Gift related to Native American history and culture?
July 19, 2017 9:54 AM Subscribe
I have a friend from Europe who is fascinated with Native American history and culture. I'd like to get them a gift for less than $100. They speak/read English, but not perfectly, so a text-heavy book might not be the best.
Response by poster: They would probably be happy with an area, but if I'd have to guess, it would be the Northeast, and specifically, Mohawk, Oneida, Mohican, and Delaware.
posted by gwint at 10:07 AM on July 19, 2017
posted by gwint at 10:07 AM on July 19, 2017
Dreamcatchers usually go over well.
Are there any Native American Fairs or markets happening near you soon? That would be a good place to poke around for something.
Maybe check out Etsy for Native American owned shops if you don't get fairs near you.
posted by BoscosMom at 10:22 AM on July 19, 2017
Are there any Native American Fairs or markets happening near you soon? That would be a good place to poke around for something.
Maybe check out Etsy for Native American owned shops if you don't get fairs near you.
posted by BoscosMom at 10:22 AM on July 19, 2017
Best answer: Check out the NPS Indian Craft Store. One important benefit is that you can be sure that the works are authentic and that the artists are fairly compensated and credited for their work. A lot of it is expensive, but there's lots in your price range too (random example).
posted by veery at 10:34 AM on July 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by veery at 10:34 AM on July 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
Best answer: Buy them something from Beyond Buckskin - amazing online boutique that features all, and only, clothing and accessories made by Native artists. No appropriation, no garbage, ethical sourcing.
I'd stay away from dreamcatchers - they have come pretty far from any original meaning - not documented before 1929, and then by a white woman. They have been watered down to the point of being vaguely Native and are often seen as appropriative or just a lame representation of Native culture.
Beyond Buckskin also has a Buy Native List to direct you to sites where you can buy Native-made foods, art, jewelry, pottery, etc. There is a lot of stuff out there masquerading as Native that isn't. Also a lot of romantic and misinformed and misleading stuff. If you can buy from a Native maker, you please the person twice - the item they get to keep, and knowing they benefited someone from that community.
posted by Miko at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'd stay away from dreamcatchers - they have come pretty far from any original meaning - not documented before 1929, and then by a white woman. They have been watered down to the point of being vaguely Native and are often seen as appropriative or just a lame representation of Native culture.
Beyond Buckskin also has a Buy Native List to direct you to sites where you can buy Native-made foods, art, jewelry, pottery, etc. There is a lot of stuff out there masquerading as Native that isn't. Also a lot of romantic and misinformed and misleading stuff. If you can buy from a Native maker, you please the person twice - the item they get to keep, and knowing they benefited someone from that community.
posted by Miko at 10:40 AM on July 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
Best answer: In addition to the excellent advice above to make sure you are buying from an indigenous artisan/artist, I really think you'd do your friend a service to include in your gift something about indigenous history in the Americas--something they likely don't have ready access to. Europeans are often fascinated by indigenous culture but the version of history they're familiar with is often incorrect or incomplete* (to say the least). In order to avoid perpetuating this cycle, I think a plain language, illustrated history like Gord Hill's 500 Years of Resistance would be an appropriate companion gift for a piece of indigenous art. It's an 88 page graphic novel, very accessible for a non-native English speaker, that will give your friend a more complete picture of the cultures they are interested in.
*not that I'm implying everyone in the US or Canada is necessarily more well informed.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:03 AM on July 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
*not that I'm implying everyone in the US or Canada is necessarily more well informed.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:03 AM on July 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
This First Nations site might be interesting to look through. The link goes to a story about the stone called Apache Tears. I grew up around Colorado and Wyoming and there was always a bowl of them for sale in the tourist shops.
These and the dream catchers seem kind of kitchy to me because I grew up around them but that's probably what I would send, maybe along with a book of stories or photos. I asked a Sioux friend if, the next time he was in ND, he would keep an eye out for dreamcatchers for my part Native American nieces. He came back with one for me as well and said: I guarantee those were made by a real Indian.
Even if they are kind of kitschy they are helping to put food on the table and some of them are lovely.
posted by BoscosMom at 11:06 AM on July 19, 2017
These and the dream catchers seem kind of kitchy to me because I grew up around them but that's probably what I would send, maybe along with a book of stories or photos. I asked a Sioux friend if, the next time he was in ND, he would keep an eye out for dreamcatchers for my part Native American nieces. He came back with one for me as well and said: I guarantee those were made by a real Indian.
Even if they are kind of kitschy they are helping to put food on the table and some of them are lovely.
posted by BoscosMom at 11:06 AM on July 19, 2017
This 6 Nation beader from Hamilton makes the most beautiful work. I have seen it in person, nad it is jaw dropping. https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Kasenniyostah?ref=s2-header-shopname. Also, Thomas King's Inconvenient Indian is v good.
posted by PinkMoose at 12:43 PM on July 19, 2017
posted by PinkMoose at 12:43 PM on July 19, 2017
For our Karl May loving German relatives a few years ago we got them a German language coffee table book of Indigenous culture (I've forgotten the name now) and something a bit rare, a small piece of birch bark biting art. There's also Métis style clothes available from here (sweaters and winter gear made by First Nations people in Manitoba - I have stuff from them and the quality is good). Well made moccasins are usually a good gift. If they are interested in actual history Thomas King's Inconvenient Indian & Gord Hill's comic mentioned above are good but you could try Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, though it is very text heavy.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:07 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:07 AM on July 20, 2017
This is pretty much the opposite of the area she seems to like, since they're based in Seattle, but 8th Generation offers incredible stuff with a modern design sensibility from many nations/tribes. Every time I wear my shirt with the Space Needle/thunderbird motif, I get compliments. Again, it's a place that is specifically focused on getting recognition for Native designs and artists, but they have an amazing sense for showing how collaboration and inspiration can produce new ideas without appropriating them away from the proper context.
posted by St. Hubbins at 7:47 AM on July 20, 2017
posted by St. Hubbins at 7:47 AM on July 20, 2017
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posted by nebulawindphone at 10:01 AM on July 19, 2017