Designers, Activists, And Nutritionists: 13 Indigenous Baddies You Need To Know
Happy Indigenous Heritage Month! This month at Sustainable Baddie, we want to highlight a few Indigenous susty baddies who coalesce their Indigenous identity with their passion for respecting the Earth and creating a clean and bright future for all. From intricate and handmade beaded jewelry to Indigenous Cannabusiness advocacy, this list brings you a mix of designers, activists, and organizations who are giving back to their communities in the most beautiful (and susty) of ways!
Princess Daazhraii Johnson is a writer, director, producer, and actor from Alaska. She brings Native American stories to the forefront through her advocacy and work on projects like Molly of Denali, Spirit Rangers, and The Great North.
Kara Roselle Smith is a Chappaquiddick Wampanoag model, activist, and influencer. She is dedicated to sharing Afro-Indigenous stories that her ancestors were once prevented from sharing outside of their communities, drawing from her historian mother's knowledge of the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag tribe.
3. Hud Oberly
Hud Oberly is the original Sustainable Daddy. The Osage designer is the founder and creative director of Here’s to You, a handmade apparel and accessories brand based in Brooklyn, NY.
Giiwedin, Northwind in Ojibwe, is a Two-spirit environmental protector and activist from the Leech Lake Nation who advocates for Indigenous sacred territories and LGBTQ+ acceptance within tribal nations.
5. Zaya Guarani
Zaya Guarani is a model and climate and Indigenous rights activist from the Brazilian Amazon. Born into the Indigenous Kamorapi and Guarani Mbya ethnicities, her work acts as a bridge between Indigenous traditions and the modern world.
Founded in 2013 by Jordan Marie Daniel, Rising Hearts is an Indigenous grassroots organization committed to elevating Indigenous voices and supporting intersectional collaborative efforts across all movements, with the goals of racial, social, climate, and economic justice. Rising Hearts organizes programs like Indigenous Wellness through Movement, which offers accessible wellness classes to learn how to decolonize wellness. Their other programs include the Running with Purpose Collective and their COVID-19 relief program, Mitakuye Oyasin, among many others!
Indigenous Intentions is an Indigenous and Black cause-driven brand. Their Cause jewelry line gives 100% of profits to organizations like Seeding Sovereignty, National Indigenous Resource Center, Strong Hearts Helpline, and Black and Missing Foundation.
Cultural ecologist and beader Ame Manon is the creator behind Beadwork by Ame or @boujee.indigenous on IG. Manon makes each beautifully detailed beaded jewelry piece by hand. She not only makes jewelry, but beads belt buckles, patches, and custom pieces like hats and stockings as well. She also posts beading tips on her Instagram!
Indigenous Women Hike was born when founder Jolie Varela and seven other Indigenous women set out to hike the Nüümü Poyo (or the People’s Trail). They subsequently formed a collective of Indigenous women working to promote healing through connection to their ancestral homelands, to advocate for the history of their people, and to prevent violence against the land.
Tatyana Daniels is a registered dietitian who advocates for food justice, food sovereignty, and improved healthcare for Indigenous Peoples from a Gitxsan perspective. On her Instagram, @the.indigenous.nutritionist, you’ll find infographics that promote nutritional learning and uncover the realities of the food and healthcare industries.
Sequoia is an Indigenous beauty brand 100% owned and operated by Indigenous women inspired by Native legends and ingredients. The brand was founded in 2002 by Michaelee Lazore who is Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) from Akwesáhsne and Northern Paiute from Nevada. The brand creates products like candles, soaps, and skincare from sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients. They design, produce, and package everything in a local studio; none of their manufacturing is outsourced!
Founded in 2004 by Haida and Cree siblings Erin and Jesse Brillon, Totem Design House is a Northwest Coast Native apparel, jewelry, home decor, and fine art design house. Every year, they donate 10% of their annual profits to Copper Legacy Indigenous Empowerment Society. Erin Brillon says on their site, “We are the antidote to the ongoing commodification of our culture, by what has largely been dominated by non-Indigenous business owners.”
Mary Jane Oatman is the COO and Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association and founder of the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition and Tribal Hemp and Cannabis (THC) Magazine. Oatman is dedicated to helping Native American tribes break stigmas about cannabis use, elevate the perspectives of Indigenous communities in hemp and cannabis, and build an equitable and sustainable Indigenous cannabis industry.