A mix of authentic and inspired Native American souvenirs and gifts expand retailers’ stock of options.There’s an art, an eye and a deep connection Native American souvenir and gift shops exercise when selecting products, and it begins with deep roots and involves knowledge grown over time. “I hand-pick every piece of jewelry, I check the stones to see that they’re set properly — and I watched my mother do this all my life,” says Sheri Wheeler, whose grandparents started the family business that today is Cherokee Trading Post in Calumet, Oklahoma.
 Driftstone Pueblo carries authentic and inspired jewelry.
“We have vendors my parents have done business with since I was a child,” says Wheeler. New product discoveries come by word of mouth.
The same is true at Driftstone Pueblo in St. Elmo, Illinois. Jewelry Manager Jill Wright has traveled the Four Corners region to buy cloth dolls, pipes, jewelry, drums, Kachina figures, pottery and more from various tribes — Navajo, Pima, Zuni, Hopi, Mesa, Laguna, Santa Clara, Taos, Coquille, Cherokee. “We could go on and on,” she says of procuring a variety.
“I’ve sat and watched the Navajo weave their rugs, which are a higher-end item we carry at the store,” says Wright. Such authentic, handmade goods are made by enrolled members of federally or state-recognized Native American tribes or tribe-recognized certified artisans. (See the sidebar, “Native by nature”.)
There’s also a market for souvenirs that borrow native motifs in a decorative way. Carrying products that span these categories allows shops like Cherokee Trading Post and Driftstone Pueblo to accommodate a cross-section of tourists.
“We get a lot of people who are passing through from all directions and for different reasons and they appreciate the collection we’ve acquired,” says Wright.
A native assortment Driftstone Pueblo separates Native American and inspired/Southwest souvenirs in dedicated departments. Upstairs is completely authentic Native American with about 20 cases of jewelry and other wares, all labeled with signage that identifies the tribe and ensures products’ authenticity.
Downstairs displays include imported beads, souvenirs like dream catchers and drums, Southwest decor, apparel, jewelry, moccasins, purses and bags, figurines and name-drop souvenirs like magnets, keychains and stickers with native motifs.
“It’s important to carry authentic and inspired products,” says Wright, estimating a 50/50 split of authentic and inspired gifts.
Wheeler echoes the need to provide more budget-friendly souvenirs for tourists and authentic artisan pieces for collectors.
“Not everyone can afford the Native American, handmade traditional pieces,” Wheeler says, relaying that a true bench bead Navajo pearl necklace might cost 10 times more than a piece made from manufactured pearls that are strung together by the Navajo.
Wheeler strives to carry American-made native-inspired products when possible. “This is definitely important to our consumers today,” she notices.
However, Wheeler does carry imported souvenirs from vendors she trusts and appreciates the decorative items and accessibility pricing it provides for visitors.
Verified as authenticSourcing handmade original Native American art pieces and gifts is Wheeler’s passion, and finding just the right gifts to stock is “native” for her. “It’s not something you can teach, you have an eye for it,” she relates of her family’s tradition.
While she mostly relies on longtime Native American vendors, who often offer their suggestions, she attends Native American craft shows throughout the Southwest to find new gifts.
 Silver and turquoise jewelry goes over well at Driftstone Pueblo.
McCall and Wright also attend shows such as the Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival, along with visiting reservations while on the road.
Wright adds, “Most of our pieces are signed and the reproductions have certificates with the tribe number and name of the person who made it.”
For instance, Driftstone Pueblo sells a variety of Cherokee tiles and artwork from Bill and Traci Rabbit of Rabbit Studios in Pryor, Oklahoma.
Wright says, “We look high and low to make sure our Native American pieces are authentic.”
Inspired souvenirsWith over 8,000 square feet of retail space at Driftstone Pueblo and half the store designated for Southwest and native-inspired souvenirs, there’s an expansive selection of gifts available at many price points.
Jewelry is a top-selling category, Wright says. The shop carries bracelets, earrings and necklaces in motifs ranging from Aztec engravings to wild horses, feathers, wildflowers and horseshoes. Silver, turquoise and colorful beaded designs go over big.
Wright sources pieces from vendors like Montana Silversmith and Old Pawn Jewelry, which offers vintage Native American jewelry from the 1960s and 1970s that Driftstone Pueblo sometimes acquires from auctions.
Cowboy Collectibles bolo ties, bracelets and necklaces made from horsehair appeal to customers looking for Southwest accessories.
Reflecting on the places he’s been, the people he’s met and the artisans he has developed longtime relationships with over the years, McCall says, “This has been my whole life.”
Wheeler shares a similar thread her customers express, “We’ve had visitors say, ‘My grandparents brought me here when I was younger, and now we are bringing our children.’ It’s a tradition they pass on through generations.” |
