3 Reasons Why Supporting Indigenous Owned Brands Matters

At The Honest Consumer we’re always exploring ways to support sustainable small businesses. Indigenous owned brands are typically rooted in sustainability.

Let’s explore the importance of shopping Indigenous owned. We’ll be discussing environmental aspects, cultural appropriation, and community.

And be sure to check out our list of 13 Eco Focused Indigenous Owned Small Businesses to Shop.

Indigenous Owned Business Are Rooted in Sustainability

Nonprofit Quarterly states, it is important to acknowledge that Native communities have long had a different relationship with the environment compared to individuals from Western society.

Although there are differences among Native communities, the worldview of Native people generally sees the land and environment as intrinsically intertwined with human development and wellbeing.

Native people have long acknowledged that decisions we make today have lasting effects on future generations. Thus, we have a responsibly to act as accountable stewards of the land and environment for future generations.

Let’s look at the history of this.

A report by The University of Washington states, The European Colonialists had many reasons for exploiting the resources they found in the ‘new world’. They felt entitled, e.g., it was their Manifest Destiny or religious duty, to “civilize” peoples they conquered.

At the same time, it didn’t hurt that by exploiting resources from these conquered lands, they were able to maintain their imperial status and economic power against other European nations to compete with them for the same resources.

Despite the fact that Indigenous people actually taught the colonists how to care for the land, grow food, and essentially survive, the colonists disrespected the people and the land.

While Colonists were focused on economic power they didn’t stop to consider the impact this would have on Indigenous people and the environment.

THE RISING POPULARITY OF SUSTAINABILITY

NPQ states that in sum, Native people have long held a worldview that connects human and community health to the health of land and the environment. It shapes and perpetuates Native identities, cultures, and worldviews.

And, today, as concepts such as stewardship become more important to the sustainability of our entire planet, there is added value in listening to Native voices, who were environmentalists before environmentalism became popular.

Similarly Cultural Survival reports that among Indigenous cultures, people belong to land rather than land belonging to people. Healing of land MUST include healing of people and vice versa.

Recognizing and processing the emotional traumas held in Native bodies as descendants of assaulted, enslaved, and displaced Peoples is necessary to the healing of land.

I think racial injustice is incredibly important to recognize and be aware of as the nation becomes more aware of the environment and climate change.

Why it’s important to support Indigenous owned businesses

Due to the history & culture of Indigenous people sustainability is often rooted within Indigenous owned businesses, but unfortunately Indigenous owned businesses have struggled to get resources and recognition deserved.

Pin this infographic for later!

Forbes reports Native American entrepreneurs have long confronted additional barriers to startup success, including a lack of financing, geographic isolation and deeply ingrained discrimination.

The U.S. Census reports that nationally, ONLY 1.0 percent of all firms are American Indian and Alaska Native-owned. Even just researching for this blog post I noticed a HUGE lack of information regarding statistics and resources about Indigenous owned businesses.

POVERTY RATES IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

The Foundation for Economic Education reports Native American reservations in the United States are disproportionately poverty stricken. Research suggests that these problems stem from federal oversight over Native American businesses, property, and energy development on reservations.

A report by Southern Oklahoma University reports that even for Native Americans not living on reservations, they consistently rank highest in poverty. The U.S. Census reports poverty rates for Native Americans living on reservations at 39 percent, non- reservation Indians at 26 percent. 

By shopping Indigenous owned brands this helps these businesses grow financially and leads to more job creation in Indigenous communities.

Cultural Appropriation

Along with the lack of resources to support Indigenous entrepreneurship, cultural appropriation has impacted Indigenous communities.

Cultural appropriation is defined as the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures.

We can see examples of cultural appropriation in modern day society with Native American costumes for Halloween or Native inspired prints appearing in white owned fast fashion that continue to exploit BIPOC.

One of the most publicized incidents of cultural appropriation was in 2016 with Urban Outfitters. According to Global Citizen Urban Outfitters upset people with cultural appropriation of Native American peoples by using the Navajo Nation’s symbols. This led to a lawsuit.

While this incident was slightly publicized due to the lawsuit most cases of cultural appropriation within fast fashion fly under the radar.

These popular brands are taking advantage of Indigenous culture and profiting off of their history. So it’s important to support Indigenous owned brands who are creating goods to celebrate their history.