05/01/2026
One question I hear often is:
“How do I know if buying something Indigenous-made is support, or appropriation?”
The honest answer is that many people care, but have been taught to engage through fear instead of relationship.
Buying directly from Indigenous artists, makers, and businesses is one of the clearest ways to offer support.
Appropriation is not the same as purchasing from the source. Appropriation happens when people take Indigenous designs, copy cultural expressions, profit from them, or use them without context, permission, or respect.
That said, not everything is meant for everyone. Some items carry ceremonial, familial, or community-specific meaning. That is why context matters, and why asking thoughtful questions is not a bad thing.
You do not need to avoid Indigenous art and culture altogether because you are afraid of getting it wrong.
You do need to engage with care.
Support Indigenous businesses. Read what is being shared. Ask when you are unsure. And remember that respectful purchasing is very different from taking.
