Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe)

Sarah Agaton Howes is an Anishinaabe artist, teacher, and community organizer from Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota. Widely known for her handmade regalia and moccasins featuring Ojibwe floral designs, Sarah has grown from selling handmade earrings in parking lots from the back of her car to economic independence - even employing other people in her community, as a participant in the Eighth Generation's Inspired Natives™ Project.

Sarah with her two kids in traditional regalia. 

Sarah started creating art as a teen with guidance from her mother. Later, when she expressed interest in traditional dance, she learned to bead from her brother so she could make her own traditional regalia. Her current work – which specializes in Ojibwe Floral – represents the perpetuation of that tradition.

An experienced teacher with a foundation in anti-racism and community-based social change work, Sarah frequently shares her knowledge and experience with bead work, making moccasins and creating regalia in her community and beyond. Sarah is also a published poet and spoken word performer. In 2013, she received the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Artist Grant through which she made a bilingual YouTube Ojibwe Pucker Toe Moccasin Tutorials.

Sarah's "Renewal" wool blanket, based the characteristic of the woodlands floral tradition, tells the story of physical and spiritual renewal. Take a look at the blanket and the story here. 

Sarah currently organizes KwePack, an Indigenous Women’s Running Group, and utilizes social media to provide inspiration and support to promote wellness and health. She has coordinated many 5K/10K/15K events across the reservation, including the largest group of indigenous women to ever run the Superior Endurance 25K Trail Race.

Sarah's Medicine Dress Phone Case, which stands as a symbol of strength, healing and the power of women.

Sarah is honored to be involved with the Inspired Natives™ Project. Through this collaboration with Eighth Generation, she hopes to help bring our traditional Indigenous designs into a bold and innovative line of wearable and utilitarian art.

You can view Sarah's growing number of Eighth Generation products HERE.