back to the community by supporting Indigenous women’s crisis centers, their local Food Bank, and other charities.
Products: Hoodies, T-shirts, Athletic Wear
With comfortable and sustainable streetwear created by Native artists, this social enterprise provides paid training opportunities to help ex-convicts reinvent their lives.
Red Rebel Armour recognizes that Indigenous populations are overrepresented in Canadian prisons, and works to create employment opportunities for Indigenous people who have left prison. This helps ex-convicts overcome many of the barriers that often prevent a productive return to their community, and helps reduce the cycle of re-offending that frequently occurs when people lack support.
Products: Bags, Jewelry, Apparel
Founded by Devon Fiddler, a Cree entrepreneur from the Waterhen Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, SheNative’s mission is to encourage girls of all ages to be strong and confident in who they are. Devon’s passion for fashion inspired her to start the lifestyle brand, which has since helped her combat the feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness she experienced while growing up as a Native woman. A portion of the revenue from the apparel she sells goes toward causes that help Native women.
Food and Beverages
Products: Whole Bean Coffee
Birch Bark Coffee was founded by Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, a member of Whitefish River First Nation on Birch Island, Ontario. Birch Bark coffee beans are grown and produced by Indigenous farmers in Latin America.
The company’s rich, earthy beans are Organic, Fair Trade, and are
Small Producers Certified, meaning the company has also been recognized for its sustainable practices and democratic organization. In Canada, Birch Bark Coffee is a prominent advocate for clean water access for all Indigenous people, and works to provide and install water purification systems for any Indigenous family under the threat of an All Water Advisory.
Products: Smoked Salmon
Ellen Melcosky of the Esketemc First Nation is the president and CEO of Little Miss Chief Gourmet Products Inc. The company uses an improved version of the Melcosky family’s unique brining method to cold-smoke fresh-caught salmon in white wine and spices. The fish are then thermally processed so they don’t have to be refrigerated until they’re opened.
Products: Craft Beer
Ravens Brewing creates award-winning craft beers and spirits. Based in Abbotsford, BC, the company partners with local suppliers and businesses to develop novel flavors and aromas. Ravens is one of the few BC breweries to have won a BC Beer Award for five consecutive years.
Products: Maple Syrup, Branded Merchandise
Maple syrup has been harvested by First Nations Peoples for centuries, appreciated for its nourishment and medicinal properties. Wabanaki Maple gives Canada’s most popular food product a unique twist. Barrel-aged and available in toasted oak, bourbon, and whiskey flavors, their maple syrup is created using traditional techniques. The brand is based out of Eastern Canada on Neqotkuk and is owned by Indigenous women.
Health
Products and Services: Medical Supplies, Group Benefits, Rx Services
Spirit Healthcare Group encompasses Spirit Healthcare Products (a medical equipment supplier), SpiritRx Solutions (a group benefits plan for businesses), and SpiritRx Services (a pharmacy with free prescription delivery).
Following the “Indigenomics” model, Spirit Healthcare Group brings an Indigenous perspective to business with a focus on social development, aiming to meet the healthcare needs of urban and remote communities.
Home
Products: Pillows, Linens, Mugs, Drum Stools
Destiny Seymour finds inspiration for her design studio, Indigo Arrows, from her Anishinaabe ancestors, who have adorned pottery with intricate patterns for thousands of years. To celebrate her heritage, she incorporates Anishinaabe designs into her textile line of quilts, pillows, and table linens, hoping to encourage families to reflect on the world around them.
IT
Services: Web Design. Hosting, and Technical Support
Native Design Services actively assists Indigenous organizations, small businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs by hosting and designing their websites. Our company offers Web Starter Kits and guides clients through the creation process with meticulous care, ensuring a swift and hassle-free route for new organizations to establish their online presence.
Travel
Services: Commercial, Chartered, and Medical Flights
Air Creebec is a Cree-owned, regional airline headquartered in Waskaganish, Quebec, with bases in Montreal, Timmins, and Val-d’Or, and hubs in Chisasibi, Moosonee, and Waskaganish. Over one third of Air Creebec’s employees are Native, and the company has been fully Indigenous-owned since 1988.
Conclusion
Whether you’re staying at a luxury resort or buying something as simple as a bar of soap, purchasing from Indigenous businesses can help support Native American communities.
Your money will go directly to Indigenous creators and entrepreneurs, their families, and often their wider communities to help promote economic reconciliation. What’s more, purchasing from Native brands enables creators to dedicate time to their craft, which helps to keep their culture, traditions, and values alive.
