November is National Native American Heritage Month, and it’s a time to honor and celebrate the traditions and contributions of Indigenous peoples. My partner, Connor, is of proud Red River Métis descent, and we’ve made it a priority to buy from Native and Indigenous entrepreneurs and artists, putting their work front and center in our daily lives. As we head into the holiday shopping season, we’re especially looking to find gifts from Indigenous-led brands both to support these communities and share them with our family and friends.
I, along with my colleague Arielle Avila, have put together a list of delightful gifts under $50 that you can buy from Indigenous-owned brands and small businesses. Although this guide is just a starting point, below you’ll find beauty and skin-care products, home goods, jewelry, books written by Indigenous authors, and more — all of which you can shop online. (And if you’re looking for even more gift options, we have gift guides from Black-owned brands, Hispanic-owned brands, and AAPI-owned brands, too.)
Writer and poet Michelle Good explores past and present Indigenous experiences in Canada in her latest book, Truth Telling. Good is a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, and her debut novel, Five Little Indians, won the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction and the 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.
This James Beard Award–winning book would make an excellent addition to anyone’s growing cookbook collection. Our friends at Eater said chef and author Sean Sherman is “one of North America’s loudest voices speaking to the challenges and opportunities within Indigenous food systems.”
Connor’s grandma gifted him this book, which details the story of the Métis Nation in the Canadian Northwest. Author Jean Teillet charts the battles for Métis lands, rights, and freedoms up to the present era of national reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Teillet is the great-grandniece of Louis Riel, the founder and first premier of Manitoba and the visionary leader of the Red River Métis.
Amy Denet Deal, who is Diné (Navajo), spent over three decades designing for companies like Reebok and Puma before she launched the sustainable artwear brand 4Kinship with her daughter Lily Yeung. Along with using runway fashion to fund social outreach projects for Indigenous people, all of 4Kinship’s pieces are vintage, and many of them have been transformed using traditional Indigenous designs, colors, and adornments. Hand-painted by Diné artist Emily Jacket, this linen-wrapped notebook is perfect for someone who enjoys putting pen to paper.
Sisters Monica Simeon and Marina — both members of the Spokane Tribe in Washington State and Pauquachin First Nation in British Columbia, Canada — founded Sister Sky, which produces a range of natural hair and body-care products. This hair mask contains rosemary-leaf extract and vitamin E to combat dryness and smooth frizz. It’s also sulfate and paraben free.
For the co-worker who’s never without a cup of coffee, here’s a light and French roast blend of beans from Native Coffee Traders. Based on the Poospatuck Indian Reservation in Long Island, New York, the family-owned and -operated roasting facility sells organic and fair-trade-certified coffee beans.
Indigo Arrows makes home goods with patterns found on ancient Indigenous pottery and bone tools in Manitoba, including this set of two handmade, 100 percent linen placemats. It would make the perfect gift for the person who just got into tablescaping.
[Editor’s note: Indigo Arrows lists all prices in Canadian dollars, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]
Séka Hills, owned and operated by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in Northern California’s Capay Valley, sustainably produces wine, snacks, and other specialty foods. The home chef in your life will love this olive oil for everything from sautéing and baking to drizzling and dipping.
With notes of balsam fir, cedarwood, and juniper berries, this candle has the perfect wintery scent. Owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand that partners with Native artists (Native American, First Nations, and Indigenous) around the country.
Another Eighth Generation favorite is this beach towel featuring a design that represents the prayer for rain.
We think the bookworm in your life will enjoy Tommy Orange’s novel, which tells the story of Indigenous people living in the Oakland, California, area. When we talked to book editors about their summer reads back in 2018, the debut novel was brought up twice.
If you’ve read Orange’s breakout novel above, here’s his much-anticipated follow-up. In Wandering Stars, Orange examines the trauma that touches a Native American community for generations, from the impact of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 to forced assimilation and residential schools.
When writer Tembe Denton-Hurst spoke to experts about the best books on environmental justice, Braiding Sweetgrass was recommended for showing the unexpected connections between Indigenous wisdom and science. Robin Wall Kimmerer, a trained botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, explores different parts of the ecosystem, like why asters and goldenrods grow well together and the spirituality of gardens.
If your recipient is a fan of Chopped, they might recognize Crystal Wahpepah, the first Indigenous chef on the show. She runs Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland, California, which also sells vegan and gluten-free snack bars.
A pair of darling earrings that feature a four-petal floral element from Métis beadwork.
And here’s a more subtle (but just as delightful) pair handmade by Turtle Mountain Chippewa artist Jessica R. Metcalfe featuring an iridescent mother-of-pearl and black-rainbow shell.
This wrapping paper is made by NTVS (or “The Natives”), a Native American clothing and apparel company. Whether you choose to wrap a present with it or give your recipient a few rolls ahead of holidays, these bold and colorful prints are way more eye-catching than a roll you’d find at CVS.
For the skin-care obsessive in your life, Cheekbone Beauty CEO Jenn Harper recommends Sḵwálwen’s products because its founder is an ethnobotanist. This face oil, made from sustainably harvested rose hips and organic sweet-almond and jojoba oils, reduces inflammation and is deeply hydrating.
Made with 99 percent natural ingredients, this Sequoia body scrub does double duty exfoliating and moisturizing skin. When combined with water, the scrub turns into a light, nongreasy lotion.
If bold is more their thing, here’s a highly pigmented eye-shadow palette complete with 30 mattes and shimmers.
Ginew, which is the only Indigenous-owned denim line, also sells a wide range of accessories, including this understated bandana. Hand-printed in Nashville, Tennessee, it features a design inspired by Ojibwe and Oneida symbols, line art, and sculpture.
A fun addition to anyone’s jewelry arsenal, designed by fashion designer Warren Steven Scott of the Nlaka’pamux Nation.
This beanie, featuring a hummingbird design, is a more interesting alternative to the ubiquitous Carhartt beanies. It’s from Urban Native Era, a Los Angeles–based streetwear brand.
ThunderVoice Hat Co. makes sustainably sourced products, including hats, home goods, clothing, and more. Any pet owner will appreciate these gorgeous dog collars with leather and hardware reclaimed from vintage saddles.
For the budding environmentalist, here’s an expert-recommended book by Carole Lindstrom, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. It’s written through the eyes of a young girl who’s a part of a protest that’s inspired by the Sioux Tribe’s protest at Standing Rock.
Connect your kids to Indigenous cultures with WipalaBox, an activity box for kids between the ages of 5 and 11. Each story-based adventure includes more than 50 pages of full-color narrative, custom stickers, and a one-of-a-kind accessory handcrafted by Indigenous female artisans. This box follows the traditions and vibrant spirit of the Embera Chai community in Karmata Rua.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
