Put your money where it counts: Where to buy Indigenous gifts this holiday season

Indigenous people still face significant economic challenges

Despite their growing contributions to Canada’s economy, Indigenous communities continue to face significant economic challenges.

For example, employment rates among Indigenous people living off-reserve are just 60.2%, compared to the employment rate of 76% of non-Indigenous Canadians.

For those living on a reserve, the income disparities are stark, with on-reserve Indigenous people earning a median income of $20,357 — less than half the $42,930 median income for non-Indigenous Canadians. Particularly alarming is the child poverty rate. In some provinces, like Manitoba and Saskatchewan, over 60% of Status First Nations children live below the poverty line.

These figures highlight the importance of fostering economic opportunities and supporting the growth of Indigenous businesses. By purchasing from Indigenous-owned and operated businesses, you not only find unique and meaningful gifts but also directly support economic empowerment, cultural preservation and community growth. This year, let your spending make a difference — explore our guide to impactful Black Friday and holiday shopping.

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Supporting Indigenous communities when spending this holiday season

Jewellery and Accessories

• Assinewe Jewelry: Assinewe Jewelry showcases stunning beadwork and clay earrings, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design. With prices ranging from $3 to $275, this online shop offers affordable and unique accessories for every style and budget. Find: Beadwork and clay earrings and assorted craft and artwork.
• Copper Canoe Woman: Copper Canoe Woman specializes in statement earrings that combine bold designs with cultural inspiration. Ranging from $28 to $221, these accessories are ideal for anyone looking to make a stylish and meaningful impression. Find: Statement earrings and jewellery.
• Warren Steven Scott: Warren Steven Scott brings high-end Indigenous jewellery to the forefront with a luxurious collection of designer earrings. Priced from $40 to $1,250, his creations are perfect for those who value elegance and artistry. Find: Designer earrings and high-end Indigenous jewellery options.
  
  

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Home and Art Gifts

• Beam Paints at Beandigen Cafe: Beam Paints offers handmade watercolours from Manitoulin Island, celebrating natural pigments and sustainable practices. The collection includes paint-by-number cards and full palettes, making them a vibrant gift for art lovers. Find: Handmade watercolours from Manitoulin Island, including paint-by-number cards and full palettes.
• Wanuskewin Gift Shop (Saskatchewan): The Wanuskewin Gift Shop is a treasure trove of cozy moccasins, stylish apparel and local art pieces. Perfect for meaningful gifts, this shop showcases the rich culture of Indigenous craftsmanship. Find: Cozy moccasins, apparel, and local art pieces.
• Native Northwest: Native Northwest celebrates Indigenous culture with beautifully designed home goods, art and stationery. Each item tells a story, making them thoughtful gifts that support Indigenous artists and communities. Find home good, stationary and cultural art pieces.
  
  

Clothing and Textiles

• Mini Tipi: Mini Tipi offers a stunning collection of sustainably crafted blankets, shawls and ponchos designed by Indigenous artisans. Made using recycled materials, these cozy creations make perfect gifts for staying warm during the cold season while supporting eco-friendly practices and Indigenous craftsmanship. Find: Indigenous-designed blankets, shawls, and ponchos, crafted sustainably using recycled materials.
• Aaniin: Aaniin creates stylish Indigenous-designed clothing that blends modern fashion with cultural heritage. Known for pieces featuring Cree syllabics, the items are a celebration of language and art, available online for easy and shopping. Find: Stylish Indigenous-designed clothing, including pieces with Cree syllabics. Many options available online.
• Resist Clothing: Resist Clothing empowers wearers with bold, statement-making designs that reflect Indigenous resilience and activism. The company's apparel connects modern streetwear with meaningful cultural narratives, making each piece more than just a fashion item.
• Chippewar: Chippewar is where Indigenous culture meets edgy design. Known for graphic-heavy apparel inspired by traditional art and modern pop culture, Chippawear's clothing is both a conversation starter and a way to honor heritage.
• Decolonial: Decolonial specializes in apparel that challenges stereotypes and celebrates Indigenous identity. Its designs inspire conversations about history and resilience, offering a contemporary way to support cultural decolonization.
• Sho Sho Esquiro: Sho Sho Esquiro combines high-end couture with Indigenous storytelling. Each piece is a work of art, incorporating beadwork, fur and textiles that celebrate Indigenous culture and sustainable fashion practices.
• Dorothy Grant: Dorothy Grant creates timeless fashion inspired by Haida culture. Known for elegant clothing and accessories, her work blends traditional Indigenous artistry with contemporary design, redefining wearable art.
• Sugiit Lukxs Designs by Yolonda Skelton: Sugiit Lukxs Designs by Yolonda Skelton is a tribute to the vibrant culture and artistry of the Gitxsan Nation. Her clothing and accessories showcase bold patterns and colors that celebrate traditional stories and environmental sustainability.
• SECTION 35: SECTION 35 is a fashion brand rooted in cultural pride and modern design. Its selection incorporates meaningful graphics and messages that highlight Indigenous heritage and identity, making it a favourite among those who value style with substance.
• Ay Lelum: Ay Lelum, The Good House of Design, creates wearable art rooted in Coast Salish traditions. Its clothing tells stories of heritage and culture, crafted by a family dedicated to preserving and sharing their history through fashion.
  
  

Children’s Gifts and Family Fun

• Kokom Scrunchies: Brighten up holiday stockings with Kokom Scrunchies, created by young Indigenous entrepreneur Mya Beaudry. Featuring colourful scrunchies, bows and scarves, these vibrant accessories are perfect for kids and fun-loving adults alike. Find: Colourful scrunchies, bows and scarves that add vibrancy to holiday stockings.
• Beading Kits by Delia Estelle Designs: Introduce children and beginners to the timeless art of beading with kits from Delia Estelle Designs either online or through Ottawa's Beandigen Cafe. These easy-to-use kits are a creative and engaging way to connect with Indigenous craftsmanship. Find: Kits that are perfect for introducing children and beginners to the art of beading.
  
  

Learn More: Just in time for the holiday season, here are the best credit card offers in Canada

Food and Consumables

• Beandigen Cafe Coffee Blends: Beandigen Cafe offers rich, locally roasted Indigenous coffee blends, such as "Out on the Land" and "Pow Wow Love." Its unique blends make the perfect cozy gift for coffee enthusiasts. Find: Locally roasted Indigenous coffee blends such as “Out on the Land” and “Pow Wow Love.”
• Kaapittiaq Coffee & Tea Horse Teas: Sourced ethically and packed with flavor, Kaapittiaq Coffee & Tea Horse Teas are featured at Adaawewigamig. These teas are a great option for those who appreciate high-quality, Indigenous-produced beverages. Find: Flavourful and ethically sourced Indigenous teas.
• Spirit Bear Coffee Company: This company's goal is to offer exceptional coffee, while making a positive impact. Now offered in more than 600 locations across Canada, Spirit Bear Coffee Company offers fairtrade, organic beans for those that crave good brew. Save 10% if you sign up for their newsletter and orders over $100 pay no shipping charges.
  
  

Unique Gift Experiences

• Nk'Mip Cellars: Taste and learn with a trip to North America's first Inigenous-owned winery, Nk'Mip Cellars. Located a few hours from Vancouver, the winery offers tasting tours as well as an educational experience on the way wine is made using a commitment to authenticity and the owners deep roots. Experience and taste the international award-winning wines with gourmet experiences starting at $75.
• Cultural Workshops at Beandigen Cafe: For a memorable and educational gift, consider a beading or silkscreening workshop at Beandigen Cafe. These experiences provide hands-on learning while supporting Indigenous education and culture. Find: Gift a beading or silkscreening workshop to offer a memorable experience supporting Indigenous education.
  
  

Music and Books

Bookstores

• Inhabit Education: Inhabit Education specializes in Inuit literature, offering a wide selection of children’s books, animal tales and works by Indigenous authors. Their collection, available online and in-store, includes books in traditional Inuit languages, perfect for fostering cultural appreciation. Find: Through the online and the brick-and-mortar bookstore find Inuit books, from children’s books to animal tales to Indigenous authors.
• Portage & Main Press + Highwater Press: Focused on Ontario and Manitoba, Portage & Main Press + Highwater Press offers books for school-age children and adults with a First Nations focus. Their selections provide thoughtful educational and cultural insights. Find: Online bookstore offers a number of school-age and adult books with a First Nations’ focus.
  
  

Specific Titles

• Native North America: The triple album Native North America: Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country (1966-1985) features 34 newly remastered tracks, offering a powerful collection of Indigenous music. A must-have for music lovers, it’s a Grammy-winning tribute to rich cultural expression.
• Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection (Volume 1): This groundbreaking comic collection brings together North American Indigenous creators to tell culturally rich and visually stunning stories. Perfect for comic enthusiasts and fans of diverse storytelling.
• This Place: 150 Years Retold: Written for preteens and teens, This Place recounts 150 years of First Nations history through powerful nonfiction narratives by Indigenous authors. It’s an inspiring and educational read for young audiences.
  
  

Bottom line

When you purchase gifts and services from Indigenous-owned and operated business, you are spending with intention — you are putting meaning behind each purchase you make during the Amazon Prime, Black Friday and holiday-spending season.