$198.00
Eighth Generation and Tanka Fund have teamed up to bring you "The Return" wool blanket, a powerful collaboration that celebrates the return of the buffalo and the renewal of reservation economies.
The design was developed with Sonja Holy Eagle, an Oglala Lakota artist who was trained by her grandmother in painting buffalo hides to record the stories of the people. For this collaboration, she has worked with us to adapt her distinctive style of “ Winter Count” to convey the hopeful message of the return of the buffalo. The magpie is known as the buffalo’s companion, and the presence of the magpie heralds their return. When this blanket is wrapped around a person, the large buffalo comes together to symbolize a complete restoration of the buffalo in tribal communities.
Sonja Holy Eagle was trained by her grandmother in painting buffalo hides to record the stories of the people, and has adapted this traditional art form to offer this beautiful rendering of the return.
Tanka Fund is a national campaign housed at Indian Land Tenure Foundation and sponsored by Native American Natural Foods, a Native-owned company on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. With a mission of returning buffalo to Native lands, lives and economies, Tanka products are the first nationally distributed food product from an Indian Reservation. By providing grants, training and public support, they help Native buffalo producers overcome the barriers they face in growing economically and ecologically sustainable herds. Their goal is to return one million acres of Native lands to buffalo in the next ten years, renewing the health of the grasslands, the people and the local economy of reservation communities.
$198.00
The "Thunderbird Arrives" blanket is available at the Eighth Generation's Pike Place Market store.
The "Thunderbird Arrives" blanket was created to commemorate the Evergreen Longhouse's 20th Anniversary. The design was developed collaboratively by Louie Gong (Nooksack) and a team of staff and artists representing the Longhouse. It features a bold Thunderbird, bordered by patterns representing the Salish and Maori communities with whom the Longhouse maintains close ties. It is the first wool blanket ever created by a Native-owned company.
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Grant for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
$198.00
This striking wool blanket by Jared Yazzie (Diné) pays homage to rug designs woven by his grandmothers. Within Navajo weaving, clues to where a rug has been woven can be found in patterns originating from specific areas, or colors of yarn dyed from particular plants.
Jared says, “While my grandmothers are no longer with us, these patterns and colors remain to tell us the story of where they come from. I felt it was important to show tributes to their design through my new work. It makes me feel as if I am passing along their legacy.”
This blanket design is the highly anticipated result of Eighth Generation’s Blanket Design Contest, of which Jared was a winner along with Tsimshian artist David Robert Boxley.
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Grant for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
$208.00
This vibrant blanket design is based on a painting by Two Spirit artist Ryan Young (Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) that calls out to their community's traditional story about crows.
The story goes that the crow was once very colorful and had a beautiful singing voice, but during a forest fire, it spent so much time trying to help the other animals that it's colorful feathers became blackened with soot and it's beautiful singing voice turned hoarse from the smoke. To Ryan, the story reflects the struggles and sacrifices they have made as a Two Spirit person to get to where they are today, and all they have worked through to get to a place where they want to teach others.
While this blanket celebrates Two Spirit people, Ryan envisions it as a blanket that anyone can wrap themselves in to feel safe, warm, and at home.
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Award for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
$198.00
$208.00
The floral designs featured on this particular blanket are commonly painted on the Olla pots used to carry water, and represent a prayer for beauty and healthy growth for the individuals wrapped in the blanket.
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Grant for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
$28.00
Add a pop of color and some stunning woodlands floral art to your wardrobe with this beautiful hat by Inspired Natives Project Collaborator, Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe)!
Thanks for supporting Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired. #inspirednatives
$32.00
Send just the right message to your friends, family, clients and customers with a unique greeting card featuring beautiful Woodlands Floral art by Inspired Natives Project collaborator Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe). These vibrant cards are printed right here in Seattle on high quality 100# Vellum cover stock paper.
The "Woodlands Pack" contains the following designs:
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$46.00
This vibrant cotton beach towel features designs of the Apsaalooke (Crow) & Tsetsehestahese/So’taeo’o (Northern Cheyenne) to honor & recognize the proud nations of designer Bethany Yellowtail.
Cross-laden vertical stripes & crosses speak to Crow elements, while horizontal stripes and the Morning Star pattern reflect the Northern Cheyenne. Traditionally, the two tribes were enemies with a longstanding rivalry dating back to the days when they lived freely & buffalo roamed the Great Plains. This design weaves the differences and blends the similarities of each tribal nation in a harmonious symbol of unity.
$218.00
"In a time when many choose to divide & build walls, we choose to find beauty & commonality in one another. All walks of life, all my relations.” ~ Bethany Yellowtail
The All My Relations blanket - the very first offering in our Groundbreakers Series - features designs of the Apsaalooke (Crow) & Tsetsehestahese/So’taeo’o (Northern Cheyenne) to honor & recognize the proud nations of designer Bethany Yellowtail.
Cross-laden vertical stripes & crosses speak to Crow elements, while horizontal stripes and the Morning Star pattern reflect the Northern Cheyenne. Traditionally, the two tribes were enemies with a longstanding rivalry dating back to the days when they lived freely & buffalo roamed the Great Plains. This design weaves the differences and blends the similarities of each tribal nation in a harmonious symbol of unity.
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Grant for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
$24.00
$26.00
Designed by Inspired Natives Project collaborator, Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe), this colorful tote acts as a respectful call out to traditional Ojibwe bandolier bags, featuring artwork that combines old school Ojibwe Floral with our signature "beaded" style illustration to create a versatile and practical piece of art.
With an extra wide and sturdy strap, you can comfortably wear this tote both across your chest or shoulder strap style. An inside pocket provides easy access to smaller items.
$38.00
This original design is a great examples of Louie's unique merger of contemporary themes and traditional Coast Salish design. Here Blue Jay is captured at the moment he finally let's go of the trivial matters associated with his daily grind - a moment that sometimes takes human beings 3 or 4 days of vacation to achieve. This phone case reminds us of the importance of self-care.
This beautiful case is made with real maple that is cut and high resolution printed with multiple layers of protective coating - all lovingly crafted in our Seattle studio. It includes a matte black plastic bumper that snaps into place perfectly, providing an added layer of protection for your phone.
*Since this case is 100% real authentic wood, the images seen above are representations of the wood. Actual wood grain, patterns and knots will vary with each individual case. Your case is unlike anyone else’s in the world, literally.
$48.00
$78.00
These stylish sunglasses feature real maple frames that are blue on the outside and red on the interior. The perfect companion for a sunny day, they are customized right here in our Seattle studio.
Thanks for supporting Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired. #inspirednatives
$38.00
The buffalo was the staff of life for most Plains Indian Nations. Today the buffalo is still a central part of life, from food to ceremony. Originally drawn on the ledger paper used across much of John's work, this particular piece pays tribute to the power and sacrifice that the buffalo continues to give.
The bold design incorporates important symbols from Blackfeet art to depict rich concepts in a lively, graphic way. The lifeline, or sacred breath of the buffalo is represented here with an arrow, and the circles along the top and bottom borders depict stars. The cross symbol at the top of the design represents the Morning Star, which plays an important role in creation and ceremony among Plains Indian Nations.
This beautiful case is made with real maple that is cut and high resolution printed with multiple layers of protective coating - all lovingly crafted in our Seattle studio. It includes a matte black plastic bumper that snaps into place perfectly, providing an added layer of protection for your phone.
*Since this case is 100% real authentic wood, the images seen above are representations of the wood. Actual wood grain, patterns and knots will vary with each individual case. Your case is unlike anyone else’s in the world, literally.
$48.00
This beautiful scarf features the signature ledger artwork of Blackfeet artist and Inspired Natives Project Collaborator John Isaiah Pepion.
The buffalo was the staff of life for most Plains Indian Nations. Today the buffalo is still a central part of life, from food to ceremony. John's buffalo design pays tribute to the power and sacrifice that the buffalo continues to give.
$48.00
This scarf features repeating tonal images of the cedar bough, an important symbol of the natural environment in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The result, like our Salish Pattern, is a timeless design that will work with a broad range clothing and accessories.
Traditionally, the cedar tree was central to Native people because they relied on it for clothing, housing, transportation and artwork.
$25.00
Are you shopping for someone else but not sure what to give them? Up against...
$32.00
New and old. Individual and community. Radical and Traditional. Wearing these "visionary" earrings will remind you to view the world from multiple perspectives!
This two-sided earring features a contemporary take on a classic Northwest Coast eye design.
The hand-painted maple wood compliments northwest Native art traditions -- and every earring features a unique wood grain and paint job that can never be duplicated. The natural elements are balanced by a glossy finish and vibrant colors of the the acrylic pupil. The jump ring and hook have a gun metal finish.
This product is hand-painted, machine cut, and assembled in Louie's studio in Seattle, Washington.
Thanks for supporting Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired. #inspirednatives
$46.00
$46.00
Designed by Louie Gong (Nooksack), this eagle merges influences from Coast Salish art and Americana tattoo style. By drawing from traditional tattoo, this eagle references the same symbolism as the American eagle - strength, leadership and freedom. However, by merging it with Coast Salish art, Louie intends to skew the eagle's meaning toward indigenous strength, leadership and freedom. In doing this, the design symbolizes the much needed update to the "American dream."
$12.00
This versatile eagle pendant, which is made from painted and laser etched cherry wood in our Seattle studio, is the perfect gift. It looks great as a necklace, ornament or hanging on your rear view mirror.
Thanks for supporting Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired. #inspirednatives
