Eighth Generation Artists Featured in Book, "Notable Native People"

Eighth Generation is delighted to share that two of our incredible artists—Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy) and Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock)—are featured in the newly published book Notable Native People. Released by Penguin Random House just in time to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, Notable Native People profiles fifty Indigenous icons past and present. Written by Adrienne Keene (Cherokee) and illustrated by Ciara Sana (Chamoru), this book "highlights the vital impact that Indigenous dreamers, leaders, artists, activists, scientists, athletes, and other changemakers have made on the world." Scroll to the bottom to enter to win a copy!

"We're excited to see two of our artist collaborators featured in this book," said Louie Gong (Nooksack), Eighth Generation Founder and CEO. "It's a testament to the activism and service that are central to Geo and Jamie's work as artists, and highlights some of the many reasons we're honored to work with both of them." 

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present. Reprinted with permission

Geo Neptune, Two-Spirit Passamaquoddy master basket weaver and celebrated drag performer, won Eighth Generation's 2019 Wool Blanket Design Contest. Taught primarily by their grandmother, Molly, Geo has been weaving baskets since they were four years old—a tradition that goes back for millennia. "We have been weaving with black ash for thousands of years," says Geo of the Wabanaki craft. Their wool blanket—Remembrance—features a brilliantly colored design that includes the Wabanaki "tree of life," floral symbols and designs to represent their clan (Wapikuhkuhkhahs—Snowy Owl), and the rising sun.

In addition to their basketry, Geo is known for their fierce activism and incredible drag performances. In 2020, Geo became Maine's first Two-Spirit, transgender, nonbinary elected official when they won a seat on the local school board. Follow Geo on their Instagram here. 

Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy) wearing their Remembrance Wool Blanket; photo by Sipsography

Internationally renowned artist and fashion designer Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock) has collaborated with Eighth Generation since January 2020, when her Ribbons design debuted on our wool blankets, beach towels, and socks. One of our most popular designs, Ribbons is inspired by traditional ribbon work, as well as features the artist's favorite colors to bead with.

A celebrated beadwork artist, Jamie's art has been featured internationally, and she has pieces in the permanent collections of world-class institutions such as The Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The Denver Art Museum, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Follow Jamie on her Instagram here. 

Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock) and their popular Ribbons Wool Blanket

Geo and Jamie are included among other such American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian notables as sculptor Edmonia Lewis, the first Black and Indigenous (African American and Chippewa) female artist to attain international fame, NBA star Kyrie Irving (African American and Standing Rock Sioux), and Wampanoag linguist Jessie Little Doe Baird who revived the Wampanoag language. 

To celebrate the book's launch and Native American Heritage Month, Penguin Random House is gifting one copy of Notable Native People to an Eighth Generation supporter. To enter, click on our Mailchimp sign up form here and enter your email address. This will sign you up for our weekly e-Newsletters full of sneak peeks, new product launches, and discount codes. We'll randomly select one email address on Tuesday, November 30 as our winner and announce it in our Instagram Stories. 

Reprinted with permission from Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne Keene, copyright ©2021. Illustrations by Ciara Sana, copyright © 2021. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.