Indigenous Relationships & Support

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A word from our founder...

Hello. My name is Yolanda Miller, and I am a founding owner of Stick Stone & Bone. My lineage is Cherokee and Aztec. I have owned Stick Stone & Bone for 30 years with my late partner Linda. It has always been the mission of Stick Stone & Bone to support Native American artists, craftspersons, and communities by providing a space through which their crafts and cultures could be shared with the world. 

It is my sincere belief that the gifts of all our people illuminate the whole. Mother Nature's gifts are meant to be enjoyed and utilized by all peoples, not just one nation. Over the past 30 years, we have built loving and mutually beneficial relationships with Native artisans and vendors from various nations in order to support their work and, through them, their communities. I am proud of my heritage, as I am certain all of our business partners are of theirs, and we have enjoyed sharing our culture with everyone through Stick Stone & Bone.

With joy and with great love, blessings.

Yolanda Miller

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Artisans & Vendors

Katheleen Cook (Artisan)
Dreamcatchers, Fans, Pouches

"My Birth name is Katheleen White eagle. My father was Cree, and my mother is Navajo. My grandparents taught me how to make my crafts. I met Yolanda, Heather, and Brogan in 2011, and I have been selling my crafts to them [Stick Stone & Bone] since. I believe they have a lot of respect for the Native American people, and I have a respect for them."

Katheleen Cook

Dean Morrison (Artisan)
Medicine Rattles, Pouches, Dreamcatchers

"Greetings and O'siyo,
My name is Dean Morrison. I am a proud member of the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama. I am a Native American artist, crafter, dancer, and entrepreneur. I have traveled this country with my family from Florida to New Hampshire. I have journeyed to several events on Long island, NY and Gateway National Park in Brooklyn, NY. Even selling my work to wonderful stores like Stick, Stone & Bone, which support myself and family tremendously. We love people, so sharing our culture, entertaining, and educating people is part of our objective. This way of life supports myself, my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. And I pray it continues to support many more generations to come.

  Thank you and Blessings,
"Degadageyusesdi"
(Day-gah-dah-gay-you-seh-sdee)
Let's All Be Good to One Another"
Dean Morrison - Trailwalker Crafts

Luna Sundara (Vendor)
Palo Santo Products

Sourcing
“Our goal has always been to offer products that brings us closer to our roots. We travel to local communities where our Palo Santo comes from to see the job of the farmers who collect it. Each community with its own story and charm but with one similar goal: to bring this precious wood to the world. Throughout the years, we’ve learned that Palo Santo is a magic wood that exudes peace and connects us to the earth. During the hot summer months of my childhood, I would use Palo Santo to smudge and as a mosquito repellent. Now it is being used by the whole world, and it gives me so much joy to share it with all of you.”

Sustainability
“The Palo Santo tree is wild crafted and sustainably harvested. The product is extracted from an Ecuadorian and Peruvian reserve where fallen trees and dead branches are carefully distilled in a process that excludes dangerous chemicals and solvents. Luna Sundara exclusively utilizes these types of wild crafted botanicals, which support the social and economic welfare of local communities, allowing us to create meaningful relationships with those around us, and ensuring the highest quality products possible.”

Vicjon Enterprises (Vendor)
​Palo Santo

 History
“Coming from humble beginnings in Peru, Consuelo Piccarella and nephew Gerardo began a small 2-person company in 1987.  Through their direct connections with the miners of Peru, the focus was importing beautiful Peruvian Mine Specimens to the USA.  Over the years, our family business has grown to 12 family members, between the USA (in Denver and Tucson) and Peru (Lima).”

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Resources

We are proud to support our artisans and their communities through direct business relationships, but we know there is always more work to be done. Please consider giving your support to one of the organizations below!

Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
NARF is a nonprofit legal organization asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide. Support is concentrated in these five areas: (1) Preserve tribal existence, (2) Protect tribal natural resources, (3) Promote Native American human rights, (4) Hold governments accountable to Native Americans, and (5) Develop Indian law and educate the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA)
The AAIA was formed in 1922 to change federal policy from assimilation, termination and allotment, to sovereignty, self-determination and self-sufficiency. It provides advocacy on watershed issues that support sovereignty and culture, while working at a grassroots level with Tribes to support programs that affect real lives on the ground.

American Indian College Fund (AICF)
​The AICF was founded in 1989. For 30 years it has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native student access to higher education. They provide scholarships, programming to improve Native American student access to higher education, and the support and tools for them to succeed once they are there.

National Indian Child Care Association (NICCA)
The NICCA is a representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization working to provide Native children, families, and communities with high quality child care services all across Indian Country.

Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA)
PWNA is a nonprofit organization committed to championing hope for a brighter future for Native Americans living on reservations. They provide aid and services for Native Americans with the highest need in the U.S. centering their work around material aid, educational support and community-based services.