National Indigenous Peoples Day is coming up on June 21, which is set to recognize and celebrate all of the wonderful cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada. With that being said, it’s our job to also support in every way that we can. There are a bunch of Indigenous-owned businesses and brands to shop and many directly help the communities. Browse below and let us know on Instagram if we’re missing any of your favourites!
Here are Indigenous-owned businesses to check out right now.
Cheekbone Beauty
Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded Canadian beauty brand that is based in the Niagara Region. The company’s mission is to create eco-friendly, vegan, and sustainable beauty products while empowering Indigenous youth along the way. A large focus of the brand is to invent ways to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and continue to create sustainable products. To see a company so involved in creating a happy and healthier planet is truly inspiring.
Birch Bark Coffee Company
Since 2018, Birch Bark has been serving certified organic, Fair Trade, SPP (grown and produced by farmers that are of Indigenous descent) certified coffee. It focuses on creating a way to give leadership to these small farmers in global trade. So every time you purchase from Birch Bark, you’re giving support to Indigenous peoples and families across Canada.
SECTION 35
SECTION35 is an indigenous-owned streetwear brand that’s based on the territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The founder and creative designer, Justin Louis, forms the past with the present and finds inspiration in the juxtaposition between these elements. SECTION 35 was founded with the intention to use art and fashion to tell peoples’ stories.
Indigo Arrows
The founder of Indigo Arrows, Destiny Seymour, began the company by designing textiles that respectfully reflect local Manitobian Indigenous peoples and their history. Indigo Arrows now offers a diverse collection of table linens, pillows, blankets, and more, with patterns from Indigenous pottery and bone tools that are over 3000 years old.
TPMOCS
TPMOCS offers adorable mocs for little ones in a handful of colorways. The company was created by Maria Running Fisher Jones on the fact that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed and with a massive unemployment rate in her homeland, she wanted to make a change. With every purchase, TPMOCS takes meaningful action to address poverty to provide employment opportunities and resources to Native American communities in need.
B. Yellowtail
Looking for some super chic and meaningful pieces to add to your wardrobe? B. Yellowtail is definitely one to keep on your radar. The owner, Bethany Yellowtail, is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and proudly hails from the Mighty Few District of the Crow Nation (Southeastern Montana). The company’s brand initiative is to support Native Americans, First Nations, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. It aims to share the beautiful and authentic Indigenous design with the entire world.
SheNative
SheNative designs and produces inspiring leather handbags and apparel that share cultural teachings embedded with positive values passed down by their ancestors. Since Indigenous women face such systemic barriers and challenges, the company is committed to employing Indigenous women, involving Indigenous communities and customers in its design process, sharing the experiences and perspectives of local, national, and international Indigenous female changemakers, as well as giving 2% of revenues to causes that positively impact the lives of Indigenous women.
Thunder Voice Hot Co.
ThunderVoice Hat Co. carries on the lineage of Native Fashion that emerged from a collaboration of cultures. Its iconic and popular Navajo Brim hat has actually been a design from many, many years ago and is a reminder of past generations. Every single hat is hand-sourced and steamed and shaped in-house. “Each hat holds stories, purpose, and the hope that you wear it with pride and meaning“—TVHC.
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