2020 Recap: Our Top 11 Highlights in Clips and Images

Supported Health Care Workers

In April, during the early months of the pandemic, Eighth Generation immediately delivered 10,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment to the Seattle Indian Health Board! These masks and shields for direct care providers were used while conducting COVID-19 testing. As the Seattle Times writes, Eighth Generation CEO Louie Gong (Nooksack) and COO Serene Lawrence’s (Anishinaabe, Hopi) speedy success in securing the PPE “did in eight days what the federal government couldn’t manage since the first death from coronavirus was confirmed on Feb. 29 in Washington state." You can also read about our donation in National Geographic!

The Eighth Generation team donating PPE to health care workers at the Seattle Indian Health Board.

Eighth Generation also honored frontline health care workers of Seattle Indian Health Board and Chief Seattle Club by sharing their portraits and fun facts – check out the blog here!

    Frontline health care workers of the Seattle Indian Health Board and Chief Seattle Club.

Later in the year, Esther Lucero (Diné), Executive Director of the Seattle Indian Health Board, surprise visited Eighth Generation with other distinguished guests. To recognize our team’s broad-based community efforts, the group gifted Eighth Generation with an honorary plaque and beautiful glass eagle feather by glass artist Michael Dupille!

Michael Dupille, Debora Juarez (Blackfeet), Louie Gong (Nooksack), Serene Lawrence (Anishinaabe, Hopi), Esther Lucero (Diné) and Tom Warren (Choctaw) during the surprise gifting.

Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Our Indigenous-led small business fiercely supports the BLM movement – back in 2020, today and everyday. Our team gathered a list of community groups, nonprofits and other ways you can support the cause here. The link also includes free, shareable graphics for social media banners, stories and posts.

One of the free, BLM shareable graphics featuring the "Stronger Together" fist.

Coast Salish Public Art Collaboration

Eighth Generation’s focus is to create paid opportunities for cultural artists. In the first project where our platform was used to create a permanent, public art opportunity, Eighth Generation chose four Coast Salish Textile artists to collaborate with on the new Hobson Place Residence and Clinic! The clinic is a healing space for houseless people and the artists plan on creating a warm, restorative environment with their designs. Read about the collaboration in our blog and watch the video below!

Google Spotlight

During the height of the pandemic, Google Business filmmakers pieced together Google Hangout sessions, Eighth Generation archival snippets and behind the scenes footage to illustrate how our small business is a leading force in values-based practices. Watch below for a unique peek at how our small team found ways to give back and support our community during the pandemic.

Team Growth

Eighth Generation is forever grateful to our customers. Thanks to your perpetual support, our team was fortunate to gain five new employees by the end of 2020 and welcome team members into new roles! Watch the video below as we celebrate Serene Lawrence’s (Anishinaabe, Hopi) promotion as Eighth Generation’s first Chief Operating Officer!

Donated to Wildfire Victims

As fires ravaged the west coast, Eighth Generation – with support from the Snoqualmie Tribe – provided nearly $10,000 worth of wool blankets to elders, families and children who lost their homes in Washington and Oregon. Again, thanks to your support, we can provide a least some sense of comfort to people experiencing hardship.

Eighth Generation wool blankets provided for wildfire victims and their families. 

Prioritized Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womxn (MMIW)

To call attention to the appalling numbers of MMIW, women staff of Eighth Generation led a collaboration with Navajo artist and former team member, Starr Warner (Diné) to create the “Sacred Sisters” Special Edition Silk Scarf. All funds from the scarf – over $8,000! – were donated to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, (NIWRC), who help end gender-based violence in tribal communities.

Halloween Costume Contest

Our team celebrated Halloween with style! Every now and then it is important to have some wacky fun. Watch below to see staff dance around while in costume! Can you guess what each staff member dressed up as?

Not One, but TWO Team Members Named to National "Top 40 Under 40" List

In November, Eighth Generation's Retail and Special Projects Manager Stephanie Masterman (Tlingit) and Chief Operating Officer Serene Lawrence (Anishinaabe, Hopi) both made the prestigious list by the National Center for American Indian Economic Development! The list honors top leaders from across the country who excel in leadership, initiative, resiliency and dedication toward their communities. We are lucky to have these two on our team!

Serene Lawrence (Anishinaabe, Hopi) and Stephanie Masterman (Tlingit) pictured in our warehouse.

First Ever Native-Made Textiles Produced In-House

Eighth Generation made history by becoming America's first Native-owned company to produce a collection of wool textiles designed and made in-house, in collaboration with Indigenous artists! These baby blankets and scarves, distinguished with a Gold Label, are made in our very own Seattle studio! Check out the video below to learn how this collection is our latest achievement in the decade-long effort to reclaim the market for products featuring cultural art.

Keep an eye out for our next collection coming soon!

Continuing Consumer Education

Since being founded in 2008 by Nooksack artist Louie Gong, and now owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, Eighth Generation is proud to provide a strong, ethical alternative to “Native-inspired” art and products with an artist-centric approach and 100% Native designed items. In 2020, Louie and other artists began a larger conversation around cultural appreciation and appropriation. Check out the Harper’s Bazaar article, “Can Indigenous Knowledge Move the Fashion Industry Forward?” and Dwell’s article, “The Pendleton Problem: When Does Cultural Appreciation Tip into Appropriation.”

Louie Gong (Nooksack) pictured with Eighth Generation wool blankets displayed above.