Embracing Native Culture: A Journey of Graduation, Pride, and Blankets Graduating from college is a milestone worth celebrating, but for many Indigenous students, it's more than just receiving a diploma; it's a culmination of resilience, identity, and cultural pride. As an Anishinaabeg, we understand the significance of honoring our history, especially in moments of achievement. We know how hard your Native students work, the barriers they jump over, and the sweetness of their victories. Education has always been central to Indigenous communities, as young people have always learned from elders and family members. Excelling and knowledge carrying has always been central to our way of life. The boarding school era severed and created multiple generations of trauma around missing links to culture, family,...
Our Good Life Blanket celebrates the Sovereignty, Treaty Rights, and Good Life that tribes have retained, worked for, and maintain for our communities. "The word in the 1854 Treaty which ceded most of northern Minnesota for what we Retained is "Mino Bimaadiziiwin" or "Good Life." Our ancestors thought about us and wanted us to maintain this good life. So when we are working to gain access to traditional foods, ways of life, land, and language, we are exercising our rights to that good life." says Howes, CEO and Artist As tribally owned businesses we are working to build Economic Sovereignty for individuals, communities, tribes, and families. When we support Inspired Natives and Not Native Inspired we support and enrich that...
Why is Native Art from Native Artists Important?
Now there is an alternative to buying "native inspired" art like Pendleton and similar brands. As the first Native company to bring you wool blankets, our partnership with Eighth Generation has changed the conversation around why is Native Art Important and Why should Native artists be a part of business by creating the Inspired Natives Project which has lifted Heart Berry and other artists such as John Pepion up into bringing our own businesses and art to the market.
From our first blanket the Wool Renewal
To the Woodland Throws Made in the US
Read the Dwell article "The Pendleton Problem"
at https://www.dwell.com/article/cultural-appropriation-home-decor-pendleton-60491a02#:~:text=The%20Pendleton%20Problem%3A%20When%20Does%20Cultural%20Appreciation%20Tip%20Into%20Appropriation%3F&text=Designers%20weigh%20in%20on%20the,you%20could%20give%20or%20receive.
Where we live there aren't many businesses. Big dreams are hard to come by. But we are both hardship and unbelievable beauty. Four years ago on a tiny Rez house on a dead end road we waited. We lived next to the amazing Pat and the now deceased Jim Northrup for 10 years. Pat is one of those Aunties. The one who raises everyone's children and would give you the clothes off her back. Pat was a touchstone of our community. Their family had followed the development of Heart Berry from its beginnings as a beadwork hustle. When I began working with the Inspired Natives Project Pat would stay up to date on all my doings. She knew I was waiting...
