Today and everyday we honor, celebrate and lift up the incredible Indigenous folks we have the honor of knowing, working with and learning from. Quite simply, we could not do this critical work if it wasn't for our incredibly dedicated community partners who remind us everyday of their resilience and passion. Here are some ways you can celebrate today while honoring and acknowledging Indigenous history, sovereignty and culture:
Attend an online or in-person celebratory/educational event. Today we are hosting an event honoring the reclamation of Indigenous land and language- register now!
Educate yourself, your friends and your family. Research Indigenous history, art, culture, language, music and more- share your findings!
Acknowledge the land you are on. So many of us live on the stolen lands of Indigenous people. Use Native Land to find out who's land you occupy.
Support Indigenous language revitalization efforts. Donate to organizations who are actively helping Indigenous communities to revitalize their languages.
Support the Anti-Mascot movement and help abolish racist mascots.
Acknowledge and hold space for Indigenous trauma.
Support organizations and projects that are uplifting Indigenous voices.
Support Indigenous artists and makers.
An important part of being an ally and working towards reconciliation is supporting Indigenous economies.Below is a list of Indigenous artists, makers and businesses you can support today and everyday.
Indigo Arrows is an Anishinaabe line that offers a range of table linens, pillows, and blankets that showcase patterns from Indigenous pottery and bone tools from 400 to over 3000 years ago.
Warren Scott is a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation who uses a modern image of fashion through an Indigenous lens in his design. His line includes bright, unique and fun clothing, earrings and artwork.
Satya is a skin care brand that uses organic materials including calendula petals, almond oil, organic beeswax, pressed jojoba and colloidal oatmeal. Patrice (the creator) started the brand to help cure her daughter’s eczema in a natural way. She used traditional medicine and academic studies to find the perfect ingredient combinations.
Jazz Aline is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist born and raised on Treaty 1 land with a love for storytelling through visual arts. The artist explains her work saying “My work speaks from my personal experiences and visions in hope to reach those who need my hand, those who need my eyes, and those who need my voice.”
Ginew (Gih-noo) is the only Native American-owned denim line. They draw direct inspiration from their cultures and relatives. The line includes bandanas, coats, jeans, tops, jewelry, and tops.
Sḵwálwen (skwall-win) translates to “heart” or “essence of being” in the Squamish language. Leigh, the creator, is from the Skwxwú7mesh First Nation and is an ethnobotanist and researcher who focuses on contributing to cultural knowledge renewal (especially relating to plant foods and medicines). Her creative process includes spending time on the land to harvest plants, the processing of plants and the pairing of particular plants with oils, clays and plant butters.
Aly McKnight is an Indigenous artist from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe who believes art “has a way of connecting people, illuminating our stories, and inspiring change in the world that no other form of communication can.” She uses bright watercolor that features organic subject matter reflecting a connection to all living things. Through her work she aims to reclaim stories and influence the decolonization of minds related to ‘what is considered beautiful and valued’.
Birch Bark Coffee is dedicated to bringing clean drinking to Indigenous communities suffering from watering advisories using money from their coffee sales. To date, there have been more than 153 ‘Boiled Water Advisories’ listed on the Canadian federal government’s website.
4 Kinship is a Diné artwear brand that produces handcrafted upcycled and repurposed products inspired by the Southwest. This includes beautiful clothing, jewelry, bags, blankets, rugs and baskets.
More Indigenous artists:
Cultural Survival has compiled a vast and constantly evolving list of Indigenous artists, makers and businesses you can support.
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