by Molly Chapple Roe
When you buy from an Indigenous-owned business, you’re investing in people, culture, and community. Every dollar has an impact, helping local economies and creating opportunities that reach far beyond a single transaction.
At SweetGrass Trading Company, we’re proud to be part of Ho-Chunk Trading Group, a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Our company creates jobs right on the Winnebago Reservation, providing meaningful work for community members while also supporting the Tribes and businesses we partner with.
We source high-quality products from Tribes and Tribal businesses across the U.S., helping them reach a wider audience and grow their businesses. A few of the tribes we work with include the Puyallup, Chickasaw, Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Iñupiat, Diné, Lakota, Taos Pueblo, Cherokee, Pembina/Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and many more.
Supporting these businesses keeps money circulating in their communities and helps fund programs, resources, and opportunities that make a real difference. It helps Native communities build self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on outside systems.
Many Indigenous businesses are rooted in culture and tradition, whether it’s through art, food, wellness, or storytelling. Every handcrafted item or locally sourced product carries a story—a connection to ancestors, land, and culture. Buying these products helps preserve those traditions and share them with the world.
Shopping with SweetGrass isn’t only about finding beautiful, Native-made products. It’s about supporting communities, preserving culture, creating jobs, and helping future generations see the value of their traditions and creativity. It’s about revitalizing sacred traditions that have been passed down over generations.
Every purchase matters. Every story matters. Together, we can help Indigenous communities grow stronger, keep traditions alive, and build a brighter future for generations to come.