OUR ‘WE CARE’ PROGRAM
All our donations of tipis, our programs and our financial aid benefit the Native American People and Mother Earth. We strive to create partnerships, collaborations and support that show our sincere attempt to be a partner to the Native American culture. Our largest discounts and all our donations of tipi covers are for Native American non-profits, elders and spokespeople; please understand when we decline donation requests for any other purposes.
supporting native american rights
We have the deepest respect and admiration for the Native American cultures. We strongly support their continuous fight to retain whatever water, mineral and wildlife resources remain on their reservation lands. Backed by large business interests, the U.S. Government continues to violate treaty promises in attempts to strip anything of commercial value from reservation lands. The only recourse that Native Americans have is to demand that U.S. courts enforce long-standing treaty agreements. More than 400 have been broken. To help in this self-defense effort, contact Native American Rights Fund, www.narf.org, which we actively support.
In 2016 we sent over 80 tipis to the NO DAPL Standing Rock movement in North Dakota. During this time, we had the honor to meet and host Chase Iron Eyes and Danny Paul Nelson from the Lakota People’s Law Project, who continually work to end treaty violations and systemic corruption, www.lakotalaw.org.
college scholarship for young native women
In 2019, Nomadics created a scholarship fund for young Native American women out of high school who would like to study at a college on a reservation. Jeila Schuh, Kateri Denni, Raina Clifford and Sylviana Eagle Elk were the first recipients of this scholarship at the Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, SD.
Each student has written an essay about their experience of life on the reservation and how they plan to contribute to change once they have earned their degree. They write: “Growing up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, we face difficult hardships such as Poverty, Unemployment, Substance Abuse, and Alcoholism. Growing up in such a place, can leave you wondering if it will ever change…” and “After graduation, I want to be able to help the youth not be in situations that I was in. I know the struggle here on the reservation. I believe in the Lakota way, I believe that I was put here to be the 7th generation that brings back the ways. I want to help and be there for the youth” . We hope to encourage these young women to be the change for their people.
planting trees for every teepee pole we sell
Nomadics is committed to planting one new tree for every pole that we sell. In 2019, we partnered with Henry Red Cloud and his 100% Native American run and operated non-profit organization on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Red Cloud Renewable, www.redcloudrenewable.org. Red Cloud Renewable has planted ponderosa pine, cottonwood and fruit tree seedlings on sacred sites and reservation land. Since 2023, Nomadics is collaborating with the organization One Tree Planted, to plant one new tree per pole on indigenous land.
offering native american designs
We are offering an income opportunity for Native American artists by purchasing their tipi designs. The artist can submit a design theme with up to 3 designs, which we will feature as part of our ‘Predesigned Tipi Covers’. Once their design is chosen by a customer, the artist will receive a royalty every time we are painting this design. We are encouraging Native American artists to contact us if they are interested in our offer.
internships for native students
Beginning in 2022, we would like to offer internships to young Native American students. While our application is open to all Native Americans, we closely work together with the new teen center established by the Lakota People’s Law Project in McLaughlin, SD. We are offering the opportunity to gain insights into a successful small business operation and hope to infuse a sense of entrepreneurship and optimism in young adults living on a reservation.
understanding cultural sensitivity
In everything we do, we strive to be respectful, conscious and inclusive towards those who have the tipi as their heritage. We are fortunate to have several Native Americans among our employees, and they have relatives, friends and contacts of their own. We get together as a team when the appropriateness of a tipi project is in question, and we are fortunate to know several revered Elders whom we can ask for advice. It is simply not possible to make it right for everybody, but we are open to listening, and reserve the right to refuse a tipi sale or tipi artwork if we feel it is being disrespectful in any way.
sourcing non gmo, 100% cotton
In 2016, we started sourcing GOTS certified 100% organic cotton from India to use as the base material for our canvas products. Since all our products are treated with the Sunforger® finish, though, we cannot claim that they are 100% organic – However, all of our untreated cotton base material is 100% organic. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), www.global-standard.org, is recognized as the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.
Our choice to switch our entire product line to 100% certified organic cotton as our base fabric comes from our sense of responsibility towards people and the planet. Our commitment to buy organic will help the farmers in India with their health and their independency from companies such as Monsanto; it will reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizers that are constantly poured into the ground, and it makes a statement against the proliferation of GMO products being introduced into the environment. It is our opinion that this unnatural manipulation is unsustainable and dangerous. To learn more about the impact of conventional cotton production, visit www.truecostmovie.com
supporting sustainable business practices
We donate 1% of our annual tipi sales to organizations that pledge to make the planet a healthier place. As a member of 1% for the Planet, www.onepercentfortheplanet.org, we are linked to a global network of businesses who acknowledge their responsibility to use part of their profit to support non-profit organizations who work to save Mother Earth. We are also certified by Green America, www.greenamerica.org, which demands sustainable and environmentally healthy business practices and educates on topics of healthy living.
